Accessible beaches now feature kid-friendly amphibious seats for young visitors to comfortably enjoy both sand and surf.
Benidorm Boosts Accessibility and Green Spaces
Benidorm, Costa Blanca North, Spain, is making strides in enhancing accessibility and green spaces for its residents and visitors.
The City Council has recently added three new amphibious children's chairs at its accessible beach points—La Cala, Parque de Elche, and Levante—as part of an initiative to ensure inclusivity for all[1]. These chairs complement existing facilities such as ramps, adapted changing rooms, amphibious chairs for adults, shaded areas, windbreak canopies, and trained lifeguards.
Mayor Toni Pérez emphasized that accessible tourism is about ensuring equal opportunities for all, regardless of disability[2]. The new chairs, costing €4,867.50 each, are a testament to this commitment.
Regarding green area enhancements, while no direct updates about new green spaces were found, the city is actively investing in public space modernization[3]. For instance, the "Andrea" columns on Levante beach are undergoing a restoration, which includes cleaning, disassembly, and the installation of smart lighting systems to improve both functionality and environmental harmony. This project, funded entirely by local municipal resources, is expected to be completed by summer 2026.
The City Council is also improving green areas across the city. Measures on the Poniente Promenade are being implemented to prevent people from crossing landscaped areas[4].
In addition, a large-scale hotel development, Hotel Port Benidorm, is underway. This development includes expanded parking facilities aimed at improving accessibility for guests, with a new three-level accessible parking structure replacing the older lot[5]. This renovation is set to be finished before the 2026 high tourist season, improving urban infrastructure.
The City Council's Parks and Gardens Department is responsible for carrying out these improvements[6]. In another green initiative, the concession company Actúa is replacing plants in nearly 300 planters throughout Benidorm, with between 3,500 and 4,000 specimens of various types, including lantana, rosemary, lobelia, dimorphotheca, and gomphrena[7]. These works aim to enhance the city's image and make it more enjoyable for residents and visitors, with completion scheduled for early September.
The service at these accessible beach points operates from June 1 to September 30, between 9:30 am and 6:30 pm during summer[8]. In the winter, the service is open from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, except between January 15 and February 14, when it is closed[9].
Mayor Toni Pérez and Councillor for Beaches Mónica Gómez presented the new chairs at the Parque de Elche site[10]. The works cover all neighborhoods in Benidorm[11]. Each accessible beach point now has amphibious chairs for children, amphibious crutches in various sizes, adapted changing rooms and toilets, shaded areas, windbreak canopies, and trained lifeguards providing support in the water[12].
In 2024, the accessible beach points recorded a total of 8,684 users between June and August, marking an increase of over 1,500 people compared to the previous year[13]. Parque de Elche had the highest number of bathers with 5,182, followed by Levante with 2,544 and La Cala with 958[14].
These improvements are set to make Benidorm a more welcoming and accessible destination for all.
- To further improve the overall health and wellness of its residents and visitors, Benidorm's Parks and Gardens Department is replacing plants in nearly 300 planters throughout the city, promoting a greener and more vibrant urban environment.
- In line with the City Council's commitment to science and innovation, the new Hotel Port Benidorm development includes the implementation of smart lighting systems on the "Andrea" columns on Levante beach, contributing to energy-efficiency and sustainability in the city.
