Getting To Valencia

The fastest way to get to Valencia is by flying to Valencia Airport (Manises), although airfares to this airport are sometimes expensive. An alternative would be to fly to nearby Alicante (100 miles south) and take a train or bus to Valencia. Travelling all the way from France by rail to Valencia can be somewhat awkward and expensive, although rail travel within Spain is surprisingly fast and efficient owing to the modern, high-speed trains and good tracks. Driving is the next best option, with major roads from all directions converging on Valencia, while bus travel is also worthwhile.

By car

Valencia is well fed by roads from all compass points. The main A7 motorway approaches Valencia from the north and the south, with direct access from Barcelona and Alicante respectively. The A7 reaches as far north as the French border and links up with the French A9. When approaching Valencia from the north, fork off from the A7 and join the N221 or the N34 for the city. The N340 also comes in from the south from the A7. If driving from Madrid, take the busy E901/N111 and the A3, a three to four hour journey.

By rail

One of the best options for getting to Valencia from major urban centres in Spain is to take the train. The Spanish rail network offers a fast and efficient way to travel between major cities, with eight Talgo 200 high-speed trains per day from Barcelona, a four-hour trip; a dozen high-speed Alaris trains from Madrid, a three-hour, 30 minute journey; as well as services from Malaga on the Costa del Sol, which take nine hours. The main station at Valencia, Estación del Norte (North Station), is on Calle Játiva 2, near the city centre.

By bus

Getting to Valencia by bus is a lot more arduous than any other transportation alternative in Spain if you are travelling long distance, although buses do present an affordable option for those who are on a budget. There are more than a dozen bus services each day that run to Valencia from Madrid, a four-hour trip; 10 daily buses from Barcelona, a five-hour journey; as well as five services from Malaga, which take eight hours. Valencia’s main bus station is the Estació Terminal d'Autobuses on Av. de Menéndez Pidal 13, which is located north of the city centre. Bus number 8 runs to the city.

By air

Valencia's Aeropuerto de Manises receives flights from major cities all over Europe as well as regular scheduled services from Spanish centres including Barcelona, Madrid and Malaga. The airport is located just six miles to the west of the city, with trains running to the city centre every 30 minutes, buses every 10 minutes and taxis and shuttles are also available.

By ferry

If you are on the Balearic Islands of Majorca or Ibiza, Transmediterránea ferries run services to Valencia throughout the week in the high spring and summer seasons; the journey takes six hours from Majorca and three hours from Ibiza. The Transmediterránea office is located at Estació Marítim at Valencia port and bus numbers 4 and 19 run to and from here to Plaza del Ayuntamiento in the city.

Valencia airport

Valencia's Aeropuerto de Manises is served by a barrage of national and low-cost carriers, with daily flights arriving from London, Dublin, Paris and Berlin among other destinations as well as from airports throughout Spain including the Balearic Islands. The airport has just one, triple-level terminal that comes with good passenger facilities. Cash machines and bureaux de change are located on the first two levels, along with a post office on the mid-level. There is also a café and three restaurants as well as a range of shops and duty-free outlets.

Transportation from Valencia Airport

The airport is situated just six miles to the west of the city centre and is accessible via the N111/Avenida Cid highway. There is a train station located directly in front of the airport, with regular 30-minute departures for Estación del Norte (North Station), which is just south of the city centre. Buses also run to Valencia from Valencia Airport every 10 minutes from 05:00 to 23:40.

In addition, taxis run at all hours and go from the large taxi rank situated directly outside of Arrivals and rates into Valencia are quite reasonable. The taxis are on a first come, first served basis and operate on a queue system.

As an alternative to flying to Valencia, Alicante Airport to the south, receives numerous daily flights from all over Europe and the city is well connected with Valencia.