Weekend in Peñíscola

The weekend. Just 48 short hours to have fun, relax and get your strength back for the hard slog of the week ahead.
So, we propose a getaway. A short break in the City in the Sea, where you can discover a city full of stories and history: the Knights Templar, Philip II, the Pope Luna (Antipope Benedict XIII), Berlanga, El Cid, and many more...
So that you have time to see everything, we recommend the following itinerary:

Saturday: (From the Irta Mountains to the Columbretes Islands)

9.00 am
After a hearty breakfast, kick start the day with a walk in the Irta Mountains. Our network of hiking trails is a great way to explore the mountains. Discover the Badum Tower, the Sant Antoni Hermitage and the beaches at Cala del Moro and Playa del Pebret, among others. Enjoy looking out for the partridges, hoopoes and black wheatears throughout your stroll. You can also admire a wide variety of plant species, such as Mediterranean fan palms, junipers, kermes and holm oaks, olive trees and wild carobs, as well as various aromatic herbs that were used to make the Pope Luna's Tisane in the 15th century.

Noon
How about a short break to recharge your batteries? Pick a bar terrace of your choice. If you opt for the South Beach (Playa Sur) you can sit back and gaze out at the south side of the Rock, with the port at its feet. If you go for the North Beach (Playa Norte), marvel at the imposing sight of the walled city stretching out towards the sea, and take in the 5.5-kilometre long bay.

Make sure you get your strength back - you've been walking in the mountains, after all - with a mug of Pope Luna's Tisane served with some typical jam tarts (pastissets de confitura) or Pope Luna cakes.

2.30 pm
Now for the best part of the day: sampling the Peñíscola cuisine. Head into any of the restaurants in the newly developed area, where you can enjoy a range of dishes marked by the presence of the sea. Traditional seafaring recipes such as All-i-Pebre de Rap (spicy monkfish cooked with garlic and pepper), Polpet (baby octopus), Suquet de peix (fish stew), also known as Remescló, as well as shellfish, sea dates, Caragols punxents (a medium-sized species of sea snail) mussels, Caixetes (Noah's ark shells) and crayfish. Another fundamental part of the local diet comes in the shape of a range of fishermen's rice specialities, from the ubiquitous Paella to Fideuà (similar to Paella, but cooked with noodles instead of rice).

5.00 pm
Head over to the port. This is a good time to get to know Peñíscola from the sea and become a sailor for a few hours. Hop aboard a Golondrina pleasure-boat and embark on a trip that will show you Peñíscola from a different angle. You can behold the Rock and the Castle just how it was seen by the many civilizations that tried to conquer them, such as the Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs. (Call +34 964 48 02 00 for more details and timetables).

8.00 pm
Unwind at your hotel for a bit before setting out to explore the Peñíscola nightlife. Do not forget to head over to the Tourist Information Office to find out if there is anything going on at the Conference Centre (Palau de Congressos). A play, a concert, a film or an exhibition are the ideal way to round off a perfect day.

10.00 pm
They say that Peñíscola is home to two cities: one by day, and another by night. While it is truly spectacular to contemplate the outline of the Old Town at daylight, the sight of the city under the veil of night is enough to make you fall in love. We recommend a candlelit dinner with the Rock as a backdrop. It will make for an unforgettable night.

Midnight
If there is one good time to discover Peñíscola, it is at night. The area around Calle Mayor in the Old Town is one of the best spots to go for a drink. There are also several excellent terrace bars and pubs in the North Beach area.

Sunday (Peñíscola's Old Town)

10.00 am
The time has come to take a closer look at Peñíscola's Old Town and the infinite stories it has to tell.
The best way to discover the Old Town is to follow the routes signposted throughout the city. You can discover unique sights such as the Porteta (the original gateway into the city from the sea, in the old port area), the Portal Fosc (the main entrance into the city until the 18th century), the Portal de Sant Pere (Saint Peter's Gate, an access point to the castle from the sea, complete with a landing stage), El Bufador (a natural tunnel in the rock on which the city stands, formed by the ebb and flow of the Mediterranean Sea, which continues to crash through on stormy days), and the Nuestra Señora de la Virgen de la Ermitana Church.

Lose yourself in the winding streets leading to the many vantage points where you can admire the stunning views, until you reach the highest part of the Castle. (link to all these sights)