What you should know before hiring a car in Valencia
| Valencia city centre | ||
| Manises Airport (VLC): 6 mi from city centre | ||
Car hires in Valencia: practical information
Where to rent a car in Valencia
Valencia is an up-an-coming destination with a lot of old world charm as well. If you're thinking about holidays in Valencia then also consider an affordable car hire in Valencia as well to discover the surrounding province with! The airport is just 11km away from the city centre which makes it the idea location for picking up and dropping off rental cars in Valencia. If you've booked tickets from London to Valencia already, go ahead and make a car hire comparison in Valencia as well.
At the airport you can book rentals with AurigaCrown, Avis, Europcar, Hertz and National Atesa. In the city centre you can also find all the major brands represented. Hertz, Europcar and Avis are all very close together, near Plaza de Toros de Valencia. Also near the central train station you can find more information about hiring cars.
Driving in Valencia: parking and other tips
Thankfully for visitors with cheap car rentals in Valencia there is plenty of parking in the city centre, 40+ car parks. Expect to pay a high price for them though, anywhere from €18-28/day. Here's a tip though, some supermarkets offer free marking if you purchase anything above €2, so stock up on bottled water and some snacks for the day and park for free. Consum is one example, open 9:00-21:30 from Monday to Sunday, located on Calle del Historiador Diago 5-7. Car parks located outside the main centre cost €12/day.
There are a number of hotels in Valencia that offer free parking, even a couple along the coast. Try Neptuno Apartments, Confortel Aqua 3, the Silken Puerta or the Petit Palace Germanias. If you plan to rent a car in Valencia for your entire trip, then hotels with parking should be at the top of your trip-planning list, that and finding cheap flights to Valencia of course!
Road trips from Valencia: what to do, what to see
Albufera
If you're looking for cool off out of the sea, why not head to La Albufera instead? It's a freshwater lake and in the surrounding fields rice is grown, not something you see very often in Europe, particularly Spain. Enjoy an authentic dish of paella for lunch (made of course with local rice and local seafood) in El Palmar and enjoy the lakeside all afternoon.
Saler
There's really only one reason to go to Valencia and that's for the beaches. If you're looking for something a little better than the city ones, head to Saler. The protected beaches there are considered to be the cleanest and the most secluded without having to drive for hours. Just head out of the city towards the south, you'll find the good ones just past the city limits.
Buñol
Buñol will strike an interest with many adventurous travellers, especially at the end of summer. Head to this small village on the last Wednesday in August and you're certain to have a good time at La Tomatina, the famous tomato-throwing festival. Just don't wear your Sunday best!