Valencia is a flat city, which is exactly why its few high points are worth the climb. The old town's towers, a small hill at the head of the Turia gardens and a watchtower in the Albufera show you a city you otherwise only see at street level.
This guide covers nine viewpoints: four in the old town and the Turia gardens, one at the City of Arts and Sciences, one in the Albufera and three a train ride or a hill walk away. For each one we checked the opening hours, the last entry and the ticket on the operator's own site, and the train and bus times on the published timetables.
The Micalet: the cathedral bell tower over the old town
The Micalet is the cathedral's bell tower and the classic view over Valencia. According to the cathedral's history of the tower, it was finished up to the terrace by 1425, and you climb to the top by a spiral staircase that grows narrower above the bell room.
From the terrace you look straight down on the Plaça de la Mare de Déu and across the roofs and domes of the old town, south east as far as the City of Arts and Sciences. The cathedral's timetable opens the tower every day from 10:00 to 18:45, all year, with last entry half an hour before closing, so 18:15.
A ticket costs 3 EUR, 2 EUR reduced, and 1 EUR for residents of the city of Valencia with official ID; children under 8 go free. The terrace holds 50 people at a time, so expect a short wait at busy moments. The tower stands on the Plaça de la Reina, under a kilometre from Colón metro (lines 3, 5, 7 and 9).
Photo: Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0
Torres de Serranos: the Turia gardens from the medieval gate
The Torres de Serranos were the great gate of the medieval wall on the Turia side of the city. The city council's page on the gate says master builder Pere Balaguer built them between 1392 and 1398, that they were a prison for nobles and knights from 1586 to 1887, and that their terraces look out over the city and the old bed of the Turia.
From the top you look down on the Turia gardens and the bridges across them, with the old town behind you. The towers open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00 and on Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 to 14:00, with access until 30 minutes before closing. They close on 1 and 6 January, 1 May and 25 December.
The visit depends on daylight and can be stopped in rain, fog or strong wind, and the way up is by stairs, with no lift. The city council's museums page says entry is free on Sundays and public holidays. The nearest tram stop is Pont de Fusta (line 4), about 400 metres (about 1,312 ft) away.
Torres de Quart: the west of the city and the Serra Calderona
The Torres de Quart guarded the western gate of the Christian wall. The city council's page dates them to between 1441 and 1460, modelled on the Castel Nuovo gate in Naples, and records that they became a women's prison in 1623 and a military prison from 1813 to 1932. The marks of the French bombardment of 1808 are still on the outer walls.
From the terrace the view runs over the rooftops west of the old town and, on a clear day, to the Serra Calderona on the horizon. The city runs both gates, so the hours, closing days and weather rules match the Torres de Serranos: Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 19:00, Sundays and public holidays 10:00 to 14:00, access until 30 minutes before closing.
Túria metro (lines 1 and 2) and Àngel Guimerà (lines 1, 2, 3, 5 and 9) are each about 600 metres (about 1,969 ft) away. The two gates stand at opposite corners of the old town, so one morning covers both on foot.
Photo: Joanbanjo, CC BY-SA 3.0
L'Umbracle: the City of Arts and Sciences without a climb
Not every view needs stairs. The City of Arts and Sciences describes L'Umbracle as a vantage point of over 14,000 square metres from which you can take in all the buildings, pools, walkways and gardens of the complex, and its art promenade is free to enter.
The promenade runs 320 metres (about 1,050 ft) along the south side of the complex under 55 fixed and 54 floating arches, each 18 metres (about 59 ft) high. Walk it end to end and the Hemisfèric, the Museu de les Ciències and the Palau de les Arts spread out beside you. Its hours are set day by day on the complex's own calendar, and our City of Arts and Sciences guide covers the buildings and tickets.
Ciutat Arts i Ciències-Justícia, on tram-train line 10, is about 350 metres (about 1,148 ft) away.
Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0
Parc de Capçalera: the viewpoint hill at the head of the Turia
At the western end of the Turia gardens, the Parc de Capçalera has a man-made hill built as a viewpoint. The city council's page on the park describes it as standing 15 metres (about 49 ft) above street level, joining the Turia gardens to the park, with panoramic views over the park itself and the Serra Calderona natural park.
It is a gentle walk up a path, not a tower, and the park is open 24 hours with free entry from Avenida Pío Baroja. That makes it the one viewpoint here you can reach at sunset without checking a timetable. Nou d'Octubre (metro lines 3, 5 and 9) is the nearest station.
