Valencia airport to city centre — every option compared honestly
The airport is not far from the city
Valencia Airport (VLC) is 8 km from the city centre. This is genuinely close. The metro journey from the terminal to central stops such as Colón or Xàtiva takes about 25–30 minutes. This makes Valencia one of the easier Mediterranean airports to navigate on arrival.
The options are straightforward and the price differential between them is not as large as you might expect. Here’s the honest comparison.
| Distance | 8 km from the city centre |
| Fastest | Metro L3/L5, around 25–30 min to the centre |
| Cheapest | Metro, €2.80 (Metrobus 150 is €4.80 and slower) |
| Most flexible | Taxi, around €20–25, no waiting |
| Metro hours | First departures about 05:30–07:35, last about 22:15–23:35, depending on line and day |
Metro (L3/L5): the default correct choice for most travellers
Valencia has two metro lines serving the airport:
- Line L3 runs via Alameda to central stops such as Xàtiva and Àngel Guimerà
- Line L5 runs via Marítim-Serreria and reaches the centre at Colón
Journey time: approximately 25–30 minutes to the central stops.
Cost: €2.80 each way (single ticket, zones A+B, which include the airport). A SUMA 10 ten-trip ticket (formerly Bono 10) costs €7.50 for zones A+B in 2026 thanks to a temporary 40% reduction (full price €12.50; check the official Metrovalencia site for 2027).
Trains run about every 15 minutes on weekdays and about every 20 minutes at weekends and on holidays. Airport departures start between about 05:30 and 07:35 depending on line and day (Sundays are latest), and the last ones leave between about 22:15 and 23:35. Check the Metrovalencia timetable for your day.
Terminal note: Valencia Airport has a single terminal, and the metro station is directly below it, reached by a short internal walkway.
When metro is the best choice: almost always. Single travellers, couples, groups without enormous luggage, travellers arriving before the last metro (see times above).
For the complete transport guide including route maps and connections to specific city destinations, the airport to city transport guide is the full reference.
Metrobus 150: slower and dearer than the metro
The only public bus from the airport is Metrobus line 150. It is slower than the metro, runs roughly every 26 minutes on weekdays, and has no Sunday service according to Aena.
Cost: about €4.80 one way, more than the metro single. Traffic into the city during morning rush hour can make the journey longer.
When Bus 150 makes sense: rarely. The metro is cheaper, faster and more reliable.
Taxi: more expensive but sometimes justified
Valencia taxis from the airport to the city centre cost approximately €20–25 depending on destination and time of day (night, public holiday and luggage supplements can apply). Uber, Bolt and Cabify also operate at the airport, typically at €15–20 to the centre, with surge pricing at busy times.
Taxis are metered. Ask for the meter to be started when you get in; it should start automatically. Use the official rank outside arrivals, not drivers who approach you inside the terminal.
When a taxi is worth it: with three or four people splitting the cost, a taxi works out similar to metro tickets each. Also sensible late at night when metro service is minimal, if you have significant luggage, or if you’re staying in a location that requires multiple metro changes.
Private transfer: book in advance for a premium
Several companies offer pre-booked private transfers from the airport. Prices vary by company and are usually higher than a taxi for an equivalent journey, but you get the benefit of a named driver, a confirmed vehicle, and no waiting at the taxi rank.
This option makes most sense for business travel, for arrivals with complex schedules, or for groups staying in the same accommodation where splitting the cost makes it comparable to taxis.
The rental car question
If you’re planning day trips by car to places like Bocairent, Montanejos, or Morella — inland towns that are difficult to reach by train — picking up a rental car at the airport on arrival can be efficient. All major rental companies have airport desks.
However: a car is unnecessary for the city of Valencia itself. The metro and bus network is excellent, cycling is practical on the Turia Gardens cycle paths, and the historic core is largely pedestrianised. If your itinerary is purely city-based, return the car at the airport on the way out rather than paying for city-centre parking throughout your stay.
The getting around Valencia guide covers the full public transport network once you’re in the city.
Practical arrival tips
Have coins or a card: the metro ticket machines accept chip-and-pin cards as well as cash. Don’t count on tapping a bank card at the turnstile. If your card might not be accepted, have a small amount of euros for the first ticket. The machines at the airport are multilingual.
Luggage storage: if you arrive before hotel check-in, luggage storage (consigna) is available inside the airport terminal (check current rates on the Aena Valencia website), and private storage providers operate in the city centre.
Night arrivals: if your flight arrives after the last metro (between about 22:15 and 23:35 depending on line and day), the metro has stopped. Your options are taxi or rideshare, or a pre-booked transfer. Budget €20–25 for a taxi.
During Fallas: the metro during the final days of Las Fallas (15–19 March) is heavily overloaded. If you’re arriving during this period, allow extra time and consider a taxi for the airport leg, reserving metro use for shorter city journeys.
Should you buy a transport card at the airport?
If you’re staying more than two days and plan to use the metro or bus regularly, buying a Mobilis card or a SUMA 10 ten-trip ticket at the airport ticket machine on arrival saves time later — you land, tap through, and never queue for single tickets again. The Mobilis card guide explains the zones and top-up options. If your plans lean more towards paid attractions than transport, compare it against the Valencia Tourist Card, which bundles transport with museum and attraction discounts — it’s not automatically the better deal, and the honest comparison is worth five minutes before you commit at the ticket machine.
Your first afternoon after landing
Once your bags are in the hotel, the best use of a first afternoon is something low-effort that doesn’t demand a plan. If you’re staying in the old town, a slow walk through El Carmen and past the cathedral and Miguelete tower gets you oriented without any transport at all. The Central Market is close by too, and a snack there is an easy way to ease into local rhythms. If you’d rather start with a longer walk, the Turia Gardens lead straight toward the modern part of the city.
That modern end is the City of Arts and Sciences. If it’s high on your list, it’s worth deciding on arrival day whether to see it on your own or with some structure. A guided visit to the City of Arts and Sciences helps if you want the architecture explained, and you can book a guided walk around the complex ahead of time so it’s one less thing to organise once you land. Travellers who want to see several sites in one go can look at a combined ticket covering the main buildings of the complex, which suits a day when you aren’t rushing for a train or flight.
If you’re travelling with children, the Oceanogràfic is often the first thing families want to see. Booking a ticket for the aquarium before you travel means you can slot it into whichever day suits your jet-lagged group best, and the family guide to Valencia has more ideas for the days around it. Rainy first day? The rainy day ideas for kids cover indoor options.
Whatever you choose, try not to overpack your arrival day. The first-weekend itinerary and the three-day itinerary both show how to pace the opening hours of a trip, and the guide to the best area for a first stay helps if you haven’t yet settled on where to sleep.
Airport-to-city at a glance: option comparison
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro L3/L5 | €2.80 (SUMA 10: €7.50 for 10 trips in 2026) | 25–30 min | Almost everyone, until the last metro |
| Metrobus 150 | ~€4.80 | Slower than metro | Rarely the best option |
| Taxi | €20–25 | 15–25 min | Groups of 3–4, night arrivals, heavy luggage |
| Private transfer | Varies | 15–25 min | Business travel, complex schedules |
| Rental car | Varies | 15–20 min | Combining with day trips by car |
