# Cerca de Valencia

From Valencia you head out in a fan. To the south, Xàtiva, Bocairent and the Alicante coast; to the west, Chulilla, Alcalá del Júcar and Cuenca; to the north-west, Montanejos, Teruel and Albarracín, and to the north, Peñíscola, Morella and the Matarraña for two nights.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/valencia/getaways

## Planes de un día
- [L'Albufera: birds, rice and a boat](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/albufera-valencia/itineraries/birds-rice-and-traditional-boat.md) (30 min en coche): A tower and bird observatory, a short walk among pines and dunes, rice in El Palmar and the boat of the village boatmen, 20 km from Valencia.
- [Xàtiva: Cova Negra and Gorgo de la Escalera](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/xativa/itineraries/cova-negra-and-gorgo-de-anna.md) (50 min en coche): A flat walk to the Cova Negra before the heat, oven-baked rice facing the Seu and an afternoon swim at the Gorgo de la Escalera in Anna, at the foot of 136 steps.
- [Xàtiva: castle and baked rice](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/xativa/itineraries/xativa-seu-castle-and-baked-rice.md) (50 min en coche): A morning in the old town with the Seu and the upside-down Philip V museum, baked rice on Plaça del Mercat and the castle in the afternoon, with a shuttle in season.
- [Chulilla: the Turia's hanging bridges](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/chulilla/itineraries/chulilla-hanging-bridges-and-mountain-lunch.md) (1 h en coche): A three-hour route through the Turia gorges with two hanging bridges, the Charco Azul from the viewpoint, mountain cooking in the village and the castle last thing.
- [Chulilla: first climb and castle](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/chulilla/itineraries/climbing-and-castle-in-the-afternoon.md) (1 h en coche): Four hours of introductory climbing on the walls of the Turia, weekend lunch at El Pozo and Chulilla castle in the afternoon light.
- [Bocairent: caves, rock and olleta](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/bocairent/itineraries/moorish-caves-and-bullring.md) (1 h 15 en coche): The medieval old town and the Covetes dels Moros in the morning, Bocairent olleta at El Cancell and the bullring carved into the rock before you head home.
- [Montanejos: Estrechos and Fuente de los Baños](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/montanejos/itineraries/narrows-trail-and-25-degree-swim.md) (1 h 20 en coche): Three hours above the Mijares canyon, lunch in the square and the afternoon at the Fuente de los Baños, with the water at 25 °C all year round.
- [Montanejos: swimming Chillapájaros and a spa](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/montanejos/itineraries/swimming-gorge-and-spa.md) (1 h 20 en coche): A morning inside the Mijares gorge, swimming and jumping into the pools, lunch in the Plaza de España and an afternoon in the thermal pool at the spa or at the Fuente de los Baños.
- [Villajoyosa: chocolate factory and coloured houses](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/villajoyosa/itineraries/chocolate-saturday-in-villajoyosa.md) (1 h 35 en coche): Breakfast at the Mercat canteen, the Valor Chocolate Museum visit with a tasting, the coloured houses from the beach, rice by the harbour and the Roman ship at Vilamuseu.
- [Villajoyosa: kayaking round the coves and the Valor Museum](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/villajoyosa/itineraries/kayak-rice-and-chocolate.md) (1 h 35 en coche): Three hours kayaking round the southern coves with a snorkelling stop, rice beside the Yacht Club, the coloured houses and an afternoon visit to the Valor Chocolate Museum.
- [Xàbia: kayak, rice and lighthouse](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/xabia-javea/itineraries/kayak-wood-fired-rice-and-lighthouse.md) (1 h 35 en coche): Two and a half hours of kayaking and snorkelling under the southern cliffs, a swim at La Granadella, rice cooked over a wood fire and the afternoon between the lighthouse and the harbour.
- [From the Sun through a telescope to Saturn](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/javalambre-mountains/itineraries/domes-and-telescopes-saturday.md) (1 h 39 en coche): Lunch at the Balneario de Manzanera, the afternoon at Galáctica with the museum and the Sun through a telescope, and at 20:00 an hour and a half of guided stargazing.
- [Peñíscola: film route, castle and boat](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/peniscola/itineraries/film-route-and-boat-to-irta.md) (1 h 40 en coche): The tourist-office film route through the Game of Thrones and El Cid stops, the castle of Papa Luna, rice in the old town and an hour and a half by boat along the Irta coast.
- [Peñíscola: board, rice and boat](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/peniscola/itineraries/paddle-surf-boat-and-rice.md) (1 h 40 en coche): An hour on a board to the foot of the castle, creamy rice in the old town and the afternoon on a licence-free boat, with snorkel masks on board.
- [Peñíscola: castle, boat and rice](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/peniscola/itineraries/papa-luna-castle-boat-and-rice.md) (1 h 40 en coche): The Templar castle first thing, the old town and the Bufador, half an hour on a little boat around the rock and rice at Casa Jaime, an hour from Castellón.
- [Alcalá del Júcar: canoe, caves and castle](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/alcala-del-jucar/itineraries/alcala-del-jucar-canoe-lunch-in-tolosa-caves-and-castle.md) (1 h 45 en coche): Two hours' canoeing on the Júcar beneath the village, a La Mancha lunch by the river in Tolosa and, in the afternoon, the Cuevas del Diablo, which cross the crag, and the castle.
- [Guadalest and Les Fonts de l'Algar](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/guadalest-and-the-guadalest-valley/itineraries/castle-and-fonts-de-lalgar.md) (1 h 45 en coche): The tunnel in the rock and the Castell de Sant Josep before the coaches, lunch with a view of the reservoir and the afternoon at the pools of Les Fonts de l'Algar.
- [Elche Palm Grove and arroz con costra](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/elche/itineraries/huerto-del-cura-and-rice.md) (1 h 45 en coche): The Huerto del Cura and the Palm Grove Museum first thing, the 11:30 guided visit of the basilica and the centre, arroz con costra at Cachito and a stroll beneath the palms.
- [Mudéjar Teruel in a day](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/teruel-mudejar-city/itineraries/mudejar-towers-lovers-and-cathedral.md) (1 h 45 en coche): El Salvador tower from the inside, the Lovers with the San Pedro tower, lunch at the Mesón El Óvalo, the cathedral's painted ceiling and the walk from the Escalinata to the Torico. It can be done by train.
- [Dinópolis and the Torico](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/teruel-mudejar-city/itineraries/with-children-at-dinopolis-and-torico.md) (1 h 45 en coche): Dinópolis all morning, with a dinosaur museum, a simulator and a 3D cinema, lunch at the Mesón El Óvalo and a stroll round the Torico and the Escalinata before heading home. Under-4s free.
- [Albarracín: cathedral, kid and Rodeno](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/albarracin/itineraries/albarracin-cathedral-castle-and-rodeno-paintings.md) (2 h en coche): The guided visit to the town and cathedral, the Andalusi castle, mountain cooking at El Rincón del Chorro and the walk to the Rodeno rock paintings before heading home.
- [Cuenca: cathedral, Hanging Houses and San Pablo bridge](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/cuenca/itineraries/cuenca-hanging-houses-and-huecar-gorge.md) (2 h en coche): Cuenca's old town on foot on a Sunday: the cathedral at opening time, two free museums, the San Pablo bridge facing the Hanging Houses and ajoarriero for lunch.
- [Morella: castle and Els Ports cooking](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/morella/itineraries/morella-walls-castle-and-truffle-lunch.md) (2 h 10 en coche): The walled city of Els Ports on a Sunday: the Sant Miquel towers, the arcaded street, the basilica before Mass, a Morella lunch and the castle in the afternoon.
- [Morella: castle in the morning, zip lines in the afternoon](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/morella/itineraries/zip-lines-and-castle-for-families.md) (2 h 10 en coche): The towers and castle in the morning, lunch inside the walls and the afternoon swinging from tree to tree at Saltapins, beside the Bergantes river.

