Turia Natural Park: Valencia's 9 km urban green corridor
Valencia: parks private tour on bicycle, e-bike or e-step
What is the Turia Natural Park in Valencia?
The Turia Natural Park (Parc Natural del Túria) refers to the full extent of the converted Turia riverbed — a 9 km urban green corridor through Valencia plus the broader protected river valley extending 67 km to the west. The urban section, known as the Jardines del Turia, connects Bioparc to the sea and contains Valencia's main recreational infrastructure.
The Turia Gardens are the physical consequence of a political decision. In 1957, catastrophic flooding of the Turia river killed over 80 people and caused massive damage to Valencia’s city centre. The Spanish government planned to divert the river and fill the dried bed with a motorway. Valencia’s citizens — according to local legend and some historical record — pushed back with the slogan “El riu és nostre i no el volem” (the river is ours and we don’t want it [as a road]). What was built instead was one of Europe’s longest urban parks: 9 km of car-free green space running through the centre of the city.
The motorway would have been forgotten by now. The Turia Gardens are among Valencia’s defining features.
The urban park: Jardines del Turia
What it is
The Jardines del Turia occupies the former bed of the Turia river — a corridor approximately 200 metres wide running east to west through the city. It is not a wilderness park or a nature reserve in the traditional sense. It is managed green infrastructure: maintained lawns, flower beds, cycle paths, playgrounds, sports facilities, and cultural buildings.
The ecological value is modest compared to the surrounding natural areas, but the park has genuine biodiversity — mature trees, migrating birds that stop in spring and autumn, bats in the evening over the water features. For a public park in a city of 800,000, it functions well as both recreational infrastructure and green corridor.
What to find where
Western section (near Bioparc): The widest and quietest section. Sports facilities including the Valencia Velodrome and football pitches. Used primarily by local residents rather than tourists. The Palau de la Música concert hall sits at the western-to-central transition.
Central section (Torres Serranos to Pont de l’Àngel Custodi): The most visited section. The Torres Serranos medieval gate spans directly over the path at the northern old town entry. Multiple playgrounds, a puppet theatre (Teatre de Titelles), open lawns, benches, and kiosks characterise this section. Dog walkers, joggers, and tourists on rental bikes share the space in roughly equal proportions on weekend mornings.
Eastern section (near City of Arts): The Gulliver Park playground anchors the approach to the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. The gardens gradually give way to the designed landscape of the Arts complex, with its shallow reflecting pools and Calatrava-designed structures. The cycling path continues through.
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The wider Turia Natural Park
The official Parc Natural del Túria is a different and wilder thing. Located in the Turia river valley upstream of Valencia, it covers approximately 4,800 hectares of pine and holm oak forest, river gorges, and agricultural land extending 67 km west of the city toward Puebla de Vallbona.
This is the park that serious walkers and naturalists come to explore — though far fewer international tourists visit it compared to the urban gardens. The protected area contains:
- River gorges with limestone walls
- Cork oak and holm oak forest
- Significant populations of Bonelli’s eagle, golden eagle, and various raptors
- The Cueva de Don Juan (a river cave near Gestalgar)
- Several traditional farming villages largely unchanged since the 20th century
The main access points are from the villages of Chulilla, Gestalgar, and Pedralba — about 45–60 km west of Valencia by car. This area is not served by public transport from Valencia and requires a vehicle.
For day trips from Valencia, the Turia valley west of the city offers completely different scenery and ecological conditions from the coastal plain and provides a contrast with the urban park that many visitors find illuminating.
Activities in the Jardines del Turia
Cycling
The dedicated cycle path runs the full 8.5 km length. See the Turia by bike guide for the full route breakdown. In summary: flat, car-free, well-maintained, accessible to all levels. The Valenbisi bike-share scheme covers the gardens with multiple docking stations.
Running
Distance markers every kilometre from the western end. The surface is varied — tarmac in the most-used sections, compacted track in others. Early morning (before 9:00) is the preferred time for serious runners. See the running Turia guide for specific route advice and seasonal timing.
