7 places to visit near Valencia

In this article, we tell you about several places to visit less than half an hour from Valencia, perfect for an afternoon out, a walk and more.

Horta Nord

Close to the city lies the Horta Nord, an expanse of orchards and villages covering a total of 140 km². It is a great place for a walk or a bike ride, enjoying the peace of the huerta. You will also find old buildings closely tied to Valencian tradition, such as barracas (traditional cottages) and farmhouses.

Here, for a good horchata, we recommend Horchatería Vida, which has a large terrace right in the orchards and serves quality products.

Marjal dels Moros

To get to the Marjal dels Moros, drive to Puçol beach, 25 minutes away. It is a huge wetland where you can watch hundreds of birds.

Albufera

The unmissable Albufera of Valencia. To enjoy its views (the best are at sunset), head to the Mirador de la Albufera, 25 km away by car. If you have more time, you can take a boat trip, and several companies in the area offer one at a very affordable price. Luckily, the Albufera can also be reached by public transport. Take bus 24 or 25, which leave from Porta de la Mar in the centre of Valencia. The 24 goes to El Palmar (home of the best paellas) and the 25 to El Perelló.

Puerto de Catarroja

An alternative to the most popular Albufera viewpoints is the port of Catarroja. Despite its name, this port is inland: it is a canal linked to the Albufera. Next to hundreds of traditional boats from the area, a wooden path has been built along the water. You can drive there, a distance of 15.5 km from the centre of Valencia.

For this spot, as well as the Albufera and the Marjal dels Moros, bring mosquito repellent if you do not want to go home with lots of bites.

Port Saplaya

Port Saplaya is known as the little Venice of Valencia. It is a residential area made up of several canals where people moor their boats when they are not out at sea. The houses are colourful, so it is a great place for photos. It is close to the beach, which is usually much quieter than the city beach in Valencia, and normally cleaner. There are lots of restaurants and ice cream shops nearby. This spot is 10 km from the city. You can also get there by public transport, on bus line 112.

La Punta

To visit La Punta in Valencia, you do not need a car. You can walk there from Valencia. La Punta is a small district between the City of Arts and Sciences and the port of Valencia. Today, you can come here to see the graffiti painted to defend and showcase the area. In this article, discover the best street artists in Valencia.

Ruta fluvial del Turia

It is a great option if you want a bike ride near Valencia, or simply a walk.

Chelva, a very British village

The favourite village of British artists. So why has a village an hour from Valencia become so British? In Chelva, you can hardly buy your bread without hearing English. One house after another is bought and renovated by artists from Britain. Painters, sculptors and graffiti artists have made the heights of Chelva their home.

Here Brexit was a real worry: the latest arrivals in Chelva, who brought new life to this village of 1,500 people some 70 km from Valencia, were almost all pro-European and determined to keep their second home, or even their new workplace.

Their names are Natasha, Brian or Peter, and they have all made their dream come true: owning an artist's studio within old stone walls, with a stunning view of the Sierra d'Utiel.

In Chelva, 450 m above sea level, their ideal has become reality. Spain has long attracted the British, but while many of them live in Benidorm, some have chosen something other than a seaside villa and mass tourism.

The artists, less well-off and more in search of authenticity, were drawn to this village, ranked the second-best rural village in Spain by HomeAway® (a large holiday rental website). It is a haven of peace inland, in the comarca (a local district similar to a county) of Los Serranos.

Besides the beauty of the place, the main attraction for buyers is the cost of living and property prices, which are far lower than in their home country. Natasha, for example, who took on debt with her husband to buy their home in London, fell in love with the village after visiting artist friends already living there.

A painter, she finds the price of a house in Chelva incredibly low. And it is true that you can find houses starting at €25,000. Her dream is to set up her studio in the renovated attic, with a stunning view over this wooded, mountainous area. If that appeals to you, Chelva still has many empty houses.

This is due to a population that has been falling sharply for almost a century. For British buyers who have always loved the Spanish sun, Chelva is irresistible, with its whitewashed buildings, old stones and single-storey houses looking out over almond and olive trees.

On top of that, there is a divine light, according to the artists, and the chance to have your own garden with an organic vegetable patch. Isn't there a saying that every Briton is a gentleman farmer at heart?

Follow the Water Route. So the Spanish have grown used to seeing these artists give the town a new lease of life, with more and more artists' residences opening. And not only British ones: every European country is represented in the area.

Again, the reasons are prices, the Mediterranean climate and the rural setting. And even if buying means budgeting for building work, Chelva has undeniable charm and sums up the picture-postcard image of a Spanish village.

With its Baroque church, the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, and its well-preserved historic centre, Chelva is something of a model of the typical Spanish village. This postcard quality adds to its appeal for anyone dreaming of sun, nature and peace in which to create.

Daily life is simple and gentle in this village bordered to the south by the river that gave it its name. Already popular with Spanish visitors for its Saturday markets, its Muslim ruins (including a 14th-century mosque, the oldest in the Valencian Community), its maze of narrow streets and its old Jewish quarter with typical porches, Chelva now delights artists who never tire of capturing its enchanting landscape in paintings, mosaics, street art and much more.

What is more, from the town centre you only need to follow the arrows to start the Ruta del Agua, the water route popular with hikers. In three hours, this family-friendly trail lets you discover the culture and rich nature of a site with clear, unpolluted water. Along the way you can enjoy the fountains, the waterfalls, the mill and the playeta of Chelva (or Xelva, as Valencians say).

Ideal for a dip in clear, fresh water far from crowded beaches. A real little Iberian paradise. So let yourself be tempted by a trip from Valencia (two buses a day or 1 hour by car), or even by buying a second home in the pueblo. You may even discover your inner artist with so much inspiration around you. Isabelle Reffas

To buy a house or a flat in Valencia, contact us! Source: Meraviglia