## To the south, Xàtiva and Bocairent; along the coast, Guadalest

Each motorway leaving Valencia leads to a different landscape. The A-7 to the south reaches [Xàtiva](/en/spain/valencian-community/xativa) in about 48 minutes and, via the CV-40 and Ontinyent, [Bocairent](/en/spain/valencian-community/bocairent). Along the coastal motorway you go down to Benidorm, to [Villajoyosa](/en/spain/valencian-community/villajoyosa) and, via the CV-70, to [Guadalest](/en/spain/valencian-community/guadalest-and-the-guadalest-valley); further south are [Elche](/en/spain/valencian-community/elche) and [Tabarca island](/en/spain/valencian-community/tabarca-island). The A-3 to the west leads to [Chulilla](/en/spain/valencian-community/chulilla), in the Turia gorges, and, past Requena, to [Alcalá del Júcar](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/alcala-del-jucar) and [Cuenca](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/cuenca).

The A-23 climbs to the north-west: with the CV-195 to [Montanejos](/en/spain/valencian-community/montanejos), and staying on it to [Teruel](/en/spain/aragon/teruel-mudejar-city) and, via the A-1512, [Albarracín](/en/spain/aragon/albarracin). To the north, the coastal motorway passes Castellón on the way to [Peñíscola](/en/spain/valencian-community/peniscola); from there roads climb to [Morella](/en/spain/valencian-community/morella) and the Matarraña of [Valderrobres](/en/spain/aragon/valderrobres-and-matarrana).

