The city of Valencia is a wonderful vacation option for everyone, and once you’ve seen the best of Valencia, I recommend taking the time to explore the surrounding area. There are plenty of fabulous places to see and explore within easy reach of the city. Whether you’re into nature, medieval towns, beautiful villages or chilling on the Med, you’ll be sure to find something to do. Let’s take a look at some of the very best day trips from Valencia.

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Day trips from Valencia: getting around 

​If you’re planning on taking day trips from Valencia, you’ll need to think about how you’re going to do it.

Valencia, like all big cities in Spain, has great transport links and you also have the option to rent a car or to sign up to take tours (both groups or private tours are possible).

🚗 Renting a car

Driving around Spain is safe. The roads are well maintained, drivers generally follow the rules and signs are plentiful and clear.

→ Check rental car options now

🅿️ Always figure out where you plan on parking when driving between towns in Spain. The centre of many towns will be a maze of super narrow roads and one-way streets with limited parking options. Check where carparks are located before you drive to avoid frustration and arguments with your travel partner.

🚌 🚂 🛺 Public transport

Public transport in Spain is also easy to navigate. You can use individual train or bus websites if you know what you are looking for or you can use comparison sites if you’re not sure which company runs which lines. The sites Europeans, including me, use to figure out train & bus travel are:

→ trainline.com (trains only)

→ busbud (buses only)

→ Omio (all public transport options)

👣 Hire a local guide and take a tour

If you don’t feel like driving in a foreign country and don’t want to have to navigate local transport systems, you could take book yourself onto tours. There are plenty of reputable tour companies available across Spain.

Many of the tour operators like to advertise through comparison sites, which makes it easy to book in advance.

→ Get Your Guide

→ Viator

→ Tiqets (for tickets for bigger attractions)

It is also possible to pick up tours once you’re in Valencia although you do risk tours being fully booked or unavailable.

I will include a tour recommendation under each option.

🏖 Day trips from Valencia: beach towns

As a peninsula country, Spain is home to numerous fabulous beach towns, wild beaches and islands. The problem is that they’re generally all wonderful so picking where to go can be difficult.

The city of Valencia is brilliantly located on the shores of the Mediterranean and has its own lovely beaches to offer visitors. If you’re interested in leaving town for a beach day, though, within a short drive you’ll find excellent beaches and beach towns, some remote and peaceful such as Altea and Peñíscola, some lively and famous for their touristy summertime vibes such as Benidorm and Alicante. However you choose to use your free time, there really is a beach for everyone.

Altea

🏖 Altea is one of Valencia’s white villages (pueblos blancos) and it is an excellent day trip option from Valencia. This small historic town offers the visitor a little of everything: magnificent views, great food, a long beach and wonderful history. Throughout history, this lovely small town, like its neighbour, Calpe has been inhabited by Phoenicians, Iberians, Greeks, Carthaginians and Muslims. 

The beach area of town is a separate area to the historic centre but for the relatively fit and healthy, it’s not a problem to walk between the two (just be aware that it’s up fairly steep hills). While the beachfront is a modern run of restaurants and shops, the old town is a delightful higgle-piggle of narrow, winding streets and small stores, all leading from the gorgeous plaza. 

Don’t miss the miradores (look out points) for striking views over the coast.

How to get to Altea

🚗 90 minute beautiful drive along the coast on the AP-7

🚌 There is a direct bus to Altea, but it takes around 4hrs. It’s quicker to take the bus to Benidorm and then a local bus to Altea.

Day trips from Valencia: Villajoyosa

^{By Cristina from My Little World of Travelling}

🍫 Villajoyosa is a fantastic day trip from Valencia for travellers who enjoy visiting small towns. It is approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes by car from Valencia, but the road is scenic, and you can actually make a full day of it by stopping at other picturesque towns along the way, such as Altea (see above) or Calpe.

One of the highlights of Villajoyosa is its beach promenade, which is lovely to walk on and a place to see pretty houses painted in different colours. Alongside the town of Sotogrande in Cádiz, this is one of the most colourful places in all of Spain.

