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Malvarrosa Beach
The city's main beach
Valencia's Best Beaches in 2026: From Malvarrosa to the Wild Shores of the Albufera Natural Park
Valencia and the Valencian Community as a whole are one of Spain's leading regions for beach tourism. Those without a car have access to city beaches and secluded stretches of coastline in the Albufera area, all easily reachable by public transport. With a car, you can go further — to the beaches of Alicante and Castellón. Many of them earn Blue Flag awards year after year — the international quality mark for beaches.
In 2026, the Valencian Community retains its national lead for the number of Blue Flag beaches — this year, 151 beaches across the provinces of Alicante, Castellón, and Valencia received the award. Across Spain, a total of 677 beaches were recognised in 2026 — 35 more than the previous year. This is the highest figure in the world and the best result in Spain since the award was established in 1987.
Beaches awarded the Blue Flag must meet a series of criteria, including information boards on the beach and coastal ecosystems, excellent water quality, an effective waste management system, public toilets, good accessibility, and first aid and lifeguard services.
In 2026, the urban Cabanyal beach was removed from the list: water quality there was assessed as "good," but not sufficient to qualify for the Blue Flag.
Valencia's city beaches
Running along the Las Arenas and Malvarrosa city beaches is the famous seafront promenade (El Paseo Marítimo) — with greenery, palms, fountains, restaurants and bars, a cycle path, and children's play areas stretching along its full length. The atmosphere is that of a quiet seaside resort — walking the two-kilometre promenade, it is easy to forget you are in a major European city.
The promenade was built in the 1990s and connects the city to the sea — a purpose that, back in the nineteenth century, was served by the ruler-straight Avenida del Port, which was added to the city map for the same reason.
Bus number 32 runs along the promenade and can be boarded at Plaza del Ayuntamiento. To return to the city centre, you need to walk to the stop at the far end of the promenade, past the Bobo restaurant (Paseo Marítimo, 3).
A beach stretching 1.8 km with a width of around 130 m, fine soft sand, and a gentle entry into the water — this is Valencia's main city beach, popular with both locals and visitors. Malvarrosa adjoins the Cabanyal beach, connected by a promenade lined with restaurants, hotels, and shops. In season and during the evenings, it is lively, busy, and festive. In 2025, the beach received its first Blue Flag.
The Malvarrosa district was once marshland, but in the mid-nineteenth century, on the initiative of French botanist Félix Robillard, the wetlands were drained,d and mallow was grown on an industrial scale to produce soap, perfumes, and essential oils. The plant gave its name to the neighbourhood and the beach, and can still be found in Valencia's gardens and in the Albufera lagoon. In the twentieth century, the beach became a favourite retreat for Valencia's bourgeoisie. Joaquín Sorolla captured it in his paintings, and Blasco Ibáñez conveyed the atmosphere of that era in his books — the famous writer's house-museum stands at the northern end of the beach.
In early 2026, at least nine family beachfront restaurants on the first line of the sea completed major renovations and are now ready to welcome guests with panoramic windows, terraces on the first and second floors, and a Mediterranean atmosphere. In summer, La Alegría de la Huerta, el Bobo, Casa Isabel, la Murciana, and other chiringuitos (beach bars — La Cotorra) will open their doors. For Valencians, these are landmark establishments — in the mid-twentieth century,ry they were the first to offer freshly caught fish and seafood, and are still generally run by the same families.
Beach services: shower posts, sunloungers and umbrella hire, toilets, parking, cycle path, lifeguards, and a first aid point. There is a sailing school and beach volleyball courts. In summer, free yoga, tai chi, Pilates, and other activities are available to join.
Beaches in the Albufera Natural Park
These beaches are often described as natural or wild, given their distance from the city centre and the absence of the usual leisure infrastructure. Some beaches have nudist zones — these are generally situated in designated sections. Car parks are often unguarded, and theft and car break-ins are not uncommon — it is advisable not to leave your car near abandoned buildings, or to travel by public transport or taxi.
Buses number 24 and 25 from Porta de la Mar run to the beaches within the Albufera Natural Park. The journey takes between 25 minutes (to L'Arbre del Gos beach) and an hour (to Recatí-Perellonet beach). It is worth checking the return times in advance, which will save you waiting time.
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L'Arbre del Gos Beach
Dunes and open spaces
A quiet beach with wide open spaces, partly within the park. It stretches 2.6 km and is 40 m wide. Here you can walk along the dunes, cycle along the path to the Albufera, and find all the necessary amenities. There are no bars or restaurants — the nearest options are to the north, at Pineda beach. The area behind the dunes near an abandoned factory is traditionally considered a nudist beach and is popular with the LGBTQ+ community.
Services: sunlounger and umbrella hire, car and bicycle parking, drinking water, showers, lifeguard towers, and first aid points. The information centre on the beach was once a school for port workers.
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El Saler Beach
Choppy seas and surfers
This windy, 2.7 km beach with choppy water is considered wild thanks to the pine forest and line of dunes that protect it from westerly winds. The wind and waves have made it a local haven for surfers and windsurfers, though mornings tend to be calm and still. The sand is relatively coarse, the entry into the water is steep, and stones and driftwood can sometimes be found near the water's edge.
Services: a lifeguard station, a few shower points, and a beach bar open in summer: no sunloungers or umbrellas. Food and drinks are best brought from home.
Blue Flags are awarded not only to beaches but also to coastal paths that link award-winning beaches and marinas and promote the preservation of natural and cultural heritage. One such path is the educational coastal El Saler route (Sendero Litoral Educativo El Saler), whose historic section starts at the town hall of the village of the same name and continues along the coast as a two-kilometre-long recreational path connecting the beaches of El Saler and La Garrofera.
The full list of such paths is available here (in Spanish).
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La Garrofera Beach
Quiet and wild
A clean, quiet, and wild beach with a fairly steep entry into the water. Due to strong currents, jellyfish are often present.
Services: no showers, toilets do not operate out of season, no sunloungers or umbrellas. There are no bars or restaurants either — the nearest options are to the north of the beach, in the small hamlet of El Soler, and near the lake. Parking is free, and there is a cycle path.
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La Devesa del Saler Beach
Nudist beach opposite the Albufera
A five-kilometre quiet beach well away from the crowds, situated opposite Lake Albufera. It forms part of the sand spit separating the lagoon from the Mediterranean, and the road to it passes through picturesque scenery. In spring, people come to see the flowering shrubs; in extreme summer heat, the beach may be closed due to the risk of fires. It is considered a nudist beach.
Services: no shower facilities, sunloungers, umbrellas, or boardwalks — which may be inconvenient for elderly or mobility-impaired visitors. No bars or restaurants. Lifeguard towers are present.
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Recatí Beach (near the village of Perellonet)
One of Valencia's finest beaches
A beach stretching 3.6 km with a width of 70 m that has repeatedly been awarded a Blue Flag and is considered one of the finest in Valencia. Quiet and clean, with a gentle entry into the water, it is ideal for families with children. Afternoons can be windy. Just beyond the small settlement lie rice fields. The bus stop or umber 25 is directly opposite the beach.
Services: shower posts, toilets, lifeguard towers, a first aid point, and restaurants open in summer. Large car park. No sunlounger or umbrella hire.
The city portal publishes beach opening hours and lifeguard service schedules each year before the start of the beach season (in Spanish).
The 2026 calendar is already available.
