Getting Around Valencia: An Overview
Valencia is a city where you can cover a lot of ground on foot, but a compact and well-connected public transport network makes it easy to reach the beach, the City of Arts and Sciences, and the airport. The system is built around Metrovalencia (metro and tram), an extensive city bus network, and taxis, with a single rechargeable card tying much of it together.
One practical quirk to know before you start: streets carry both Valencian and Spanish names, but most street signs appear in Valencian only. Maps may use either language, and addresses can be given in either, so a little patience helps when navigating. The city has also been renaming some Franco-era streets, so printed maps may lag behind online mapping services.
Walking
For most visitors, walking is the default way to explore central Valencia. Aside from trips to the beach and the City of Arts and Sciences, getting around the hub of the city requires no public transportation at all. The rhythm here suits strolling: walk, stop for a coffee or a beer, and walk some more. You do not need to master a complex transit system to enjoy the centre.
One safety note: Valencia has designated bike lanes, and pedestrians should stay out of them.
Metro and Tram
Metrovalencia operates the city's metro and tram lines. The network links the centre with the airport, the main rail stations, and districts across the city, and it is the backbone of longer journeys that are too far to walk.
Key interchanges for visitors include Xàtiva, which sits directly in front of the Estació del Nord train station and connects to the metro lines serving the airport. Long-distance and high-speed trains arrive at the separate Joaquim Sorolla station, which is served by its own metro lines and linked to Estació del Nord by a free shuttle bus running frequently.
Tickets and passes are sold at metro stations. Machines accept credit cards, and there are manned service counters where English is spoken. Note that the paper tickets with magnetic strips are rechargeable, so keep hold of them.
Buses
An extensive city bus network complements the metro, with lines connecting the main transport hubs to districts and neighbourhoods across Valencia. The Estació del Nord area in particular is served by several bus lines that let you reach virtually any part of the city.
The airport bus, route 150, is operated by Fernanbus using distinctive yellow buses. It departs frequently and terminates at Àngel Guimerà in the city, with a journey of roughly half an hour to forty minutes. Tickets are inexpensive and can be bought on board.
Tickets and Passes
For short visits, the Valencia Tourist Card is the simplest option. It comes as a one-, two-, or three-day pass giving unlimited travel on all metro and bus lines, including to and from the airport, valid over a 24-, 48-, or 72-hour period. Beyond transport, the card includes free admission to public museums and monuments, discounts at other tourist attractions, and further discounts at some shops and restaurants. You can buy it at any tourist office, including at the airport, or order it online at a discount and collect it on arrival. A seven-day version exists without the transport element.
If you are staying longer than three days, or prefer not to buy a package, the rechargeable SUMA 10 card is the flexible alternative. It works on both metro and bus, and covers ten journeys. Transfers begun within 90 minutes of starting your journey are included: unlimited transfers between metro or tram lines, and a single transfer to or from bus lines (between buses, or to or from the metro). The cards are not personalised, so a single card can be shared by several people, with each traveller deducting a journey. SUMA 10 cards are sold from machines in metro stations and can be recharged at any metro ticket machine. A small additional fee applies for the physical card itself, whether cardboard or plastic.
Many other ticket types exist, but for most visitors the Tourist Card and the SUMA 10 cover the essentials.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are readily available, and several radio taxi companies operate in the city and at the airport, with bookings possible by phone, online, or through smartphone apps. Taxi stands are marked, including one just outside the airport arrivals hall. Fares are metered, and tariffs are displayed inside the taxi in Valencian, Spanish, and English, though the print can be hard to read. Be aware that journeys to and from the airport can carry a supplement, and that the same trip in the opposite direction may cost noticeably less.
Getting from the Airport to the City
Valencia Airport sits in the neighbouring town of Manises, a short distance from the city centre, and is served by a range of major airlines connecting it to domestic and European airports. Nearly all intercontinental visitors will need to connect through a major European hub, unless they can take the seasonal direct transatlantic flight from Montreal. The terminal has Wi-Fi (free for the first 30 minutes) and a selection of restaurants and duty-free shops after security.
Three main options get you into the city:
- Metro: Metrovalencia lines run directly from the airport to the town centre, linking the airport to Estació del Nord beside the Xàtiva stop. Trains run frequently and the trip takes around twenty minutes. A one-way ticket to the city centre is inexpensive, with a small extra charge for the rechargeable cardboard ticket. Tickets can be bought at a manned service counter (English spoken) or from vending machines that accept credit cards. There are no trains between midnight and 05:30, so plan around that if you land late.
- Bus: Fernanbus route 150 runs yellow buses from the airport every 15 minutes, terminating at Àngel Guimerà. Tickets are cheap and the journey takes about 30–40 minutes.
- Taxi: A taxi stand is just outside the arrivals hall. A ride into the heart of the historic city centre costs roughly €20–23, plus an airport supplement of around €5. Tariffs are displayed in the taxi in Valencian, Spanish, and English, though they can be difficult to see. Note that the return journey from the city centre to the airport is often half the price. You can book a taxi by calling a radio taxi company or booking online.
Arriving by Train or Bus
If you arrive by rail, note that Valencia has two main stations. Estació del Nord, a well-preserved modernist building in the city centre next to the Plaza de Toros and near the Town Hall, handles suburban, commuter, regional, and mid-distance trains. It has a tourist information office, storage lockers, cafés, and a car rental office, and the metro entrance at Xàtiva is directly in front of the main doors. Long-distance and high-speed trains use Joaquim Sorolla station, a short distance away, which has its own lockers, café, and car rental office, and is connected to Estació del Nord by a free shuttle bus departing every ten minutes.
Long-distance buses arrive at the Estació d'Autobusos de València on Avinguda de Menéndez Pidal, served by the Túria metro stop. A dozen bus companies operate there, with arrivals from almost every big city in Spain and most cities in the Valencia region. Ticket offices, a café, and an information booth are on the upper floor, though the building is not especially well managed and night-time services are minimal.