Some unmissable attractions are the Villajoyosa Museum and the Valor Chocolate Factory. Valor is one of the most famous chocolate brands in Spain.

I recommend wandering through old town to find more colourful buildings and see the main church, Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción.

If you visit Villajoyosa in the summer, head to La Caleta Beach, a golden sand beach with crystal clear water. It’s the most beautiful beach in the area.

How to get to Villajoyosa

🚗 1hr35 on the AP-7 (just past the beautiful Altea)

🚌 2hr30 via Benidorm

Day trips from Valencia: Xàbia & Dénia

^{by Sarah of Our Spanish Adventures}

🏖 A great choice for a day trip from Valencia is to spend a day visiting the 2 small towns of Xàbia and Dénia.

While it would be ideal to spend at least a day in each town, if you are looking for a packed day trip, visiting the pair would be perfectly doable as they are located just 20 minutes apart.

Dénia is a traditional Spanish port town with a castle high up on the hill overlooking the town and sea. There’s a beautiful old town at the foot of the castle, with narrow streets full of traditional restaurants and shops, and a market on a Monday. Dénia has miles of golden sandy beaches with lots of water sports and boat trips on offer.

A short drive from Dénia takes you to the popular seaside town of Xàbia (Javea in Spanish) known for its stunning sandy beaches and secluded coves. Head up to one of the many viewpoints where you can look out to sea to admire the turquoise water and beautiful coastline. There are plenty of beachfront restaurants and bars, and Xàbia old town is well worth a wander with restaurants, shops, and an indoor market.

How to get to Xàbia and Dénia

🚗 Valencia to Denia is 1hr10 on the AP-7 to Ondara and the CV-725 to Dénia, with Xàbia approximately 10km further down the road.

Day trips from Valencia: Peñíscola  

_{^{by Stefanie from Eurotravels by Design}}

🏰 Located an hour and a half north of Valencia, Peñíscola, on the Costa de Azahar, makes for the perfect day trip. This charming coastal town is known for its castle, Castillo del Papa Luna, a 14th century cliff-top fortress that housed the Pope during the Western Schism. Exploring the castle’s walls, towers and interior rooms offers a great history lesson, as well as stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and the town below. 

🎬 For Game of Thrones fans, this is one of many locations throughout Spain that was used in the filming of popular tv series.

The picturesque old town, full of white-washed houses and narrow lanes, is delightful to wander and the Jardin de la Reina is a quiet and tranquil garden perfect for a stroll.

The sandy beaches are a great place to relax and soak up the gorgeous view of the hilltop fortress or enjoy swimming and other water sports.  

How to get to Peñíscola

🚗 It is an easy 1.5 hour drive north on the AP-7 highway. 

🚌 The fastest way is taking the train from Valencia Joaquin Sorolla railway station to Castellon and then transfer to a bus at Castellón De La Plana to Pensacola. This will take just over 2 hours.

Day trips from Valencia: Gandia

^{by Jan from Janadventures.com}

🏖 Not many foreign tourists have heard of Gandia, a beautiful coastal town just one hour south of Valencia, although it is very popular with Spanish visitors.

Gandia is famous for its long and wide golden sandy beaches stretching 7 kilometers. Playa de Gandia is actually one of the largest and most popular beaches in the Costa Blanca region of Spain so it’s clear that foreign visitors are missing out! 

Whether you make it a day trip from Valencia or a spend longer here as part of a relaxing beach vacation, Gandia offers a great ambiance and many interesting historical sites. You can visit the medieval Ducal Palace of Gandia and the Gothic church Collegiate Basilica of Santa Maria (dating back to the year 1400). On the top of a hill are the remains of the Castle of Bayrén, which dates back to the time of Muslim occupation.

In addition to the historical sites, there are many bars and restaurants in this vibrant town serving the traditional Valencian paella dish. But most of all, take joy in walking the long beach promenade and gazing out into the deep blue water.

