Getting around Valencia: airport, metro, train 2026

Valencia is flat, compact and superbly connected: you can walk most of the old town, reach the beach by tram and be in Madrid in under two hours by train. This guide explains, step by step, how to get around Valencia in 2026, from the moment you land at Manises airport to catching an AVE for a day trip. Good news for your wallet and your nerves: here you almost never need a car.

From Manises airport to Valencia city centre

Valencia's airport is in Manises, about 8 kilometres from the centre, and it's one of the easiest in Spain because the metro runs straight into the terminal. Metrovalencia lines 3 and 5 link the airport with the heart of the city in around 25 minutes, with no changes, and are by far the cheapest option. The station, simply called Aeroport, is at the end of the terminal: head down, buy your ticket from the machines, and within minutes you're on your way into town.

To orient yourself: line 5 (green) passes through Xàtiva, beside the Estació del Nord and the bullring, and Colón in the main shopping area; line 3 (red) takes you to Xàtiva and Àngel Guimerà and continues north. If you're staying near the Cathedral, the Central Market or the Carmen quarter, get off at Xàtiva or Àngel Guimerà and finish on foot. Note the airport ticket includes an airport supplement, so it costs a little more than a normal metro fare.

Other options? A taxi has a fixed fare from the airport to the centre and takes about 15-20 minutes depending on traffic; it's quickest if you arrive late at night or laden with luggage. There are also ride-hailing apps (Uber, Cabify, Bolt) with marked pick-up points, and an EMT city bus, line 150, that links Manises with the city but is slower and aimed mainly at residents. For most travellers, the metro wins on price and time.

The Metrovalencia metro and tram

The Metrovalencia network mixes underground metro lines in the centre with surface trams out to the neighbourhoods and the coast. Day to day as a visitor, the stations you'll use most are Xàtiva (next to the train station and bullring), Colón (shopping and centre), Àngel Guimerà (a big interchange) and Alameda, a much-photographed Calatrava station that drops you near the Turia Gardens and a short walk from the City of Arts and Sciences.

The system works by zones (A, B, C, D). Almost everything you'll see as a visitor is in zone A, except the airport and a few outlying destinations. Buy a single zone-A ticket or, better, a rechargeable card (more below) and tap in at the gates or the yellow machines. The metro usually starts around 5am and closes after midnight, with extended hours on key dates such as Fallas; always check the day's timetable on the network.

EMT city buses

Where the metro doesn't reach, the EMT municipal bus company does. Its network covers the whole city and is especially handy for crossing the centre, reaching neighbourhoods like Benimaclet or heading down to the Cabanyal and the beach. Buses are numbered and many run frequently at peak times. There are also night lines for getting home after a night out and good weekend coverage.

The handy thing about the EMT is that it shares the ticketing system with the metro, so one pass lets you string together metro, tram and bus. If you pay a single fare, buy it as you board; if you carry a card, tap on the machine beside the driver. To get around the old town it's often quicker to walk, but for longer journeys or in the heat an air-conditioned bus is a relief.

Valenbisi and the Turia riverbed: Valencia by bike

Valencia is built for cycling: it's flat and has kilometres of bike lanes, with the old Turia riverbed as its backbone. After the 1957 flood the river was diverted and its bed turned into a linear park nearly 9 kilometres long: today it's a green, level, car-free corridor crossing the city from the Parque de Cabecera to the City of Arts. Cycling the Turia is one of the city's most joyful and cheapest experiences, linking gardens like the Viveros Gardens with the giant Gulliver slide for kids.

To pedal without bringing a bike, there's Valenbisi, the public hire scheme with docking stations all over the city. It runs on a short-term subscription that's ideal for tourists: pick up a bike at one station and drop it at another, and the first minutes of each trip are usually free, which makes it perfect for short hops. There are also private rental companies by the hour or day if you'd rather keep a bike all day. Riding the riverbed end to end is also a great free thing to do: you'll find more ideas in our guide to free things to do in Valencia.

How to reach the beaches

Valencia's city beaches are a stone's throw away. The classic way to get there is the tram: Metrovalencia's surface lines end at stops like Marítim and, right on the sand, at the Malva-rosa. From the centre you combine metro and tram at Marítim and within minutes you're facing the Mediterranean. The Malva-rosa is the most famous, with its long promenade and rice restaurants; just to the south lies the Cabanyal-Arenas beach, hugging the colourful fishermen's quarter, with a more local feel.

You can also get there by EMT bus or, in good weather, by bike along the Turia riverbed, which ends right by the City of Arts, very close to the sea. By bike it's an easy, flat half-hour or so from the centre to the Malva-rosa.

Reaching the Albufera and the City of Arts

For the Albufera, the great natural park of rice paddies and the lagoon where paella was born, there's no direct metro, but there is a bus: the lines running from the centre towards El Saler and El Palmar drop you by the jetty, where you can hop on a boat to watch the sunset over the water. It's one of the essential sights and, taken at dusk, one of the most magical; it's a fixture in our calendar at sunset over the Albufera.

