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Day trips from Valencia: what to see nearby and how to get there by public transport
You can take day trips from Valencia without a car: to the Albufera by city bus, and to Sagunt, Xàtiva, Gandia or Requena by Cercanías, in between 30 minutes and an hour and a half. For the San José Caves there are tours with transport included, and Chulilla, with its hanging bridges, is easier by car. Here is how to reach each one.
Updated September 27, 2026
The essentials in 60 seconds
- The closest
- The Albufera and El Palmar: EMT 24 or 25, about 45 minutes.
- History
- Sagunt (castle and Roman theatre, Cercanías C6) and Xàtiva (castle, C2).
- Beach
- Gandia: Cercanías C1 to the beach, in just over an hour.
- Nature
- Chulilla and its hanging bridges; best by car.
What day trips can you take from Valencia?
| Destination | How to get there | Approx. time | What to see |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Albufera / El Palmar | EMT 24 (El Palmar) or 25 (Embarcador) | 45 min | Lake, rice fields, boat trip, paella |
| Sagunt | Cercanías C6 | 30 min | Castle, Roman theatre, Jewish quarter |
| Xàtiva | Cercanías C2 | 1 h | Castle, collegiate church, old town |
| Gandia | Cercanías C1 | 1 h | Ducal Palace of the Borgias, beach |
| Requena | Cercanías C3, changing at Buñol | 1 h 30 min | Medieval quarter, caves, wine |
| San José Caves (La Vall d'Uixó) | Tour with transport included | 45 min by car | Navigable underground river |
| Chulilla | Car (the bus has very few departures) | 1 h by car | Hanging bridges, Turia canyon |
The Albufera and El Palmar
The Albufera Natural Park, some 15–20 km to the south, surrounds a large freshwater lake ringed by rice fields. In El Palmar, the village in the middle of the park, boats leave to tour the lake and you will find the area's best-known rice restaurants. EMT line 24 goes to El Palmar and line 25 stops at the Embarcador de l'Albufera, both from Porta de la Mar. At sunset, the light over the lake is the big draw.
Sagunt: castle and Roman theatre
Half an hour away by Cercanías (line C6), Sagunt has a castle that crowns the hill for almost a kilometre, with Iberian, Roman and Moorish remains, and a restored Roman theatre that hosts performances in summer. From the station, the old town and the climb to the castle are done on foot.
Xàtiva: city of the Borgias
Xàtiva, an hour away by Cercanías (line C2), is the birthplace of the Borgia popes. Its castle, one of the largest in the Valencian Community, overlooks the city from the top of the ridge and offers views over the whole district. Below, the collegiate church and the streets of the old town complete the visit.
Gandia: palace and beach
Cercanías line C1 reaches Gandia beach in just over an hour. In town, the Ducal Palace of the Borgias is the main visit; by the sea, its fine-sand beach is one of the busiest on the coast in summer. It is also the birthplace of fideuà.
Requena: wine and caves
Requena, inland, is wine country (D.O. Utiel-Requena). Its medieval quarter, La Villa, hides underground caves you can visit, and nearby wineries open their doors for tastings. By Cercanías you get there on line C3, changing at Buñol.
San José Caves and Chulilla: nature
The San José Caves, in La Vall d'Uixó, have the longest navigable underground river in Europe, which you explore by boat. There are tours from Valencia with transport included.
Chulilla is a village perched above the Turia river canyon, known for its hanging-bridges trail and for climbing. The bus has very few departures, so the practical option is to drive (about 60 km).
Organised day trips
If you would rather not worry about transport, these trips leave from Valencia with everything included:
Frequently asked questions
What day trip can you take from Valencia without a car?
The Albufera, on EMT line 24 or 25, is the easiest. By Cercanías, Sagunt (30 minutes, line C6) combines a castle and a Roman theatre; Xàtiva (1 hour, line C2) has one of the most striking castles in the Valencian Community; and Gandia (C1) pairs a palace with a beach.
How do you get to the Albufera from Valencia?
On EMT line 24 to El Palmar, or line 25, which stops at the Embarcador de l'Albufera. Both leave from Porta de la Mar, in the centre, and take about 45 minutes. There are also organised tours with the bus and a boat trip included.
Is Xàtiva worth visiting?
Yes. It is an hour away by Cercanías, and its castle, high on the ridge, is one of the largest in the Valencian Community and has some of the best views. The city, birthplace of the Borgia popes, keeps an old town with churches and palaces. It makes an easy half-day or full-day trip.
Can you get to Chulilla by public transport?
There is a bus from Valencia, but with very few departures a week and sometimes only on request, so it is not practical for a day trip. The easiest way is by car: it is about 60 km, around an hour.
Official sources
Figures and timetables checked against these sources. If anything has changed, the official source prevails.
Keep exploring the guide
- Things to see in ValenciaThe must-sees, grouped by area and with tickets.
- Valencia in 1, 2 or 3 daysHour-by-hour itineraries with real routes and transport.
- Valencia's neighbourhoodsWhat each area offers and which suits you for your stay.
- Valencia's beachesFrom Malvarrosa to El Saler: how to reach each one.
- What to eat in ValenciaAuthentic paella, horchata, esmorzaret and markets.
- Tours and routesGuided tours, self-guided routes and an AI route planner.