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.
Albufera Natural Park
A freshwater lagoon and wetland about half an hour south of the city, surrounded by rice fields, with boat trips, birdwatching and the paella village of El Palmar.
At a glance
- Type
- Lagoon and nature reserve
- Area
- L'Albufera (El Palmar), Valencia, Spain
Good to know
- Boat trips
- Birdwatching
- Beaches
- Rice restaurants
Why we recommend it
The Albufera is a large freshwater lagoon and wetland on the coast south of Valencia, protected as a natural park and listed as a Ramsar wetland of international importance. It lies about 11 kilometres from the city, around half an hour from the centre, and the park as a whole covers more than 21,000 hectares, taking in the lagoon, rice fields, pine woods and a strip of dunes and beaches along the sea.
This is the landscape where paella was born. Rice has been grown around the lagoon since at least the 18th century, and the flat paddies, flooded for much of the year, give the area its character and feed huge numbers of birds. Fishing has been organised here since the Middle Ages, and the village of El Palmar, on a former island in the marsh, is still a fishing and rice-farming community. It inspired the novelist Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, and today its streets are lined with restaurants serving paella, arroz a banda and all i pebre, a local stew made with eel.
The classic thing to do is take a boat trip on the lagoon in one of the traditional flat-bottomed boats, which leave from El Palmar and from the jetties along the road. The trip is especially popular at sunset, when the water turns red and gold. Birdwatchers should head for the Racó de l'Olla interpretation centre, which has an observation hide and a viewing tower. Up to 300 bird species use the wetland, with ducks, herons and cormorants present all year and thousands of water birds arriving in autumn and winter.
The park also has marked trails through marshes, pine forest and natural dunes, and long undeveloped beaches such as El Saler and La Devesa, which are much quieter than the city beaches. Bring insect repellent in the warmer months, and sun protection, as there is little shade on the water.
City bus 25 runs from the centre to El Palmar and El Perellonet, stopping at the Albufera jetty and the beaches. There is also a tourist bus from the Plaza de la Reina that includes a boat trip, and a cycle path runs all the way from the city for those happy to ride. Plan half a day, or a full day if you want lunch in El Palmar and a sunset boat ride.
Albufera Natural Park FAQs
How far is the Albufera from Valencia?
About 11 kilometres south of the city, roughly half an hour from the centre.
How do I get there by public transport?
City bus 25 runs from the centre to El Palmar and El Perellonet, stopping at the Albufera jetty and the beaches.
Can you take a boat trip?
Yes, traditional boats take visitors out on the lagoon, and sunset trips are especially popular.
Where should I eat?
In El Palmar, where many restaurants serve paella, arroz a banda and all i pebre.
Is it good for birdwatching?
Yes, up to 300 bird species use the wetland; visit the Racó de l'Olla centre for its hide and viewing tower.
How long should I allow?
Half a day, or a full day with lunch and a sunset boat trip.
Are there beaches?
Yes, El Saler and La Devesa are long, quiet beaches backed by dunes and pine woods.
Can I cycle there?
Yes, a cycle path runs from the city to the park.