Valencia is a great base for exploring the region: lagoons, castles and Roman ruins are all within easy reach. Here are my favourite day trips, with how to get there.
How to choose
- Nature and paella: the Albufera.
- Roman history: Sagunto.
- A castle and the Borgias: Xàtiva.
- A seaside castle: Peñíscola.
The Albufera Natural Park
Why go
Just south of the city, the Albufera is a large freshwater lagoon surrounded by rice fields – the birthplace of paella. Take a traditional boat out on the water at sunset, then eat rice or all i pebre in the village of El Palmar.
How to get there
About 30 minutes by bus or car from the centre; bike lanes also run along the coast.
Good to know
The rice fields are flooded in winter and green in summer – each season has its beauty.
Tours and activities in Valencia
Sagunto
Why go
A hilltop castle with walls spanning many centuries, and a Roman theatre below it. Sagunto is famous for its siege by Hannibal in 219 BC, which started the Second Punic War.
How to get there
About 30 minutes by local train (Cercanías) from Valencia.
Good to know
Wear good shoes: the castle is a long climb with little shade.
Xàtiva
Why go
A handsome town below a long castle that crowns the hill, with views over the plains. Xàtiva is the birthplace of Pope Alexander VI, the most famous of the Borgias.
How to get there
About an hour by local train from Valencia.
Good to know
Take a taxi or the tourist train up to the castle and walk down.
Peñíscola
Why go
A white old town on a rocky peninsula, crowned by the castle of Papa Luna, the antipope Benedict XIII, built on a former Templar fortress. Fans may recognise it from *Game of Thrones*.
How to get there
About 1.5–2 hours by car north along the coast.
Good to know
Combine the castle with a swim on the long beach next to the old town.
Tips for day trips
- Start early in summer, and bring water and a hat.
- Check opening days of castles and museums before you go.
- Book rice restaurants in El Palmar at weekends.
Back in Valencia
Plan your days in the city with Valencia in 3 days, check the best time to visit and read our Valencia travel tips.
