The small town of Benicassim is a longtime favorite in my family, especially when it comes to a relaxing beach getaway in Spain. I hope you enjoy the picture-perfect views of the Mediterranean coast and learn more about this beautiful little town.

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Family Weekend in Benicassim

Where to enjoy a relaxing beach getaway in Spain

If you’re dreaming of a relaxing beach getaway in Spain, I have a new inspiring travel story to share – our long family weekend in Benicassim.

While exploring top Spanish landmarks and roaming the undiscovered regions of Spain is what sets my soul on fire, I do feel the urge to slow down every once in a while. This is when my occasional beach getaways in Spain come into play. Even the most passionate globetrotter sometimes needs to relax, reset, and recharge.

Although I’ve always loved Spanish beaches, vacations on the Mediterranean coast quickly moved to the top of my Spain bucket list after having kids. The seaside is now the only place where I can get some me-time without having to leave the little ones with someone else. We spend time swimming and playing together, and then my girls get caught up in their own games with sand and water while I enjoy a quiet moment with a new wanderlust book in hand. My husband is less into reading, so we make a great team on vacation (lol, as he’s often the one keeping an eye on the kids at the beach).

This post highlights just one of our magical long weekends in Benicassim (we’ve had quite a few over the years). But I hope it gives you some inspiration for planning your own epic beach getaway in Spain.

Where is Benicassim

Benicassim is one of the popular beach towns in Spain, located along the Costa Azahar coastline. While it is a favorite vacation spot for Spaniards, Benicassim remains relatively undiscovered by international tourists, especially when compared to more well-known destinations like Costa Brava, Costa del Sol, and Costa Blanca.

Situated in the province of Castellon, Benicassim is part of the Valencian Community region, making it an ideal option for a day trip from Valencia or a stop on a Castellon road trip itinerary.

The Benicassim Tourism Office is located on the main street, Sant Tomás 74. I recommend stopping by to pick up free maps and get information about local events and festivals.

How to get to Benicassim

The best way to get to Benicassim is by car or van, as there are some great van-friendly areas.

The second option is to buy train tickets to Castellon and then take a taxi to Benicassim, which costs around 15 euros. While there is also a bus from Castellon to Benicassim, it departs from Avda. Hermanos Bou / Plaza J. Borrul in the city center of Castellon. Keep in mind that the train from Barcelona sometimes makes a stop in Benicassim, but you will need to call a taxi to pick you up (in Castellon, you’ll find plenty of taxis waiting outside the station).

If you’re flying, the nearest airports to Benicassim are Castellon Airport (40 km) and Valencia Airport (71 km). Other options include Barcelona Airport (250 km), Alicante Airport (266 km), and Madrid Airport (437 km). But don’t let the distance from Madrid discourage you: you can take a high-speed train from Madrid to Valencia (1h50), then either rent a car or switch stations in Valencia (from Joaquin Sorolla to Valencia Nord) to catch a regional express to Castellon. Both train stations in Valencia are located next to each other, and while there’s a free shuttle bus connecting them, I usually walk to save time. Additionally, during the summer months, Alsa Bus offers two daily routes from Madrid to Benicassim.

What is Benicassim known for

For international visitors, Benicàssim is primarily known for its festivals—FIB (July) and Rototom Sunsplash (August). However, in this IG post, I’m sharing 3 other great festivals in Benicàssim: the Blues Festival (June 3-5), the Francisco Tárrega Guitar Competition (Aug 28 – Sep 2), and Belle Époque (Sep 2-4). Don’t miss them if your travel dates overlap!

For Spaniards, Benicàssim is a popular beach destination, especially for those living in Madrid or Zaragoza. Many restaurants in the small town of Benicàssim are open only during the summer season, and the coastal area is filled with apartments typically rented out for the entire summer.

Benicàssim is one of the best places in Spain for sandy beaches. It’s a popular spot for kayaking, kitesurfing, and windsurfing, with rentals available along the seafront during the summer months.

Where to Stay in Benicassim

Cool places to stay by the beach in Benicassim include the PALASIET Thalasso Hotel and RH Silene Hotel & Spa. There are also many cute, budget-friendly hotels in Benicassim, such as Montreal, Solea House, Hotel Sunna. Additionally, the holiday village of Marina D´Or, located in the nearby village of Oropesa, is another popular vacation spot. If you’re planning to stay in Benicassim for a longer period, renting an apartment is a great option (but be sure to book in advance, as Benicassim is a popular beach destination in Spain, especially during the summer months).

My weekends to Benicassim

Not only have I visited Benicassim numerous times, but this charming small town was also my first expat home in Spain.

Take my word for it: Benicassim really has a unique atmosphere. Before we built our own house, Benicassim was my favorite place to live in the Province of Castellón. You can’t imagine how much I enjoyed waking up to the sea views of Benicassim every morning, year-round.

Although this small town becomes quite popular during the summer months, I’m more of an off-season traveler. In May/June and September/October, the weather in Benicassim is already perfect for a beach getaway, yet there’s hardly anyone around. From December to March, Benicassim is still an ideal place to enjoy Spain’s winter sun.

