Inland Alicante with kids: Castles and charming towns
Let's start our family friedly getaway in the Province of Alicante. Here we find many charming towns to visit with children. One is Villena, a town where you can visit one of the most beautiful castles in the Region of Valencia. The Castle of Villena looks like a castle from a tale of knights and princesses. Visiting it with children is an authentic adventure!
Do not miss the opportunity to visit the treasure of Villena, a discovery of more than 10 kilos of gold from the Bronze Age.
Another town to visit in inland Alicante province is La Nucia, not far from Benidorm. It is in the heart of the Marina Baixa Region and is the gateway to the spectacular mountainous ring of the Guadalest Valley.
What to see in inland Valencia with kids
From Villena it is easy to get to Ayora, another charming town, but this time in the Province of Valencia. In Ayora there is another castle that is worth visiting with children. The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 11h to 12:30h.
The castle can be visited by guided tour throughout the year, for more information, visit the Turismo Ayora website.
For those who love hiking and walking trails, we recommend the Ruta del Agua or the Ruta del Hilo Rojo. The latter is a tourist and cultural route through the town of Ayora that allows you to discover the places, monuments, anecdotes and traditions by following a red line on the ground.
More charming towns: Visit Cofrentes with kids
If we adventure a little further into the Province of Valencia, we end up in Cofrentes, which lies between the Júcar and Cabriel rivers.
Another castle awaits you! This castle is built on basalt rock of volcanic origin. From the castle there are beautiful views over the Cabriel river.
You can discover the surroundings of the town on a tourist train that runs two routes: one along the Cabriel River and one to the Cerro Agras volcano.
foto: Viajando Con Chupetes
You can also enjoy a river cruise on the Júcar river, a very beautiful route that goes from the Cofrentes pier to the Cortes de Pallás.
For the more adventurous families, Cofrentes Active Tourism and Cabriel Roc Kayaking are two local companies specialized in active tourism that offer activities such as kayak outings, bike routes or electric quads.
Where to stay in inland Valencia
If you are looking for a good place to stay and unwind with your family in the middle of nature, we have two recommendations for you!
The first one is the Albergue Rural Actio in Alborache, about1 hour from Cofrentes and 40 minutes from Valencia city. Here they organize one-day or weekend getaways for the whole family. With the help of expert monitors you can go hiking, take part in adventure activities and enjoy themed weekends.
The second option is Camping Bungalows Altomira in Navajas; a campsite located between two natural parks (Espadán and Calderona) and just 40 minutes away from Valencia city. In high season and bank holidays they organize children's activities (workshops, excursions, contests, ...).
The campsite has a swimming pool, playground, barbecues, bicycle and kayak rental and a great restaurant.
Discovering inland Castellón with kids: dinosaurs and thermal springs
We also encourage you to get to know the Province of Castellón, especially Morella, one of the most beautiful towns in Spain.
When you visit medieval Morella as a family you should visit the castle, we recommend going up to the Plaza de Armas. The views are impressive! Children will love exploring the Castle of Morella using the children's map (you can ask for on at the tourist info).
If your children like dinosaurs, we recommend a visit to the Temps de Dinosaures museum, where you can see a full-scale reproduction of the Iguanodon that inhabited these lands.
On the outskirts of Morella, you can let the adrenaline flow at the Saltapins adventure park: circuits high up in the trees, 100-meter zip lines, Tibetan bridges and lianas.
If you like nature, Montanejos will steal you heart. Located in Alto Mijares in the province of Castellón, Montanejos is most famous for its thermal waters. You can take a dip into the Fuente de los Baños de Montanejos, a collection of thermal springs. The "River Walk" is an accessible and safe path for people with reduced mobility that leads to the Fuente de los Baños.
Hiking in Castellón
If you want to take a hike in Castellón, we recommend you contact Itinerantur. They organize guided hikes for families.
We hope you enjoy your family getaway in the Region of Valencia.