The Valencian Community is full of charming places that you can escape to when looking for a break outside the city. There are a wide variety of towns near Valencia that are easy to reach and it is not all beaches and coasts.
Towns near Valencia, which one to visit?
Altea, Alicante
An hour and a half by car from Valencia is Altea. It is a town full of charm that has conquered us because it perfectly combines the sea and the mountains and, best of all, it is not yet a crowded tourist destination. Altea, which belongs to the province of Alicante, has just over 20,000 inhabitants and has that air of a small town on the shores of the Mediterranean, as well as an old town full of white houses.
In Altea you can do countless things, but perhaps you should think about visiting it in a single day. Here you can enjoy the sea from one of its magnificent coves and beaches; also visit the historic center and fall completely in love with its charm and Mediterranean style. You can go to the temple of the Archangel Gabriel (the first building of the Russian Orthodox church in our country). Also in Altea is the Torre de la Galera and the Torre de Bellaguarda.
You can find a wide range of hotels and hostels to spend the night, in case you decide to stay.
Castell de Guadalest, Alicante
Castell de Guadalest is another of the towns near Valencia that you can visit in one day. In the province of Alicante we find this spectacular town, which rises from a valley and conquers by the spectacular views of the Guadalest reservoir. This town is characterized by being divided into 2 parts: the upper part and the lower part, which communicate through a tunnel.
You can go up to the Alcozaiba castle and the San José castle, but also visit the Orduña house or the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption. And it is that in Guadalest you will not lack plans. It has the most peculiar museums we have ever heard of. For example, here is the one with the salt and pepper shakers, which houses more than 20,000 pieces (yes, of salt and pepper containers).
It is also home to the Guadalest Microminiatures Museum . What will you see in this museum? Well, Goya’s Naked Maja painted on the wing of a fly or Diego Velázquez’s famous Meninas on a grain of corn. And other curiosities such as the sculpture of an elephant inside the eyes of a mosquito. If you want to spend the night in Guadalest, you can do it in one of the magnificent hotels in the mountains.
Biar, one of the towns near Valencia
Biar is located about 131 km from Valencia. It also belongs to Alicante and barely reaches 4,000 inhabitants. The most beautiful thing about this town is the imposing castle that crowns it and which is a Site of Cultural Interest. The castle of Biar, dating from the 12th century, stands on a hill that dominates the entire town; it opens from Tuesday to Sunday and you can visit it.
Already in the old part of the city you can visit the church of the Assumption , of Renaissance style. And, of course, take a walk through the center and enter one of the bars and restaurants that offer the best of Valencian cuisine, such as rice.
Towns near Valencia: Xàtiva, Alicante
About 50 minutes from Valencia is Xàtiva, in the province of Alicante. It also has an imposing castle at the top of the city; It has 30 towers and 4 gates and it is the union of 2 ancient fortresses; one Iberian-Roman and another of Arab origin. Of course, the castle of Xàtiva is not the only attraction in the city, you can also visit the hermitage of San Félixa, the church of Sant Pere or the palace of the Marqués de Montortal.
Xàtiva is a place full of history, so if you are a lover of this discipline, you cannot miss it. You will be surprised to know that Xàtiva was the cradle of the Borgia dynasty, which had a lot of influence during the Middle Ages; Although many remember them as cruel and tyrants, let’s not forget that the Borgias were great patrons of artists such as Michelangelo, Titian or Bosco.
Of course, something that they have very present in Xàtiva, centuries later, is the fire of the city at the hands of Felipe V (first Bourbon to occupy the throne); and it is that the Borgias were supporters of the Habsburgs. We tell you this detail because curiously, in the Xàtiva museum, they hang a painting of Felipe V upside down .
Morella, Castellón
Morella is located in the province of Castellón , about 2 and a half hours away by car. Perhaps a bit far, but at the same time, one of the most beautiful towns in Valencia. Morella stands on top of a hill and offers spectacular views that will take your breath away. The best thing about Morella is its wall, which is in perfect condition, and a medieval castle dating from the 13th century that is visible from a distance. And of course, its streets full of charm and with that old touch.
In Morella you can also visit the church of Santa María la Mayor, in the Gothic style and the convent of San Francisco. For one more day in the country, the surroundings of the Santa Lucía aqueduct and, of course, an obligatory stop at the Time of Dinosaurs Museum; and it is that this museum serves to remind the visitor that, in other times, Morella housed these imposing animals.
Peñíscola, Castellón
Peñíscola is one of the most popular towns near Valencia. Plan your itinerary well before leaving for Peñíscola, as there are so many things to do that you won’t know where to start. Peñíscola is in Castellón and is a fortified city by the sea.
The greatest attraction in Peñíscola is perhaps the Papa Luna castle. It is a fortress from the time of the Templars, built in the 14th century and that you can visit on your own or by requesting a guide. You should also visit the Portal de San Pedro and the town lighthouse and, of course, a short day on the beach. In case it is not enough, we tell you that Peñíscola served as the setting for the filming of Game of Thrones. Ven I can ask at the tourist office free tour “Peñíscola film”.
Vilafamés, Castellón
A little over an hour from Valencia is Vilafamés. It is one of the most beautiful towns in Castellón that has, like almost all the Valencian towns that we have reviewed, its own castle (of Muslim origin). The visitor can easily get lost in the streets of Vilafamés, which retain that Moorish charm and are crowned with the castle and its church.
One of the most visited points is the grossa rock , a stone mass to which visitors (and anyone who is a believer), comes to make a wish. The impressive rock is a geological formation that we do not know how it got there and how it is maintained, as it is on sloping terrain. The rock weighs 2,163.2 tons! According to tradition, you have to approach the rock, touch it and ask for 3 wishes so that at least one of them is fulfilled.
The houses in Vilafamés are located on the side of the hill and crowned by the castle. Although it is inland, Vilafamés preserves that characteristic Mediterranean air of the towns of Valencia.
