Peñíscola doesn’t end at North Beach. Yes, it’s the most famous and the one that appears on all postcards with the castle in the background, but the municipality has almost 17 kilometers of coastline, and between the urban area and the Sierra de Irta, there are hidden coves that most visitors don’t even know exist. We’ve set out to rank what we consider to be the best beaches in Peñíscola and compile all the information we would have liked to receive if we were coming to Peñíscola for a vacation… and this is the result!
We’ll start by telling you about the best beaches in Peñíscola, then move on to many others you can visit just a few kilometers away—within the Sierra de Irta Natural Park.
#1 North Beach
Let’s start with the most famous. North Beach boasts five kilometers of fine, golden sand stretching from the northern tip of the old town almost to Benicarló—the neighboring town—and is, without a doubt, one of the best family beaches in our country.
It has a Blue Flag, lifeguards, accessible areas, sun lounger rentals, cafes, restaurants, terraces, shops, and everything you might need to spend the day. Plus, it offers views of Peñíscola Castle and its water sports offerings are magnificent.
It’s the best beach in Peñíscola if you’re coming with children or elderly people, if you don’t want to leave the town, or if you simply prefer to have a beach bar, shower, and umbrella close at hand. One drawback? It’s the busiest beach in Peñíscola; if you’re looking for privacy, you’d better keep reading.
#2 South Beach
On the other side of the castle, towards the port area, is South Beach, the best beach in Peñíscola for going with small children or trying out water sports. It’s protected by a breakwater and has hardly any waves, so here you can go far out into the sea without the waves moving you an inch.
It’s around 800 meters long and is characterized by very fine sand and its proximity to the walls of Peñíscola’s old town. If you fancy doing more than just lying down—though it’s very peaceful here—the Benicarló-Peñíscola Nautical Station offers dinghy sailing and kayaking courses. Sign up!
#3 Playa de las Viudas: the best beach in Peñíscola if you’re looking for tranquility
It’s right next to South Beach, separated only by a small breakwater. It’s small—barely 110 meters long and 15 meters wide—and has nothing more than showers and waste bins.
Precisely because of this lack of services, and although its size makes it moderate and pleasant, it’s not the most chosen beach by locals or tourists.
More sandy areas in Peñíscola
As for official beaches with that name, Peñíscola only has these three: North, South, and Playa de las Viudas. But that doesn’t mean the municipality’s coastline ends here. About five kilometers south of the urban area, you can find several of the best coves in Peñíscola. Here are our two favorites.
Cala del Moro
Bingo! Another sandy area that is very close to Papa Luna’s Castle, just three kilometers away, and also not very large. It measures about 40 meters long by 10 meters wide and, unlike the previous ones—which had fine sand—this one is gravel.
It’s easily accessible, and the best part is that it offers spectacular views of the old town. And like the previous one, don’t expect a beach bar, sun loungers, restrooms, or any extraordinary services. On the flip side, it’s a sandy area that few people visit.
Cala Puerto Negro
Cala Puerto Negro is right on the border with the Sierra de Irta Natural Park and is the ideal place for nudism or for going with dogs, precisely because it’s hardly crowded. It’s 150 meters long and is characterized by clear blue waters, gray pebbles, and abundant vegetation.
It’s an ideal area for snorkeling, as the seabed is quite rocky, and also as a starting point for kayaking or paddleboarding in Peñíscola, due to the ease of parking—despite the dirt road you have to cross to reach the parking lot—and transporting equipment. Additionally, nearby there are facilities for practicing paintball or participating in ‘Humor Amarillo’-style challenges, if you want to round off the day with an activity.
Beaches within the Sierra de Irta Natural Park
And in addition to the best beaches in Peñíscola that we’ve been telling you about, within the Sierra de Irta Natural Park—which, besides Peñíscola, includes Alcalà de Xivert and Santa Magdalena de Pulpis—there are many more coves.
Playa de Irta, which gives the park its name, and Playa La Petxina, one of the last truly virgin beaches in the area, coexist with Playa del Pebret and Playa del Russo, the finest sand beaches in the entire park—Playa del Pebret, in fact, preserves one of the last dunes on the Castellón coast.
The rest are tiny coves, between thirty and fifty meters, designed more for disconnecting than for spending the day with family or friends. We’re talking about Playa Basseta, beautiful at sunset with the castle in the background; Playa Torrenova, with difficult access; or Cala Badum, which is at the foot of the watchtower of the same name. None have much in terms of services, so if you venture to find them, bring your own water and shade.
For nudism, besides Puerto Negro, you can also go to Cala L’Aljub, less than five kilometers from the center and with parking, or to Cala Argilaga, already on the border with Alcossebre.
And for going with dogs you can also choose any of these in the natural park; if you bring your furry friend on a leash, no one will object, as these are areas with very little supervision and practically no services.
Which of these Peñíscola beaches will you choose?
If it’s your first time trying to discover the best beach in Peñíscola, start by visiting North Beach or South Beach, which have all the services and are just a step away from Peñíscola’s promenade. And if you already know the town, we recommend exploring the coves of the Sierra de Irta; the differences between them are greater than they appear on the map.
And if you plan to follow our advice for choosing a beach, try doing so with accommodation too, because at Orange Costa we have apartments, houses, and villas spread throughout Peñíscola, many of them a stone’s throw away from North Beach and South Beach so you can have a perfect vacation without giving up being very close to the beach.
