A Spanish holiday favourite known for its wild nightlife and sun-drenched beaches has shocked regular visitors after being described as unusually quiet during peak season. Benidorm, long hailed as a go-to summer destination for Brits seeking a break in the sun, is being branded a “ghost town” by surprised tourists who say the bustling resort is unrecognisably subdued this July.
The revelation came from 24-year-old Harry Poulton, a self-proclaimed Benidorm superfan who first visited on a lads’ holiday at 18 and later made the city his home. In a viral TikTok clip, Harry stands on the usually buzzing Benidorm strip, showing near-empty streets and bars.
“Benidorm is a ghost town in July?! I’ve never seen it this quiet. Where is everyone?!” he said in the video. “It’s the middle of July, look behind me, it’s dead.”
His observations were echoed by dozens of commenters, some of whom are currently holidaying in the city.
One visitor said: “Our first trip here and I was expecting carnage. It’s full of families.” Another wrote: “In Benny now, it’s packed with families instead of stags and hens.”
Several seasoned Benidorm-goers agreed the summer crowd has changed drastically in recent years. “We went July one year, it was all Spanish families around the pool,” one person said.
Others pointed to rising travel costs and economic pressures as possible reasons for the decline in young partygoers.
“No one has any money,” one TikTok user commented.
“Also, the price they charge to go in summer is scandalous.” Another added: “I was there between the 8th and 15th and it was a lot quieter than it was two summers ago. The price of holidays is going through the roof.”
Some suggest that Benidorm’s lull isn’t as unusual as it may seem. “It’s like this every July and August,” one commenter explained. “Shocking but reality, it’s too warm and very expensive.”
Despite the quieter scenes, travel operators still recommend the resort during summer. Thomas Cook, now an online travel agent, suggests August is the ideal time for beach lovers.
“The average temperature is a lovely 25°C and has been known to reach around 30°C,” they say, adding that the sea is at its warmest this time of year.
While the party atmosphere may be more subdued in 2025, many agree Benidorm still has plenty to offer, just with a slightly different crowd and a higher price tag.
