Valencia's Coastline at a Glance
Valencia is one of the few large Spanish cities with long sandy beaches inside its municipal limits. They fall into two groups. North of the port are the urban beaches, Las Arenas, Malvarrosa and, just over the boundary, Patacona, backed by a promenade with restaurants and reachable by tram. South of the port lie Pinedo and then El Saler and La Devesa, which are part of the Albufera Natural Park and sit next to pine woods and dunes rather than buildings. The water is the Mediterranean, warm in summer and generally gentle, and the beaches are wide and flat.
Las Arenas and Malvarrosa
Las Arenas (Les Arenes) is the beach closest to the port and the city centre, with the Paseo Marítimo promenade, hotels and a line of rice and seafood restaurants behind it. This is the traditional place for a beachfront paella, which Valencians usually eat at lunchtime rather than in the evening.
Malvarrosa continues north from Las Arenas and is the city's best-known beach. It is long and broad, with lifeguards, showers, toilets and accessible bathing points in the summer season, and it is busy on summer weekends. The Cabanyal district behind these two beaches was historically a fishing neighbourhood, and its streets of tiled houses are worth a short detour.
Patacona
Patacona is the northern continuation of Malvarrosa but belongs to the neighbouring municipality of Alboraia. It tends to be a little calmer and is popular with local families. Alboraia is known for horchata, the cold tiger-nut drink, which you can try at cafés along the seafront or in the town itself.
Pinedo and the Southern Beaches
Across the port and the mouth of the new Turia riverbed, Pinedo is a long beach with a more local feel, backed by a small residential area and beach bars. Further south, El Saler and La Devesa lie inside the Albufera Natural Park. Here the sand is bordered by a protected dune system and pine woodland (the Devesa), and there is very little building. Boardwalks cross the dunes; stay on them, because the dunes are a fragile habitat that the park has spent decades restoring. These beaches are good for long walks and quieter days. Facilities are more limited than in the city, so bring water and shade.
The Albufera Lagoon
A trip to the southern beaches combines easily with the Albufera itself, a large freshwater lagoon about 12 km south of the city and the heart of the natural park. The surrounding rice fields supply the rice for Valencian paella. The village of El Palmar, on the lagoon's edge, has restaurants specialising in rice dishes, and small boat trips on the lagoon run from El Palmar and other jetties, popular around sunset. The lagoon is also an important wetland for water birds.
Getting There
- Tram and metro. Metrovalencia tram lines 4 and 6 run to stops near Las Arenas and Malvarrosa, such as Les Arenes, Eugenia Viñes and Doctor Lluch. Journeys from the city take around 20 to 25 minutes.
- City buses. Several EMT bus lines run from the centre to the northern beaches. For the south, EMT line 25 runs from the city along the coast road through the Devesa towards El Palmar, stopping near El Saler. Check current routes and timetables with EMT Valencia, as they change seasonally.
- Bike. The Turia Gardens, the park laid out in the former riverbed, plus the city's bike lanes lead towards the coast; Valenbisi is the public bike-share system.
- Car. Parking near the urban beaches is difficult in summer; the southern beaches have car parks that fill on weekends.
Practical Tips
- Season. Lifeguard services, beach bars and facilities operate fully in the summer season; outside it, the beaches are quiet and good for walking.
- Heat. July and August are hot and humid; arrive early or late in the day, and use shade and sun protection.
- Flags and jellyfish. Follow the lifeguards' flags. Jellyfish appear in some summers; lifeguard posts post warnings and can treat stings.
- Rules. Councils set rules on smoking, dogs and barbecues on beaches, and signs at access points list them. Fines apply.
- Las Fallas. In March, during Las Fallas, the city is very busy and accommodation prices rise, even though it is not beach season.
