Valencia is a very good base for cycling. Within reach of the city you can ride along the coast, through the market gardens of the huerta (), out towards the Albufera wetlands or inland to the climbs of the Sierra Calderona.
The right ride depends on what you want from the day. A relaxed weekend outing calls for different roads than a long endurance session or a cycling holiday that links several towns. If you are training for a triathlon, the terrain matters too: flatter rides suit steady endurance work, while the hills inland are a different test.
This guide compares the main cycling routes around Valencia, says which bike suits each one and covers what to check before you set off. For city lanes, Valenbisi and the rules of the road, see our guide to cycling in Valencia.
Cycling around Valencia at a glance
Which cycling route around Valencia is right for you?
| Route | Best suited to | Main attraction | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turia Gardens | Beginners and short spins | A green corridor through the city, about 9 km | Easy, but expect walkers and crossings |
| Valencia to the Albufera | Casual riders and steady outings | Coast and wetland scenery; ride out and turn back when you like | Easy to moderate |
| Albufera loop | Experienced riders | Rice fields, lagoon and coast; 63 to 69 km depending on the season | Medium, no climbing; plan the navigation |
| Alboraya and Port Saplaya | Weekend rides | The huerta and the coast | Mixed surfaces, check the route |
| Sierra Calderona | Road cyclists and triathletes | Climbing on inland roads | Moderate to hard |
Distances come from the official sources named in each section. Check the exact track before you ride.
Planning cycling around your triathlon training?
Choose a route that matches your bike, your experience and your training goals. The triathlon guide covers the wider picture, from swimming and running to planning a training trip.
Read our triathlon training guideEasy cycling in Valencia: the Turia Gardens and city lanes
Photo: Pacopac, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Turia Gardens as a starting point
The Turia Gardens follow the old riverbed through the city. The regional tourist board gives their length as about 9 km (about 5.6 mi), between the Parc de Capçalera and the City of Arts and Sciences.
They suit relaxed rides, recovery spins and getting your bearings on a first day. Expect walkers, runners and crossings, so keep your speed down and ring ahead rather than rushing through.
Which bike for the city
A city bike or a hybrid is the sensible choice here. A road bike works too, but you will spend more time slowing down than riding.
If you are training for a triathlon
A busy urban park is fine for easy riding, but it is not a substitute for long, uninterrupted road training. For longer sessions, head out of the city, as the sections below explain.
Coastal cycling: from Valencia to Alboraya and Port Saplaya
Photo: Marasmo, CC BY-SA 4.0
From the city into the huerta
Riding north from the city, the scenery changes quickly. Streets give way to the market gardens of the huerta, with irrigation ditches, small farmhouses and, in season, fields of vegetables. The sea is never far away.
Alboraya and Port Saplaya
Alboraya is known for horchata con fartons (), the local pairing of drink and pastry, and Port Saplaya is a small marina of colourful houses on the coast. Together they make an easy weekend outing, with a drink at one end or the other.
Check the surface before you go
Not every coastal or rural route is a dedicated cycle path. Some stretches are shared with walkers, farm traffic or ordinary roads. Look at the actual track on a map before you set out, and decide how you will get back.
Cycling to the Albufera: a scenic longer day out
Photo: Joanbanjo, CC BY-SA 4.0
The short option: ride out and turn back
The official loop starts beside the City of Arts and Sciences, so you do not have to ride all of it. Ride out towards the lagoon and turn back when you like.
That suits casual riders who want a taste of the landscape without planning a full day.
The long option: the Albufera loop
The park's official route sheet (in Spanish) describes a circular route from Valencia of 69.1 km (about 43 mi) in summer and 63.1 km (about 39 mi) in winter, of medium difficulty with no climbing, on a mix of asphalt and dirt tracks. At an average of 18 km/h (about 11 mph) it estimates about four hours.
Some paths are closed from late October to early February, when you should follow the winter route. Download a track, carry water and know where you can shorten the ride.
Guided and self-guided rides to the Albufera
Guided bike tours and bike hire for a self-guided ride may be available. This guide does not recommend one because none has been verified for this article. Before you book, check the itinerary, what is included (including whether a meal is part of the booking) and the group size.
If you would rather explore the area on foot or by boat, see our Albufera guide.
Countryside cycling through Valencia's huerta
Photo: Joanbanjo, CC BY-SA 4.0
A working landscape
The huerta is the historic irrigated farmland around Valencia, a patchwork of small plots linked by ditches and farm lanes. It is flat, so it is easy on the legs, but it is also a working landscape with tractors, farm traffic and narrow lanes.
Road bike or gravel bike?
The answer depends on the surface, not the scenery. A paved countryside route suits a road bike. Rougher or mixed tracks call for wider tyres and a gravel-capable bike. Check the real surface of your route before you choose.
Road cycling and triathlon training around the Sierra Calderona
Why head inland
Flat coastal rides and hilly inland rides serve different purposes. The coast is for steady endurance work; the hills are for climbing. The Sierra Calderona Natural Park, north-west of the city, is where road cyclists head for the latter.
Choosing a climb
Pick a specific climb rather than "the Sierra". Check the current road conditions, the exact start point, the length and the gradient on a map or a reliable track before you ride it.
Planning an inland ride
This is not an extension of a city ride. Work out how you will reach the start, carry spares and water, and check the forecast: the hills are further from help than the city. If you are building a triathlon plan, match the route to the session, and see our triathlon training guide for the wider picture.
Photo: Sergionc87, CC BY-SA 4.0
Long-distance cycling and multi-day trips from Valencia
Day rides and multi-day trips are different things
A day ride around Valencia can start and finish at your door. A multi-day route changes accommodation each night and usually needs transport at one end. Plan it as a separate trip, not a longer local loop.
