If you only do one thing in Dénia beyond the beach, make it a morning at the castle. Perched on a rocky promontory right above the old town, Dénia Castle is one of the most genuinely impressive historical sites on the entire Costa Blanca — and yet half the tourists staying here drive straight past it on their way to Les Marines. Their loss, your gain.
I've lived in this town for a decade and I still walk up there a few times a year. The views alone are worth the climb, but what you actually find inside — Roman artefacts, Moorish palace ruins, a serious archaeological museum — makes it one of those rare Spanish attractions that delivers on every level. This guide covers everything you need to know before you go.
Getting to Dénia Castle: Practical Info First
The castle entrance is at the top of Carrer del Castillo, which winds up from the heart of the old town. You can drive up and park in the small car park outside the entrance gate (free, but very limited spaces — arrive before 10am in summer). Honestly, walking is better: it takes about 12 minutes on foot from the central Plaza Jaume I, past the whitewashed houses and bougainvillea-draped walls of the old quarter.
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Admission: Adults €3, children under 14 free. Genuinely one of the cheapest afternoons out on the coast.
September — which is when you're probably reading this — is actually the perfect month to visit. The summer crowds have thinned, the evening light turns the old sandstone walls a deep amber, and it cools down enough by 6pm to make the outer ramparts a genuinely pleasant place to linger.
What's Inside: A Proper Walk-Through
The Archaeological Museum (Museu Arqueològic Municipal)
This is housed in the old governor's palace within the castle walls and it's far better than most visitors expect. The collection runs from prehistoric Iberian settlements right through to the Islamic period and beyond. The Moorish-era pieces are particularly striking — Dénia was a significant port city under Al-Andalus, and the ceramics and architectural fragments on display reflect genuine sophistication. There are good information panels in Spanish and English.
The Moorish Palace Ruins
Behind the museum, you can walk through the excavated remains of the Islamic palace complex. This is where the atmosphere really gets you: fragmented arches, the outline of courtyards, the sense of something that was once genuinely grand. Archaeologists have been working this site for decades and new discoveries still surface regularly.
The Ramparts & Viewing Points
Don't skip the walk along the outer walls. From the south-facing battlements you get an uninterrupted panorama: the port, the fishing boats, the wide arc of Les Marines beach stretching north, and on clear days — which in September means most days — the Montgó massif filling the western sky. Bring a camera. Bring two.
There's a second viewing point on the north side looking towards the old town's rooftops and the marina. This is the shot everyone posts on Instagram, and deservedly so.
The Old Town Below the Castle
After the castle, slope back down through the Casco Antiguo and give yourself at least an hour. The streets immediately below the castle walls — particularly Carrer Loreto and the alleyways around the old market square — are genuinely lovely. This isn't a tourist-polished historic centre; it's a working neighbourhood where people actually live, with neighbourhood bars and local bakeries mixed in among the craft shops.
Key stops: - Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción: The parish church just off the main square, originally built in the 16th century. Handsome rather than spectacular, but the interior is cool and calm when the heat is up. - Plaça del Consell: The old administrative heart of the town, with a good café on the corner where I've spent more hours than I can count. - Carrer Marquès de Campo: The main boulevard leading from the old town towards the port, lined with orange trees. In September the trees are heavy with unripe fruit — they turn in November — and the whole street smells faintly, wonderfully citrusy.
Combining Castle + Old Town: Suggested Itinerary
Here's how I'd structure the morning if you're staying in one of the holiday rentals in Dénia:
8:30am — Coffee at one of the cafés on Plaza Jaume I. El Café de La Llum does a proper cortado and a decent tostada with tomato.
9:15am — Walk up to the castle before it gets warm. The path through the old quarter is the best route — follow signs for El Castell.
10:00am — Castle opens. Spend 90 minutes to 2 hours inside: museum first, then the palace ruins, then the ramparts.
12:00pm — Walk back down slowly through the Casco Antiguo. Browse the market if it's a Saturday (there's a small artisan market in the old quarter most Saturday mornings).
1:00pm — Late morning aperitivo at Bar La Cava on Carrer Loreto, which does a very respectable vermut and a plate of anchovies that will recalibrate your understanding of what an anchovy can taste like.
2:00pm — Lunch. If you can get a table at El Raset down by the port, do it. If not, Mesón El Passeig on the boulevard is reliable and good value.
Afternoon: beach. You've earned it.
September-Specific Tips
September evenings are ideal for the castle's later opening session (17:00–20:30). The light is extraordinary at 7pm — that long, low Mediterranean gold — and the temperature is comfortable in a way it simply isn't in July. You'll also find parking a lot easier.
The old town's restaurant terraces are still fully open in September and the queues are shorter than high summer. It's genuinely one of the best months to explore this part of town properly.
Staying Near the Old Town
If you're planning a culture-focused trip to Dénia, it's worth choosing accommodation that puts you within walking distance of the old quarter. Browse our available properties in Dénia — several are within 10 minutes of the castle on foot, which means you can head up for the evening session and be back at your terrace with a cold beer before dark.
One more thing: booking direct through JV Properties saves you up to 18% compared to Airbnb or Booking.com. That's a decent lunch at El Raset, or frankly several rounds of vermut at Bar La Cava. Worth thinking about.
The castle has been standing on that rock since before the Romans got here. It'll still be there whenever you arrive — but the light at 7pm in September won't last forever. Get up there.
