Turia Garden – Valencia
The Turia Garden is a 7 km long park that runs through Valencia from west to east, from the zoo (Bioparc) to the aquarium (Oceanografic). It is based on the former bed of the “Turia” river, which was diverted in 1960 (see the “History” section at the bottom of this article for more information). By walking through it, you can cross the entire city without encountering a single car!
I have written this article so that you can fully enjoy a walk in the park, highlighting the most interesting points 😀 On the map below, you can already see: the Bioparc (zoo), the athletics stadium, the Towers of Serranos, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Palace of Music, the Gulliver, the City of Arts and Sciences, and the Oceanografic (aquarium):
But that’s not all! I have listed over 30 interesting points to discover along your way: historical monuments, works of art, children’s parks, sports fields, strange trees, flowers, fountains… Plenty of opportunities to marvel, have fun with your family, take beautiful photos, have a picnic, and simply have a great time 😀
Some practical points
Walking through the Turia Garden:
- If you walk at a good pace, you can complete this hike in 2 hours. If you want to enjoy the journey, plan for 4 hours.
- If the distance seems too long, you can start at the Towers of Serranos, which are halfway. The most interesting things to discover are located in the second part of the route 👍
Cycling through the garden:
- You can cycle through the Turia Garden, as there are 2 bike lanes along the entire route. You will go faster, but be careful, bike thefts are common. Tourists are easy targets (a resident of Valencia will immediately know that you are a tourist 😅).
- Equip yourself with sturdy bike locks and remember to use them as soon as you move away from your bike for a few meters.
- Bicycles are not allowed in certain areas such as the Gulliver, museums, and the Oceanografic. You will have to leave them outside. 🚲
Other points:
- Remember to bring a picnic and water. There are plenty of benches for resting and tables for eating 🍎
- Public toilets are available regularly (they are indicated in this article 🚻).
- I have provided additional details in the “Practical” section at the bottom of this article 👍
Let’s explore the Turia Garden from the Bioparc to the Oceanografic
The Bioparc
The Bioparc is an incredible zoo that houses 800 animals from 116 species. What makes the Bioparc exceptional is that the habitat of each animal species has been recreated. The spaces are large enough for the animals to move around freely 🐘🐒🐍🦒🦍🐋
Just in front of the entrance to the Bioparc, you will find the structure of a large elephant (a great spot for photos 📷). This is where our journey begins.
ℹ For more information about this zoo, you can read my article on the Bioparc 👍
For the next part of your itinerary, you will need to go down the staircase located in the courtyard on the left side (when facing the elephant, indicated by the green arrow).
Go down the stairs, turn right, bypassing the Lazer Game Café, and continue straight for 300 meters (slightly to the right). You have arrived!
Pirate Ship Park
We start our journey at the “Pirate Ship,” a children’s park located next to the Bioparc (Valencia’s zoo). Your children can have a blast here. It features a pirate ship made of slides, rope ladders, squirrel cages, swings… Children can have fun here up to the age of 12 🏴☠️
Cabecera Park
For the next step, backtrack while always turning to the right. We continue our journey towards Cabecera Park, which has a large lake where you can see turtles, fish, swans… The lake also features beautiful fountains. You can rent a paddleboat to navigate the park’s canals. To rent a paddleboat, you need to make a reservation at the café next to the dock; it costs €14 for a half-hour rental for a 4-person paddleboat 🦢
Bike Trail
Continuing eastward, you will come across a bike trail. I recommend taking a short ride on it if you are on a bike, scooter, or rollerblades. With its ramps and turns, this trail will entertain both kids and adults 👍
Orange Park (Children’s Park)
If you keep heading towards the Oceanografic, you will come across a children’s park with swings, slides, squirrel cages… It’s a very fun park surrounded by trees, ideal for taking a rest in the shade 👍
Next to this park, there is a strange structure that serves no purpose but makes for a great photo spot for Instagram or other social networks 😉
City Stadium
Further ahead, you will see a city stadium where friendly matches are regularly held between players 🏀. Who knows, you might be witnessing a future Michael Jordan match!
Athletics Stadium
Thanks to its immense size, the athletics stadium serves as a great landmark along your journey.
