Here’s your complete guide to spending one day in Castellón de la Plana – including local tips, the best areas to stay, and hidden gems nearby, all based on my 15+ years living in the region.

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The Ultimate Travel Guide to Castellón de la Plana

Where is Castellón de la Plana

Castellón de la Plana is a city in eastern Spain and a destination I’ve been wanting to share for a long time, especially since there’s still very little detailed information about it online. Having lived in the Valencian Community for over 15 years, I’ve explored nearly every corner of the region, and Castellón de la Plana remains one of those places that truly rewards slow travel. The whole region surrounding the city of Castellón de la Plana is called Castellón, and it has also been a huge inspiration for my Undiscovered Spain blog series.

One thing to know is that you might see the city referred to as Castellón de la Plana, but most Spaniards simply call it Castellón. In Valencian – the regional language of the Valencian Community – its official name is Castelló de la Plana, or simply Castelló. So wherever you see it online or on the display boards at train stations across Spain, keep in mind that these names all refer to the same place. I’ve had many friends ask me about this before.

Located between Valencia and Barcelona, Castellón de la Plana is still emerging on the international travel scene, despite the growth of Castellón–Costa Azahar Airport, which is bringing in more budget flights from Northern Europe. Often overshadowed by its more famous neighbours, Valencia and Alicante, Castellón de la Plana offers a more local, relaxed, and budget-friendly alternative.

Castellón or Valencia?

If you’re deciding between Valencia and Castellón de la Plana for your Spain holiday destination, keep in mind that Valencia is far more interesting when it comes to museums and major landmarks, while Castellón offers a more local, non-touristy atmosphere and is better suited to travellers looking for hidden gems in Spain.

Castellón de la Plana also works perfectly as a calm base for exploring both the Castellón region and some highlights of the Valencia region. You can use it as the starting point for this Valencia road trip, this Castellón road trip, also this Matarranya road trip.

Local tip: Castellón is known in Spain for its long-standing ceramic tradition. If you love pottery, you can take a road trip to explore the region’s ceramic hubs in this post.

For a beach holiday, I actually prefer the Castellón region over Valencia because it’s just as beautiful but far less crowded. The coastal area of El Grao – the beach district of Castellón, which has gradually grown into its own small town – and nearby Benicàssim offer wide, beautiful beaches that are much quieter than those around many towns in Valencia or Alicante. A long seaside promenade connects El Grao, Benicàssim, and even Oropesa del Mar, making it ideal for walking or cycling along the coast.

How to Get to Castellón de la Plana

Castellón de la Plana is conveniently situated between Valencia and Barcelona, making it an easy stop on most Spain itineraries. The nearest airport, Castellón Airport, is situated in the village of Benlloch, about 20–30 minutes from the city center. I’ve found some great deals to Castellón from Milan, London, and Budapest a few times using both Trip and Skyscanner.

Also, there is a frequent train connection from Valencia Nord Station to Castellón de la Plana, with trains running roughly every 30 minutes. Tickets usually cost around €6–7 one way, and you can buy them from the ticket machines at the train stations in both Valencia and Castellón. Make sure to keep the ticket card and recharge it for future journeys, as this makes each ticket around €1 cheaper.

Local tip: Although the route is mainly served by Renfe Cercanías trains – the short-distance red-and-white trains – you can also use the same ticket to take regional trains, which are usually around 20 minutes faster. However, these trains often come from other cities and can already be delayed by the time they arrive in Castellón de la Plana. Because of this, I usually plan my trips using the Cercanías timetable, and if I’m lucky enough to catch a regional train, I take that instead.

Also Castellón is connected by train and bus (the station is the same) to major Spanish cities like Madrid or Barcelona, you can find the best ticket deals via Omio (get 10% off with code ATC10 for first-time customers). I use Omio for trains between Spanish cities, but for Renfe Cercanías from Castellón to Valencia it’s easier to buy tickets directly at the station. Otherwise, you’ll need to validate them, since QR codes only work for regional trains between Spanish cities.

Where to stay in Castellón de la Plana

You can stay in Castellón city center if you prefer; there are hotels directly by Castellón train station (like Civis Luz Castellón), which is also close to the center. You can check out the current deals via the map below.

However, in summer it gets hot, and staying by the coast is much nicer, especially around El Grao de Castellón or Benicàssim, where you’ll find some of the best hotels and easy access to the beach and promenade. Options like RH Silene Hotel & Spa in El Grao or Palasiet Wellness Clinic & Thalasso offer a more relaxing coastal experience. If you stay at RH Silene Hotel & Spa, there is a bus stop nearby and you can easily get to Castellón city center. There is also a bike rental station nearby, as well as a nice park with pine trees and playgrounds for kids, plus a small golf course.

Staying in the city center is also convenient, although it can feel quite hot in summer. From Castellón, you can easily take a bus from Av. Germans Bou (Pl. Juez Borrull) to Benicàssim, with services running roughly every 30 minutes.

How to spend one day in Castellón de la Plana

Parque Ribalta

Start your day at Parque Ribalta, the city’s most beautiful green space. As you walk through the park, look out for the benches decorated with traditional ceramic tiles – a small but meaningful detail that reflects Castellón de la Plana’s deep connection to the ceramic industry.

Plaça de l’Hort dels Corders

Continue to Plaça de l’Hort dels Corders, one of the most distinctive squares in Castellón de la Plana, known for its colorful sculptures by local artist Ripollés.

Plaza Mayor de Castellón

From there, head to Plaza Mayor de Castellón, the heart of the historic center. Here you’ll find the cathedral, the central market, cafés, and a lively local atmosphere that captures everyday life in Castellón de la Plana.

I would recommend taking time to simply wander around the city center, or browse for food souvenirs and Spanish gifts, as the area is full of shops and cafés. Castellón de la Plana is ideal for slow exploration – quiet plazas and classic bars create an atmosphere far removed from Spain’s busier tourist spots.

Museu de Belles Arts de Castelló

For a cultural stop, you can visit the Museu de Belles Arts de Castelló. Entry is free, and while the museum is not large, it offers a great introduction to local culture, with exhibitions dedicated to ceramics, regional traditions, and artwork reflecting life in the Valencian Community.

Beach Promenade from El Grao to Benicàssim (+ more things to do)

If you have extra time, head towards the coast. From Av. Germans Bou / Pl. Juez Borrull in Castellon de la Plana, you can take a bus to the port of El Grao for fresh seafood meal by the sea, or continue to Benicàssim to enjoy beautiful beaches such as Playa del Serradal. You can buy tickets on the bus, and they usually ask for your final stop. Here is the bus schedule and itinerary.

Avda. Ferrandis Salvador is the coastal road where you’ll find the promenade for walking and cycling, as well as the beaches, so you can easily hop off at any stop.

If you want a nice seafood lunch or dinner, head to El Grao (you’ll need to get off the bus at Paseo Buena Vista / Aduana del Puerto). Here, I recommend Mirador del Port; they serve amazing rice dishes, and my favorite tapa there is sea urchin. Another great restaurant is Mediterráneo, well known for the local specialty rice dish arroz a banda (but you need to call them and order it in advance). Another popular place for seafood tapas is El Galeón, but they used to not accept reservations, so it’s first come, first served. Especially on weekends, you should go when they open, as it gets full quickly.

The final stop on the bus itinerary is the town of Benicàssim; you can read more about it in this post. Also, if you plan to rent a car and explore the Castellón region, you can find day trip ideas in this post: I would especially recommend Peñíscola and Morella. For hiking in the Castellón region, check out this post.

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