Food destinations within easy reach of Valencia, worth the early start.
Food destinations within easy reach of Valencia, worth the train, the rental car or the early start.
Famous for Paella valenciana cooked in its birthplace, plus all i pebre eel stew
El Palmar is the fishing village in the middle of La Albufera, the freshwater lagoon where paella was born. Arroceria Maribel (Bib Gourmand.
Bus 25 from central Valencia, 45 minutes
Famous for Cava (DO Cava Requena) and bobal red wines
Requena west of Valencia is the centre of the Utiel-Requena DO, the city's wine region, with cava cellars (DO Cava Requena) and bobal-led red wines tasted.
Cercanias train C3 from Estacion del Norte, 1h 30min
Famous for Tomato culture, La Tomatina festival
Bunol west of Valencia is the home of La Tomatina, the world's largest tomato fight (last Wed of August). Outside Fallas season, the village's tomato-jam.
Cercanias train C3 from Estacion del Norte, 45 min
Famous for Arroz al horno and the Xativa castle
Xativa south of Valencia is the medieval birthplace of Pope Calixtus III and Pope Alexander VI, with an outstanding castle and a strong arroz al horno.
Cercanias train C2 from Estacion del Norte, 1 hour
Famous for Fideua, paella, beach restaurants
Gandia south of Valencia claims to be the birthplace of fideua (noodle paella), reputedly invented by Cabanyal fishermen who ran out of rice and substituted.
Cercanias train C1 from Estacion del Norte, 1 hour
Famous for Mountain Valencian cuisine, gazpacho manchego, embutidos
Bocairent in the Sierra Mariola south of Valencia is a medieval hilltop village with mountain Valencian cuisine, gazpacho manchego (a savoury thick stew).
Drive via A-7 motorway, 1h 30min (no rail link)
Make a night of it
Hotels in Bocairent
Famous for Levantine tapas, Roman ruins
Sagunto north of Valencia is the Roman Saguntum, with an outstanding Roman theatre, castle and Jewish quarter. Booking recommended. Reservations advised.
Cercanias train C5 or C6, 30 min
