Onda: tile museum, Moorish castle and Sichar reservoir

Onda is an inland ceramics town in Castellón province, about 20 km in a straight line from the nearest beach, so it suits visitors who want a hilltop castle, a tile museum and a working Valencian town rather than a seaside holiday. Most people come for a day from the coast or from Castelló. Stay overnight only if you want a quiet base for the castle, the reservoir and the old town. It is part of our Costa del Azahar guide.

Quick facts

• Where: Onda, Castellón province, in the Plana Baixa area of the Valencian Community. It sits about 194 m above sea level.
• Residents: about 26,200 (2025).
• Beach: none in the municipality. Onda is inland. The Arenal beach in Burriana is about 20 km away in a straight line (our calculation from map coordinates); by road it is further.
• Nearest bigger towns: Vila-real about 14 km, Castelló de la Plana about 18 km, both in a straight line.
• Language: Valencian and Spanish are both used; Spanish works everywhere.
• Main sights: the castle (284 m above sea level), the Manolo Safont tile museum and the Sichar reservoir on the Mijares river.
• Known for: its ceramic industry, and the pastís de Onda, a tuna and vegetable pastry.
• Part of: the Costa del Azahar coverage on CostaMap.

Where to base yourself

Onda is a town of about 26,200 people, not a resort, so the useful question is whether to sleep here at all. There are three realistic options.

The old town

The historic centre sits below the castle and has the parish church of La Asunción, small chapels such as El Salvador, the Sant Pere gate (one of the few remaining pieces of the old town walls) and ceramic panels along some of the streets. It is the best choice if you want to walk everywhere and combine the castle, the old streets and a bakery stop.

Near the reservoir

The Sichar reservoir lies within the municipality, on the Mijares river. Staying close to it makes sense for early walks, cycling or paddling, but you will drive back to town for most meals and shops.

On the coast or in Castelló

If you want a beach every day, base yourself on the coast or in Castelló and treat Onda as an outing. Our guides to Villarreal, Nules and Burriana show the towns between Onda and the sea.

Things to do

Onda’s attractions are compact. One day covers the castle, the museum and a walk through the old town; add the reservoir if you have a second half day.

The castle

The castle is known as the Castle of 300 Towers. The local tourism page explains that the chronicler Ramon Muntaner used the name metaphorically, because at its peak the fortress had as many towers as the year has days. It was built by Muslim builders in the 10th century on earlier Iberian and Roman foundations, and in 1248 the last Muslim king of Valencia, Zayyan, surrendered Onda to Jaume I. The hilltop enclosure stands 284 m above sea level and covers about 25,500 m², with three lines of walls and the Alcazaba at the highest point.

Later history is layered: the Temple, the Hospital and the Order of Montesa held it in turn, and from 1920 the Carmelite friars used it as a school colony. The visitor reception building at the entrance was built by the Carmelites using the remains of the main Arab cistern. The town lists services at the castle including accessibility for people with disabilities, toilets, parking, a picnic area and viewpoints. Pets are not allowed, except assistance animals. The castle address is Calle Jaén, s/n, and the phone is 964 766 688; ask there for current opening times and tickets before a special trip, because the castle page we read did not state them. The castle also houses the town’s Museum of Archaeology and History.

The tile museum

The Museu del Taulell d’Onda Manolo Safont (Museo del Azulejo) is the reason many people come. It stands on Calle París and, according to Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, holds about 80,000 objects, from classical times to the present, including 19th and 20th century tile collections, industrial ethnological objects and documentary series. The visit makes sense of the chimneys and old factories you will see around town, because the ceramic industry is central to Onda’s history. A guided tour of about 90 minutes is listed as available. We do not give opening hours or ticket prices here, because the sources we read gave them without a year; check museoazulejo.org or call 964 770 873.

Sichar reservoir

The Sichar reservoir was built in 1960 on the Mijares river. It covers about 317 hectares, holds up to 52 hm³ of water and is closed by a concrete dam 58 m high (iAgua data). Turisme Comunitat Valenciana lists hiking and cycling trails, canyons, picnic areas and viewpoints around it, plus kayaking and paddleboarding. Conditions and access rules for water activities can change, so check with the operator you book through.

