On any getaway, no matter how lively, there’s always that moment when you just want to sit down for a bit. You’ve seen every monument there is, walked more than on a Camino de Santiago route, and you’re starting to look at benches with real affection.
In Valencia, luckily, that break can be part of the plan.
The parks of Valencia are a golden opportunity to get to know the city without rushing. You can cross it by bike along the old Turia riverbed or spend some time by a lake. All at your own pace, as always in this city.
Today we’ll help you choose between four of its green spaces. Let’s see which one suits you. Keep reading!
Explore the Jardín del Turia your way
First, let’s get our bearings. The Jardín del Turia runs along the old riverbed, which was diverted after the 1957 flood. Today you’ve got about nine kilometers of gardens all to yourself, running through the city. They stretch from Parque de Cabecera to the area around the City of Arts and Sciences.
The best part is that you can fit it into your sightseeing without necessarily dedicating a whole day to it:
- If you’re near the Torres de Serranos, head down to the garden and walk a stretch.
- If you’ve booked an activity at the City of Arts and Sciences, take the chance to explore its eastern end.
Our tip is to pick a stretch before you start walking. On the map everything looks close, but covering the whole thing and back is already a good outing. On a bike, though, you’ll have more room to roam.
If you’re traveling with little ones, add the Gulliver park to your list, since its slides will have a lot more pulling power than a cultural visit.
Parque Central de Valencia has a railway past
Parque Central de Valencia sits right next to Ruzafa and is a great option for combining a stroll with lunch in the neighborhood. You enjoy some greenery, unwind, and then carry on with your city plans as if nothing happened.
Part of what makes this park interesting is what used to be there. The first phase opened in 2018 on former railway land, and the landscape design carries the signature of Kathryn Gustafson. As you walk through, you’ll see restored buildings that recall that past.
But let’s get to what matters for your visit. Water features appear throughout the park, and there are areas with different atmospheres, like the Jardín de la Huerta or the Jardín de la Infancia. You can wander without a set route and stop wherever you feel like it.
Important! This park has its own opening hours. From March to October it’s open from 7:30 AM to 9:30 PM; from November to February it closes at 8:30 PM. If you want to stop by after dinner, keep that in mind before leaving your apartment.
Head to the lake at Parque de Cabecera
At the western end of the Turia is Valencia’s Parque de Cabecera. The lake really changes the pace of your walk and, most importantly, gives you a simple reference point for planning your visit and not getting lost.
The paths let you go all the way around the water with ease, and you’ll always have grassy, tree-lined areas nearby to lie down for a while. It’s a nice spot to spend a morning with family, with a bit of food and drink, or simply to walk for a while or sit down with something to read. In short, it’s an ideal spot to unplug from all the sightseeing and get some rest.
Bioparc is very close by, so you can combine both visits if you’re interested. That said, Bioparc has its own admission fee, and it’s worth setting aside proper time for it. For a relaxed day, we’d go for a walk around the lake first and decide on the rest as we go.
Parque del Oeste brings you closer to neighborhood life
Parque del Oeste in Valencia, next to Avenida del Cid, is the kind of everyday spot you really appreciate when you live there. That means you’ll find plenty of locals out for a stroll. Families bring the kids down, and people in general use its facilities to get moving a bit. Pure Valencian life.
The park occupies the grounds of a former Air Force barracks. That transformation explains part of its history, though to enjoy it you’ll just need to stroll its paths and find a spot where you feel comfortable.
It has playgrounds and sports areas, including skating rinks and petanque courts. If you’re staying in this part of the city, it can be a convenient stop for an afternoon when you don’t want to travel too far.
It’s also a great way to see Valencia without worrying so much about the usual tourist sights. You can explore the neighborhood, grab a bite nearby, and let the walk run a little longer.
How to plan a route around Valencia’s parks?
Our tip is to split them up based on the areas you’ll be visiting. Keep these two ideas in mind:
- Cabecera and the Turia do let you continue the walk from one to the other.
- Parque Central and Parque del Oeste are more isolated and work better as stops within other routes.
For example, spend a morning in the historic center and then head down to the Turia. On another day, you could have breakfast in Ruzafa and pop into Parque Central. That way you make the most of your trips around the city and avoid crossing it back and forth.
Bring water and comfortable shoes, especially if you’re planning to cover a lot of ground. Even with trees around, some stretches are exposed to the sun. To get between areas that are farther apart, check the EMT or Metrovalencia connections from your accommodation.
Stay a few days and discover Valencia’s greener side
As you can see, Valencia’s parks fit into all kinds of trips. While a walk along the Turia can be part of your first visit to the city, Cabecera or Parque del Oeste can give you that relaxed afternoon you’ve been needing for days.
What you definitely need is to book your apartment to stay in Valencia. Do it now with Concept Flats and plan your getaway from whichever area suits you best.