In front of the stadium, you will find a Decathlon store, which may come in handy during your vacation 👍
Public Toilets 🚻
There are public toilets approximately every kilometer, but at first glance, they don’t look like toilets at all. So if you come across a building like this, you’ll know it’s a toilet 😉 ⬇
Health Park
If you want to be healthy or if you want to build muscles 💪, you must try out this park, whether alone or with your family. There are many similar parks throughout the Turia Garden.
Tourniquet Park
In reality, this park doesn’t have an official name, but my family and I call it the Tourniquet Park because it has two turnstiles 😀
Café-Terrace “La Masía de los Jardineros”
If you’re thirsty and in need of rest, you can go to “La Masía de los Jardineros” in Turia Garden. While you enjoy your break, your children can have fun in the small park next to it. The name of this café means “The Gardeners’ Farm” in Valencian (the official language of Valencia) 🥤
Rugby Stadium
Continuing your journey, you will come across a large rugby field. If you’re lucky, you might be able to catch a match. You can then cheer for CAU, the team of this stadium 🏉
Skatepark
It is very stylish, with ramps decorated in Street Art colors. Skaters will amaze you with their acrobatic moves 👍
Baseball Field
As you can see, the baseball field is enormous. There might be the “Astros” team practicing or playing a match. If that’s the case, you can expect loud music playing 😄
Note: There are public toilets right next to the baseball field 🚻
Towers of Serranos and Santa Monica Church
The Towers of Serranos are two towers that used to serve as the gates to the old city. They are visible from the Turia Garden. It’s an iconic photo spot: you can’t visit Valencia without taking a photo with the Towers of Serranos behind you 😄
For more information, you can read my article about the Serranos Towers 👍
The Church of Santa Monica (Saint Monica) is located just in front of the Towers. It is very beautiful :
The Multicolored Park
The Multicolored Park is recognizable by its fences of all colors (hence its name). Children aged 2 to 10 will find happiness there. 👍
The Soccer Fields Right
Next to the Multicolored Park, there are numerous soccer fields. Friendly matches, and sometimes even competitive ones, take place here, accompanied by the cheers of the crowd. ⚽
The Museum of Fine Arts
This museum is visible from the Turia, with its beautiful dark blue dome and two towers. Don’t hesitate to visit it, as it is worth a visit 👍
For more information you can go to my article from the fine arts museum 👍
The Ruins of Turia (Stone Park)
It’s not really a park, but Spanish children have fun climbing and jumping on these stones. They are ancestral stones: ruins from the Roman and Visigothic era.
The Temple Church
On your way, you will pass by the Temple Church. Pay attention, as it is hidden by palm trees.
You can read my article about the Temple Church 👍
Note: There are toilets right across the street 🚻
The “La Exposicion” Bridge (Exhibition Bridge)
This bridge is very intriguing because it lacks large pillars to support it, unlike the other bridges in Turia Garden. The entrance to the “Alameda” metro station is located just below it 👍
The Red Ropes Park
Just behind the “La Exposicion” bridge, there is a huge children’s park called the Red Ropes Park. It features massive pyramids that children can have fun climbing on. There is also a trampoline within the structure and sand to build beautiful castles 😀
The Kiosko Bar Rio Turia (Café Terrace)
Still behind the “La Exposicion” bridge, next to the Red Ropes Park, you will find the “Kiosko Bar Rio Turia.” You can refresh yourself with a drink or anything else you desire at this café-bar. There are no servers; you will need to order at the bar counter and bring your order to your table. Note: There are free public toilets on the side 🚻
The Flower Bridge
Continuing on your way, you will come across a bridge adorned with many flowers. This is the “Flower Bridge.” I recommend going up and taking photos with the flowers; it’s an incredible photo spot, especially with the beautiful buildings in the background 👍🌷
The Basin of the “Pont del Mar” (Bridge of the Sea)
A few steps from the Flower Bridge, you will find the basin of the “Pont del Mar.” It is also an excellent spot for photos, thanks to the perspective provided by the basin, the bridge, the row of palm trees, and the two buildings in the background. Position yourself between the two tower buildings, where the statue on the bridge is located 📷
The Palace of Music
As the name suggests, the Palace of Music is a place where music reigns through its concerts. Whether you’re a fan of classical or jazz music, you will surely find something to enjoy. To attend a concert, it is necessary to make a reservation in advance on the palace’s website 🎶
Note: There are toilets right across the street, under the stairs 🚻
The Gulliver
The Gulliver is the largest children’s park in Turia. It represents the character Gulliver from the book “Gulliver’s Travels.” This giant park amuses kids, teenagers, and even parents. Plus, it’s free! Bicycles are not allowed inside the park; you will need to leave them outside the Gulliver with a lock 🚲
If you go to the Gulliver, I recommend wearing old pants and going in the morning. The Gulliver is in the sun all day, so the slides can become scorching in the afternoon! Follow the example of the people in the photo and wear pants 😀
The Mini Golf Park
My family and I named this park because it is next to a mini golf course. If you want to rent a ball and a club, you need to go to the wooden cabin next to the park. There is also a café-ice cream shop between the mini golf and the park 👍
The Skatepark
A little further, you will find another skatepark where skaters will show off their skills.
