Castellón de la Plana travel guide
El Fadrí, the Grau beaches and the Magdalena fiestas
A provincial capital on the Costa del Azahar with a compact centre around Plaça Major and beaches at its port district, the Grau. Come in May, June or September for the sea, or in March for the Magdalena fiestas. Two days covers city and beach.
About 60 km north of Valencia on the Costa del Azahar, Castellón is a provincial capital first and a beach town second. The city proper lies a few kilometres inland, while its port district, the Grau, sits on the Mediterranean. Behind it to the north rise the hills of the Desert de les Palmes. Valencian and Spanish are both official.
Plaça Major gathers the main sights in one place: the early-18th-century City Hall with its colonnade, the co-cathedral of Santa Maria (rebuilt after it was pulled down in 1936) and its freestanding bell tower, El Fadrí. Nearby, the 17th-century Llotja del Cànem was built for the hemp and rope trade and now hosts university exhibitions. Walk northeast along the orange-tree avenue to the Basílica del Lledó, home of the city's patron image.
Down at the Grau the harbour and city beaches take over, and the coast is good for sea kayaking. Look for the monolith in Parc del Meridià, where the Greenwich meridian crosses the 40th parallel. In Lent, usually in March but sometimes from late February, the Magdalena fiestas take over the streets for over a week.
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A cathedral square with a freestanding bell tower, an old hemp exchange, a baroque basilica and city beaches at the port.
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Best time to visit Castellón de la Plana
Month by month, so you can pick the weather and the crowds you want.
Warm and sunny, with the sea at its best in June and September.
Fiesta time in Lent, with parades and fireworks; rooms book up fast.
Mild for the season thanks to the sea; quiet beaches, comfortable for the old town.
The Magdalena fiestas fall in Lent, usually in March but in late February in years when Easter is early, and fill the centre for over a week; book a room early.
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Getting there
Into Estació de Castelló from Valencia, or via CDT
Most visitors fly into Valencia and finish by train, since Castellón sits on the coastal railway about 60 km north. Renfe runs frequent services from Valencia, and every long-distance train between Barcelona and Valencia stops at Estació de Castelló on Carrer del Pintor Oliet. Castellón's own airport (CDT), 30 km north, has fewer flights; buses run from it into the city and to Torreblanca station on the railway. The bus station sits next to the train station, with Hife services along the coast and Alsa coaches to Barcelona. Drivers use the A-7 motorway, which runs to Valencia and north towards Tarragona.
- Train from Valencia
- Frequent Renfe services; all Barcelona-Valencia long-distance trains stop here
- Castellón Airport (CDT)
- 30 km north; buses to the city and to Torreblanca station
- Bus station
- Beside the train station; Hife along the coast, Alsa to Barcelona
- Bus times from CDT are posted on the airport's website; check them before booking a late arrival.
Where to stay
Parc Ribalta, Plaça Major or the Grau by the harbour
Choose the centre for sights, food and train connections, or the Grau if the beach is the point of the trip. Parc Ribalta, a large park between the station and the old streets, is a pleasant landmark to stay near.
- Centre near Parc Ribalta
- Between the station and Plaça Major, walkable to the sights
- Opposite the station
- Practical for early trains and buses on Carrer del Pintor Oliet
- El Grau
- By the port and beaches, a few kilometres from the old centre
Getting around
Bicicas and on foot
The city is small and flat, so walking and cycling cover most needs. Bicicas, the public bike-share, sells passes by the day, week or month; sign up online before your first ride. On foot, Plaça Major, El Fadrí, the Llotja del Cànem and the Ethnological Museum on Carrer Cavallers are a few minutes apart. The Grau and the beaches lie a few kilometres east, an easy bike ride from the centre. The Basílica del Lledó sits on the northeast edge of town at the end of an avenue lined with orange trees.
- Bicicas
- Public bike-share with daily, weekly and monthly passes
- Walking
- Plaça Major, the Fadrí and the Llotja are a few minutes apart
- Museums close for a long lunch break, roughly 14:00-16:00, so plan sightseeing for mornings and late afternoons.
Know before you go
What makes Castellón de la Plana worth the trip, and what catches visitors out.
Why travelers love it
- El Fadrí, the co-cathedral's freestanding bell tower rising over Plaça Major.
- The orange-tree avenue leading out to the Basílica del Lledó.
- Standing on the meridian at the monolith in Parc del Meridià, where 0° meets 40°N.
Good to know
- The Grau is a separate district a few kilometres from the centre, so plan a bus or bike ride to the beach.
- The Ethnological Museum keeps split hours, closing at lunchtime, like many places in town.
Trip fit
BookingMentor editorial ratings out of 5, based on a first-time visitor's experience.
