Valencia is a beautiful city located on the eastern coast of Spain, known for its stunning architecture, rich culture, and delicious cuisine. If you are visiting Barcelona and looking to explore other parts of Spain, you may be wondering if Valencia is a feasible day trip option. In this article, we’ll explore the logistics of traveling from Barcelona to Valencia in a day and help you decide if it’s worth the effort.
Getting from Barcelona to Valencia
One of the first things to consider when planning a day trip from Barcelona to Valencia is the mode of transportation. While there are several options available, the most popular ones are:
- Train: Renfe runs trains from Barcelona Sants station to Valencia Joaquín Sorolla station every hour. The journey takes around 3 hours and costs around €30-€40 each way.
- Bus: ALSA runs buses from Barcelona Nord station to Valencia bus station every hour.
The journey takes around 4 hours and costs around €20-€30 each way.
- Car: You can rent a car and drive from Barcelona to Valencia, which takes around 3-4 hours depending on traffic. However, keep in mind that parking in Valencia can be difficult and expensive.
Things to do in Valencia
Valencia has plenty of things to see and do for tourists. Some of the top attractions include:
Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias
This futuristic complex features several buildings designed by renowned architects such as Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela. It includes an opera house, a science museum, an IMAX cinema, an oceanographic park, and more.
The Central Market
The Mercado Central is a bustling market that sells fresh produce, seafood, meats, and other local delicacies. It’s a great place to sample some of Valencia’s famous dishes like paella and horchata.
The Cathedral of Valencia
The Catedral de Santa María de Valencia is a stunning Gothic-style cathedral that dates back to the 13th century. It features several chapels, including one that is said to house the Holy Grail.
Is it worth doing as a day trip?
While it is possible to visit Valencia as a day trip from Barcelona, it can be quite a long and tiring journey. The round-trip travel time alone takes up most of the day, leaving you with limited time to explore the city. Additionally, Valencia has so many attractions that it’s impossible to see everything in just one day.
If you do decide to go on a day trip from Barcelona to Valencia, we recommend prioritizing your must-see attractions and planning your itinerary accordingly. You may also want to consider taking an early morning train or bus in order to maximize your time in the city.
Conclusion
Valencia is definitely worth visiting if you have the time, but doing it as a day trip from Barcelona can be challenging. While there are plenty of things to see and do in Valencia, the long travel time and limited time in the city make it difficult to fully experience all that it has to offer. If possible, we recommend staying overnight in Valencia or dedicating at least two days for exploring this beautiful city.