Visit Peniscola Castle, this Knight Templar fortress on the Eastern coast of Spain was one of the shooting locations for Game of Thrones!
Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, with panoramic views and rich history, this place is one of the must-visit castles in Spain.
A bit of history:
The Knight Templars built this stronghold on the remains of a Moorish fortress at the beginning of the 14th Century. Afterwards, the Antipope Benedict XIII known as Papa Luna in a fear of being attacked, reinforced the whole fortress and made it his refuge until his death in 1423.
Location
The Peniscola Castle is situated in the province of Castellón, in the Valencian Community region, between Barcelona and Valencia.
How to get there:
A drive from Valencia takes 1 hour 40 minutes via AP-7 (toll-free motorway/highway). From Barcelona the drive takes 2.5 hours (same motorway).
The best way to visit Peniscola is adding it to your Spain travel itinerary. What about a 5-day road trip from Madrid, mostly off the beaten track, visiting Toledo, the Consuegra Windmills, Belmonte Castle, Valencia, Peniscola and back via the Royal Palace of Aranjuez and Torrejón de Ardoz’s Miniature Europe?
Or, simply start in Barcelona and explore the East coast of Spain while making a stop at Peniscola as well.
What to see
In the castle itself you will find a church, cistern house, gothic hall, stables, pontifical rooms, wine cellar, dungeon, kitchen and courtyard. A short walk down from the fortress and you can walk through the botanic gardens of the Artillery Park.
When is the best time to visit Peniscola Castle?
March, April, May, June, September and October are the best months to do sightseeing in Spain. If you decide to visit the place in summer, make sure to avoid the hottest part of the day.
Avoid visiting Spain in August. It is the hottest and busiest month.
Prices
- Admission fee is 5 euros per person (adult).
- Kids 9 to 16 years pay 3.50 euros.
- Kids younger than 9 years old have a free entry.
There are also reduced prices for seniors, students, and unemployed. To avail of a free ticket, you need to show them some kind of a proof.
Opening hours
- Summer – From Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter) to 15th October 9:30 am-9:30 pm
- Winter – From 16th October to Palm Sunday 10:30 am-5:30 pm
The castle is open every day except for Special holidays:
- 1st & 6th January
- 9th September
- 9th October
- 25th December
Important note for 2024: Peniscola Castle will be closed between 8th and 21st April 2024 due to restoration works!
What you need to know
Parking
There is a paid car park between North Beach (Platja Nord) and South Beach (Platja Sur). It has a very convenient location but there are things you should know.
First, if you want to pay for several days, make sure none of the days fall on a Monday. Monday is a market day and any cars left in the car park on that day will be towed away!
The parking machine accepts coins only. Or, you can download their app and pay that way.
Avinguda de la Mar has a paid underground parking that might be a better option in summer. Note: There are signs saying: Parking Sin Ticket = Parking without a ticket. This does not mean it is free. It simply means that cameras read your number plate. You still have to pay!
You are charged by minutes. There is some misleading information regarding the prices. The banner shows pre-paid prices. If you don’t pre-pay, you pay almost double. E.g.: 2 days = 28 euros (pre-paid option) or 2 euro per hour (without pre-payment).
This is not a wheelchair accessible castle!
Is it worth visiting Peniscola?
Yes, it is! It is a lovely coastal town with long sandy beaches, marina and lots of spots with nice views (Mirador la Porteta).
You can either do half a day or a full day in this town, depending on your time schedule.
What we think
We really liked the castle and its gardens. The views were beautiful. You can take a ton of lovely photos on a nice day. Most of the rooms accessible to public were bare or with signs only. I would appreciate some medieval furniture or anything to look at. The price is reasonable for what you get to see.
To see the gardens, you need to have the castle ticket with you, so you have to go to the castle first and afterward to the gardens.
It is a 10-minute walk uphill from the parking lot up to the castle of Peniscola. On the way there are a few restaurants and souvenir shops.
You will also notice some paid parking areas but these are very limited and fill up very early in the day.
With your ticket you get a leaflet in English. If you don’t get it, ask for it. It has a floor plan and a little history about the place.
Expert traveler tip
Always check the opening hours before you decide to visit a monument. While we try to keep the information up to date, there is always a chance that some unexpected changes are made. I recommend browsing the official website of Castillo de Peniscola for accurate information.
