Spain is a country where it’s tempting to explore only a short list of destinations, but where there’s actually an endless array of places to discover. Sadly, many tourists will visit Madrid and Barcelona (and maybe Seville) and call it a day.
As I’ve returned to Spain again and again over the years, however, I’ve learned to fight against this instinct. And it’s rewarded me: Many of my best Spanish travel experiences have occurred off the country’s typical tourist trail.
One easy way to do this? Take a day trip from Barcelona to Valencia, as opposed to visiting more typical destinations (Girona, I’m looking at you!).
How to Get to Valencia from Barcelona
I’ll warn you: A Valencia day trip is an all-day endeavor. The train journey takes a minimum of three hours each way; some trains are much slower than this, and all buses are. This means that even if you select your trains carefully, you’re looking at six hours in transit, and 8-10 hours on the ground. So plan on leaving Barcelona-Sants Station at 6-7 AM, and returning at 10 or 11 PM.
Now, I have a couple of things to add to this. First, while Valencia is geographically closer to Barcelona, high-speed rail service means it’s “closer” to Madrid—less than two hours one way. So while this post focuses on visiting Valencia from Barcelona, you can definitely go from Madrid instead. Secondly (and I’ll talk more about this later), staying overnight in Valencia may very well be worth it.
5 Reasons to Visit Valencia
It’s less touristy than Barcelona
In spite of being home to a similar range of attractions—Valencia, like Barcelona, has its own cathedral (Valencia Cathedral) and even a district called L’Eixample—Valencia is simply less crowded with tourists than Barcelona is. This means that no matter what you get up to in Valencia, you’ll do it with a lot more space to breathe and explore than you would in Barcelona.
It’s the birthplace of paella
After traveling to Valencia from Barcelona, you’ll be hungry. The good news? Valencia is a foodie hub, in no small part because it’s where paella was born. While you might not be able to tell the difference between what’s on offer in Valencia (compared to Barcelona), you’ll have no shortage of places to try it out, whether along the Carrer de Colón, or right on the beach.
It’s a great place to learn Spanish
Another benefit of there being fewer tourists (and, therefore, more locals) in Valencia? It’s a great place to aprender español, be that at Españolé school or at some other institution. You’ll have many more opportunities to actually practice your Spanish, too, which I know from experience is at least as important in mastering a language as learning it in the first place.
It’s a beautiful city
Going from Barcelona to Valencia, this fact might not smack you upside the head—Barcelona is a looker itself, of course. However, whether you’re walking along the aforementioned Carrer de Colón, relaxing in the Turia Gardens or looking down on the city from the Torres de Serranos, it’s difficult not to become intoxicated by the sheer beauty of Valencia.
It’s got great beaches
And this is before you even hit the beach—which, in spite of being less cruise-y than Barceloneta Beach, is cleaner and less crowded. My favorite city-center beach in Valencia is Playa de la Malvarrosa, but even better ones are located just outside of it. Specifically, I love hiking at Cala de Moraig, even if that’s more of a day trip from Valencia than part of a day trip to there—more on that in a second.
Should You Stay Overnight in Valencia?
For some travelers, the idea of spending 6+ hours in transit in order to facilitate a day trip is a non-starter. And I understand that, especially the older I get! In some cases, the benefit of not having to change hotels simply isn’t worth time in transit, especially if you’re taking a longer trip to Spain. The good news is that Valencia is very much worth an overnight stay.
Practically speaking, you can simply take your Valencia day trip itinerary an expand it; you’ll obviously have more space for meals—and, depending upon what time of year you visit, the opportunity to see sunrise(s) and sunset(s), which can be difficult to do if you’re just there for the day. You’ll also need to decide how many days in Valencia you plan to stay.
Other FAQ About Visiting Valencia on a Day Trip
Is Valencia a good day trip from Barcelona?
Valencia is a long day trip from Barcelona—it requires at least three hours in transit each way—but a good one. Valencia has many fewer tourists than Barcelona, in addition to being the birthplace of paella and having much better urban beaches.
How do I get from Barcelona to Valencia?
The most efficient way to reach Valencia from Barcelona is to take one of the “fast” Euromed trains, which leave Barcelona-Sants Station every 1-2 hours and take just ~3 hours en route. By contrast, buses and slower trains can necessitate 4 or even 5 hours one-way.
Is Valencia closer to Madrid or Barcelona?
It might surprise you to learn this, but while Barcelona is closer to Valencia in distance than Madrid is, it’s actually farther away in terms of travel time. This is because genuine high-speed trains travel between Madrid and Valencia, while those between Barcelona and Valencia are normal-speed trains.
The Bottom Line
Traveling from Barcelona to Valencia won’t take a lot of effort on your part, but it can reap amazing rewards. Like so many of the more underrated destinations in Spain, Valencia is less about ticking off bucket list experiences, and more about discovery of the unknown. Eat paella in its birthplace, visit some of Spain’s best city beaches or even consider taking a Spanish course. No matter why you visit Valencia (and even if you come from Madrid instead), it’ll exceed your expectations. This is an especially sure thing if you hire me as your Travel Coach!
