Located 10 kilometers south of Valencia, the Albufera Natural Park is an heavenly oasis far from the city’s hustle and bustle! On the menu? dunes, pine forests, lagoon and rice fields, the Albufera Natural Park is heaven on earth for nature lovers!
Follow the guide!
👍 The Captain’s tip 👍
Want to learn more about Valencia’s history? To discover the city with a passionate tour guide, Captain Ulysses warmly recommends going on this free tour. You’re free to choose how much you wish to tip the tour guide at the end of the tour!
Want more info about Valencia’s top landmarks, activities & museums? Why don’t you check out the Captain’s detailed article on the best things to do in the city: Guide to Valencia.
The Albufera Natural Park in a nutshell
Located some ten kilometers south of Valencia, the Natural Park is named after the Albufera (from the Arabic البحيرة al-buhayra, ” the small sea” ), a freshwater lagoon separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a narrow strip of land dotted with dunes. Spreading over 2,100 hectares, it is one of the largest lakes in Spain.
The Albufera Natural Park is home to incredibly rich flora and fauna.. The variety of its landscapes (dunes, pine forests, reed beds, rice fields, etc.) makes it one of the highlights of the region of Valencia.
Fun fact: the famous Valencian paella was created here!
Getting to the Albufera Natural Park
To get to the Albufera Natural Park, several options:
Public transport: bus lines 24 and 25 from Valence.
The Albufera Bus Turistic: this hop-on hop-off tourist bus runs regularly between the center of Valencia and the Natural Park. On board the bus, you’ll even be provided with an audioguide (available in several language).
👉 Book your ticket: tourist bus + traditional boat trip in the Albufera Natural Park.
Organised day trips: if you’d rather avoid the tourist bus or the public transport, you can always opt for a day trip to the Albufera Natural Park.
👉 The Captain recommends this activity in particular: excursion to the Albufera Natural Park.
Renting bike: to get to the Albufera National Park, you can also rent bikes in Valencia’s city centre. From there, simply follow the coast to reach the natural park.
👉 More info here.
Visiting the Albufera Natural Park
Racó de l’Olla Interpretation Center
Attention, nature lovers! The Racó de l’Olla Interpretation Center was created so visitors could learn more about the park’s fauna and flora. The interpretation center comprises a small exhibition on the species inhabiting the park, interpretation trails, a watchtower from which to contemplate the panorama as well as several observation points from where you’ll be able to admire the birds in peace.
The village of El Palmar
While exploring the area, be sure to stop at the fishing village of El Palmar, located in the heart of the Albufera Natural Park.
The village is famous for its barracas, its traditional houses, some of which date from the 18th century. You’ll also find in El Palmar very good restaurants where to taste delicious traditional Valencian dishes.
Boat trip on the Albufera lake
A tour of the Albufera Park would not be complete without a boat trip.
As an accomplished sailor, Captain Ulysse can only encourage you to board an albufarenc, a traditional boat, for a delightful boat trip on the lake and the wetlands.
The beaches of the Albufera Park
Fancy going for a swim in the Mediterranean Sea? Good news: the Albufera National Park counts some of the most beautiful beaches in the area.
For a dip in an idyllic setting, head for Playa del Saler and Playa de la Garrofera with their pine forests, crystal clear waters and fine sand dunes…
🏖️ The best beaches of Valencia 🏖️
You’ll find out more about the best beaches in Valencia in the Captain’s detailed article here.
👉 Skip the line: book your tickets and visits in Valencia!
👉 Looking for tips & recommendations? Here are all the Captain’s suggestions!
🛏️ Accommodation: to book your accommodation in Valence, Captain Ulysses warmly recommends Booking.com. From budget youth hostels to luxury boutique hotels, there’s plenty to choose from. The Captain recommends:
– affordable options: Quart Youth Hostel or Hôme Youth Hostel Valencia
– mid-range options: Esplai Valencia Bed and Breakfast , 7 Moons or Casa del Patriarca
– luxurious options: Vincci Mercat , Caro Hotel or Westin Valencia
🎟️ Activities: guided tours, bike rental, skip-the-line tickets, flamenco shows… Check out GetYourGuide and Civitatis to book the best things to do in Valencia.
🎫 Citypass: if you’re planning on staying in Valencia for several days, yoy should definitely consider investing in the Valencia Tourist Card. This citypass includes access to public transport (including to get to the airport), free admission to public museums, as well as many discounts or a selection of museums, attractions, shops and restaurants in the city.
🚐 Transfers: if you want to avoid taking public transport or queuing for a taxi at the airport, you can book a car transfer to your hotel or accommodation in advance.
🚌 Local transport: local public transport is relatively convenient and easy to navigate. If you decide to invest in the Valencia Tourist Card, access to public transport is included. You can also opt for a hop-on hop-off bus tour which stops at all the top tourist attractions in Valencia. If you’d rather be active, why not rent a bike?
If you’re just stopping off in Valencia and planning to explore other parts of Spain, Captain Ulysses recommends renting a car. To find the best offer, the Captain warmly recommends Rentalcars.
📍Tours: if you don’t want to organize your holidays in Spain yourself, Captain Ulysses recommends Evaneos. The first specializes in organizing tailor-made trips in partnership with local specialists, the second is perfect for sports and hiking enthusiasts.
✈️ Flights: to book your flights to Valence, Captain Ulysse warmly recommends Skyscanner. You’ll be able to compare countless offers to find the best deal. If your dates are flexible, you can also compare prices over several months to find the cheapest flights possible.
Credits
Pixabay
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