Is Benidorm safe?
Updated 12/10/2026 by the onbenidorm team · Numbers checked October 2026
Benidorm has a dedicated National Police office for foreign tourists, and official travel advice focuses on everyday risks: drink spiking, theft, unlicensed taxis and balconies. Call 112 in any emergency or 091 for the Policía Nacional, and report crimes with an interpreter at the SATE office on Calle Gerona at Avenida del Derramador, which helped about 3,900 people last year.
- Emergency
- 112
- National Police
- 091
- Tourist police office
- SATE, Calle Gerona at Av. del Derramador
- Report from your phone
- AlertCops app
- Lifeguards
- 1 June to 30 September on the main beaches
Is Benidorm safe for tourists?
Benidorm is a busy resort with specific police support for foreign visitors, and most problems visitors report are everyday ones: theft, lost documents and nights out that go wrong. The SATE office, run by the Policía Nacional with interpreters, has operated since 2013 and helped about 3,900 people last year and about 2,400 so far in 2026.
In summer 2026, French police officers also patrolled busy areas alongside the Policía Nacional to help visitors. The advice on this page comes from UK government travel advice, the Policía Nacional's tips for tourists and local reporting, and applies whatever your nationality.
Emergency numbers and how to report a crime
Call 112 for any emergency: police, ambulance or fire. For non-urgent police matters, use 091 or go to the SATE office in person.
| Service | Number or tool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| All emergencies | 112 | Police, ambulance, fire |
| Policía Nacional | 091 | National Police |
| Tourist complaints line | 902 102 112 | English and French, 09:00–21:00 |
| Crime reporting app | AlertCops | Report crimes and send alerts to police |
| British Consulate | +34 917 146 300 | Other nationalities: contact your own embassy or consulate |
The SATE tourist police office
SATE (Servicio de Atención al Turista Extranjero) is the place to go if you are a victim of crime. It is run by the Policía Nacional with interpreters and sits on Calle Gerona at the junction with Avenida del Derramador, in the Rincón de Loix.
Staff help you file a police report in your language, cancel bank cards and contact your consulate. Hours are extended from May to September. The service's agreement with the council was renewed in October 2024.
You will usually need a police report for travel insurance claims and to replace a lost or stolen passport, so go as soon as you can.
Nights out: drink spiking, ID and the rules
UK government advice warns about drink spiking, including with GHB and liquid ecstasy. Buy your own drinks, watch them being poured, keep them in sight, and remember that Spanish measures are often larger than at home.
You must show photo ID if any police officer asks. Carry it on nights out and keep a copy of your passport's photo page somewhere separate. Getting into an unlicensed taxi can cost up to €600, and dangerous behaviour on balconies can lead to fines or eviction from your hotel.
Ordinary bars close by 01:30 and pubs by 03:30 under the 2026 Valencian hours; see what time bars close in Benidorm. Around the Square and the Strip, keep to busy, well-known streets late at night.
Theft and pickpockets
Pickpockets target crowds in any busy resort, so take the usual care on Benidorm's packed bar streets and beaches. We have not found an official list of Benidorm hotspots, so the advice is general. Carry only the cash and cards you need, keep phones out of back pockets, and use a bag that closes.
On the beach, do not leave phones, wallets or keys unattended while you swim; take turns if you are in a group. If anything is stolen, block your cards straight away and report it at the SATE office or through AlertCops.
Taxis and getting home
Use licensed taxis from official ranks or booked by phone. Our Benidorm taxis guide and taxi phone numbers page list the options, including Radio Taxi Benidorm.
Taxis from Alicante airport are metered rather than fixed, at around €90 per car on the ordinary tariff in 2025 and a little more at night and weekends. The Avanza night bus costs €1.75. For the airport bus, see Benidorm to Alicante airport by bus.
Beach and sea safety
Benidorm's main beaches have lifeguards from 1 June to 30 September: 10:00 to 19:00 in June and 09:00 to 20:00 in July, August and September. In 2026 there were nine lifeguards each on Levante and Poniente, two at Mal Pas, plus a rescue boat, five first-aid posts with nurses and four ambulances.
Never swim under a red flag; it is dangerous and a serious offence under the beach ordinance. Off-season lifeguard cover is reduced, so take extra care from October to May. See our Benidorm beaches guide.
Local rules that can cost you
A few local rules regularly catch visitors out. Our Benidorm stag do rules guide explains each one with the fine bands.
- Drinking alcohol in the street is banned outside authorised terraces.
- Alcohol and glass are banned on the beach; drinking there can cost up to €750.
- Tents, camping and sleeping bags are banned on the beach at any hour.
- Using or carrying drugs in public, even a small amount of cannabis, costs €601–30,000.
- Megaphones and street speakers need authorisation.
- Unlicensed taxis can mean a fine of up to €600.
Safety-related guides on onbenidorm
| Name | Area | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Benidorm stag do rules | Benidorm | Fines for street drinking, beaches and noise |
| Benidorm taxis | Benidorm | Licensed taxis and ranks |
| Benidorm beaches | Benidorm | Lifeguards, flags and facilities |
| What time bars close | Benidorm | Legal closing hours for 2026 |
Is Benidorm safe? — FAQs
Is Benidorm safe at night?
The usual city precautions apply. Keep to busy, well-lit streets, buy your own drinks and keep them in sight, use licensed taxis and carry photo ID. UK government advice warns about drink spiking with GHB and liquid ecstasy. Call 112 in an emergency.
What is the emergency number in Benidorm?
112 for all emergencies, including police, ambulance and fire. 091 reaches the Policía Nacional, and the tourist complaints line 902 102 112 has English and French speakers from 09:00 to 21:00. The AlertCops app lets you report crimes from your phone.
Where is the tourist police station in Benidorm?
The SATE office is on Calle Gerona at the junction with Avenida del Derramador, in the Rincón de Loix. It is run by the Policía Nacional with interpreters, helps victims report crimes, cancel cards and contact consulates, and has longer hours from May to September.
Do I need to carry my passport in Benidorm?
You must show photo ID if any police officer asks, according to UK government advice. Carry an official photo ID and keep a copy of your passport's photo page somewhere safe and separate from the original.
Is it safe to swim in Benidorm?
The main beaches have lifeguards from 1 June to 30 September, with nine each on Levante and Poniente in 2026, plus first-aid posts and a rescue boat. Never swim under a red flag, which is both dangerous and a serious offence. Cover is reduced out of season.
What should I do if my passport is stolen in Benidorm?
Report it to the police first, ideally at the SATE office on Calle Gerona, where interpreters help you file a report. Then contact your embassy or consulate for an emergency travel document; British nationals can call the consulate on +34 917 146 300.
Are unlicensed taxis a problem in Benidorm?
Using one can cost you a fine of up to €600, according to UK government advice. Take licensed taxis from official ranks or book by phone. Airport taxis are metered, at around €90 per car to Benidorm on the ordinary tariff.
Related guides
Sources and how we checked
Last updated 12 October 2026 by the onbenidorm team.