Peniscola is a municipality located in the north of the province of Castellón, popularly known for its castle, on the seafront, and its long beaches to the north and south of the castle. It is a town with a lot of tourist attractions. It is part of the network of the most beautiful towns in Spain, which, together with a typically Mediterranean climate with mild temperatures all year long, means that it receives visitors all year long.
Its proximity to the Sierra de Irta mountain range makes Peniscola an attractive starting point for hikers, walkers and bathers who want to enjoy unspoilt beaches in spectacular coves.
What to see in Peniscola?
The tourist attraction of Peniscola goes far beyond the beaches of crystal-clear waters and fine sand on both sides of the castle, which, on the other hand, gives it a perfect setting. In addition to the north beach - with 5 km of beach - and the south beach - barely 300 m long - (which is what they are called and is delimited by the castle that separates them) there are many unspoilt beaches in the Sierra de Irta mountain range that enhance the beaches of the Azahar coast.
You can enjoy bathing with family on unspoilt beaches of stone or shells with vegetation that provides natural shade. You can practice water sports such as swimming, diving, snorkelling, paddle surfing... Some of the most outstanding coves are:
- Basseta Beach
- Argiala Cove
- Irta Beach
- La Petxina Beach
- Ordí Cove
- Badum Cove
There are more incredible coves to discover in the Sierra de Irta natural park, where you can also enjoy walking along hiking routes visiting, for example, the Ebrí tower, in the municipality of Alcalá de Xivert.
Within the city, Peniscola has attractive tourist attractions, such as the Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells), located in the old quarter of the town, whose name comes from the fact that the façade has been completely covered in shells. Nor should you miss the Bufador, an indentation in the rock that connects with the sea, through which a characteristic sound is emitted in the form of a snorting sound. Discovering Peniscola by strolling through the streets of the old town is, without any doubt, a good plan to enjoy with the whole family. But if this city is popularly known for anything, it is undoubtedly for the castle of Pope Luna, which, although of much earlier origin, gained its greatest splendour during the Western Schism, as it was the place chosen by Pedro de Luna (Benedict XIII when he was named Pope) to retire.
What to eat in Peniscola?
The gastronomy in Peniscola is marked by its proximity to the sea and the use of vegetables and products from its surroundings.
Of course, as in any part of the Valencian Community, visitors can enjoy a good rice dish (fish or seafood rice dishes are typical). Among the typical dishes of Peniscola, the use of fish and seafood is common, such as all i pebre, fish and seafood stew or cañadillas (sea snails).
If you're more of a sweet tooth, don't miss the pumpkin pies, which are pasties filled with a pumpkin jam made with pumpkin, cottage cheese and honey. Also typical of this town are the flaons, which are similar in appearance to pumpkin pies, but differ from the latter in their appearance, covered with a layer of sugar on the outside. They also differ in their filling of cottage cheese with almonds.
How to get from Valencia to Peniscola?
Peniscola is 143 km from Valencia and 73 km from Castellón. To get from Valencia airport to Peniscola you can go by public transport, taking various means of transport:
- Metro or bus to get to Valencia
- Regional train from Valencia North Station to Benicarló
- Bus from Benicarló to Peniscola
The journey by public transport takes more than 3 hours and involves walking some stretches (especially at the beginning and end) with your luggage on your back until you reach your destination.
Transfer with private driver with us
A much faster and safer alternative is to travel by car along the AP7 from Valencia to Peniscola, and now you can do so by hiring a private transfer service with a driver between Valencia and Peniscola. Just select the type of car you want to travel in, the number of passengers and the dates and one of our drivers will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the door of your accommodation in 90 minutes.
