Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
the United States
Mexico
the Dominican Republic
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
Historic village · Benidorm, Comunidade Valenciana
Castell de Guadalest
Medieval village perched on a cliff in the mountains, 25 km from Benidorm, with a castle, a bell tower on the rock, small museums and views of a turquoise reservoir lake.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Castell de Guadalest
El Castell de Guadalest is a village of about 200 inhabitants in the Guadalest valley, 25 km from Benidorm, inland on the Costa Blanca. The historic part sits atop a rocky crag and has only one entrance: a tunnel carved into the stone called Portal de Sant Josep.
On the other side of the tunnel are the Baroque church of Assunção, Casa Orduña (a 17th-century manor house with furniture and paintings from the family that governed the village), and the path up to the cemetery and the ruins of the castle of San José, of Muslim origin, damaged by an earthquake in 1644 and by an explosion during the War of the Spanish Succession. The isolated white bell tower perched on a rock has become the village's symbol.
From the viewpoints you can see the Guadalest reservoir lake, turquoise-blue water surrounded by mountains and almond fields. Below the crag, the newer part of the village has craft shops and small private museums, such as those of miniatures and dolls.
In high season, Guadalest receives many tour buses.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
2 to 3 hours.
Best time
Early in the morning or late in the afternoon, before and after the tour buses. In February the valley's almond trees usually blossom.
How to get there
By car, about 25 km from Benidorm via the CV-70 road, roughly 30 minutes, with paid parking at the village entrance. There are scheduled buses with few departures and many excursions leaving from Benidorm.
Tip
Cross the tunnel early and go straight to Casa Orduña, which gives access to the castle and the viewpoints. Combine it with Fonts de l'Algar on the same day if you are driving. Wear sturdy footwear: there are steps and rocks.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Castell de Guadalest
How do you enter the old village of Guadalest?
Through a tunnel dug into the rock, the Portal de Sant Josep, the only passage up to the top of the cliff.
How long is it from Benidorm to Guadalest?
About 30 minutes by car, over 25 km of mountain road. By bus there are few departures per day.
What can you see from the top of Guadalest?
The turquoise reservoir lake, the almond-tree valley and the surrounding mountain ranges.