| Important Information about Barcelona to Valencia Road Trip | |
|---|---|
| Duration of Trip | 2-3 Days |
| Best Time to visit | Mar-May & Sep-Nov |
| Route | C-58 |
| What is Famous for | Mountains, Beaches, Castles |
If you would like to take in lots of views of Spain during your holiday, a road trip from Barcelona to Valencia is no less spectacular. Both Barcelona and Valencia are an eclectic mix of modern and historic architecture and are incredibly popular holiday destinations for many Spanish vacationers because of cute old towns, stunning beaches, natural landmarks, cathedrals, hiking trails, and much more.
As you know, self-drive travel is awesome as it allows you the freedom to get off the beaten tourist trail, create your schedule, and save money. The distance from Barcelona to Valencia is about 350 km, and it should take you around 3.5 to 4 hours to do the journey without making any stops, but what’s fun in that? Right!
Before we get to talk about what to see on the way from Barcelona to Valencia, we would like to encourage you to rent a car. While it is possible to cover this trip by bus or train and still get to see a lot, renting a car gives you more flexibility. So, without further to do, read this guide as we have shared all the relevant information you may need to decide the best way to do so for you.
Spain Road Trip Itinerary
You can get a rental car from Barcelona to embark on your journey. The following are some of the cities and popular attractions that you can explore on your way to Valencia to make the most out of your trip. In this guide, we have also listed a few hotels and restaurants to help you save some time in a new city.
Day 1 Start Your Journey from Barcelona
With tremendous cathedrals, shopping streets, quirky cafés, and beaches, the capital of Catalonia is a great place to start your trip. Spend some time to explore all that this enchantingly trendy city has to offer before commencing on your road trip. Visit iconic landmarks such as La Sagrada Família, wander around Park Güell, and explore Barcelona’s many interesting neighborhoods. Once you’ve had your fill of Barcelona, pick up your rental car at the airport or train station, and hit the road to reach your next destination.
Day 2 On to Montserrat
Just a short 60 km drive from Barcelona lies breathtaking Montserrat, home to an 11th-century Benedictine monastery that is one of Spain’s major religious sites. Get a cable car to reach the top of the mountain, which is a longer route over a river, but offers 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape. After reaching the top, step out into an entire miniature town, filled with a post office, gift shops, restaurants, and museum.
The other main attraction in Montserrat is the basilica, which houses a 12th-century sculpture of Jesus and Mary that hosts huge visitors. Also, the museum in the town has collections like an Egyptian sarcophagus. You can also pick up a snack or souvenir from many smaller farm stalls, and shops that are selling local produce.
Things to do in Montserrat
- Stroll through the mountains to experience magnificent views of some of the most unusual rock formations in the whole of Catalonia.
- Learn about the holy grotto, where manifestations by the Virgin Mary were reported.
- listen to the World famous Basilica choir boys recitals of Gregorian chants along with other genres of religious choral music
Day 3 Explore the Roman Ruins in Tarragona
Located about 106 km from Montserrat is Tarragona, a lovely seaside town filled with ancient Roman ruins and are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can find crumbling walls just sitting there in many cute cafes and shops that look pretty incredible. Tarragona is one of the oldest cities in the country where you can find roman heritage at almost every corner. This sunny city embraces the golden shores of the Costa Dorada.
There are plenty of other iconic landmarks to see in the city including towers, old city walls, and the remains of the forum. You can also visit the new(er) 14th-century cathedral or stroll through the gorgeous old streets until you find Placa de la Font, where you can stop for tapas and drinks.
Things to do in Tarragona
- Visit the ancient Roman amphitheater, which is built on a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and is the most impressive of ancient structures.
- Walk the most gorgeous and longest boulevard in Tarragona, the Rambla Nova. It is the main shopping street with cute cafés, restaurants, and yummy ice cream shops.
- Other Tarragona attractions include Mercat Central, Romanesque & Gothic cathedral, Balco del Mediterrani Observation Area, quarters of Old Town, along with a fresh food market.
Day 4 Relax at the Beach Town of Peniscola
Make your next stop at this gorgeous beach town around 136 km from Tarragona. Peniscola lies on the coastal rocky shores and is famous for its sandy beaches that are one of the best beaches in Spain. A huge fishing port of the province until this day is here. Also, the beaches are popular because of their white sand, majestic views, and the Peniscola Castle on one of the cliffs. You can walk through the narrow streets of Old Town to explore charming bars and restaurants.
The place was also used as a film location for season six of Game of Thrones, where it was the setting of the fictional city called Mereen. Yes! You read that right. The old town surrounding the castle is gorgeous too. The stunning blue and white buildings, along with colorful tiled balconies look like they are straight out of a picture book.
Things to do in Peniscola
- Explore Santa Maria Square-one of the most iconic squares in the history of Peniscola, where you can find remains of Arab and Roman civilizations.
- Visit Papa Luna Castle that has been preserved since the times of the real Templars, and is permeated with the spirit of the Middle Ages. It is one of the most charming and ancient castles in the city of Peniscola.
- Must try the local delicacies – cuttlefish in its ink, grilled shrimp, or octopus. And, the traditional dish of Castellon is giant shrimp, which is worth trying. You can also have a special lunch at Perla Blanca restaurant- besides the delicious food, this quiet place nearby mountains offers views on the city and sea.
Day 5 Explore the Stunning Street Art at Valencia
The last stretch of our road trip was just about 144 km drive to Valencia. This large beach city is as cool and arty as Barcelona, but it has a more lavish shine to its architecture. There are many fancy apartments, museums, churches, and historical sites with tons of eccentric street art.
You can also try a delicious acai bowl, vegan burger, or smoothie at Almalibre, or one of the many restaurants in Mercat de Colon- a public market located in the city center of Valencia. This beautiful iron, stone, and glass market house has vegetarian and vegan-friendly spots too, including healthy food café Suc de Lluna.
Things to do in Valencia
- Visit Playa de la Malvarrosa beach to relax where the sand front promenade is filled with restaurants.
- Enjoy the nightlife of Valencia by visiting great tapas bars throughout the old town. Checkout Le Parisienne where under euro 10, you can fill up on each local tapas and a good bottle of red wine.
- Explore Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias- the state of the art, science and cultural park. A unique and expansive 2km long complex dedicated to scientific, and cultural purposes is the most prominent tourist destination in the city and is one of the 12 Treasures of Spain.
Where to Stay in Barcelona to Valencia Road Trip
Many of the best places to stay between Barcelona and Valencia, we have listed a few in here.
- Barra Aata Hotel: spacious and clean rooms, close to the beach
- Pension Chiki: small and cute hotel for budget travelers
- Zalmera BnB: budget-friendly hotel close to the city center
- Red Nest Hostel Valencia: colorful dorms & private rooms with free Wi-Fi