How to get to Gandia

🚗 1 hr south of Valencia on the AP-7

🚌 🚂 1hr20 direct bus or 1 hr on the train from Valencia train station

Day trips from Valencia – Alicante

^{by Maria from lifestyletraveler.co}

🏖 Alicante is a super charming coastal town and a popular tourist destination just 2 hours drive from Valencia. To really soak it all in, take the elevator up to Santa Barbara Castle – it’s especially gorgeous at sunset. From there, make your way down through the Santa Cruz Barrio (photo above), taking in the narrow streets and colorful buildings. Wander around the old town, walk along the Esplanada, and check out Postiguet Beach. 

When you need a break, grab a drink at a La Zona social bar and enjoy some tapas in the old town. For a spectacular sunrise, head to San Juan Beach. And definitely swing by Mercado Central to check out the fresh produce and local goodies.

How to get to Alicante

🚗 2 hr south on the AP-7

🚌 🚂 2 hr direct bus from Valencia bus station or 2 hr direct train

​🌳 Take a day in nature

The Valencian community is a gorgeous region of Spain and while it’s most famous for its Mediterranean beaches, it’s definitely worth considering taking a trip inland where you’ll find experiences to knock your socks off: from ancient cave art to Roman architecture, from natural parks to sailing the longest underground river in Europe.

Day trip from Valencia – Albufera Nature Reserve

^{by Katrina from adventourbegins.com}

🦅 Nestled within the protected natural area around 17 km south of Valencia’s city centre, the Parc Natural de l’Albufera (Albufera Natural Park) is a perfect day trip for those looking to escape the bustle of city life. This expansive wetland surrounded by rice fields, dunes and forests is home to unique flora and various bird species, making it a paradise for bird watchers and others looking to commune with nature and relax. Albufera is home to the largest lake in Spain and is one of the most important wetlands on the Iberian Peninsula. If you find wetlands interesting, Doñana National Park in Huelva, Andalucía is also interesting to visit

Besides birdwatching, popular activities in this idyllic natural oasis include hiking, cycling, and boat tours.

Rice cultivation is a tradition in Albufera and many say that the world famous paella dish originates from the town of El Palmar, one of the traditional villages renowned for its unique Valencian cultural heritage.

🚌 EMT bus line #24 runs between Valencia city centre and El Palmar on the south side of the lake

🚢 If you are visiting Valencia on a cruise ship, a day trip to Albufera is usually offered as a half-day shore excursion

Day trip from Valencia: Montanejos

💦 Just over an hour from the city of Valencia, in the Alto Mijares (Castellón province) is Montanejos, a small spot famous for its natural landscapes and its hot springs. The highlight of this area is the Fuente de los Baños de Montanejos where you can bathe in the warm water (but be sure to confirm you can visit as there are daily quotas in place). 

If you’re interested in the region’s pre-history then visit Cueva Negra, a neolithic cave sitting alongside the Mijares River. There’s an Arab fortress to check out and numerous hiking routes showcasing the spectacular views and beauty of the area.

It’s also possible to spend longer in Montanejos and organise a canyoning or kayaking adventure if, like me, you’re into outdoor fun.

How to get to Montanejos

🚗 1h15 inland on the AP-7 and AP-23

Day trip from Valencia: Archena

💦 In the neighbouring region of Murcia you will find the ancient Archena thermal pools. If you’re looking for relaxing weekend trips from Valencia, this could be a great option as you can stay in the 4* hotel and spa complex and enjoy the fully modernised thermal pools and spa options.

There are also some lovely walks to enjoy in the area.

We went for a day on our drive between Valencia and Sevilla and although it was an expensive option, every very much enjoyed themselves. 

How to get to Archena

🚗 2 hr on the A7 and A33

Day trip from Valencia: Caves of Sant Josep

🚣🏾‍♂️ The Caves of Sant Josep (Cuevas dee San Jose) are home to the longest underground river in Europe. Visitors take a boat ride through the caves as well as a short, captivating walk through the stalactites/stalagmites.

