Is Valencia really a day trip from Alicante?

Yes — 09:00 train out, 21:00 train back gives you 9 hours in the city, enough for the old town, Mercado Central, lunch and an afternoon at the Ciudad de las Artes. To also include El Palmar paella and the Oceanogràfic, plan an overnight.

Which train is best, AVE or Euromed?

Both are excellent and use the same Joaquín Sorolla station. AVE is slightly faster (90 min vs 110 min) and pricier. Renfe sells both via the same booking flow.

Is the Ciudad de las Artes worth the entry fee?

The Oceanogràfic (€36) is genuinely world-class and excellent for families. The Hemisfèric IMAX and Príncipe Felipe science museum are skippable if you're short on time. The exterior is free and arguably the highlight.

March 15–19 every year — Valencia's most famous festival, with giant satirical sculptures burned in the streets. Spectacular but the city is packed; book trains and hotels months ahead.

Yes — one of Spain's safest large cities. Normal big-city pickpocketing precautions in tourist zones (Mercado Central, Plaza del Ayuntamiento).

When is the best time to visit the Costa Blanca?

May, June, September and October.

Recommended for inland trips and beach-hopping.

Is the Costa Blanca family-friendly?

Yes — shallow beaches and family-orientated towns.

Day trip

Valencia — Paella's Birthplace & Spain's Third City

Less crowded than Madrid or Barcelona, Valencia combines a UNESCO-listed silk exchange, one of the world's most photographed modern architecture complexes (Calatrava's Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias), the most beautiful market hall in Spain and the rice fields where paella was invented. By AVE or Euromed train from Alicante in 90 minutes — one of the best day trips on the Spanish Mediterranean.

Last updated 1 June 2026

What to see in one day

✦Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias — Calatrava's white sculpted complex; visit the Oceanogràfic (Europe's largest aquarium) or just walk and photograph.
✦Mercado Central — 1928 modernista hall, jamón counters, fresh oysters, horchata stands.
✦La Lonja de la Seda — 15th-century silk exchange, UNESCO World Heritage.
✦Catedral & Miguelete — climb the 207-step bell tower for the rooftop panorama.
✦Barrio del Carmen — the old town's medieval lanes, street art and tapas bars.
✦Turia Gardens — a 9 km park built in the drained riverbed, perfect for cycling.
✦Albufera & El Palmar — rice fields and lagoon south of the city, the spiritual home of paella.

Getting there from the Costa Blanca

From	Mode	Time	Price (return, 2026)
Alicante	AVE / Euromed train	1h 30 – 1h 50	€30–€55
Alicante	Car (AP-7)	1h 45	€16 tolls + fuel
Benidorm	TRAM L9 to Dénia then bus/car	3h+	Not recommended for day
Benidorm	Car	1h 30	€18 tolls + fuel
Dénia	Car (N-332/AP-7)	1h 15	€8 tolls + fuel
Torrevieja	Car	2h 15	€25 tolls + fuel

Train beats car

Valencia traffic and parking are stressful. The Euromed/AVE train from Alicante to Valencia Joaquín Sorolla drops you a 15-minute walk from the old town. Book at least a week ahead for €25–€30 fares.

Where to eat the real paella

Authentic paella valenciana (chicken, rabbit, garrofó bean, snails — no seafood) is best eaten where it was invented: El Palmar, a village in the rice paddies 25 minutes south of Valencia. Restaurante Levante and Bon Aire are the historic addresses. In Valencia city itself: Casa Carmela (woodfire over orange-wood) and La Pepica on the beach.

Food

Paella, rice dishes and Costa Blanca cuisine.

Day trips overview

Plan a full week of excursions.

Fiestas & festivals

Las Fallas — the world's most explosive festival.

Museums

IVAM, Bellas Artes and the Ciudad de las Artes.

Historic towns

Heritage centres beyond Valencia city.

Family

Oceanogràfic and family activities.