Hen Do in Benidorm

Morgan Tavern is a hen favourite on the Strip, with live singers every night and plenty of space for a big group. After 22:00 it is adults only, so the atmosphere suits a hen night perfectly.

Western Saloon is another Strip classic, with sing-along acts and a room full of hens and stags at the weekend. Expect to be dancing on the benches by midnight.

Sinatras on Calle Lepanto is a stylish show bar with tribute acts and a slightly more polished feel, ideal for the first night of the weekend.

Bar 69 in the Old Town is known for cocktails and a friendly late crowd — a good stop on the way to the gay village and its drag shows.

The Secret Fountain is a rooftop terrace bar at Marina Resort in the Rincón de Loix, with cocktails, food, a sun deck and a daytime singer — perfect for an afternoon before the night begins.

Drag is a hen-weekend essential. West End Showbar in the Rincón de Loix runs a Sunday drag show from 17:00 to 22:00, with entry around €5 including a buffet. Klee Kafee in the Old Town is Benidorm's most famous drag cabaret, Levi G appears at The Palladium on Calle Gerona, and Ruby Rox is one of the busiest drag comedy acts in town. Hens are welcomed — and usually picked on. Our drag shows guide lists every venue and tonight's drag line-up.

Benidorm has a tribute act for every playlist. Take That, Robbie Williams, Westlife, Pink and Little Mix tributes are perennial hen favourites, and the Boy Band Experience runs through the big boyband hits in one show. Our tribute pages show where each act is on this week, in Spanish time.

18+ only: adult shows are for over-18s and you may be asked for ID. Sticky Star at The Red Lion and the Star Wars show are two of the most famous adult acts in Benidorm and very popular with hen groups. Most are free entry — you buy drinks. See our adult shows guide for this week's times.

The Secret Fountain's roof terrace is a relaxed alternative if you would rather stay by a pool with a drink.

Stay near the Strip in the New Town to walk to the show bars and clubs, or in the Rincón de Loix for apartments with pools and a short walk to the action. Levante is ideal if the beach clubs are a priority. Check that the hotel accepts hen parties before booking.

Friday: arrive, check in and start with cocktails at a rooftop or beach bar, then Sinatras or Morgan Tavern for the early acts, and a tribute show before bed — or not.

Saturday: beach club or boat party in the afternoon, then fancy dress for the big night — Western Saloon, a drag show at Klee Kafee or The Palladium, and an adult show to finish.

Sunday: a lazy brunch, then West End Showbar's Sunday drag show from 17:00. The tonight block at the top of this page shows who is on at hen-friendly venues today.

Most show bars are free entry; the bar makes its money on drinks. Beach clubs and boat parties are the biggest costs, so book them in advance and share the bill across the group.

Benidorm is busy, well lit and used to groups of women on a night out. Stick together, keep an eye on drinks, use licensed taxis and keep phones and bags secure. Fancy dress and sashes are expected; glass on the beach and drinking in the street are not allowed and can be fined.

After the big night, a slower day helps everyone last the weekend. Book sunbeds on Levante or Poniente, find a pool bar, or wander up to the Balcón del Mediterráneo viewpoint in the Old Town for photos with the sea on both sides. Tapas Alley on Calle Santo Domingo is perfect for a long, lazy lunch with a jug of sangria, and the Old Town's narrow streets are lovely to explore in the late afternoon.

If the group wants pampering, many hotels offer spa access to non-residents, and nail and beauty salons are easy to find around the Rincón de Loix. End the day with cocktails at sunset before the final night out.

Benidorm eats late, and most restaurants serve until 23:00 or later. For a hen dinner, the Old Town has Spanish and international restaurants with terraces, while the Rincón de Loix and the streets around the Strip have plenty of British, Indian and Italian options that are used to big groups. Book a table for larger parties at the weekend, especially in summer.

Alicante airport has direct flights from most UK airports, and Benidorm is about 25 minutes away by transfer or taxi. A pre-booked minibus is the easiest option for a big hen group, especially if you are arriving in fancy dress. Spain is one hour ahead of the UK, and every time on OnBenidorm is shown in Spanish time exactly as the venues list it.

Spring and early autumn are the sweet spot for a hen weekend: warm enough for beach clubs and rooftop terraces, without the peak-summer crowds and prices. July and August are the hottest months, and the busiest for families too. If your hen loves drag and a party atmosphere, Benidorm Pride in early September turns the whole Old Town into one long celebration — just book accommodation well ahead.

Winter weekends are much cheaper and the show bars still run nightly, though some beach bars close for the season. Check our events calendar and winter closures guide before you fix the date.

Fancy dress is part of the fun in Benidorm, and nobody will bat an eyelid. Popular themes include matching T-shirts with nicknames, sailor outfits, pink cowgirls, air hostesses, and anything that glitters. The bride usually gets something extra — a veil, a sash or an outfit the group chooses for her. Bring comfortable shoes for the walk between bars; the Strip is flat, but you will be on your feet for hours.

If you are planning to see a drag show, sit near the front only if the bride is happy to be part of the act — the queens love a hen party, and the bride will almost certainly end up on stage.

Collect money for shared costs early and keep a group kitty for drinks rounds. Agree on one or two fixed plans per day — a beach club, a boat party, a drag show on Saturday night — and leave the rest flexible, because the Strip's bars are side by side and it is easy to move on when a show ends.

Make sure everyone has the accommodation address on their phone, agree a meeting point at the end of the night, and look after anyone who has had one too many. Licensed taxis are easy to find and cheap for short trips across town.

Finally, check what is on before you go: the tonight block at the top of this page pulls in every act at hen-friendly venues today, and our tribute pages show where each favourite act is playing this week.

Joint stag-and-hen weekends work brilliantly in Benidorm because the Strip suits both: sing-along show bars, drag, comedy and adult shows are all within a few minutes' walk. Split for the daytime if you like, then meet up for the big night. Our stag do guide covers the bars, sports venues and activities the other half of the party will be looking for.