There are many thing to see and do in and around Benicàssim. Here are some tips with Google maps links for your convenience and enjoyment. These are just a few options and suggestions, of course. You can find so much more on your own, but this might give you a head start.
Beaches
There are many beaches, stretching all the way from the north end of Benicàssim at Voramar, all the way to Grau. That is about 7 km of beach in Benicàssim itself, for a total of about 10 km if you include the stretch to Grau. There are beaches of different kinds. Most and sand beaches, but there are also some pebble beaches. The pebble beaches are just "young" beaches, which are designed to slowly become sandy beaches by catching and keeping ocean sand (takes many years, of course).
The beaches have names, and the closes one to EPIS is Playa Heliòpolis. Just go straight down to the water and you are there. It is just 100 m away, so no need to worry if you forgot something at home.
The best beach for small children is Playa Torreón, which has quite shallow water.
If you want a more wild beach experience, you can go to the Grau beaches, like Playa del Gurugú.
The beaches are great all year around. In summer, you go to the beach, swim and play around. In winter, if weather permits, you walk along the beach and catch some amazing sunlight to "charge your batteries".
Restaurants & Cafés
There are many restaurants and bars to go to, at least in the summer. During off-season, the offering is more limited, but summer season is vibrant. There are chiringuitos - beach bars - along the beach for grabbing a snack, coffee or a cold drink right on the beach.
A place that the locals go to often is Casa Sergio, it is right in front of the house by the beach.
Another favourite of ours is La Terraza Voramar. Voramar is an old hotel at the north end of Benicàssim, and you can get lunch or dinner out on their terrace which is on the beach. It is a little far away from EPIS, but it is wonderful. We sometimes take a long walk from EPIS to Voramar (about 4 km/an hour) along the beach walk way and treat ourselves to a coffee or meal. But it is very popular, so it can get really crowded around lunch time, just so you know.
Playachica is another option that is on the beach and much closer. It is also very nice and the staff is friendly.
The are also many places to eat in the old city center. One place you can go for tapas is Vin Up.
There are many more options, of course, just have a look along the beachline to find something that you find interesting.
Grocery shopping
The store we use most often is Consum, which is 500 m away. It is very well-sorted and nice and clean. They have just about everything that you need for your thorough daily grocery shopping.
There is also a small store really close, Montemar, just 100 m away. It is more expensive, so we don't do our bulk shopping there, but they have freshly baked bread that they sell throughout the day. Nice and warm, if you are lucky to time it just right.
We also often go to the central Mercadona and off-center Mercadona in Benicàssim, or to Carrefour or Alcampo in Castellón.
Shopping
There is a shopping center in Castellón, the Salera shopping center. The easy way to get there is by car. You can take the bus, but it is not so easy. If you are interested in going to a movie theater, this is where to go. If you prefer movies in original language, then go for the screenings that are marked VOSE. You can check listings and buy tickets here.
The city center of Castellón is not very large, but it is very genuinely and non-touristically Spanish. Well, at least we got that impression, because once when we were there, some youngsters were curious about us and asked us "How did you find Castellón?". If you drive a car, there is an underground garage right under the Mercat Central de Castellón (if you don't like the smell of fish, park elsewhere). You can quite easily take the bus from EPIS to the city center of Castellón. The bus stop closest to EPIS is at Montemar, while the bus stop for taking the bus back from Castellón to Benicássim is here. The bus is cheap, about €1.50 per person in cash (I don't think that they take credit cards, but I did not try).
There is also a large outlet mall close to the Valencia airport - Centre Comercial Bonaire.
If you are interested in outlet shopping malls close to Barcelona Airport (BCN), then Viladecans The Style Oulets is for you.
Sports & Outdoor
Taking a walk or jogging/running along the beach walk is a very common way to exercise, especially early morning and late in the evening. Many people go out for an evening walk after dinner, so it gets crowded, but in a very nice way. Think of it as a social event, young and old, everyone goes out for an evening stroll after dinner.
There is a water park in Benicàssim, the Aquarama. Great for young and old kids who love water slides.
There are plenty of rental locations along the beach for boat rentals. They typically have (foot)pedal boats and Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) boards. The closest one is on the beach just outside Trinimar, and the one that is most suitable for kids and youngsters is the one with more shallow water at Playa Torreón.
If you play tennis, padel or other racket sports, the closest place to go is Club de Tenis Mas del Frares. It is not just closest, it is a really good place too.
For beach volleyball, there are several places along the beach for casual play. If you are a more experienced, you may want to check out Playa del Gurugú.
We have an outdoor ping pong table in community area by the pool. If you regret not bringing your own ping pong rackets, don't worry, we have some for you that you can borrow. You can find them inside the lounge group out on the terrace. Look under the cushions to find a plastic box with the rackets inside.
Cycling is great along the coast. You can get rental bikes here. There is a cycling route called Via Verde del mar, which is very beautiful. Many people also enjoy riding their bikes into the mountains. There you have a very nice nature preserve that you can aim for, Desert de las Palmes. It has trekking routes and has very nice nature and viewpoints.
In summer, the ayuntament (local commune) organizes group exercise sessions on the beach with an instructor, free of charge. Just bring a beach towel and a bottle of water and join in. Young or old, fit or not, it is both fun and tough at the same time. Different kinds of exercise on different days too, to mix it up a bit. For a schedule, check with our local tourist office.
The are several gyms in Benicàssim, some outdoor ones on the beach, and several more gyms in the city center. One of them is the communal gym, which is co-located with the swimming pool. We tried the gym and liked it enough to come back. It is a very small gym and it lacks some specialized machines, but it is good for basic strength exercises.
Cultural events & excursions
There are lots of cultural activities, especially in the summer. For example, lots of festivals and movies on the beach.
The main tourist office in in the old city center. But in summer there is a tourist information booth just 100 m from EPIS, here. Swing by to see what is happening in and around Benicàssim when you are there. Also, the Benicàssim tourism office home page usually provides very good information.
Benicàssim has a music scene. Every year there are music festivals, and the two biggest ones are FIB and Rototom SunSplash. There is also a Blues festival, House and Techno festival, a Belle Époque (1920s) festival, Flamenco festival, Magic Show festival, Cuban Music festival, National Ballroom Dance festival, a Classical Guitar festival, Opera festival, and much more. A lot of festivals.
Check with our local tourist office. so you do not miss out while you are here.
In summer, there are free movie screenings on the beach. Many of the movies are Spanish (and in Spanish), but some are typically main stream movies in English.
Museo Bodegas Carmelitano is a distillery that is run by monks. The have guided tours in their museum, and a shop where you can get their locally produced spirits. If you go for just one, try the rice brew, which is milky white. Locals sometimes serve it as a digestif after dinner.
There are also lots of thing to see and do in Valencia. One popular goal for many is the aquarium, the Oceanogràfic.
For cultural events in Valencia, you can check the Valencia cultural calendar here.
