Valencia isn’t only a great destination for a weekend city break or holiday. This city is also a great starting point for exploring the stunning and diverse Valencian Community region. Marvelous beaches, mighty mountains, natural wonders, medieval towns, white villages, vibrant cities, outdoor adventures, regional cuisine… It’s all there! So now, when you’ve already spent your fair share of time exploring Valencia, it’s time to extend your curiosity beyond this amazing city. Vamos, let us show you great day trips from Valencia, Spain.
To keep things organized we divided this post into two parts: places that we explored and a short list of even more great ideas for day trips from Valencia for which we, unfortunately, didn’t have time (yet).
Each place from this post is no further than a 2h drive from Valencia by car. Keep in mind that using other means of transport may take longer.
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Day trips from Valencia, Spain
Peniscola
Peniscola is located about 140km from Valencia. Prepare yourself as this white village with a typical Mediterranean vibe can literally steal your heart! Whitewashed houses with blue ornaments and decorated with flowers, narrow cobblestone streets, charming squares, house entirely covered in shells, a castle, and lovely beaches are waiting for you there. No wonder that in 2013 Peniscola was named one of the most beautiful villages in Spain! Peniscola looks like a perfect day trip from Valencia, doesn’t it?
Learn more: One Day In Peniscola, Spain – The Best Things To Do
Altea
Altea is located about 130km from Valencia. It’s a very peaceful seaside white town where it seems like time has stopped. Narrow cobbled streets, whitewashed houses, and stunning beaches with calming sea views come together perfectly. Altea’s most iconic image is the blue dome of the town’s main church which dominates the area from a small hill. The town is also a paradise for artists – there you can find numerous small art galleries, workshops, and craft shops with beautiful handmade items. If you wish, you can combine your trip to Altea with a visit to Calpe, located only 10km away.
Learn more: 10+ Best Things To Do In Altea, Spain In One Day
Calpe
Calpe is located about 120km from Valencia. Without a doubt, this town is most famous for Peñon de Ifach – a mighty rock that dominates the landscape and gives the area a special look. Calpe also stands out for its very charming and colorful old town, picturesque sandy beaches, small hidden coves, and salinas where you’ll find… cute pink flamingos! If you wish, you can combine your trip to Calpe with a visit to Altea, located only 10km away.
Learn more: 10+ Things To Do In Calpe, Spain
Guadalest & Fonts de l’Algar
Guadalest is located about 150km from Valencia. It’s a tiny quaint Spanish village, which sits on top of a high rock. Guadalest is full of history, culture, charming buildings, and spectacular views of the surroundings – all together offer an unforgettable atmosphere right from the village doorsteps. What’s more, Guadalest was named one of the most beautiful villages in Spain!
Learn more: 10+ Things To Do In Guadalest Village And Valley
Fonts de l’Algar are located only 15km from Guadalest. It’s a very picturesque nature reserve with a walking path among waterfalls, springs, and natural pools. Doesn’t all that make Guadalest and Fonts de l’Algar a great idea for a day trip? We think it does!
Learn more: Spectacular Fonts De l’Algar Waterfalls near Benidorm, Spain
Alicante
Alicante is located about 160km from Valencia. It’s the capital of the Province of Alicante and one of the largest cities in Spain population-wise. Thanks to a typical Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mild winters with lots of sunshine, Alicante is a very popular travel destination all year round. And no wonder because it has a lot to offer! From charming old town, hilltop castle, and unique Mushroom Street to many cultural attractions, vivid nightlife, delicious Mediterranean food, and great beaches.
Learn more: Things To Do In Alicante Old Town, Spain In One Day
Via Verde del Mar & Desert de les Palmes Natural Park
Via Verde del Mar is located about 85km from Valencia. It is a scenic route located between Benicassim and Oropesa. It’s about 5.6 km long (one way) and is suitable for both pedestrians and cyclists. Its difficulty is low, which makes it a fantastic option for people of all ages. Rough seashore views, blue sea, sharp cliffs, hidden coves, pine woods, watchtowers… Via Verde has it all.
Learn more: Via Verde Del Mar – Scenic Route Between Benicassim & Oropesa
Desert de les Palmes Natural Park is located about 10km away from the start of Via Verde in Benicassim so you can get there quickly after finishing your walk. There you’ll find a few hiking trails and many spectacular views over Costa de Azahar from the various viewpoints. Even if you don’t feel like going for a whole long hike, it’s worth just going there by car for a scenic ride and stops.
You can also add to your day, or change with any of the above places, Castellon de la Plana. This town is located just 15km away. It has a nice beach and a fairly nice old town but in our opinion, it’s worth going there if you have some time to spare. Take a closer look at it and decide for yourself.
Learn more: Things To In Desert De Les Palmes Natural Park near Benicassim, Spain
Villajoyosa & Finestrat Old Town
Villajoyosa is located about 150km from Valencia. This town is best known for three things: colorful houses, beautiful beaches, and delicious chocolate manufactured by the Valor company. Old colorful houses give Villajoyosa a unique vibe and make it one of the most picturesque and colorful towns along Costa Blanca. Taking a walk through the maze of narrow streets and enjoying pretty squares is a pure pleasure.
Learn more: One Day In Villajoyosa, Spain. Complete Travel Guide
Finestrat Old Town is located only 10km from Villajoyosa, at the foot of Puig Campana mountain. It’s an enchanting small town, Costa Blanca’s hidden gem yet undiscovered by many. It’s full of amazing viewpoints and colorful streets that invite curious travelers to discover all its secrets. So if you’re up for exploring two colorful towns, you should definitely consider visiting Villajoyosa and Finestrat during your day trip from Valencia.