How to get to the Caves of Sant Josep

🚗 Around 45 minutes along the V-21 and AP-7

Villages and Cities

Spanish cities and villages are fascinating places full of history and great food. If you need a break from the beach, head inland or to the bigger coastal cities. We noted about that the Game of Thrones was filmed in the small town of Peñíscola but there are also Roman amphitheatres to explore, museums to visit and excellent restaurants to enjoy in the cities around Valencia.

Day trips from Valencia – Tarragona

^{by Rachel from Barcelona Uncovered}

🍷 Tarragona is a small town that packs a big punch with its delicious food, deep history, and extraordinary Mediterranean views.

Your first stop in Tarragona should absolutely be the ruins of the Roman amphitheater, the city’s main attraction. The views are stunning and it’s the perfect way to grab some photos to start your day. There are also other ruins, cathedrals, and medieval buildings scattered throughout the city.

Along with the history, museums, and wine, there are plenty of sandy spots along the coast to sit down and relax when the weather is warm.

🍷 Tarragona is located within the Priorat Wine Region, about an hour south of Barcelona. Some of the best wines in the region are found here, which, of course adds to the draw of the city.

When you’re ready for lunch, pick one of the many charming restaurants and hang out on the terrace with a glass of wine and a lovely meal. It is a small town, so if you have your eye on a particular restaurant, I’d recommend making a reservation ahead of time.

Getting to Tarragona

🚗 Drive north along the coastal AP-7 for around 2hr45

🚂 Take a Renfe high-speed train from Valencia to Tarragona; about 2.5 hours each way. Plan to arrive early and leave on one of the later trains to maximize your time in town

Day trips from Valencia: Madrid

🌇 It’s unlikely you’re going to want to drive to Madrid for a day from Valencia but you could easily take a high-speed train (2hrs) and have plenty of time to enjoy Spain’s capital city if you plan well. 

If you do decide to visit Madrid, consider checking out one of the many incredible museums or art galleries such as the Prado, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia or the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza. With just one day to spend in Madrid, you’ll probably manage one museum, a stroll along Gran Vía or through the Parque el Retiro. One of my personal favourite buildings in Madrid is CentroCentro – and for the best views of this magnificent building, head to the top floor of the Circulo de Bellas Artes (photo above).

If you have a restaurant in mind, probably best to book.

How to get to Madrid

🚂 2 hr train between Valencia and Charmartín train station in Madrid

Other excellent Spanish trip options

Cádiz – spend a day in this ancient coastal city meandering through small streets or walking on the promenade next to the ocean

Ronda – Ronda is a beautiful ancient city that spans two sides of the Tajo Gorge. Its bridge is one of the most famous in Spain.

Seville – One of the most beautiful cities in the world, Seville is a perfect place to spend a few days

Mérida – If you’re interested in Roman history in Spain than a trip to Mérida is unmissable

Antequera – Located in the heart of Andalucia, Antequera is home to some of the oldest and most important dolmens in Europe. Just outside this gorgeous city is the Torcal of Antequera, a fascinating karst range pefect for hiking and adventure

Cordoba – Have you ever dreamt of exploring the Mezquita or wandering through the winding roads of the Jewish Quarter of Córdoba?

Aracena – Particularly popular with the Spanish during mushroom season, Aracena is perfect for people who love to eat and explore

Segovia – See the most impressive aqueduct and the ancient castle that provided inspiration for Cinderella’s palace

Alcalá de Guadaíra – Just outside Seville, Alcala is is home to a gorgeous forest and an imposing castle overlooking the town.

Mijas Pueblo – If you’re in the Costa del Sol then you can’t miss heading in land to see one of Spain’s prettiest villages

Tarifa – On the Cadiz coast, this small city offers some of the best kitesurfing opportunities in the world as well as gorgeous beaches, Roman ruins and even day trips to Africa.

Monfragüe National Park – If you love walking and mind blowing views the you must explore Monfragüe