Albufera Day Trip from Valencia: Bus, Tour or Taxi

Reviewed by MMT

Albufera Day Trip from Valencia: Which Option Fits You

The easiest Albufera day trip from Valencia is EMT bus line 24 or 25. The ride takes less than one hour, according to Visit Valencia’s Albufera Natural Park page, and costs €2 (about $2) each way on Valencia’s official bus guide. Go in the morning, take the 30- to 40-minute boat ride, and eat paella in El Palmar. Want everything arranged? Packages run from €22 (about $25) for the Albufera Tourist Bus to €55 (about $62) for a guided tour with pickup.

Option	Price	Duration	Best for
EMT bus 24/25 (independent)	€2 (about $2) per trip; free with Valencia Tourist Card	Under 1 hour each way	Budget, flexible timing
Albufera Tourist Bus	From €22 (about $25) adult	2 hours, Mon-Sat	Easy boat ride with no planning
Bus + boat + paella lunch	€39 (about $44) adult	About 5 hours, Mon-Sat	Lunch included, first-timers
Guided tour with pickup (Valencia&Go)	€55 (about $62) adult	4 hours	Guide plus afternoon departures
Taxi or rental car	Fare not confirmed	Not in official sources	Groups, remote viewpoints

Independent vs guided: quick verdict

The park is just 10 km (about 6 miles) from Valencia. That makes the public bus the default for most travelers. It’s cheap, and you set the schedule.

Choose a tour only if you want lunch, a guide or transport handled for you. Tours run at fixed times, and the two Visit Valencia shop products can’t be refunded.

Real costs in dollars for two people

By bus, two adults pay €8 (about $9) round trip, before the boat. The boat fare isn’t confirmed in official sources. The bus, boat and paella tour is €78 (about $87) for two adults, and the Valencia&Go tour is €110 (about $123).

Our pick: Got a flexible day? Take the EMT bus to El Palmar, ride a morning boat, then have lunch. It’s the cheapest option, and you control the timing.

Getting There by EMT Bus 24 and 25

Which line and which stop

EMT lines 24 and 25 connect central Valencia with El Perellonet and El Palmar. Confirm the destination displayed on the bus and the current route in the EMT app before boarding. Check the stop for your chosen pier.

For the boat, get off at the Embarcadero or El Palmar stops. For the Racó de l’Olla birdwatching center, use stop 2169 Pinars – Carretera del Palmar. The official EMT Valencia app (iOS and Android) shows live arrivals and nearby stops.

Paying: €2 ticket or Valencia Tourist Card

A single ticket costs €2 (about $2) on board. It’s good for one journey, with no transfers. The Valencia Tourist Card makes both lines free, comes in 24-, 48- or 72-hour versions and activates on first use.

Card prices aren’t listed in our sources. Compare the card with €4 (about $4) for the bus round trip plus any free municipal museum entries you’d actually use.

Checking the return bus

Check the exact outbound and return journeys for EMT lines 24 and 25 in the official EMT Valencia app. Do not use a general city-bus timetable to plan the last bus from El Palmar.

Many travelers on travel blogs advise checking the return bus before you set out. They report limited service outside the main village and infrequent afternoon connections.

Guided Tours and Tourist Bus Compared

Albufera Tourist Bus (2 h)

This runs Monday to Saturday and takes 2 hours. Adults pay from €22 (about $25), and ages 5 to 12 pay €15 (about $17). It includes an audio guide in eight languages, including English, and a boat ride of about 30 minutes, with three departure times from different city stops (four in peak season).

Boats carry up to 30 people, and the boatmen don’t speak English. To stay longer in El Palmar, tell the driver and pay a small surcharge. Tickets can’t be canceled or refunded, but you can change the date with 48 hours’ notice.

Bus, boat and paella (about 5 h)

Adults (17 and over) pay €39 (about $44), and ages 7 to 16 pay €32 (about $36), on the bus, boat and paella page. It runs Monday to Saturday and leaves the Aqua Shopping Center at 10 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. Lunch is at 1 p.m. or 3 p.m., depending on your departure.

You agree your return time with the driver. The same no-refund, 48-hour date-change rules apply. Both shop pages showed tickets as sold out when checked, so confirm availability before you plan around them.

Our pick: Want lunch and the boat with zero planning? Take the €39 (about $44) bus, boat and paella tour. Both are bundled, and it costs less than the €55 (about $62) guided tour.

Small-group tour with pickup at Serranos Towers

Valencia&Go charges €55 (about $62) for adults and €29 (about $33) for children 2 to 12; infants under 2 go free. It lasts 4 hours and runs all year, with 9 a.m. departures daily and afternoon departures Monday to Saturday. It includes an official local guide, round-trip transportation, an electric boat ride and a visit to a traditional barraca.