The City of Arts and Sciences
We have reached the end of the itinerary, and you can see the City of Arts and Sciences! 😍
The first monument in this photo is the Palace of Arts. Behind it on the right, you can distinguish the Museum of Sciences. And between the two, in the background, is the Caixa Forum.
Let’s explore the City of Arts and Sciences in all its glory!
The Palace of Arts
The Palace of Arts, also known as “The Queen Sofia Palace,” is a gigantic opera house. It features operas, dances, concerts, and musicals. You can book in advance on the official website 👍
Just in front of the Palace of Arts, you will find the café “El Mirador.” You can enjoy a break with an incredible view of this marvelous monument 🥤
The Hemisfèric
The Hemisfèric is a cinema with a unique shape that showcases several 3D or 2D films. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, the Hemisfèric remains an incredibly beautiful monument 🎬
Just in front of the Hemisfèric, there is a remarkable photo spot: the letters of the name Valencia stand upright in 3D. They are just waiting for you to take your photo with them 📷
The Museum of Sciences
The Museum of Sciences features several exhibitions, and it is enormous 🤩
I recommend booking in advance if you want to participate in additional activities, such as experiments or a flight simulator. You can organize your visit on the official website.
Note: There are free public toilets available in the museum 🚻
The CaixaForum
The CaixaForum is a monument that is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. The interior is worth a look: it is very colorful and consists of several platforms. Each one is a universe of its own. It’s a perfect place to take beautiful photos 👍📷
The entrance is free, but if you want to see the exhibitions, you will need to open your wallet or on the official webside. For more information, you can read my article about the CaixaForum 👍
The Oceanografic
The Oceanografic is a truly nice aquarium. The building is also worth a visit. I think the most remarkable feature of this aquarium is the tunnels where sharks (and other fish) swim above you. The Oceanografic also offers shows with dolphins 🐠🦈
For more information, you can visit the official website.
Practical Information
Summer
I recommend wearing shorts and a T-shirt, as it is the most suitable attire for summer temperatures. Wear a hat, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent. To avoid the heatwave, avoid going to the park between 11 am and 5 pm. You can take a stroll until 10 pm without any worries 😉
Spring
I suggest wearing a T-shirt and shorts. Bring a light sweater if you visit Turia in the late afternoon.
Autumn
In autumn, you should wear the same clothes as in spring (T-shirt and shorts). But if the weather forecast predicts rain, it is better to cancel the outing as the showers can be heavy ☔
Winter
If you visit in winter, I recommend wearing a coat and long pants. However, temperatures vary each year, and often a thick sweater is enough in December. The coldest months are January and February.
The History of Turia
Previously, the Turia Garden was a river, hence its name: El Rio Turia. In 1957, a massive flood caused flooding throughout the city. 81 people died, and there were hundreds of injuries. To prevent similar disasters, the Spanish government decided to divert the river to the south of the city.
As a result of this diversion, the riverbed was filled with marshes, and no one wanted to go there. This led to the area becoming quite infamous, with drug dealing and various illicit activities taking place.
The government then decided to transform this marshy area into the beautiful park that is now Turia Garden. The place is now secured by regular police patrols, and many people, including families, athletes, and tourists, stroll through it.
About This Page
To create this page, my family and I had to make four round trips to Turia to take these photos. Then, I worked on these photos, which involved resizing, cropping, and blurring people (2 to 10 minutes per photo). The most challenging part of creating this page was the photography.
I am thrilled to be able to share a bit of this incredible city with you through this page, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😍