Fira d’Onda

The town’s main fiesta is the Fira d’Onda, held in honour of the Santísimo Salvador, the Virgen de la Esperanza and San Roque. It has a strong bullfighting element, which is not for everyone, along with religious events; the main procession is on the Sunday of the fair. Dates move each year, so check the programme.

Skip Onda if you want nightlife, sea views or a long list of sights. It is a working industrial town with a few strong attractions.

Beaches and places nearby

Onda has no beach. The Arenal beach at Burriana is the closest sand we measured, about 20 km away in a straight line, and the other coastal towns are in the same range. For a seaside day, use a car or bus to the coast and read the guide for the town you choose.

Nearby town guides, with straight-line distances from Onda (our calculation from map coordinates): Villarreal (about 14 km), Nules (about 15 km), Burriana (about 17 km) and Almassora (about 18 km).

Other town guides nearby: La Vall d’Uixó (about 16 km in a straight line), Castellón de la Plana (about 20 km in a straight line), Benicàssim (about 30 km in a straight line).

Food and drink

The local speciality is the pastís de Onda, a thin pastry filled with tuna, onion, chard or spinach, tomato, parsley and hard-boiled egg, sometimes with pine nuts. Traditionally people bought it at the town’s bakeries every Friday for dinner; Valencia Bonita reports that it is now available at all bakeries on Fridays and some sell it daily. Since 2021 the town council has been working to certify it as a gastro-tourism product.

Restaurant listings change quickly, so we do not name places we could not verify. Expect regional rice dishes and grilled meat, and try the pastry at a bakery rather than a restaurant. We did not find a confirmed market day, so ask at the tourist office.

Where to stay

We found no reliable source for hotel numbers or prices in Onda, so we give only the general picture. Expect a small choice of town hotels and guesthouses, with more variety in Castelló and on the coast. Prices in a town like Onda are likely to be below coastal resorts, but compare current rates yourself. During the Fira d’Onda in October, book early.

Getting there and around

Onda has no airport; you fly into one of the regional airports and continue by car or bus. A route aggregator lists an intercity bus line between Castelló, Vila-real and Onda run by Autobuses Furió; it is an open-source listing, so confirm routes and times with the operator. We did not confirm a passenger rail station in Onda, so check Renfe for the nearest station before you plan a train trip.

By car, Onda is roughly 14 km from Vila-real and 18 km from Castelló in a straight line, and road distances are somewhat longer. The castle has parking, according to the town’s tourism page. In town, the old centre is walkable; the reservoir needs a car.

Best time to visit

We did not retrieve climate figures for Onda, so check the forecast on AEMET before you go. As an inland site at 194 m, expect warmer afternoons than on the coast in summer, and plan hill and reservoir visits for the morning. The Fira d’Onda in October is the fixed date to plan around if you want the town at its busiest.

FAQ

Is Onda worth visiting?

Yes, for a day, if you like castles and ceramics. The castle and the tile museum are the two main reasons; it is not a beach destination.

Does Onda have a beach?

No. It is inland. The Arenal beach in Burriana is about 20 km away in a straight line.

Why is it called the Castle of 300 Towers?

The chronicler Ramon Muntaner gave it that name, saying it had as many towers as the year has days. The number is a metaphor rather than a count.

What is the Onda tile museum?

The Museu del Taulell d’Onda Manolo Safont holds about 80,000 objects on the history of ceramics, and a guided tour of about 90 minutes is available.

What can you do at Sichar reservoir?

Hiking, cycling, kayaking and paddleboarding, according to Turisme Comunitat Valenciana. The reservoir covers about 317 hectares.

Sources and freshness

Last checked: October 2026. Sources: Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, Onda; Onda tourism, Castillo de las 300 Torres; Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, guided tour of the Onda tile museum; Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, Fira d’Onda; iAgua, Sichar reservoir; Valencia Bonita, pastís de Onda; AEMET.

Main photo: Juan Emilio Prades Bel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.