Family activities
Gulliver Park is the primary family destination — the free giant playground at the eastern end. Multiple smaller playgrounds are distributed through the central section. The puppet theatre (Teatre de Titelles) runs performances primarily for children at weekends; check the current schedule at the website or at the theatre itself.
Sports
The gardens contain football pitches, basketball courts, petanca courts, a velodrome (for competitive cycling), and open space for informal sports. Most facilities are free and on a first-come basis. The velodrome is used for competitive events on some weekends.
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Nature observation
The gardens support a surprising range of urban wildlife. The water channels and mature trees attract breeding birds including Eurasian wryneck, hoopoe, and various warblers in spring. Herons are common year-round near the water features. The bat population — several species of pipistrelle and the noctule bat — is visible in the evening from April to October.
The gardens are also a significant insect corridor. The wildflower sections that some areas maintain attract butterflies and insects that are absent from the wider urban environment.
Getting to the Turia Gardens
The park runs through the centre of Valencia — it is more accurate to say that much of the city is within walking distance of the park than to give directions to it. The key entry points:
Torres Serranos: The most visited entry for tourists, directly below the northern wall of the old town. Access from Plaça dels Furs or from Carrer de Guillem de Castro.
Pont de Serrans / Pont de l’Exposició: Multiple bridges cross the gardens — many are old stone bridges from the river era. Each bridge entry point connects to the neighbourhood above and the gardens below.
Bioparc end: Avenida de Pío Baroja, near the Bioparc entrance. Bus 98 serves this area.
City of Arts end: Carrer del Professor López Piñero or Carrer de l’Institut Obrer, adjacent to the Science Museum.
The gardens are free and open at all hours. No access control, no tickets. Lighting is available on the main path in the central section from dusk to approximately 23:00.
Seasonal character
Spring: The best season. The gardens turn green quickly after the winter, flowering plants bloom in the maintained beds, and the temperature makes prolonged outdoor time enjoyable. Morning light on the Torres Serranos gate is particularly good in March and April.
Summer: Early morning is essential — the exposed central sections become very hot by midday. The gardens are most used in the evenings in summer, when Valencians walk and cycle after the heat breaks.
Autumn: Pleasant temperatures and the western section’s trees begin to turn. Less photogenic than spring but quieter and still excellent for cycling and running.
Winter: The gardens thin out but remain beautiful. The absence of crowds and the low angle winter light makes this a good season for photography and quiet walks. The puppet theatre and outdoor performances largely cease from November to March.
For all cycling details see the Turia by bike guide. For the broader natural area around Valencia see the Albufera Natural Park guide and the Sierra Calderona guide.
Frequently asked questions about Turia Natural Park
How long is the Turia Gardens path in Valencia?
The urban Turia Gardens section runs 8.5 km from Bioparc in the west to Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias in the east. An extension continues approximately 4 km to La Malvarrosa beach. The full path from Bioparc to the sea is around 12–13 km.Is the Turia Gardens the same as the Turia Natural Park?
They overlap but are not identical. The Turia Gardens (Jardines del Turia) refers specifically to the urban park in Valencia's former riverbed. The Turia Natural Park (Parc Natural del Túria) is a separate protected area in the Turia river valley west of Valencia — wilder, less visited, and more ecologically significant.What activities are available in the Turia Gardens?
Cycling (dedicated lanes), running (marked km distances), walking, rollerblading, skateboarding, children's playgrounds, sports courts, puppet theatre performances, outdoor concerts, and several cafés and kiosks. The Gulliver Park playground and Bioparc are at opposite ends.Is it free to use the Turia Gardens?
Yes. The urban Turia Gardens park is free and open at all hours. Some adjacent attractions (Bioparc, Science Museum, Gulliver Park) charge entry or are free; the path itself is always free.What is the best section of the Turia Gardens?
For families: the eastern section between Torres Serranos and Gulliver Park, with multiple playgrounds. For scenery and architecture: the approach to Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. For quiet and nature: the western section near Bioparc.
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