Day Trips from Valencia
When you stay in Valencia for 9 days, you inevitably need to explore its surroundings, because a 3-4 day stay is more than enough to explore the center. Luckily, there are plenty of towns, cities and beaches to visit near Valencia.
Natural and Historical Places Near Valencia
Albufera Natural Park
I went on this trip with the Albufera tour I bought from GetYourGuide, and we met in front of a hotel very close to the El Carmen area. It was a tour with participants from different parts of Europe.
While traveling on the bus, the guides were explaining in both Spanish and English, which was great for my Spanish practice. I also learned a lot from the general information they gave about Valencia. I can say that I was pleased with how they explained the region. I think that if I had traveled on my own instead of taking a tour, I would have only enjoyed the views on the boat trip instead of learning the area. So I think it was worth it, even though it was more expensive than going on your own.
Things to Do in Albufera
Albufera is approximately 40 minutes away from Valencia city centre. This is a natural park with high biodiversity as it is a freshwater lagoon fed by 2 different rivers. We first went to El Saler Beach on the tour, this is one of the most preferred beaches with its large sandy areas, untouched surroundings, fine sand and clear waters. Unfortunately, it was very windy when we went, there was no trace of its clear waters, so it was quite empty. When we went to the beach watch the meteor shower on a different evening, most of the locals were there.
We started our tour in Albufera by wandering around a tree-lined walking path around the place where the valves separating fresh water and salt water are located. This is a breeding, feeding and migration area for many water birds. There are many different species such as flamingos, ducks, seagulls and herons, but since it was not the season, we could only see most of the bird species on the guide’s notes. If you go in winter, you have a higher chance of observing birds. Of course, it is a very rich region not only in terms of birds but also fish. It is also famous for its seafood.
Another activity you should do here is a boat tour. While taking the boat tour, you also see the fishermen’s houses, and when there are birds, you can also observe them. Taking the tour at sunset feels very peaceful. Again, if you come by car, you can visit El Palmar which is ones of the most famous places for paella. The paellas here are made with fresh rice produced from the rice fields of Albufera.
Cuenca
How to Get to Cuenca?
Cuenca is one of the places worth seeing with its historical texture, cobblestone roads and houses that seem to be hanging on the cliff. I reached there by train from Valencia in 1 hour. Cuenca Fernando Zobel train station feels like the middle of nowhere. There are regular bus services or taxis to the city center from here. I went by bus, if you don’t have a ticket on the bus, you can pay in advance. I recommend getting off at the last stop and walking towards the city center, because if you do the opposite, you have to go uphill to the top for the best views which might leave you very tired.
Places to Visit in Cuenca
After landing, wander around the ruins and walls of the Cuenca Castle and walk up a little bit, and you will reach a beautiful view that reveals the city under your feet, including the Cuenca inscription. The houses, which look like they are hanging from a cliff, were built in Renaissance and Gothic architectures. It gives very beautiful frames for your photos.
While walking around the city, you come across beautiful colorful houses. Cuenca’s streets give me the impression of small towns in Italy rather than Spain. It also has an atmosphere of Toledo.
One of the important symbols of the city is the San Pablo Bridge, which connects two cliffs, but I only photographed it from a distance. In fact, they say that it is ideal for photographing the city view from the top of the bridge.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria y San Julian, another important building in Cuenca, is located in Plaza Mayor, but its interior and exterior were very plain compared to many other churches I have seen in Europe. I think the square here is ideal for drinking coffee or eating something while looking at the colorful houses. If you are already thinking of eating, I recommend you to eat in places with a view of the city or in the squares you see as you come down from the hill, the city center is not that colorful. Another option would be the riverside restaurants and cafes on the right and left of the San Anton Bridge when you go down.
While I was thinking, ‘Oh, let me take a look down there and then I’ll decide,’ when I got to the center, I looked at the 3rd wave cafes where the young people I saw on the bus were hanging out, but they were all closed after 13:30. I chose Melatta Coffee & Brunch, which had a high score on Google Maps and turned out to be even better than I expected. It was a cute coffee shop with interior decoration worthy of taking photos for Instagram, and the banana cake and coffee were delicious. Frankly, I feel the lack of this kind of place in Valencia.
Afterwards, I walked towards Parque Europa and took a breather in the park, but the park looks like an ordinary one and has no special appeal. While I was taking a breather here, I witnessed a man’s dog whose heart had stopped, probably due to heat and fatigue, and how he desperately tried to save his dog by holding it under water and massaging it for 15 minutes. The man’s efforts and searches, but I think they were unable to save the dog, made me deeply saddened, and I was no longer in the mood to go anywhere else. I returned to the station by bus again.
There is also the San Martin Museum of Visual Arts in Cuenca, but I did not visit it. Zipline is another activity you can do. Since wandering the streets is quite enjoyable, I think you can even stay one night if you have time.
Beaches around Valencia
Port Saplaya
As I mentioned in my Valencia article, Port Saplaya Valencia is famous for its atmosphere similar to Venice, but it would be more accurate to say it resembles just a bit. Although the boats in front of the colorful houses offers a beautiful view, walking around in the heat can be a bit tiring. Of course, if you want to take a breather, there are cafes and restaurants where you can sit. You can reach Port Saplaya 20 minutes by car from the center of Valencia. It may be preferred for those looking for a beach outside the center, but unfortunately the sea was quite wavy when we went.
Alicante
Alicante can definitely be a separate article and I hope it will be very soon, but I wanted to write about it since we preferred the beach in Calpe on our weekend route to Alicante. Most of the beaches here are rocky or the sea is stony, but the waters are clearer compared to the center. Moreover, although it is crowded, you are not disturbed by the people around. Surprisingly, Platja Mascarat was not that rocky.
Beachside bar is the only dining place in the beach so reservations are required at certain times. While we had given up hope, we were able to easily find a seat without a reservation towards the evening and the mixed paella was delicious.
During my visit in November, I visited my friend in Alicante, albeit for 1 night, and discovered Alicante center with a short tour under her guidance. In the evening, we ate delicious tapas at El Canto, the city’s most preferred restaurant by locals and tourists. Somecake, which I chose for breakfast in the morning, was very enjoyable with both the atmosphere of the place and its delicious alternatives, desserts really caught my attention, maybe next time 🙂
With its long beach, palm-lined walking path, lively nightlife in summer, and delightful cafes and restaurants, Alicante is definitely a place that you can stay for 2-3 days.
