Nestled in the old bed of the Tùria river, in the heart of the city, the Tùria Gardens are a must-see for any visitor passing through Valencia.
With their refreshing fountains, shady walks, museums and concert halls, the Tùria Gardens are the green lung of Valencia. 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.
Brief history of the Turia Gardens
Until the 1950s, the city of Valencia was crossed by a capricious river often subject to overflowing: the Tùria river.
But the 1957 flooding was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Violent storums caused a spectacular rise in the river as well as dramatic flooding: some 80 people lost their lives and the city was devastated.
Determined not to let this tragedy happen again, the Valencian Community therefore decided to divert the river south of Valencia.
Local authorities therefore wondered what they were to do with the old bed of the river and came up with the idea of turning it into a highway. But the city’s inhabitants fiercely opposed this conversion plan… and ended up winning their case!
In the 1980s, the old river bed was transformed into a vast park area: the Tùria Gardens (Jardín del Turia in Castilian, Jardí del Túria in Valencian) were born.
🤔 An expansion in the cards? 🤔
The municipality is currently working on an expansion project of the Turia Gardens. The idea? Extending the Turia Gardens to the sea. Stay tuned …
Visiting the Turia Gardens
Located in the heart of Valencia, the Tùria Gardens extend over 110 hectares (270 acres), crossing the city from west to east over 7 kilometers in the old bed of the Tùria river (río Turia).
The gardens are a green lung dotted with fountains, pines and palm trees: perfect for a refreshing break far from the city’s hustle and bustle.
Getting around the Turia Gardens
To explore the Tùria Gardens, you can choose between several options: walking, renting a quadricycle, a bike or even a segway.
👉 More info: bike rental / 3-hour bike ride in Valencia
The main monuments in the Turia Gardens
👉 The City of Arts and Sciences : this vast cultural complex looking very much like futuristic city is absolutely one of Valencia’s top tourist attractions. The City of Arts & Sciences is made up of iconic monuments and buildings including the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, the Oceanogràfic, the Agora of Valencia, the Hemisfèric, the Umbracle and the Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe.
👉 Valencia Bioparc : a 10-hectare zoological park which will no doubt delight children.
👉 The Palau de la Música de València : famous both for its contemporary architecture and for its excellent acoustics.
👉 Cabecera Park : a beautiful metropolitan park, ideal to take a breath of fresh air with the family.
👉 Gulliver Park : a children’s space organized around a giant sculpture of Gulliver featuring a multitude of stairs and slides. If you want the Captain’s opinion, it’s not necessarily in the best taste, but the children love it!
💡 Skip-the-line tickets 💡
If you are traveling to Valencia during the high season or during school holidays, the Captain highly recommends booking skip-the-line tickets so as not to loose hours in endless queues:
– Skip-the-line ticket for the City of Arts and Sciences: Hemisfèric / Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe / Oceanogràfic
– Skip-the-line ticket for Valencia Bioparc
Access
Getting to the Turia Gardens
The Tùria Gardens are located north of the historic city center and stretch for 7 kilometers between the Cabecera Park to the west and the City of Arts and Sciences to the east.
👉 To get around Valencia, Captain Ulysse recommends either taking the metro or opting for a hop-on, hop-off bus tour.
Opening hours
The Turia Gardens are open 24 hours a day.
Admission
Access to the Turia Gardens is free. However, you will have to pay entrance fees to visit the various museums and monuments of the City of Arts and Sciences, as well as Valencia Bioparc.
👉 Skip the lines: 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.
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