Quick answer: Yes. In the Rincón de Loix, Levante and the main hotels, almost every bar, restaurant and shop has English-speaking staff, and many are British- or Irish-run. You will use more Spanish in the Old Town tapas bars, local markets, pharmacies and outside the tourist areas. The official languages are Spanish and Valencian, so signs are often in both: "Platja de Llevant" and "Playa de Levante" are the same beach.
Where you will need some Spanish
| Area | English |
|---|---|
| Rincón de Loix and the Strip | Almost universal |
| Levante seafront and large hotels | Widely spoken |
| Old Town tapas bars and Spanish restaurants | Menus often translated; staff vary |
| Markets, pharmacies, buses, council offices | Useful to have some Spanish |
| Inland villages on day trips | Limited |
See areas of Benidorm for each area's character.
Spanish and Valencian signs
Valencian is co-official in the region, so street and beach signs often use it. Common examples: platja (beach), carrer (street), avinguda (avenue), plaça (square), ajuntament (town hall) and eixida (exit). Benidorm's Old Town is called the Casc Antic in Valencian.
25 useful phrases
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Hello / Good morning | Hola / Buenos días |
| Good afternoon / evening | Buenas tardes / Buenas noches |
| Please / Thank you | Por favor / Gracias |
| Excuse me | Perdone |
| Do you speak English? | ¿Habla inglés? |
| I don't understand | No entiendo |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favor |
| A beer / a small beer | Una cerveza / una caña |
| A glass of red / white wine | Una copa de vino tinto / blanco |
| Tap water, please | Agua del grifo, por favor |
| A table for two | Una mesa para dos |
| Where is the toilet? | ¿Dónde está el baño? |
| Where is the beach? | ¿Dónde está la playa? |
| Is it far? | ¿Está lejos? |
| A ticket to Alicante | Un billete a Alicante |
| Open / Closed | Abierto / Cerrado |
| Help! | ¡Ayuda! |
| I need a doctor | Necesito un médico |
| Pharmacy | Farmacia |
| I am allergic to... | Soy alérgico / alérgica a... |
| Call the police | Llame a la policía |
| Taxi, please | Un taxi, por favor |
| Cheers! | ¡Salud! |
| See you later | Hasta luego |
In an emergency
Dial 112, Europe's emergency number, which can connect you to operators who speak English. See our emergency numbers guide and hospitals and pharmacies guide. Pharmacies often have English-speaking staff in tourist areas.
Do they speak English in Benidorm: FAQs
Do I need to speak Spanish in Benidorm? No, not in the main tourist areas. A few phrases help in the Old Town and markets.
What language is spoken in Benidorm? Spanish and Valencian are official; English is widely used in tourism.
Is Valencian the same as Catalan? Valencian is the regional form of the same language.
Are menus in English in Benidorm? In the tourist areas, almost always; in Spanish restaurants, often.
Can I get English-speaking medical help? Yes. Private clinics and many pharmacies in tourist areas have English-speaking staff, and 112 can help.