If you already know what to see in Peñíscola—the castle, the old town, the walls, the bufador—and want to go a step further, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’re going to tell you about the best-performing plans and, of course, some other things to do in Peñíscola that aren’t on the typical lists.
If you want to fill your agenda with the nine ideas we bring you… take note!
#1 Get into the sea in every possible way
Kayaking and paddleboarding in Peñíscola are the most popular options for tasting the Mediterranean waters and getting a glimpse of the town from the sea with Peñíscola Castle as the protagonist, of course. From Cala Puerto Negro, which is on the border with the Sierra de Irta Natural Park, you can rent your equipment and launch into the water. They offer hour-and-a-half routes where you skirt the last coves of Peñíscola that remain unspoiled.
You can also spend the day on the beaches of Peñíscola like Playa Norte, with five kilometers of fine sand and all services, or on Playa Sur, which is much quieter.
More plans? Sign up for a boat trip from the port. Companies like Golondrinas Clavel offer half-hour or one-hour cruises at a very reasonable price.
And if adrenaline is your thing, on the Peñíscola promenade—behind Playa Norte—you’ll find ISMAJET, where you can rent a jet ski, an exciting option to explore the Mediterranean.
#2 Explore the Sierra de Irta
The Sierra de Irta Natural Park has walking trails; you probably already know this and may even have identified which routes you’d most like to do. But, had you considered the option of exploring some of them by quad or buggy?
These activities will take you through the interior of the park in a different way and, if you book it this way, with a guide included.
Cycling is another very popular option for exploring this mountain range in Peñíscola. And no, you don’t have to bring your own: there are several shops in the city that rent bicycles and other equipment.
#3 Stroll along the promenade and discover its charms
Avenida Papa Luna—the promenade—connects the old town of Peñíscola with the beach area and is very lively.
Along the way, you’ll find countless terraces, ice cream parlors, and a market with handicrafts, clothing, local products, and souvenirs if you take the stroll on Mondays from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. You’ll find it in the Residencia parking lot, between Calle Playa and Avenida Akra Leuka, and it has 110 stalls. Quite a lot!
Very close by is the Ullal de l’Estany, a spring and a system of irrigation ditches that feed a protected marshland. It’s a park with a lagoon in the center where ducks, mullets, storks, and other aquatic birds live. There are small wooden bridges, a very photogenic tiled arch, and a walkway leading to an observatory. It’s worth a visit.
#4 Take a gastronomic tour of Peñíscola’s best restaurants
Peñíscola’s gastronomy revolves around the sea and the Valencian orchard: Mediterranean fish, vegetables and fruits from the fields, and local rice ensure that both markets and restaurants offer the best of the best and very fresh produce.
During your visit to Peñíscola, you must try the suquet de pescado, the all i pebre of monkfish and prawns, the fideuà, and the caragol punxenc.
The best restaurants in Peñíscola are spread between the port, the promenade, and the surroundings of the old town.
And if the weather in Peñíscola cooperates—which it almost always does—, eating on a terrace with castle views is one of the plans to do in Peñíscola that you absolutely cannot miss.
And if you’re looking for tapas and sandwiches, which are sometimes appealing too, you have to go to the Hogar del Jubilado, a place unknown to visitors but with excellent value for money.
#5 Visit one of its museums
If you’re looking for things to do in Peñíscola and want to take home a good memory, you should visit one of its museums.
The Magic Museum is our favorite! It occupies Peñíscola’s old cinema and offers a guided tour through a magic exhibition, and in addition to that, during the visit you can see tricks up close and enjoy shows by true illusionists.
Also note the Museu de la Mar. It’s in the old town and tells the history of Peñíscola through ship models, old fishing tools, historical photographs, and interactive exhibitions. Admission is free, and you can also explore it with a free guided tour.
#6 Reserve a day for Peñíscola’s spas
Peñíscola’s spas offer water circuits and thalassotherapy treatments with warm seawater, perfect for relaxing after you’ve filled several days of your stay with very active plans and more plans to do in Peñíscola.
#7 Head to the Peñíscola Labyrinth
On the outskirts of the city is the Peñíscola Labyrinth, one of the largest in Spain, with thousands of plants forming a route with bifurcations and dead ends from which it will be—almost—impossible to escape. Will you give it a try?
#8 Take a dip in a pool
The Bar Las Atalayas—on Avenida Grecia—has a large swimming pool with a children’s area, open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and a bar offering breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. It also has a tennis court and a wooded setting. Additionally, some days it hosts concerts and shows, and admission costs only €2.
And if that plan doesn’t quite convince you, check out the Aparthotel Acualandia sports complex, in the Peñismar urbanization. It has several pools with slides—the lake pool with a waterfall and indoor slide, the large slides with curves, tunnels, and a vertical drop—a bar and restaurant, and equally affordable admission—around €6.
#9 The tourist train
If you want to explore Peñíscola without getting too tired and with an audio guide in several languages, the tourist train offers four different itineraries with several stops where you can hop on and off whenever you want.
Will you make the most of all there is to do in Peñíscola?
And even with all this, the agenda isn’t over, because Peñíscola in summer keeps adding more.
In the summer season, it hosts the Classical Theater Festival in the castle’s Patio de Armas, the International Jazz Festival, the Ancient and Baroque Music Concert Series, and many more cultural events like the Peñíscola Patron Saint Festivities—which are in September—.
And if you feel like leaving the city for a day, Morella is about 60 kilometers away. It’s a medieval city where the charm lies in its walls, its castle, and its inland village atmosphere.
Need accommodation for all this? At Orange Costa we have apartments, houses, and villas in the municipality so you can make all these plans to do in Peñíscola that we’ve been telling you about a reality.
Will you take a look and book?
