Benicàssim is a small coastal town on the Costa del Azahar — the Coast of Orange Blossoms — between Valencia and Castellón. Unlike the more heavily developed costas further south, this stretch of coast remains predominantly Spanish in character, with far fewer foreign tourists and a more authentic atmosphere.
The town has good beaches and sits at the foot of the Desert de les Palmes, a natural park of forested hills that offers excellent walking with views over the coast. Each July, Benicàssim hosts the FIB festival, one of Spain's biggest music events, which briefly transforms this quiet resort into an international party. The surrounding area rewards exploration: Peñíscola to the north has a dramatic clifftop castle, Morella is a striking medieval walled town with a UNESCO-listed monastery, and Valencia is about an hour south by train.