Alcossebre (Alcalà de Xivert, Castellón) gears itself to the summer, but anyone who gets to know it in October, February or April discovers a different town: near-empty beaches, sunny strolls and the Friday market. This guide is for people travelling without school-age children who can choose their dates.
Alcossebre's climate month by month
The nearest official climate data come from the AEMET station at Castelló-Almassora, about 50 km away, with normals for 1981-2010:
| Season | Average temperature | Average high | Average low |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn (Sep-Nov) | About 19 °C | About 23 °C | About 14 °C |
| Winter (Dec-Feb) | About 11 °C | About 16 °C | About 6-7 °C |
| Spring (Mar-May) | About 16 °C | About 21 °C | About 11 °C |
| Summer (Jun-Aug) | About 24.5 °C | About 29-30 °C | About 20 °C |
The annual average is 17.5 °C, with 2,755 hours of sunshine and about 467 mm of rain spread over some 45 days a year. In other words, on most days in autumn, winter and spring you can stroll in the sunshine at midday. The sea drops to about 14 °C in winter, so swimming is for the brave; the beach, on the other hand, is perfect for walking. You can see the full figures at AEMET.
Autumn: summer extended
September and October are, for many, Alcossebre's best months. The sea holds on to the summer warmth, highs are around 23 °C and the town is quiet.
- Fiestas Patronales de San Juan Bautista: the town's main festival, between August and September.
- Santa Teresa and the Fira de la Tomata de Penjar in October, celebrating Alcalà de Xivert's best-known product, its hanging tomatoes.
- The Alcossebre street market continues on Tuesday afternoons until October.
Winter: gentle sunshine and village life
From December to February average highs are around 16 °C. It's the quietest time of year: ideal for reading on the terrace, walking on the beach and leisurely lunches.
- Santa Llúcia in December, with the pilgrimage to the hermitage on 13 December, and the Christmas Fair.
- Sant Antoni Abad in January, in Alcalà and in Alcossebre.
- Carnival in February.
- The Alcalà de Xivert market, on Friday mornings all year round.
An apartment with heating makes all the difference at this time of year: Bovalar and Mare Nostrum have it (we explain more in apartments with a lift).
Spring: flowers, walks and the first sunbathing
From March to May the countryside blossoms and average highs rise from about 16 to about 21 °C. It's the best time for longer walks.
- Holy Week (Easter), between March and April.
- Festa dels Fadrins (Sant Pere de Verona) in Alcalà, between March and April.
- Mare de Déu dels Desamparats and the Food Fair in Alcossebre, between April and May.
- In May the Tuesday market returns to Alcossebre.
Exact dates change every year: check the calendar on the page traditional fiestas of Alcalà de Xivert-Alcossebre.
The Friday market in Alcalà de Xivert
The Alcalà de Xivert market is held every Friday morning, all year round, in Plaza Ricardo Cardona, Calle San Fernando and Calle del Peso. Alcalà is about 9 km from Alcossebre (around 12 minutes by car). It's the perfect chance to buy local fruit and vegetables, olive oil, almonds and, in season, tomata de penjar.
Make the most of your visit to see the church of San Juan Bautista (1736-1766) and its 68-metre octagonal bell tower, one of the tallest in the Valencia region.
Gentle walks for all ages
- The seafront promenade and the Senda Litoral: a wooden boardwalk along the sea linking Cargador beach with Playa Romana. An easy seaside stroll.
- Las Fuentes marina: a pleasant walk with cafés, ideal for a sunny morning.
- The Santa Llúcia i Sant Benet hermitage: a late-17th-century baroque hermitage 312 metres up, with views over the coast. The official route climbs from the Montemar estate: 1.3 km and about 45 minutes, short but steep (medium difficulty).
- The red route from the lighthouse: an 8.5 km circular walk of low difficulty along the coast of the Serra d'Irta Natural Park, which you can do in part, turning back whenever you like.
What to eat in low season
The cooking of Alcalà de Xivert-Alcossebre suits the cooler months: olla gaspatxera (a hearty game stew), arroz al horno (oven-baked rice), suquet de peix (fish stew), octopus with potatoes or rabbit with snails, and almond sweets for pudding (pastissets, carquinyols, rosegons). Outside the summer it's worth checking which days each restaurant opens before you go.
Alcossebre, then and now
If you knew the town when it was still spelt Alcocéber, you might enjoy reading how tourism began here, with the old Hotel Sevilla and the first summer visitors: it's all in this history of tourism in Alcocéber.
For your accommodation, read how to plan a long stay or go back to the Bovalar apartments.