Are you looking for an underrated day trip destination close to Valencia, Spain? I’ve got you covered. Vilafamés is a picturesque hilltop village north of Valencia that few tourists ever visit. And they are missing out.
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Vilafamés may not be packed with attractions and landmarks, but it’s a gorgeous little village perched atop a hill overlooking the surrounding valleys. The Spanish village is the ideal destination if you’re looking for a laid-back, quiet place with picturesque alleys, stone houses, and sweeping vistas.
The Perfect Day Trip from Valencia
A small village with less than two thousand inhabitants in the province of Castellón, Vilafamés is the perfect day trip destination. From Valencia, it takes just over one hour to drive to Vilafamés, and you can even reach it by public transportation.
Furthermore, the village is so small that you can explore it in a few hours and spend the rest of the day visiting other cool places in the area, like the quirky Jardín de Peter. So if you’re looking for a lovely day trip from Valencia to a lesser-known location, stick around because you’ll love this one.
Los Pueblos Más Bonitos de España
The Most Beautiful Villages of Spain is an organization dedicated to promoting and preserving Spain’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. As of 2025, 122 villages are part of the association, only five of which are in the Comunidad Valenciana. Vilafamés is one of these.
Every village belonging to the association must meet certain requirements, like having fewer than 15 thousand inhabitants and a certified natural or architectural heritage. Other European countries have similar associations, like I Borghi Più Belli d’Italia or Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.
Every village in the association that I’ve visited so far has been stunning. You can check out my blog post on Garachico in Tenerife and stay tuned for more posts coming soon.
How to Get to Vilafamés
Vilafamés is about 95 kilometers northeast of Valencia, and roughly 26 kilometers from Castellón de la Plana, the largest nearby city. The easiest way to get to Vilafamés from Valencia is by car. If you travel to Spain and want to explore places beyond the big cities, I highly recommend renting a car, at least for a couple of days. You can check DiscoverCars for a variety of rental cars at great prices.
If you can’t rent a car, you can still reach Vilafamés by public transport, but you must be ready for a longer trip. It takes about 2.5 hours to get to Vilafamés from Valencia by train and bus. First, hop on the Cercanías train line from Valencia North and get off in Castellón. Just outside the train station, you can catch a bus that will take you to the center of Vilafamés in about 40 minutes.
Note that there are only two departures from both Castellón and Vilafamés, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Also, there are no buses on Sundays. You can check the bus schedule on the Hicid website.
The train from Valencia to Castellón is €5.80 one way, and you can buy the ticket before departure at the machines in Valencia North. Find the train schedule on the Renfe Cercanías website.
What to Do in Vilafamés
As I said, Vilafamés is small, so you won’t need a lot of time to see it all. You will spend most of the time exploring the cobweb of alleyways winding up through stone houses to the hilltop castle. However, here’s a more detailed overview of what you can do on a day trip to Vilafamés.
Explore the historical center
You will arrive in the lower part of Vilafamés, where you’ll find wider roads, big squares, and a few bars and restaurants. This is where you’ll either get off the bus or park your car, as you can’t drive through many areas of the historical center.
As you start climbing up toward the castle, you’ll notice the roads get narrower and steeper, with occasional stairways. I recommend just following your intuition and exploring the intricate network of passages squeezed between stone houses, occasionally offering glimpses of the valley below. It’s impossible to get lost, as you will eventually find your way to the castle.
Check out the Castell de Vilafamés
The Vilafamés Castle is nothing more than ruins nowadays, but you can still see the circular central tower and a good portion of the walls. Sitting at the very top of the village, the castle clearly provided a perfect vantage point to observe the surroundings.
The oldest parts of the castle date back to the 14th century, although the fortress acquired its current layout during the Carlist Wars, the civil wars that took place in Spain in the 19th century. You can explore the entire castle area free of charge and admire the sweeping views from the many windows and openings in the walls.
