Looking for a fun adventure on your visit to Alicante? Guadalest Castle is the perfect day trip as it’s not super far the coast, but feels like a completely different world. Here’s everything you need to know about Castell de Guadalest in Spain, from the history to the village and even how to take a scenic walk around the reservoir.
How to Get to Guadalest Spain
If you’re planning a trip to Spain’s beautiful Costa Blanca, Guadalest is not so far from some of the most popular beach towns. The castle is about an hour from Alicante, just a 25 minute drive from the party town of Benidorm, 30 minutes from Altea, and not too much further from Calpe or Villajoyosa.
We loved that you can easily see Guadalest village and castle in the morning and be back at the beach for the afternoon. It’s a great day trip, so you really don’t need to spend the night. However, if you’d like to truly relax, there are some splendid accommodations like Cases Noves Boutique Hotel and Olcina apartments.
One thing we should mention is that Castell de Guadalest is quite a wild drive into the mountains! No matter where you’re coming from, be prepared for winding turns up to the village area. With that said, once you see the insane views and history of this amazing place, it will totally be worth it.
This is one reason you’ll want to rent a car for your trip to the area. Be sure to check the prices on DiscoverCars for discounts before your visit.
When it comes to the parking, there are a few different spots depending on what you want to see and do in Guadalest Spain. Here’s the location of the most ideal spot in town and the lower lot for the resevoir hike we did first.
Not up for the drive? Check out this popular day trip that picks up in Alicante and Benidorm and includes the stunning Algar Waterfalls.
Our Guadalest Resevoir Hike
There’s one spot you HAVE to see before you hit the Guadalest Castle. You may have seen pictures beforehand of the sparkling turquoise waters that sit below this ancient site.
The cool part is that you can actually hike around the entire Guadalest reservoir! It may not look it at first glance, but the entire loop is almost 10km (6 miles) around the water.
If you have 2.5 to 3 hours to dedicate to it, you will absolutely love the views. Either way, it’s nice to simply walk across the Guadalest dam for a little stroll prior to heading up to the castle.
We didn’t commit to the entire loop, but spent a hour walking around the base of the reservoir. The trail is made up of dirt and mostly flat from the left of the parking lot.
Remember that this part of Spain can get very hot during the summer months. We visited in early September and got to the reservoir around 8:30am. This was great timing, as we avoid the heat and still made it to Guadalest Castle before opening at 10:15am.
Quick History of Castell de Guadalest
The story of the Guadalest Castle begins in the 11th century during the Islamic reign of modern day Spain. Once you make the trek up into the mountains, you’ll understand better why they picked this strategic location!
The 13th century brought the Reconquista, where it was conquered by Christian forces, and subsequently became part of the Kingdom of Valencia. Today, you’ll also hear it referred to as the Castell de Sant Josep, or Castle of San José.
Over the following centuries, the fortress was controlled by different nobles such as the Orduña family. One of our favorite parts of visiting was exploring the Orduña’s medieval house, which you pass through before getting to the actual fortifications.
Multiple earthquakes and war would damage the castle extensively, so what you see today is mostly ruins. Nevertheless, we were extremely impressed with the presentation and history of this special place perched atop the mountains.
Exploring Guadalest Village
After a lovely reservoir walk, we made the 10 minute drive up the rest of the mountain to the Guadalest Castle. The parking can be a little tricky during the peak months of July and August, so be sure to arrive as early as possible if you’re visiting in the summer.
Castell de Guadalest opened at 10:15am every day during the time of our trip, which gave us plenty of time to see the reservoir and town beforehand. Know that Guadalest village can be a little deceiving because the entire place feels like one giant castle!
We loved strolling through the whitewashed buildings, popping into shops to scope the local goods, and grabbing breakfast at a local cafe. Even at 10am in early September, we could tell that Guadalest was about to get busy. So with that, we headed over to the entrance.
What to See at the Guadalest Castle in Spain
We’ve been to castles all over Spain, from the impressive Alhambra de Granada to the Seville Alcazar. Something we didn’t expect about this particular fortress was the entrance! As we mentioned, you will go through a former home of the Orduña family before climbing the steps to the highest point of the castle.
It was fascinating to learn the history of this family that called the Guadalest Castle home in the 16th century. We spent about 20 minutes in the museum and eventually made our way out to the Guadalest Castle.
Once we started our climb, we couldn’t believe the views! The ascent starts up a metal staircase that eventually turns into stone. We also enjoyed reading the placards that explain more about the history of the castle on our way up.
The main showstopper was the magnificent white bell tower, with mountains and Mediterranean Sea in the background. It was at this moment that we got lost in our thoughts, imagining what it must’ve been like to live here hundreds of years ago.
Is the Guadalest Castle Worth Visiting?
Absolutely! This was one of our favorite day trips we’ve taken in the Alicante region. Honestly, we weren’t expecting how insane the views would be from the top.
Guadalest village is worth visiting in itself for the cute walking streets. Yet, once you’re standing on the old Guadalest Castle walls taking in the picturesque mountains and reservoir, you’ll be so glad you made the day trip!
As always, you’ll want to plan your visit ahead of time with popular destinations like Guadalest Spain. Going early in the morning on a weekday is the best way to see it without the crowds.
Have any questions about this article or want to share tips from your own day trip to Guadalest Castle? Let us know in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
