Dénia Castle, Beach & Skulls Cave Day Trip from Valencia

Prehistoric cave tour inside limestone mountain showing rock formations and ancient bones

This full-day guided tour from Valencia takes you to Cueva de las Calaveras, a prehistoric cave with illuminated underground galleries and archaeological history, then to the coastal town of Dénia for a walk through the Old Town and a visit to Dénia Castle on its hilltop overlooking the sea and Montgó Natural Park. The tour includes cave entrance, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, and a guide speaking English, Spanish or Italian; the afternoon leaves time to swim, explore the harbour or eat tapas before the return to Valencia.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore cave and coastal town

• Visit prehistoric cave
• Walk through illuminated chambers
• Discover cave's geological history
• Travel to Dénia coastal town
• Guided walk through Old Town
• Visit Dénia Castle hilltop
• Enjoy panoramic sea views
• Relax on the beach or explore harbour
• Try local tapas

The Experience

If you have a free day in Valencia and want to leave the city behind, this tour strings together three stops that would take planning to reach on your own. The morning starts at Cueva de las Calaveras, where you walk through illuminated chambers carved into the rock, seeing the geological layers and the archaeological finds that named the place. The cave sits about an hour from Valencia, and the guide walks you through both the stone itself and what it tells about the people who sheltered there.

From there, the route moves to Dénia, a town on the Costa Blanca coast. A guided walk takes you through the Old Town's narrow streets, past local shops and the everyday Mediterranean atmosphere, before you climb to Dénia Castle. The castle sits on a hilltop with views that reach across the sea to Montgó Natural Park and down to the marina. After the castle visit, the afternoon is yours — some people swim, others wander the harbour or sit over tapas in a waterfront café. The return journey to Valencia takes the same air-conditioned vehicle and guide you rode in that morning.

The full day runs nine hours from pickup to drop-off. The cave and castle entrances are included, as is the transport. Guides speak English, Spanish or Italian, and the itinerary suits all fitness levels, though the castle involves climbing to reach the hilltop views.

What’s included

• Cave entrance fee and castle entrance fee.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• guided walk through Cueva de las Calaveras and Dénia's Old Town.
• guide in English, Spanish or Italian.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Valencia & Go

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a full day combining inland caves and coastal exploration from Valencia, with a guide managing the route so you can focus on the cave walk and Old Town stroll rather than navigating between them yourself.

Top questions

What exactly is Cueva de las Calaveras and why is it called the Skulls Cave?

Cueva de las Calaveras is a prehistoric cave filled with rock formations and underground galleries, with illuminated chambers that show the geological history. The name comes from archaeological finds discovered inside it, though the cave itself is a natural formation in the limestone.

How much time do I spend at Dénia Castle, and what can I see from the top?

The tour includes a guided visit to Dénia Castle on its hilltop, where you see panoramic views of the sea, the marina, and Montgó Natural Park. The exact duration of the castle visit is set by the guide's route through the site.

Is there time to swim or eat in Dénia, or is the schedule packed?

After the castle visit, you have free time in Dénia to relax on the beach, explore the harbour, or try local tapas. The afternoon is unscheduled, so you choose how to spend it.

Do I need to be fit or experienced to walk through the cave?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The cave walk takes you through illuminated chambers, and the route is designed so you can move at a comfortable pace through the galleries.

What's included in the tour price, and what do I need to pay for separately?

The tour includes entrance fees to both the cave and the castle, plus transport in an air-conditioned vehicle and a guide. Meals and drinks are not included, though you'll have time and opportunity to buy them in Dénia.

How long is the drive from Valencia, and when do we leave?

The tour runs nine hours total from pickup to return. The cave is about an hour from Valencia, and the full itinerary includes the cave, the drive to Dénia, the Old Town walk, the castle visit, and free time before the return journey.