Three mountain ranges, charming villages, and autumn as the best season to explore inland, away from the coast. As summer heat gives way to mild, clear days, inland Valencia becomes one of the best hiking destinations on the Mediterranean. Mountains, forests and stone villages, less than an hour from the coast, reveal a side of the region many visitors have yet to discover.

Three mountain ranges worth lacing up your boots for

The Serra Calderona, between the provinces of Valencia and Castellón, combines pine forests, springs and short, family-friendly trails, with Serra Castle as a lookout point. Inland Valencia's Caroig Massif offers plateau and ravine landscapes reminiscent of ranges much further north. And in Alicante, the Sierra de Mariola hides the source of the river of the same name, unusually lush beech woods so close to the Mediterranean, and the scent of aromatic herbs grown there for centuries.

Villages worth an overnight stay

Autumn is also the season for inland villages. Chulilla, perched above its own canyon; Requena, with its wineries open after the grape harvest; Morella, with its medieval walls in Castellón; or Bocairent, carved into the rock in Alicante, are among the stops that best combine landscape, heritage and seasonal food.

Where to stay inland

For a hiking break, a tourist rental is usually the most practical option: heading out early, cooking without relying on restaurant hours, and staying in small villages where hotel options are limited. In the Valencia region, ApturCV brings together a large share of legally registered tourist accommodation, with the registration number always visible in the listing: a simple safeguard when choosing where to stay. Before booking, check that it's a legal tourist rental.