Day trips from Valencia: Albufera, Xàtiva and Gandia

The countryside begins sooner than you expect. South of the city lie the rice fields and lagoon of the Albufera, reached by city bus; further out, the local trains from the North Station take you to a castle town in the hills and a long beach on the coast, each a single train ride away.

The Albufera and El Palmar: rice fields, boats and paella

The lagoon of the Albufera near Valencia — Photo: Rafael Minguet Delgado / Pexels, Pexels License

39 to 44 minEMT bus 24 from Porta de la Mar to El Palmar; covered by the SUMA passes and the Tourist Card
about 22 min

Ten kilometres south of the centre, Spain's largest freshwater lake is ringed by rice paddies that change colour with the farming year, from flooded fields in winter to bright green in summer and gold before the harvest. Herons, flamingos and many kinds of duck feed in the shallows; more than 300 bird species have been recorded in the park. Traditional boats take you out through the reeds for about 40 min; they leave from several jetties, El Palmar among them. The village itself is a street of restaurants serving paella and other rice dishes in the area where the dish was born. The trip fills a half day or an easy full one. Combine it with a walk through the pine woods and dunes of La Devesa along the coast.

Tip: The boats at sunset are the most popular and sell out, so book ahead and check the forecast: low cloud or wind takes the colour out of the evening. Bring insect repellent in summer.

Weather: El Palmar

Xàtiva: the castle on the hill

Xàtiva castle on its hill above a fountain — Photo: Emilio Sánchez Hernández / Pexels, Pexels License

56 min to 1 h 8 minRenfe Cercanías line C2 from València Estació del Nord to Xàtiva; outside the Tourist Card zone
about 48 min

A long castle crowns the ridge above Xàtiva, with walls that run down the hillside towards a small town of fountains, churches and shaded squares. The Borja family, who gave the Church two popes, came from here. The castle, with its views across the plain of orange groves, is the reason to come; allow most of the day.

Tip: The climb from the town to the castle is long and steep. In summer go early, take water and avoid the midday hours.

Weather: Xàtiva

Gandia: the Borja palace and a long sandy beach

Hotels on the beach of Gandia at dawn — Photo: Julien Goettelmann / Pexels, Pexels License

1 h 5 min to 1 h 15 minRenfe Cercanías line C1 from València Estació del Nord to Gandia; local buses go on to the beach
about 55 min

Gandia has two sides. In the town, the Ducal Palace of the Borja family tells the story of the dynasty in a series of richly decorated rooms. On the coast, a broad beach of fine sand stretches for kilometres, with a promenade and a busy summer season. In warm months, many visitors from Valencia come simply to swim.

Tip: Combine the palace in the morning with the beach in the afternoon; outside summer the beach is quiet and better for a walk than a swim.

Weather: Gandia

Renfe Cercanías timetables for Valencia