Cheap flights to Castellon from EUR20*

Castellón is your jumping-off point for exploring Spain’s lesser-known Costa del Azahar, or Orange Blossom Coast. Spanning 120 kilometres of sandy beaches, here you’ll also find medieval towns and resorts, coves and natural parks, volcanic islands and forested hills. The Costa del Azahar offers both a Mediterranean and a mountain holiday, whether you like scuba diving or kayaking, hiking or biking, relaxing on the beach or tasting seafood paella at a chiringuito bar, touring walled villages or gazing at the sea.

 

A Mediterranean and mountain holiday

Castellón de la Plana is the capital of the province of the same name, along Spain’s Mediterranean coast. The old town, with the Plaza Mayor, market hall, 15th-century octagonal bell tower and cathedral, are worth a stroll. While known for its beautiful beaches, the province is Spain’s second-most mountainous. So you may be lured inland to explore 1200 kilometres of signposted hiking routes, or ply 1500 kilometres of marked mountain biking trails. Up in the hills you’ll find medieval walled villages such as Morella or Vilafamés. Back on the beach, make sure to visit the walled peninsular city of Peñíscola. These three towns have been voted among Spain’s prettiest! Relax on the nearby sands, soaking up the sun and the view of the castle, or walk along the seemingly endless sandy shore.

 

Charming towns and natural wonders

To explore the charming towns of the coast, start with Peñíscola. This walled city has been perched atop a peninsula since the 14th century. The castle-fortress, once home to Pope Benedict XIII, reigns over the blue waters of the Mediterranean. Move on to Benicàssim, which is more than “just” a beach town with a vibrant nightlife. Elegant turn-of-the-century villas dot the palm-lined seaside promenade, and some are a bit over-the-top with turrets, grand staircases and burgeoning balconies. The adventurous may head to Aquarama, an enormous waterpark with 17 slides, including one called The Devil’s Drop. From Benicàssim, run, walk or bike along the Via Verde, an old railway line converted into paths that stretch to the next charming town, Oropesa del Mar, with gorgeous views of the sea at every turn. Head inland for historic towns, natural wonders, or both. Morella is a must-see, since it’s not just any old walled medieval town. The village of whitewashed houses is indeed surrounded by walls, but in the centre, a walled fortress rises atop a massive rock. As you can imagine, battles have been fought here since the time of El Cid. It’s a good starting point to hike the Maestrazgo mountains or explore the Tinença natural park. In Vilafamés, closer to the sea, red stone buildings cascade down a slope from the castle at the top, and flowers and vines spill over red stone garden walls on narrow streets. Be sure to see the simply named Big Rock, 2163-tonne piece of sandstone that has sat at a precarious angle on a steep town street for centuries. Touch it and make three wishes. Legend humbly has it that at least one will come true.

 

Surf and turf, Spanish style

Since the province of Castellón is part of the larger region of Valencia, paella is the classic dish in this part of Spain, rich with seafood or vegetables, or tinted black with squid ink. The seafood selection is seemingly endless. But since mountain pastures meet the sea in Castellón province, longaniza and butifarra sausages, sharp cheeses, herbed lamb chops and sumptuous steaks and stews are also often on the menu. Oranges abound on the Orange Blossom Coast, as do artichokes and anise. The latter are crafted into absinthe or the local cazalla – check out the retro-design bottles. Or try a cold mistela, a mix of grape must and alcohol. You’ll surely enjoy a meal at one of the many chiringuitos, or beach bars, that dot the coast and serve up seafood classics. If you’d like to head into Peñíscola’s old town, try Tasca La Bellota for a selection of Spanish hams, tapas and good beer. In Vilafamés, authentic but updated Spanish fare is the speciality at La Vinya, on the main street. Seafood paella par excellence can be found at Entrefogones by JR in Castellón de la Plana.

 

Handicrafts and cocktail creations

For local crafts to take home, seek out hand-painted ceramics, handwoven rugs and carpets or pairs of handmade espadrilles at shops and markets in every town. Nougat and chocolate treats are also handmade locally as well as olives and oranges and products made from them. Shopping centres include Salera and Enmedio in Castellón de la Plana and Puerto Azahar in the port of Grao. As for nightlife on the Costa Azahar, start your evening with a round of drinks or two at a chiringuito, and move on to nearby clubs for the all-night party scene, perhaps in the Plaza del Mar in the Grao seaside neighbourhood of Castellón de la Plana. In Peñíscola, have a cocktail at Maria Caipirinha, or lounge with a gin and tonic at Salabre, in the narrow old town streets. In Benicàssim, try the quirky Cafe El Corb for rock music, La Lluna for casual cocktails inside or out, or Sopranos for a good selection of wines and beers at the bar, and a nouveau spin on Spanish classic tapas. Benicàssim knows how to party, especially in July when it hosts a music festival called FIB that draws almost 200,000 people to a four-day nonstop extravaganza.

 

Uninhabited islands and an undiscovered coast

The Orange Blossom Coast has even more to discover. Jump in a boat out to the Islas Columbretes, an uninhabited archipelago of volcanic islands perfect for snorkelling and diving. Another kind of water wonderland can be found at the Coves of San Josep, home to the longest navigable underground river in Europe. Take a boat ride through the quiet waters, hear your voice echo in the underground lagoon, view stalactites and stalagmites carved into the rock by the water, over thousands of years. Another inland wonder is the hot springs at Montanejos, where the water isn’t hot, per se, but is 25°C all year round, for a nice dip after a hike through the gorge to get there. In the neighbourhood, there are opportunities for kayaking, canyoning and whitewater rafting. The seaside isn’t all beaches and bars – hike or bike in the Sierra de Irta Natural Park for views across to Peñiscola from cliffs and rocky hillsides, with secluded beaches tucked into the coast for a refreshing dip. Take the winding dirt roads up to the Torre Badum to see both the Mediterranean and mountainous aspects of this part of Spain. This is where you’ll really experience the undiscovered part of the coast. For another natural experience, not far from Benicàssim you can explore the Parque Natural del Desierto de las Palmas, with the ruins of a red sandstone monastery, the scent of pine forests and views to the sea.

 

Castellón airport

Castellón Airport is about 30 minutes by taxi, shuttle bus or rental car from Castellón de la Plana city, and about an hour up the coast from Valencia. This small airport has two cafés named Celsius and Fahrenheit, and a few souvenir shops. Its location allows for easy access to hotels, resorts and beach towns all along the coast, such as Benicàssim and Peñíscola.

 http://www.turismodecastellon.com/en/

Castellón weather

Castellón and the coastal region is warm and dry throughout the year, boasting as many as 300 days of sun! Average temperatures range from 18°C to 25°C from May through October. The warmest months are July and August, with highs near 30°C, while winters are mild, averaging above 10°C.