You come to Valencia thinking you’ll stick to the city, the beach and the City of Arts and Sciences.
Big mistake.
Hire a car for one day of your trip, set off early and, in less than an hour, you’ll find yourself in a completely different world: villages crowned by castles, gorges made for hiking and wineries where wine is served straight from the barrel.
And you can enjoy all of this without giving up the comfort of sleeping in your Valencia apartment that same night.
You won’t find the typical list copied from ten other travel websites here. These are the places that are genuinely worth adding to your trip, including the best things about each one and a few useful tips if you’re visiting at the weekend.
Grab a pen and take note, because these trips are best planned a couple of days in advance.
Buñol, Much More Than Tomatoes
Yes, this is where La Tomatina takes place on the last Wednesday of every August, with lorries unloading ripe tomatoes onto thousands of people along Calle del Cristo.
But focusing only on the festival means missing half of what the village has to offer.
The castle, built on a rocky outcrop right in the centre, can be reached in around fifteen minutes. Inside, you’ll find the Gothic Palace, including its Sala del Oscurico, as well as the former Church of El Salvador.
Once you come back down, San Luis Park is only a five-minute walk away, with large trees and the river flowing right beside it. It’s an ideal place to stop for something to eat without having to find a table anywhere.
A little farther on, the natural pools formed by the same river are perfect for a swim among the rocks when the weather gets hot, particularly between June and September.
If your visit coincides with the August festival, expect road closures and streets packed with people. It’s worth experiencing once, but it isn’t the best day to explore the village at a relaxed pace.
During the rest of the year, Buñol can be explored in a couple of hours, without queues or crowds, and it’s considerably more enjoyable.
El Palmar, Surrounded by Rice Fields and Silence
El Palmar sits right in the heart of the Albufera, surrounded by rice fields that look like a green sea during the summer.
The first paella in history was cooked here, so you already know what to order in any of the village restaurants: rice, and very good rice at that, cooked slowly over the fire just as it always has been.
But the real highlight comes at sunset.
Climb aboard one of the wooden boats, let it carry you across the lagoon and watch the sun disappear behind the water. There’s no need to add anything else; the view speaks for itself.
One warning: the boats fill up quickly in summer, so book a few days in advance.
And if you can visit during the week, even better. The jetty is much quieter and you’ll enjoy the boat trip twice as much.
Chulilla, the Village Perched Above a Gorge
Just over an hour from Valencia, Chulilla is one of those places that will have you reaching for your camera constantly.
The Hanging Bridges Route crosses walkways suspended above a gorge carved out by the River Turia, with sheer rock walls rising on both sides.
Above the village stands a ruined castle overlooking the entire valley, while its streets are lined with houses stacked one above another, almost as though they were holding each other up.
Chulilla is also a major destination for climbers, so don’t be surprised if you come across people carrying ropes and climbing equipment.
One important detail: the main route has limited capacity, and you need to book your ticket online before visiting.
Tickets sell out quickly in spring and autumn, so don’t leave it until the last minute.
Sagunto, Two Thousand Years of History on a Hill
Just half an hour separates Valencia from Sagunto and its castle, which has witnessed the arrival of Iberians, Romans and Arabs over more than two thousand years of history.
The climb is a little tiring, yes, but from the top you can see across the Mediterranean and understand why this piece of land was so worth defending.
The historic centre can be explored in a couple of hours.
And if you’d rather leave the car behind, the commuter train takes you from Valencia to Sagunto in around 35 minutes.
Our advice is to climb up to the castle as the sun begins to set.
The light over the port at that time of day is something completely different.
Bocairent, a Village Carved into the Rock
Bocairent is one of those villages that stays with you.
Its medieval quarter, declared a historic site back in 1975, is filled with stone houses that climb the mountainside as though there were no other possible way to build them.
The essential stop is the Covetes dels Moros, a series of window-shaped caves carved into the rock and connected by internal passages.
The village lies within the Sierra de Mariola, so if you have time to spare, you’ll also find hiking routes suitable for every level.
A warning if you’re driving at the weekend: the roads are often busy with cyclists, so take extra care on the mountain bends.
And don’t leave without stopping at Pou Clar in Ontinyent for a swim in one of the most beautiful natural pools in the area.
Requena, a Land of Wine and Underground Caves
Requena smells of wine from the moment you arrive.
The historic centre, known as the Barrio de la Villa, is filled with walls and stately houses bearing coats of arms, and can be explored in a couple of hours.
But the best part of the visit lies underground.
The Cuevas de la Villa are a network of 22 chambers of Moorish origin, excavated between the 12th and 13th centuries and formerly used as wine cellars, grain stores and shelters.
The audio-guided visit lasts around 20 minutes, and admission costs €4, or €3 for reduced tickets.
If you enjoy wine, spend the afternoon visiting a winery.
Tastings are usually reasonably priced and include a complete explanation of the process, from the grape harvest to the sealed bottle.
And yes, Valencian cava also has its place here; it isn’t all about red wine.
Make sure you book the cave visit in advance, as capacity is limited and weekend places sell out quickly.
If you still have energy, combine Requena with Chulilla or Cofrentes and turn the day into a complete route through inland Valencia.
Ultimately, the best thing about all these villages is that you don’t need to pack your suitcase to feel as though you’ve truly gone away.
If you’d like someone to organise the entire route for you, choose the timings and book every stop so you don’t have to worry about anything, Travel Habitat can take care of it all.
Get in touch and we’ll help you have the entire plan ready within a couple of days, so all you need to do is get in the car and switch off.