In this post, I’m sharing one of our family weekends in Benicassim (after we had already moved into a new house). This relaxing trip took place in early September during the Belle Époque Festival.

Our Benicassim Beach Getaway

Day 1 – Beach + Desierto de Las Palmas + Grau de Castellon

You know how it usually goes on a holiday – you promise yourself you’ll take it easy and stay in bed until late morning, but then you suddenly wake up with the sunrise.

That’s exactly what happened to me. It was 6:30 a.m., and I was ready to hit the beach. But the rest of my family was obviously still asleep. I looked out the window at the beautiful seaside view and felt the urge to catch the first rays of the day in person.

It’s funny how waking up early can often feel like one of the best parts of any relaxing beach getaway in Spain. The beach sunrises and sunsets are so serene.

As one of Hemingway’s travel quotes about Spain says: “There is no nightlife in Spain. They stay up late, but they get up late. That is not nightlife. That is delaying the day.” You probably wouldn’t notice this in Madrid or Barcelona, but places like Benicassim truly live by this quote. You won’t see anyone on the beach before 10 a.m., and even the lifeguards don’t show up until around 11 a.m.

So, while the rest of the world was still sleeping, I quickly threw on my trainers and went for a jog along the beach. Photos honestly don’t do justice to how surreal it all felt…

After the run, I made it back in time to have breakfast with my husband and kids, and then we spent the morning at Gurugu Beach. It’s such a stunning seaside location, awarded a Blue Flag (a local distinction given to the best beaches in Spain).

In the afternoon, we drove to Desierto de Las Palmas to enjoy the panoramic views of Benicassim and the surrounding mountains. The area is also known for its beautiful picnic spots. Plus, there are a few amazing hikes, like Agulles de Santa Agueda and Subida al Bartolo.

However, the weather felt a bit too hot for hiking with kids, so we decided to save that active plan for a future visit.

For dinner, we headed to the port of Grau de Castellón to try local seafood. It’s a great place to sample paella as well. Among the restaurants there, I especially love Mirador del Port (their sea urchins are to die for), Mediterráneo (their specialty is the local dish arroz a banda), and El Galeón. The latter doesn’t accept reservations, but for the first two, you should try to book a table, especially on weekends (during the week, they usually have availability).

Day 2 – Via Verde + Aquarama

On the second day of our beach getaway in Spain, I still wanted to enjoy the Mediterranean coast, but with something a little more active.

We stopped at a charming café, La Corretgera, in Benicassim’s city center for breakfast. Afterward, we rented bikes to explore the popular Via Verde, which connects the small towns of Benicassim and Oropesa. This 6 km-long trail begins behind the Voramar Hotel, where there’s a large parking area to leave your car. Most people ride bikes on the Via Verde, though some prefer walking (and a few even bring kids with strollers). It’s a perfect family activity in the Castellon region.

There are several bike rental shops in Benicassim, and there are also self-service bike rentals by the seaside, like the Bicicas Station on 32 Avda. Ferrandis Salvador.

In the afternoon, we took the kids to Aquarama, a popular water park near Valencia (especially for families). They absolutely loved it.

While most visitors spend the entire day at the park, an afternoon was more than enough for me (although my girls could have easily spent the whole weekend there). Note that if you’re visiting in August, it’s best to buy tickets in advance, as Aquarama gets completely full. In July and September, we usually buy tickets when we arrive. Also, from 3:30 PM, you can get a discounted half-day ticket.

Day 3 – Plaza del Trenet + Paseo de las Villas / Belle Epoque Festival

On the third day of our beach getaway in Spain, we had more cultural plans by the beach.

First, we took the kids to ride the tiny locomotives at Benicassim’s Plaza del Trenet. It’s essentially a miniature railway station, where you sit in tiny train carriages and ride around the park. It’s such a fun experience to try in Spain with kids.

While it is usually open on Sundays year-round (from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.), during the months of July and August, the schedule is extended to three additional days per week: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays (from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.). It’s a similar experience to that of Riba-roja de Turia, which is a must-visit in Valencia with kids.

Later, we headed to Paseo de las Villas, or the Route of the Villas, where the Festival Belle Epoque was taking place.

Paseo de las Villas is one of the most iconic and historic areas of Benicassim, often referred to as the Valencian Biarritz. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, wealthy local families built a number of unique luxury villas here. You can find the list and map on the Benicassim Tourism website.

While Paseo de las Villas is a great spot for a seaside walk all year round, during the Belle Époque Festival (usually around September 2-4), you can enjoy the artisan market, temporary exhibits at Villa Elisa, and plenty of vintage cars, bikes, costumes, and other elements from 19th-century vacation life.

Though the area was bustling with visitors, I truly enjoyed the experience (at times, it felt like time traveling). You can find more details about the Festival via the IG Highlight “Benicassim” and this IG post. Additionally, this IG post includes some more recent captures from Benicassim Beach.

More ideas

If you’re a fan of beach getaways in Spain and plan to stay longer in Benicassim, I’ll be adding another post next week with plenty of day trip ideas for the region. From Benicassim, you can also take this Castellon road trip.

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