Valencia is in a fantastic position for natural beauty. Not only is it nestled below wine-producing sierras behind it and the Albufera lagoon to the south, Turia Gardens snakes through the heart of the city towards the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by the city’s Blue Flag beaches to the north. Spain has more Blue Flag beaches than any other country in the world, with three of them just minutes away from Valencia's city centre: Las Arenas, La Malvarrosa and El Cabañal.
Not only are there plenty of bus routes that will take you right by the beach, the city’s trams take you from Benimaclet over to Las Arenas for a very reasonable price. If you wanted to go further afield, get the 25 bus from the city centre to El Saler for a more relaxed ambience.
Even if you’re not a paddler or a tanner, the beaches of Valencia have a lot going for them to draw in visitors. The promenade along the beaches makes for a lovely afternoon stroll to take in a sea breeze but consider avoiding this area in the height of the tourist season if you’re not good with crowds. Just south of the major beaches is Veles e Vents, a huge club complex blasting out tunes for revellers. Although we’re not really clubbers by any stretch of the imagination, the building is architecturally interesting at an interesting crossroads that connects the city’s marina and beaches, an optimal spot for boat and people watching.
The beachfront is also home to some of the city’s best-known restaurants, including La Marcelina and Ernest Hemingway’s favourite: La Pepica. Some of the restaurants in this area can get rather pricy, but they’re good spots to try local dishes and wines with a view onto the beaches and Mediterranean Sea.
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