Photo: Joanbanjo, CC BY-SA 3.0
Racó de l'Olla: the Albufera from a watchtower
The Albufera lagoon is flat as glass, and the Racó de l'Olla visitor centre has a tower built to look across it. The Generalitat's page for the centre lists the tower and its panoramic view over the Albufera, bird hides and a 0.8 km (about 0.5 mi) interpretive trail, and recommends bringing binoculars.
The centre opens every day from 9:00 to 14:00, last entry 13:30, and closes on 1 and 6 January, 19 March, and 24, 25 and 31 December. Parties of fewer than 10 need no booking if there is room. The timetable rules out a sunset visit, so come in the morning; the park names May to July and November to January as the best months for birds.
EMT buses 24 and 25 run from Porta de la Mar to the Gola de Puchol stops in about 30 minutes on the timetable (EMT Valencia). Our Albufera guide covers the boat trips and El Palmar.
Sagunt castle: the coast from the hill above the Roman theatre
Sagunt castle stretches along the hilltop above the town, and from its walls you look over the coastal plain to the sea. Entry is free. The Generalitat's timetable covers the castle, the Roman theatre and the museum together, and there is no Monday opening.
From 15 October to the last Sunday in March it opens Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00, and the rest of the year Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00. On Sundays and public holidays it opens from 10:00 to 14:00 all year. Last entry is half an hour before closing, it closes on 1 January and 25 December, and pets and bikes are not allowed.
Cercanías line C6 takes about 37 minutes from València Estació del Nord to Sagunt on the current timetable (Renfe Cercanías). The castle sits on the hill above the old town, less than a kilometre from the station as the crow flies but uphill all the way. Our Sagunto day trip guide has the full visit.
Photo: Mike1979 Russia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Mirador del Garbí: Valencia at your feet from the Serra Calderona
For the widest view of all, head into the hills. The Mirador del Garbí sits on red sandstone cliffs in the Serra Calderona, and the regional tourism board describes what you see from it: the Mola de Segart, the gulf of Valencia and, on a very clear day, the Albufera or the Columbretes islands. It singles out the sunsets too.
Beside the viewpoint stands the small chapel of the Santa Creu. Estivella's town council dates the cross on the mountain to 19 March 1787, the first chapel to 1804 and its restoration to 1993.
The classic way up is on foot from Beselga, a loop described step by step in our Garbí hike guide. In periods of high wildfire risk the Generalitat can close paths in the natural parks, so check before you set off, and if you stay for the sunset, carry a torch for the way down.
Photo: Michael Bastin, ValenciaMove
Xàtiva castle: walls along a ridge an hour south
Xàtiva castle is the furthest of the nine and the most dramatic, its walls climbing along a ridge high above the town. Xàtiva's tourist office sets the hours by season, Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 to 18:00 from November to February, 10:00 to 19:00 in March and October, 10:00 to 20:00 in April and September, and 10:00 to 21:00 from May to August.
The office publishes no separate last entry time, so arrive well before closing. A ticket costs 6 EUR, or 4 EUR reduced, children up to 7 go free, and it also covers the town's municipal museums; the office recommends buying online. The castle is not accessible for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
On Sundays and public holidays cars may not drive up, except in July and August. From October to May a shuttle bus runs on those days from Plaça Espanyoleto for 1.15 EUR, and the office suggests walking up anyway. Cercanías line C2 takes about an hour from València Estació del Nord to Xàtiva on the current timetable.
Photo: Khan.gesta, CC BY-SA 4.0
Planning a viewpoint day in Valencia: light, weather and closing days
Three things decide a good viewpoint day. The first is the clock: the Racó de l'Olla closes at 14:00 every day and the two city gates at 14:00 on Sundays and public holidays, so for the last light the hill in the Parc de Capçalera, open 24 hours, is the easy choice.
The second is the weather. The city gates can stop visits in rain, fog or strong wind, and a hazy day flattens the long views to the Serra Calderona or the sea, so keep the castles and the Garbí for a clear day. The third is the calendar: the Micalet opens every day, while Sagunt castle has no Monday opening and Xàtiva castle opens Tuesday to Sunday.
A practical old town circuit: the Torres de Quart in the morning, the Micalet at midday and the Torres de Serranos in the afternoon. It is all walkable, and on a Sunday the two city gates are free.
About the author
Michael Bastin
Founder, ValenciaMove - Valencia since 2016
Michael has lived in Valencia since 2016 and helps people move here.
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