Without a car there are three real exits. The Cercanías C-2 goes from València Nord to Xàtiva in 50 minutes to an hour and ten, with fewer trains on Sunday. The AVE reaches Cuenca-Fernando Zóbel, and from there city bus line 10 and the 1 or 2 go up to the old town. And there is a Renfe train to Teruel, with the station at the foot of the Escalinata.

## Xàtiva and Chulilla, an hour or less

**Under an hour** are Xàtiva, at 50 minutes, with the Seu, the castle and oven-baked rice, and Chulilla, at 60, with the suspension bridges route. These are the Sundays that fit without an early start.

The bulk of the plans are **between one and two hours** away. Bocairent is 75 minutes away, with the Covetes dels Moros and the bullring excavated in the rock; Montanejos, 80; Villajoyosa, 95, for [a chocolate Saturday](/en/spain/valencian-community/villajoyosa/itineraries/chocolate-saturday-in-villajoyosa), because the Valor museum closes on Sunday, and Peñíscola, 100. At 105 minutes there are five exits: Guadalest and Les Fonts de l'Algar, the [Huerto del Cura in Elche](/en/spain/valencian-community/elche/itineraries/huerto-del-cura-and-rice), [canoeing at Alcalá del Júcar](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/alcala-del-jucar/itineraries/alcala-del-jucar-canoe-lunch-in-tolosa-caves-and-castle), the Mudéjar towers of Teruel and [Dinópolis with children](/en/spain/aragon/teruel-mudejar-city/itineraries/with-children-at-dinopolis-and-torico). Exactly two hours away, Cuenca and Albarracín.

**Between two and three hours** the trip calls for a night. Morella is 130 minutes away; [Tabarca](/en/spain/valencian-community/tabarca-island/itineraries/one-night-tabarca-island-from-alicante), at 150, with a boat from the Alicante coast; [the Matarraña in two nights](/en/spain/aragon/valderrobres-and-matarrana/itineraries/matarranya-valderrobres-beceite-weekend), at 159; [Cartagena and Calblanque](/en/spain/region-of-murcia/cartagena-and-calblanque/itineraries/cartagena-calblanque-beaches-weekend), at 165, and the [Archena spa and the Ricote Valley](/en/spain/region-of-murcia/ricote-valley/itineraries/thermal-getaway-archena-from-alicante), at 170.

Catalonia is **from three and a half hours** away: [Siurana and the Priorat](/en/spain/catalonia/siurana/itineraries/siurana-priorat-weekend-vineyards-reservoir), at 204 minutes, and [Prades](/en/spain/catalonia/prades/itineraries/prades-night-of-stars-from-tarragona), at 211.

## Free museums on Sunday in Bocairent and Elche

From October to May is the season for the nearby plans to the south: Xàtiva, with a shuttle to the castle on Sundays; Bocairent and Elche, where several municipal museums are free on Sunday morning. In winter, Archena has the thermal pools included in the stay, Teruel can be visited any Sunday and in Morella it is truffle season.

In spring and autumn you walk. Chulilla calls for arriving before nine to avoid queuing at the bridges; at [Guadalest and Les Fonts de l'Algar](/en/spain/valencian-community/guadalest-and-the-guadalest-valley/itineraries/castle-and-fonts-de-lalgar) the pools have no timed slots, and the Rodeno at Albarracín is toured with its cave paintings. The Cuenca gorges are green or yellow.

In summer the river or height are the answer. Xàtiva, Chulilla and Bocairent are not recommended in July and August. Canoeing on the Júcar is, as is Montanejos with a ticket bought for the Fuente de los Baños, which has a capacity limit, and Teruel, cooler, although in July, on the big days of the Vaquilla, the Lovers' Mausoleum closes.

## Cercanías C-2 to Xàtiva and rice in the Plaça del Mercat

- **Without a car, in a day:** [Xàtiva, the Seu, the castle and oven-baked rice](/en/spain/valencian-community/xativa/itineraries/xativa-seu-castle-and-baked-rice). Cercanías C-2 from València Nord around 9:00, the Seu and the museum in the morning, rice in the Plaça del Mercat and the castle in the afternoon.
- **With one night:** [Cuenca and the Ciudad Encantada](/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/cuenca/itineraries/cuenca-enchanted-city-one-night). Two hours along the A-3 or by AVE: the old town on Saturday, the night facing the Casas Colgadas and the Ciudad Encantada on Sunday.
- **With two nights:** [Albarracín and the Rodeno](/en/spain/aragon/albarracin/itineraries/albarracin-rodeno-weekend-from-valencia). Two hours along the A-23, the old town with a guide, legends at dusk, the Rodeno paintings and an afternoon on horseback.