Weather in Castellón de la Plana, month by month
Castellón peaks at 31°C in August and stays at 16°C by day in January. September is wettest, with about 60 mm.
Climate figures are approximate long-term averages for Castellón de la Plana, Almazora 43m (Agencia Estatal de Meteorología, via Wikipedia).
El Fadrí, the Lledó avenue and sunset at the Grau
One day covers Castellón. Spend the morning on foot around Plaça Major, El Fadrí and the Llotja del Cànem, ride a Bicicas bike in the afternoon out to the Basílica del Lledó and the Grau beaches, and finish with dinner by the port or a concert at the Auditori.
Morning. Begin at Plaça Major, where the colonnaded City Hall faces the co-cathedral of Santa Maria and its separate bell tower, El Fadrí. The church was rebuilt after its demolition in 1936, so much of what you see is modern work on a medieval plan. Two minutes away, the Llotja del Cànem, a 17th-century exchange for hemp traders, often has a free exhibition, and the Ethnological Museum on Carrer Cavallers shows how the area lived.
Afternoon. Rent a Bicicas bike and ride out along the orange-tree avenue to the Basílica del Lledó, then head east to the Grau and its beaches. Stop at the meridian monolith in Parc del Meridià for the photo.
Evening. Stay by the port for dinner, or return to the centre for a show at the Auditori, the concert hall designed by Carlos Ferrater.
Arroz a banda in the Grau and tapas on Carrer Barraques
Order rice. Castellón cooks in the Valencian tradition, so paella, arroz a banda and black rice head most menus, and the seafood restaurants along the harbour in the Grau are the natural place for them. Rice is cooked to order for two or more, so arrive early at lunchtime.
Arroz a banda is cooked in fish stock, and black rice gets its colour from squid ink. In the port district of the Grau, seafood restaurants line the harbour and are the natural choice after a day on the beach. Expect a wait.
In town, Tasca La Nécora on Carrer Barraques and Taberna Karagols on Carrer de Crevillent are casual local tapas spots, while Le Bistrot Gastronómico on Carrer de Temprado aims higher. Spaniards here eat lunch from about 14:00 and dinner after 21:00, and many kitchens close between those hours.
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How we research our Castellón de la Plana travel guide
Castellón de la Plana is checked against its official website, Spain.info and Renfe.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Quick answers to the questions travelers ask most before visiting Castellón de la Plana.
General
Castellón Airport (CDT), 30 km north, has buses into the city but few flights. Valencia has far more routes, and the train north covers the last 60 km.
Renfe runs frequent trains from Valencia, about 60 km south, and all Barcelona-Valencia long-distance trains stop at Castellón.
Castellón's main fiesta, held in Lent (usually March) and lasting over a week.
In Parc del Meridià, where a monolith marks the point at which the meridian meets the 40th parallel.
Register online, then buy a day, week or month pass. The flat streets make it the easiest way to reach the Lledó and the Grau.
Both. Valencian and Spanish are co-official, so street names often appear in Valencian, such as Plaça Major and El Grau.
The tower was built as a freestanding campanile beside Santa Maria on Plaça Major; the church itself was rebuilt after 1936.
Yes, for a day or a night: the centre is compact, trains stop here constantly, and the beaches are close.
The city is small and flat, so walking and cycling cover most needs. Bicicas, the public bike-share, sells passes by the day, week or month; sign up online before your first ride. On foot, Plaça Major, El Fadrí, the Llotja del Cànem and the Ethnological Museum on Carrer Cavallers are a few minutes apart.
Getting there
A few kilometres east of the centre, an easy ride on a Bicicas bike or a short bus trip.
Timing & weather
May, June and September are best for the Grau beaches; the Magdalena fiestas fall in Lent, usually March.
The best time to visit Castellón de la Plana is May to Jun, Sep. Warm sea and mild heat without August's crowds.
- Beach season: May - September (Warm and sunny, with the sea at its best in June and September)
- Magdalena: Late February - March (Fiesta time in Lent, with parades and fireworks; rooms book up fast)
- Winter: November - February (Mild for the season thanks to the sea; quiet beaches, comfortable for the old town)
August is the warmest month in Castellón de la Plana, with average highs of 31°C, and January the coolest, with lows of 6°C. September is the wettest month, at about 60 mm of rain; July is the driest. Castellón peaks at 31°C in August and stays at 16°C by day in January.
Visa & documents
Spain follows Schengen entry rules. Citizens of the EU and of many other countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia, can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; other nationalities need a Schengen visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) records non-EU travelers' fingerprints and a photo at the border.
Health & safety
Pickpocketing in the big cities is Spain's main crime risk for visitors. Pickpocketing is common in Barcelona and Madrid, especially on the metro and in tourist areas. Heatwaves and wildfires occur in summer.