Visit the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Villafamés
There is one museum in the village of Vilafamés, the Museu d’Art Contemporani Vicente Aguilera Cerni or MACVAC. The museum is open daily except for Mondays and a few holidays. The entry fee is only €3, and you can also inquire about a guided visit. Note that there is a break between 2 and 4 pm when the museum remains closed. Siesta time!
A beautiful gothic building, Palacio del Batlle, houses the 29 rooms that make up the museum and display hundreds of works of Spanish artists, Among these, you can admire works by renowned artists like Alberto Sánchez and Joan Miró. The visit is well worth the small entry fee.
Enjoy the views from the miradores
A short walk from the Vilafamés Castle, you can find one of the best viewpoints in the village: Mirador del Castillo. The small terrace looks over the historic center of Vilafamés, offering a perfect view of the whitewashed houses below.
For another great view, walk up Carrer Portalet and past Plaça Sant Ramon to reach Mirador de Vilafamés. While you’re in the area, you can also stop by the small Ermita de Sant Ramon.
Snap a picture with La Roca Grossa
La Roca Grossa is one of the main attractions in Vilafamés, and it’s impossible not to bump into it while wandering around the village. The literal “Big Rock” is just that, a really big rock. It weighs over 2000 tons, and sits curiously at a 34-degree angle, seemingly sliding down the side of the hill, except it hasn’t moved in thousands of years.
The inhabitants of Vilafamés got their nickname after this rock. At some point, they wanted to move the rock for fear of it eventually sliding off and killing them. They tied ropes around the rock and tried to move it, but it wouldn’t budge. They ended up slipping and falling on the surrounding red terrain, dirtying their clothes red. That’s when they earned the name of culrojos, which translates to red asses.
This is THE photo spot in Vilafamés, but that’s not all the rock is famous for. Legend has it that if you touch the stone and make three wishes, at last one will come true.
Stop for delicious treats at Rafael Galindo
After walking up and down the steep alleys and stairways of Vilafamés, you deserve to reward yourself with some delicious treats. In the lower part of the village, head to Rafael Galindo, the most popular bakery in town.
Their staple is the coca de tomate, a traditional Valencian flatbread with tomato, but they also have other savory and sweet pastries. On a sunny day, sit at the tables outside the bakery to enjoy a coffee and pastry, or just grab some treats for the road.
VALENCIA AND SURROUNDINGS
You can base yourself in Valencia to explore the city and its beautiful surroundings. Aside from Vilafamés, you can visit other stunning places like Peniscola, Sagunto, Desert de les Palmes, and more.
For your stay in Valencia, check out my article on 25 free things to do in the city. Boasting awesome museums, beautiful parks, and a lively old town, Valencia is among my favorite major Spanish cities. I’ve traveled there over a dozen times, and I still discover new spots.
Below is a map to quickly check accommodation options in Valencia. You can find options for every budget, even in the city center.
Travel Resources
That’s about it for Vilafamés. I hope you enjoy your trip to this lovely Spanish village!
I leave you with a list of my favorite travel resources to help plan your trip!
| Purpose | Website/App | Description | Book Here |
| Accommodation | Booking.com | My favorite website for great accommodation for different budgets. | Find a Place |
| Flights | Skyscanner | The platform I typically use for finding the most affordable flights. | Find Flights |
| Cheap Buses | Flixbus | My favorite app for cheap bus fares around most of Europe and the US. | Bus Rides |
| Transportation | Omio | You can book everything from buses and trains to ferry rides. | Transportation |
| Train Travel | Trainline | If you travel by train, this app is great for booking rides in Europe. | Train Rides |
| Travel Insurance | SafetyWing | One of the best travel medical insurances for frequent travelers. | Get Insured |
| Activities | Manawa | A great platform to book activities and adventures with local hosts. | Find Activities |
| Experiences | GetYourGuide | Another great platform for tours and experiences with lots of options. | Experiences |
| Car Rental | DiscoverCars | My go-to platform for car rental anywhere in the world. | Rent a Car |
| eSIM | Airalo | My favorite app for buying digital SIM cards when traveling abroad. | Get an eSIM |
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