VÃa Verde de Ojos Negros
The regional tourist board describes it as 167.5 km (about 104 mi), currently the longest VÃa Verde in Spain, following a former mining railway down towards the Mediterranean. It says the difficulty depends on direction, with an ascent of 1,400 m (about 4,593 ft) if you start in the Region of Valencia.
A greenway is not a loop. Plan the stages, the accommodation and how you will get back.
EuroVelo 8 and the Mediterranean coast
EuroVelo 8 is the Mediterranean cycle route. The official page for this part of Spain covers the coast from the Costa Cálida to the Costa Daurada, so the route crosses the Valencian Community. Read the official stages for navigation and accommodation before you plan a holiday around it.
Camino del Cid and inland routes
The Camino del Cid follows the footsteps of El Cid through inland towns and castles towards the Mediterranean. It suits riders who want a journey through inland towns rather than daily rides from one base. Plan the stages, the luggage and where each day ends, and check the route and stages with the official route organisation.
VÃa Verde del Mar
The regional tourist board describes an 11 km (about 6.8 mi) route between Benicà ssim and Oropesa del Mar, in Castellón province: just over 5 km (about 3.1 mi) of bike lane and almost 6 km (about 3.7 mi) of greenway on a former railway, with a long lit tunnel and a metal bridge. It is an excursion, not a ride from Valencia, so work out how you will reach the start.
Luggage transfers, GPX tracks and package trips
Before you book any multi-day trip, confirm who provides bike hire, luggage transfers and GPX tracks for your dates, and what the price includes. This guide does not recommend a provider because none has been verified for this article.
Hiring a bike for cycling around Valencia
Which bike for which ride
Match the bike to the route surface and the length of the trip. The table below sets out what each type suits and what to ask the hire firm. This guide does not name hire firms: none has been verified for this article yet.
Bike types and what to check
| Bike type | Suits | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Road bike | Paved roads and endurance rides | Frame size, pedals, hire period and full price |
| Carbon road bike | Performance riding | Fit, insurance, deposit and whether your route needs it |
| Gravel bike | Mixed surfaces | Tyre width and the real surface of your route |
| E-bike | Long or hilly outings | Battery range, charging and hire policy |
| Touring bike | Loaded multi-day trips | Rack and pannier fittings |
| Long-distance hire | Trips of several days | Collection, return, repair support and a replacement bike |
What to check before booking a rental bike
- Frame size, and whether a fitting can be arranged
- Pedal compatibility, and whether pedals are included
- Helmet, lock and repair-kit arrangements
- Rental duration, collection and return times
- Whether the bike suits the terrain you plan to ride
- Delivery to your accommodation, if offered
- Breakdown support or a replacement bike on long trips
- The full cost, including deposit, delivery and extras
Guided cycling tours around Valencia
When a guide helps
A guided ride is a good option on a first visit, or if you would rather not navigate unfamiliar roads. The right choice depends on whether you want a relaxed city outing, a scenic excursion towards the Albufera or a more demanding ride inland.
Before booking, confirm the itinerary, the equipment, the group size, the languages and the total price. Do not assume that hotel pickup, food or transfers are included.
| Experience | What it offers | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| City ride on the Turia | A relaxed introduction to the city | Itinerary, duration and language |
| Albufera excursion | Landscape and local food | What is included, including any meal |
| Sierra Calderona road ride | Demanding inland riding | Level, group size and bike supplied |
| VÃa Verde del Mar | A coastal greenway | Transport to the start |
Planning your cycling trip around Valencia
Choosing the right bike and route
A city bike may be enough for a short urban ride. Longer rides call for a road, gravel or touring bike, depending on the real surface and the distance.
Navigation and GPX tracks
A GPX track helps on longer rural loops that are not signposted. Take it from an official or reputable source and check it against the map. This guide does not publish untested GPX files.
Weather, water and timing
Summers are hot. AEMET's climate normals for Valencia put the average daily maximum at 29.7°C (about 85°F) in July and 30.2°C (about 86°F) in August, against 20.8°C (about 69°F) in April and 23.4°C (about 74°F) in May. In summer, ride early or late and carry more water than you think you need.
Averages are not a forecast, so check the weather before each ride.
Road safety and local rules
Know which stretches are dedicated paths and which are ordinary roads, and expect pedestrians on shared routes. Our guide to cycling in Valencia covers the rules in detail.
Transport and groups
Some rides start and finish in the city. Others, such as the greenways, need a transfer. If you are bringing a club, think about bike sizing, mechanical support and how far your accommodation is from the route. Our cycling group enquiry page is the place to tell us what your group needs.
Common mistakes when cycling around Valencia
Tap a mistake to see what to do instead.
1Choosing by distance alone
A shorter route with rough surfaces, traffic or hard navigation can be harder than a longer one.
2Assuming every coastal or rural route is a cycle path
Check the road conditions and the infrastructure along the actual track.
3Using the wrong bike for the terrain
Choose equipment from the route surface and your riding needs, not from the scenery.
4Ignoring the return journey
Not every outing is a loop from city-centre accommodation, and a greenway needs transport at one end.
5Booking without checking the full cost
Confirm what is included, especially delivery, pedals, transfers, luggage and mechanical support.
About the author
Michael Bastin
Founder, ValenciaMove - Valencia since 2016
Michael has lived in Valencia since 2016 and helps people move here.
Buy Michael a coffeeNeed help with your move?
Contact us. We handle visa, admin, and housing so you can focus on the exciting part.