Thing to do
Mercado Central de Valencia
Valencia's Modernista food market, completed in 1928 opposite La Lonja, where hundreds of stalls sell fish, meat, fruit, vegetables and local specialities.
Malvarrosa Beach
Valencia's best-known city beach, running north from the Las Arenas hotel, with a long promenade, rice restaurants and good access for visitors with reduced mobility.
At a glance
- Type
- City beach
- Area
- Poblats Marítims (Malvarrosa), Valencia, Spain
Good to know
- Free
- Accessible walkways
- Water sports
- Beachfront restaurants
Why we recommend it
La Malvarrosa is the beach most people picture when they think of Valencia by the sea. It runs north from the Hotel Las Arenas, merging with the Cabanyal beach to the south so that the boundary is hard to spot, and together they form a long, wide stretch of fine sand backed by a seafront promenade. The name comes from the malva rosa, or hollyhock, flowers that were grown in the area in the 19th century.
The beach has long been a place where Valencians come to relax, and it has inspired many Spanish artists. The novelist Vicente Blasco Ibáñez had his summer villa beside the sand, and the house is now a museum dedicated to his life and work. The painter Joaquín Sorolla, famous for his sunlit beach scenes, worked along this coast too.
The beach is well equipped, with lifeguard services in season, showers, sports areas and plenty of space even in summer. Visit Valencia describes it as the city's most suitable beach for visitors with reduced mobility, with walkways and ramps down to the water and accessible facilities. It is also popular for activities: there are outdoor fitness classes on the sand, a marked channel for water sports, paddleboarding, windsurfing and sailing lessons, catamaran trips, and snorkelling and diving over an artificial reef, said to be the first built in Spain.
Behind the sand, the promenade is lined with rice restaurants, cafés and bars, including some of the city's best-known places for paella, such as Casa Carmela and La Pepica further south. A typical Valencian beach day might include a morning swim, a long paella lunch and an evening walk along the seafront. In July and August the beach gets busy at weekends, so arrive early to claim a spot. Bring sun protection, as there is little natural shade.
The beach is easy to reach from the centre. Metro lines 6, 7 and 8 serve the coastal area, and buses 19, 31, 32, 92, 93, 98 and 99 also run there. From the beach you can walk south past the Cabanyal to the Marina, or explore the tiled streets of the Cabanyal neighbourhood a few blocks inland.
Malvarrosa Beach FAQs
Is Malvarrosa Beach free?
Yes, it is a free public beach.
How do I get there?
Metro lines 6, 7 and 8 serve the coast, and buses 19, 31, 32, 92, 93, 98 and 99 run there.
Is it accessible?
Yes, it has walkways and ramps to the water and accessible facilities.
What water sports are available?
Paddleboarding, windsurfing, sailing, catamaran trips and snorkelling or diving over an artificial reef.
Where can I eat?
The promenade has many rice restaurants and cafés, including Casa Carmela and La Pepica.
Where does the name come from?
From the malva rosa (hollyhock) flowers grown in the area in the 19th century.
Is it busy in summer?
Yes, especially at weekends in July and August, so arrive early.
What is nearby?
The Casa Museo Blasco Ibáñez, the Cabanyal neighbourhood and the Marina.