Short trips outside from Valencia

We have been on two short trips just outside of Valencia, one to the town of Xativa, Sagunto and one to La Palma in the Albufera, a salt flats area where rice is grown.

Xativa

Less than an hour outside of Valencia and a 4.25 euro commuter train ride away is a gorgeous old castle town. There are many references to Borgias and Bourbons. The castle is walking distance from the train station and this small tourist town is very well sign posted and full of bakeries and cafes. The castle has had significant amounts of restoration work of the ruins (the castle has rich Iberian and roman heritage). The cost of entry is small < 3 euros if memory serves and there is a cute cafe at the entrance with nice views of the city. The castle grounds are extensive and there is a picnic area inside if you bring food with you.

Me, running around the castle and admiring the mountain views around

Doing an unexplicable pose in the jail at Xativa. 

There was also a nice hike nearby with the stations of the cross and more nice views at the top. 

La Palma in the Albufera

We went to the Albufera by local bus, very economical but we looked up times as they are not very frequent. It was a cloudy Sunday when we went. The Albufera is full of rice fields, and apparently where all the best rice for paella is grown and a popular spot for eels. As a result, the small towns in the area are full of restaurants for paella that are full on Sunday by 3pm, a respectable lunch starting time. To try the rice and eel dish, look for "all i pebre" on the menu.

The area seems quite rural but the wetlands are large and are impacted by industry. Local fisherman and farmers complain and argue it has negatively affected the waters over the years, but as a visitor, it is still lovely. 

There area is all wetlands and you can take a boat ride to see the area. We opted to walk but on a warm day, a boat ride did seem like a great idea. 

Sagunto

Sagunto is a commuter train ride away (7.5 euros round trip). The town itself is not particularly interesting, with some heavy industry in the main town (if you walk north of the train station) but the castle ruins are clearly visible from the train station and if you walk towards them you will either follow the main road up or find a pedestrian path along the mountainside the leads towards the castle ruins. There is not much left of the castle but its grounds are large, there is no fee to enter and there are a lot of stones with roman and hebrew inscriptions. A lovely day, but unlike Xativa and the Albufera, maybe not the best place for a fancy lunch after your wander.