Castles near Valencia: 23 fortresses worth the trip

The castles near Valencia most worth the trip are Sagunto, the double fortress of Xàtiva and the castle of Chulilla above the Turia canyon. This is a hand-picked selection by FindeValencia from the places with the most history in the province, spread across the huerta, the inland sierras and the coast.

Sagunto Castle

A vast walled enclosure that runs along the ridge above the old town, with a Roman theatre at its foot and Iberian and Roman remains. It is about 30 minutes from Valencia, entry is free, and it is the simplest starting point if you have never walked one of these walls.

Castell de Xàtiva

It is really two castles: the Menor, of Ibero-Roman origin, and the medieval Major, joined by walls that crown the ridge above the city. Touring the towers and courtyards takes a while, so keep the morning free. Check opening hours and ticket price before you go.

Chulilla Castle

A castle of Moorish origin on a crag above a bend in the Turia. It has been restored and access is free. From the top you can see the famous hanging footbridges and the gorge, so pair it with the riverside walk.

Santa Bárbara Castle (Alicante)

166 metres above the sea on Mount Benacantil. Entry is free and you can take the lift up from the seafront, with views over the harbour and the Mediterranean. It is the easiest half-day plan if you head down to Alicante.

Cullera Castle

On the Raboses hill, it watches over the mouth of the Júcar. Inside is the Cullera History and Archaeology Museum. You can string it together with a day at the beach.

Castell de Morella

It crowns the rock of Morella, in Els Ports, with views over the whole district. You climb a ramp that wraps around the mountain to the Governor's Palace. It is far (over two hours), so treat it as a full-day trip alongside the walled town.

Peñíscola Castle

Built by the Templars between 1294 and 1307 on a headland jutting into the sea. In 1411 the antipope Benedict XIII (Papa Luna) set up his court here. It sits about an hour and a half away on the Castellón coast and is one of the region's most photographed sights.

More inland and huerta fortresses that fit a short break:

• Serra Castle: a Moorish castle (8th-11th c.) above 500 m in the Calderona; reached by a circular hike. Free access.
• El Puig Castle: where James I set up his base before the conquest of València (Battle of El Puig, 1237), beside the hermitage of Sant Jordi. Free and 20 minutes out.
• Castell de Santa Anna (Oliva): a 16th-century Renaissance fortress with two round towers and a chapel, right in the town. Free access.
• Requena Castle: a 15th-century keep over 23 metres tall, now the town's interpretation centre.
• Palace of the Counts of Cervellón (Anna): the 'little Valencian Alhambra', with Moorish courtyards on top of the old Arab fortress.
• Navarrés Castle: remains of a Christian castle over a Moorish alcázar and a Bronze Age settlement; the south tower survives. Free access.
• El Castell (Burjassot): a 15th-century castle-palace that San Juan de Ribera turned into a manor house around 1600, in the metropolitan area. Free access.

In the Sierra de Mariola and the Marina there are watchtowers and forts worth a stop if you are nearby:

• Torre de Mariola (Bocairent): an Islamic watchtower, probably 11th-century, on top of the Serra de Mariola. Free access.
• San José Castle (Guadalest): an 11th-century Moorish fortress crowning the crag at about 587 m; the keep survives.
• Alcozaiba Castle (Guadalest): the ruined tower of another 11th-century fortress, next to the Casa Orduña. Free access.
• Castell de Bairén (Gandia): an Islamic fortress north of Gandia, seen as the origin of the city; a battle was fought here in 1097.
• Castell de la Granadella (Xàbia): a 1739 coastal fort with a horseshoe plan above the Granadella cove. Free access.
• Castell de Sant Ferran (Alicante): a fortress built on Mount Tossal during the Peninsular War, finished around 1813. Free access.

And along the coast stand watchtowers raised against the Barbary corsairs:

• Torre del Marenyet (Cullera): a roughly 20-metre tower from 1577 by the mouth of the Júcar, now restored.
• Torre del Moro (Torrevieja): a watchtower over Cabo Cervera with origins in the early 14th century. Free access.
• Torre de La Mata (Torrevieja): a tower by the beach that guarded the salt jetty, rebuilt in the 16th century. Free access.

Getting there

Sagunto and El Puig are under half an hour by Cercanías train from Estació del Nord. Xàtiva and Requena have trains too. For Serra, Chulilla, Anna or Morella you need a car: they sit in the sierras and public transport is thin. If you want several in one day, group them by area (Los Serranos, La Costera, La Safor) so you do not cross the province twice. Check the live agenda in case a local fiesta lines up.

When to go and what to bring

Most sit on top of a hill with little shade: in July and August go early or late in the afternoon. Bring closed shoes for the stone paths and more water than you think you will need; I have run dry halfway up more than one of these climbs. At the free ones, check they are not closed for works; at the paid ones (Xàtiva, Morella, Peñíscola, Cullera, Anna, Requena) check opening hours before you go, including any free-entry slots.

Frequently asked questions

Which castles near Valencia are free?

Sagunto, Chulilla, Serra, El Puig, Navarrés, Oliva and Santa Bárbara in Alicante have free access according to each place's listing. Xàtiva, Morella, Peñíscola, Cullera, Anna and Requena charge admission; check their official hours.

Which castle is closest to Valencia?

El Puig, about 20 minutes away, and Sagunto, about 30. Both are free and have a Cercanías station nearby.

Can I go by public transport?

Yes for Sagunto, El Puig, Xàtiva and Requena, by train. The sierra ones (Serra, Chulilla, Anna) effectively need a car.

Which has the best views?

Chulilla over the Turia canyon, Morella over Els Ports and Santa Bárbara over the bay of Alicante are the three most striking viewpoints.