Meet in front of the stairs of the Serranos Towers. Book directly on the official Comunitat Valenciana page linked above.

Some links in this guide are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Prefer to compare other tours? Browse Valencia tours and activities on Viator

Boat Trip Timing and Sunset Options

Boats are traditional albuferenc vessels. The park page lists trips of around 40 minutes; tour products list about 30. Sunset is the most popular time, so book in advance.

Many travelers on 247valencia recommend carrying cash for boat tickets because some operators may not take cards. They also report boats being unavailable in winter or late in the day, so confirm before you go.

Sunset departure times by month

Valencia&Go’s afternoon departure (Monday to Saturday) shifts through the year:

January: 3 p.m.; February: 3:30 p.m.; March: 4 p.m.
April: 5:30 p.m.; May: 6 p.m.; June and July: 6:30 p.m.
August: 6 p.m.; September: 5 p.m.; October: 4:30 p.m.
November and December: 3 p.m.

Those are tour departures, not sunset times. Going on your own at sunset? Check the return bus first.

Gola de Pujol vs quieter harbors

Most boat trips leave from the Gola de Pujol jetty, at Avinguda dels Pinars, 89. Less crowded harbors include El Saler, Catarroja, Silla, Sollana and El Palmar. Travelers on a Nomado travel guide report crowds and queues at docks and restaurants on weekends, holidays and summer middays.

Our pick: Want sunset? Book a sunset departure ahead. Official option: a boat from Gola de Pujol or another harbor listed on Visit Valencia. Or compare tours: Browse Valencia tours and activities on Viator

Paella Lunch in El Palmar

The tour lunch is at El Palmar Restaurant, Calle Redolins 4. You get three starters, a main shared by the whole table (Valencian paella, vegetable paella, arroz a banda, fideuà, black rice or creamy seafood rice), dessert and one drink each. The menu is fixed, and extras cost more.

Tell the restaurant about allergies or intolerances when you arrive. Travelers on 247valencia say few places stay open off-season. Going on your own? Arrange lunch before you go.

Half-Day and Full-Day Plans

Half-day plan

Take the bus out in the morning, ride the boat, and eat lunch in El Palmar. The park page lists a 4-hour visit. An early start also beats the weekend and summer crowds travelers report.

Full-day plan with birdwatching or bike tour

Add the Racó de l’Olla Interpretation Centre; autumn brings the most birds. The Tancat de La Pipa wetlands are open by prior booking at visitas@tancatdelapipa.net or +34 608 746 865. A guided bike tour runs from €35 (about $39), Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m., for 4.5 hours, in Spanish and English.

Morning: EMT line 24 or 25 to the Embarcadero or El Palmar stop.
Midday: boat ride, then lunch in El Palmar.
Afternoon: birdwatching center (stop 2169) or a booked wetland visit.
Return: confirm the last bus before you leave the city.

Taxi, Rental Car or Bike: When They Make Sense

The park is 10 km (about 6 miles) from the city. A taxi or car suits groups or remote viewpoints, but official sources give no fare or drive time. Parking details aren’t confirmed.

Valencia’s official getting-around guide recommends sustainable transport for l’Albufera. Lower-cost option: EMT bus 24/25. Want a pre-booked ride instead? licensed transfer operators for a written quote and pickup details

One TripAdvisor reviewer reports poorly marked paths. Download an offline map before you go.

Sunset boat trip: book ahead. Official option: boats from Gola de Pujol or other harbors via Visit Valencia. Browse Valencia tours and activities on Viator
Tourist bus or bus, boat and paella tour: pick your date at booking; no refunds, date change with 48 hours’ notice. Official option: VLCShop on visitvalencia.com. Browse Valencia tours and activities on Viator
Valencia Tourist Card: activates on first use. Buy from the official Valencia tourism site.
Private transfer: licensed transfer operators for a written quote and pickup details. Cheaper alternative: EMT bus 24/25.

FAQ

How to get to Albufera from Valencia?

Take EMT line 24 or 25, a ride of less than one hour. A single ticket is €2 (about $2). Get off at the Embarcadero or El Palmar stops.

How long does an Albufera day trip take?

Tours run from 2 to about 5 hours. The park page lists a 4-hour visit. The boat ride is about 30 to 40 minutes.

Is the Albufera boat trip worth it?

Yes, if you want the lagoon itself, not just the village. Boats are shared by up to 30 people, and the boatmen don’t speak English.

What is the best time for an Albufera boat trip?

Sunset is the most popular time, so book ahead. Valencia&Go’s afternoon tour leaves at 6 p.m. in May.

Can I take the bus back after a sunset boat ride?

We can’t confirm it. City buses run until about 10:30 p.m. in general, but the last El Palmar return isn’t in official sources. Travelers advise checking before you go.

Sources

Last checked: 2026-11-11