The City of Arts and Sciences —with the Oceanogràfic, the Hemisfèric and the Science Museum— sits at the far end of the Turia riverbed. Reach it by metro to Alameda and walk through the park, or go directly by bus or bike along the river. It's one of those journeys that's part of the visit: the stroll among palm trees to Calatrava's white buildings is worth it in itself.

Renfe Cercanías: towns and day trips

If you want to leave the city without a car, Renfe's Cercanías commuter trains are your best ally. They depart from the Estació del Nord —the gorgeous Modernista building right in the centre, beside the bullring— and the neighbouring Estació Joaquín Sorolla, linking Valencia with the coast and inland towns on short, cheap journeys. It's the perfect way to take an excursion and still sleep back in the city.

Some classics: Sagunto and its Ibero-Roman castle on the hill, half an hour on the northbound line; Xàtiva, with its double castle and stately old town, about 40 minutes south; and the beaches of Cullera and Gandía, two fine-sand destinations that are very easy by train. We explain how to chain several together in our guide to day trips from Valencia, with typical schedules and what to eat at each stop.

AVE and long distance: Madrid, Barcelona and beyond

For long distances, the high-speed train is unbeatable. The AVE to Madrid covers the trip in around 1 hour 50 minutes, with many departures a day; it's faster and more comfortable than flying once you factor in airport time. The train to Barcelona is also direct and frequent, linking the two Mediterranean capitals in a few hours. AVE and long-distance trains leave mostly from the Estació Joaquín Sorolla, connected by a free shuttle bus to the Estació del Nord, which still handles Cercanías and regional services in its Modernista jewel of ceramics and mosaics.

Booking ahead makes the AVE much cheaper, and several companies (Renfe, Ouigo, Iryo) compete on price on the Madrid–Valencia line. If you're planning a longer escape, book online a few weeks ahead and compare: the gap between a last-minute fare and an advance one is huge.

Tickets, cards and travel passes: how to pay

For urban transport (metro, tram and EMT) the most practical option is a rechargeable card rather than single tickets. The best-known is the SUMA, a card you can load with trips or a multi-trip bono and use on both metro and bus, which greatly cuts the cost per journey. If you'll be moving around a lot over a few days, ask about multi-trip bonos or tourist passes: they pay off compared to buying a ticket each time.

Quick tips: always validate on entry (the metro has gates; on the bus, the machine by the driver); keep your ticket until you exit in case of inspection; and remember the airport trip carries a supplement. Station machines have interfaces in several languages and accept card payment. With a loaded SUMA you skip the queue every time.

Do you need a car in Valencia? No

To visit Valencia, you don't need a car, and it will probably get in the way: the centre has pedestrian and restricted-traffic zones, parking is expensive, and the combination of metro, tram, EMT, bike and your own two feet covers practically everything. Only consider renting a car if you want to explore inland towns poorly served by train or do nature routes like the Chulilla hanging bridges; for everything else, public transport is cheaper and free of parking headaches.

Before you travel, round off your planning with our other guides: what to pack based on the weather in Valencia month by month, which neighbourhood to stay in Valencia to keep everything close to transport, and a huge spread of ideas in things to do in Valencia. And once you're getting around the city, peek at the lesser-known corners only locals know and check the live agenda of what's on this week so you don't miss a concert, market or fiesta.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Valencia airport to the city centre?

The fastest and cheapest way is the metro: Metrovalencia lines 3 and 5 leave from the terminal itself (Aeroport station) and drop you in the centre, at stops like Xàtiva or Àngel Guimerà, in around 25 minutes. The ticket carries an airport supplement. Alternatives include a fixed-fare taxi (15-20 minutes), ride-hailing apps and EMT bus line 150.

Do I need a car to visit Valencia?

No. The centre is compact and pedestrian-friendly, and between metro, tram, EMT buses, Valenbisi and walking you can reach almost everything, including the beaches and the City of Arts. It's only worth renting a car for inland towns or nature routes poorly connected by train.

How do I get to the beach from Valencia city centre?

The classic way is the tram to the Marítim area and the Malva-rosa, combining with the metro from the centre. You can also go by EMT bus or by bike along the Turia riverbed, which ends near the sea; it's just over half an hour pedalling from the centre to the Malva-rosa.

What's the best transport ticket or pass in Valencia?

For several days, a rechargeable card like the SUMA, loaded with a multi-trip bono, works out far cheaper than single tickets and covers metro, tram and EMT. If you'll only make a couple of trips, a single ticket is enough. Remember to always validate on entry.

How long is the train from Valencia to Madrid?

The AVE between Valencia and Madrid takes around 1 hour 50 minutes, with many daily departures. It leaves mostly from the Estació Joaquín Sorolla. Book ahead for the best prices; Renfe, Ouigo and Iryo compete on the line.