Learn more: Things To Do In Finestrat, Spain – Hidden Gem On Costa Blanca
Puig Campana Hiking
Start of the Puig Campana hike is located in Finestrat, about 150km from Valencia. With an altitude of 1406m, it’s the second-highest peak in the Province of Alicante and it’s visible from many places in the area. There are three hiking routes available: circular route, circular route + ascent, and vertical kilometer. Routes vary in distance and difficulty, but each of them guarantees spectacular views and unforgettable experiences. All routes start from the Font del Moli, where you can leave your car.
Learn more: Puig Campana, The Second-Highest Hiking Route In The Province Of Alicante
Explore local attractions
Benidorm
Benidorm is located about 140km from Valencia. In just about 50 years it evolved from a small sleepy fishing village to one of the most popular holiday resorts in Spain. It’s often affectionately called the “Manhattan of Spain”, and one look is enough to tell that Benidorm is totally different from most Spanish cities. Besides the unique coastline look with many skyscrapers, the town has a lot to offer – beautiful beaches, mountain views, vivid nightlife, and lots of attractions both for adults and kids. Benidorm is a unique day trip idea from Valencia, definitely worth considering.
Learn more: 15+ Things To Do In Benidorm, Spain
Ares del Maestrat & Morella
Ares del Mar is located about 140km from Valencia. It’s a tiny and slightly forgotten village situated at the altitude of 1195 m.a.s.l., which gives it the title of the second highest town in the Valencian Community. There you’ll find magnificent views over the town and its surroundings and a charming old town with many beautiful stone houses and cobblestone streets.
Learn more: Ares del Maestrat, Spain – Remote Village Near Castellon
Morella is located only 30km from Ares. It’s a small medieval town, which in 2013 was voted one of the prettiest villages in Spain. The town is wonderfully preserved, surrounded by medieval stone walls and an impressive castle at an altitude of over 1000m a.s.l. Morella looks just amazing, both from a distance and from the inside of its defensive walls.
A combined trip to Morella and Ares del Maestrat is another great day trip idea from Valencia.
Learn more: 7 Best Things To Do In Morella, Spain
Even more ideas for day trips from Valencia
Do you still need more ideas for day trips from Valencia? Here are a few more ideas, which unfortunately we didn’t have more time for. But we definitely will visit them next time while in the area as all of them look super interesting.
Sagunto
Sagunto is located about 30km from Valencia. It’s a captivating historic town perched atop a hill that will take you back in time hundreds of years. Imposing Sagunto Castle, fascinating old town streets, bustling squares, well-preserved Roman Theatre, and impressive panoramic views over the town and Mediterranean await.
Requena
Requena is located about 70km from Valencia. It’s nestled amidst rolling vineyards and best known for its wine heritage and numerous bodegas that attract wine enthusiasts. But that’s not all! There you can also explore a pretty medieval old town, ancient caves located beneath the town, and sample authentic flavors of local cuisine.
Xativa
Xativa is located about 60km from Valencia. It’s a charming medieval town whose main highlight is an impressive castle perched dramatically atop a twin-peaked mountain. In Xativa you’ll also find a picturesque historic quarter influenced over the years by Romans, Muslims, and Christians. While there be sure to stroll among the labyrinth of streets, admire the Gothic and Baroque architecture, visit the castle, and admire magnificent panoramic views of the surroundings. Oh, and don’t forget to taste regional specialties with baked rice!
Cullera
Cullera is located about 50km from Valencia. It’s a coastal town renowned for its pristine beaches and crowned by the Cullera Castle perched atop a hill. Stroll through the old town streets and bustling squares, admire the views from the castle, learn about the region’s intriguing past, and enjoy fresh seafood dishes in one of many restaurants. Whether you seek coastal relaxation or a touch of history – Cullera is a place near Valencia perfect for you.
Chulilla
Chulilla is located about 60km from Valencia. It’s a small village nestled in the mountains, very popular with rock climbers and hiking lovers. Chulilla also features a castle perched dramatically on a rocky hill and a beautiful old town filled with traditional whitewashed houses. Be sure to add this village to your bucket list if you’re looking for a peaceful and picturesque day trip from Valencia.
Transport on day trips from Valencia
The best and fastest way of getting to the soon-mentioned places is by car. If you don’t travel in yours, you can easily rent the best one for your needs through the Rental Cars website.
Many of the places are also accessible by public transport, by trains or buses. You can search for the connections that might interest you on the rome2rio.
If you don’t want to put too much effort into planning, you can take advantage of the guided tours from Valencia and let someone else take care of all the details. For a wide selection and well-reviewed tour options be sure to visit GetYourGuide or Viator.
Day trips from Valencia, Spain – Summing up
As you can see now, there are so many great places perfect for a day trip from Valencia. White villages, vibrant cities, historic towns, peaceful natural sites… If you’re staying longer in the city you definitely won’t be bored and you’ll find the perfect places to visit for yourself. We hope our post was helpful, and now you’re one step closer to choosing your best day trip from Valencia. Enjoy the time exploring and later share your experiences in the comments. We’re curious about the places you chose.
Our opinion & subjective ranking of best day trips from Valencia
So far we’ve spent about 3 months in the area (between September and December) and we really enjoyed our time there. There were no wild crowds anymore and we explored most of the places in peace. As you might expect, the bigger crowds were in the biggest cities.
So what are our favorite day trips from Valencia? Which ones we’d recommend to you based on our experience and preferences? Knowing what we know now, we’d choose Altea+Calpe, Peniscola, and Villajoyosa+Finestrat Old Town.
