If you’re staying in Denia or nearby, a visit to Denia’s Old Town should be high on your list of things to do. Denia’s Old Town is the heart of the city, where every street and corner holds a piece of history.
The circle on the map highlights the area of Denia’s Old Town:
To fully appreciate the old town and explore Dénia’s castle, I recommend setting aside at least half a day or a whole day.
This part of Denia is perfect for exploring on foot, and this will give you plenty of time to read about the history, enjoy the scenery, and visit the sites at a relaxed pace.
I’ve written this complete guide on visiting the Denia Old Town, with recommendations on where to visit and what to do.
What to do in Denia Old Town
Dénia Castle
Start your visit with the iconic Dénia Castle. This 11th and 12th-century fortress sits atop a hill, offering breathtaking views of the sea, city, and surrounding area.
It was built during the reign of the Moors and later served as a fortress for pirates.
You’ll need to pay the small admission fee of 3€ for adults (1€ for 8-14 year olds) to explore the castle grounds, including the Palau del Governador and its museum.
You can find the entrance using the below map, starting from the Denia Town Hall. Once you arrive to Career Sant Francesco, turn to the right and you’ll see the Denia castle entrance:
The climb is a little steep going up, so I recommend wearing comfortable shoes. In the summer months, you may want to go in the morning or in the evening to avoid the heat. There’s plenty of shaded areas to take a break from the sun.
Inside the castle, there are fantastic views from the top of the surrounding area including all of the Denia beaches. There are facilities such as toilets and even a quaint cafe, serving hot drinks, soft drinks, snacks and alcohol if you’d like to sit and have a break.
Visit Les Roques neighbourhood
After the castle, I recommend heading down to the Les Roques neighborhood as its nearby.
This area beautifully preserves the essence of Arab Dénia. Les Roques formed part of the fortified wall “Raval” or neighbourhood.
Take your time wandering the streets – you’ll appreciate how residents still live around the castle much as they did centuries ago.
History enthusiasts will enjoy learning about Les Roques’ past as part of the fortified “Raval” neighborhood, which was part of the Arabic “medina” before the 13th-century Christian conquest.
See the Churches
In the centre of the old town, visit two major landmarks: the Church of the Asunción (Església de l’Assumpció) and the Convent of the Augustinian. Also, don’t miss the tunnel running underneath Dénia Castle!
Church of the Asunción (Església de l’Assumpció)
The church, located in Plaza de la Constitució next to the town hall, is particularly beautiful and worth a look inside.
Walk through Denia Tunnel
Undeneath the Denia Castle, you’ll find the locally famous Denia tunnel which is free to walk through.
The tunnel was created back in the Spanish Civil War in 1937. The tunnel was used during WW2 for the residents to evacuate to during the bombing of aviation La Pava.
You can find information about the tunnel’s history throughout the walk.
After the war, it remained open and now serves as a link between two parts of the city, from the Ronda de les Muralles, and the Carrer del Trinquet, neat the Placa de Constitucio.
In the summer months, from the beginning of June and end of September, the tunnel is open between 7am and midnight. For the rest of the year, the tunnel closes at 10pm.
Eating out in Calle Marques de Campo
I recommend visiting Calle Marques de Campo which is a large main street dotted with restaurants, bars and shops. This street is the heart of Denia and is worth visiting at any time of the day. There is also a Denia taxi rank nearby if you need to travel home by car.
Visit the Market Municipal
The Mercat Municipal de Dénia is a food market located on Magallanes Street, right off the Calle Marques de Campo. The market is open from Monday to Saturday, from 8am until 3pm.
It has stalls selling meat, fish, bread and pastries, delicatessen, frozen foods, coffee and tea, flowers, as well as cafeterias and bars and public services.
