Turia River Bed Gardens and Park

To those who are unfamiliar with Valencia’s history, upon first glance, the placement of this park, sunken down significantly below the ground level of the city, seems particularly strange. Once you consider the bridges that span the park from side to side, some of them dating back to the 15th century, it becomes apparent that this park once had a different story. Originally the bed of the river Túria, the water was diverted away from the city after a devastating flood in the 1950s. Today the space serves as a public park and hub for all sorts of local cultural activities. Spanning 9 kilometers in length, the Turia River Bed Gardens and Park offers a variety of activities.

Nature lovers will find groves of Valencia orange trees, the Viveros royal garden with manicured landscaping and the Valencia Jardín Botánico with rose gardens, a duck pond, beautiful statues and an aviary. For the active traveler, there are exercise stations, a rock wall, soccer fields, bike paths and lots of open space. For families, there is the impressive Parque del Gulliver, a gigantic playground in the form of Lemuel Gulliver from the Jonathan Swift novel, Gulliver’s Travels, and the Bioparc, Valencia’s Zoo, with a wide range of African animals, a bird show, and open lemur habitat where you can have an up-close visit with the furry little things. For those looking for a well rounded experience, you can’t miss the park’s crowning glory: La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciéncias (Valencia’s City of the Arts and Sciences), with El Ágora (a public event space), the Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe (a kid-friendly science museum), L’Hemisferic (Valencia’s planetarium, complete with IMAX theater), L’Umbracle (an outdoor exhibit space), El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (a opera house and cultural space) and the Oceanogràfic (the largest Aquarium in Europe, with animals from the land and sea).

Restaurants Near Valencia’s Turia River Bed Gardens and Park

Mercat Central de València: By far the most beautiful, and one of the most vibrant traditional markets we have been to, the Mercat Central in Valencia is a must-visit stop for any food lover traveling around Spain. Swing by before heading to the park and buy some food for a picnic so you can stop to relax and eat without feeling rushed to get back to exploring. » see more

Hotels Near Valencia’s Turia River Bed Gardens and Park

Budget: Located at the edge of the old town, Hulot B&B Valencia combines the comfort of a hotel with the amenities of an apartment and the social atmosphere of a hostel. With a full kitchen, communal dinning room and reading space, plus a sunny terrace, you’ll feel right at home at Hulot B&B. Having the opportunity to meet interesting people in the shared spaces while still having a private space to retreat to makes Hulot B&B Valencia a dynamic place to stay. (5 minutes walking) » book a room

Comfort: The Hotel San Lorenzo Boutique, surrounded by some of Valencia’s most historic monuments, is the perfect place to stay for first time visitors to Valencia who want a convenient location from which to explore the city. The rooms at the San Lorenzo Boutique are spacious and stylish and the hotel offers larger rooms for up to 4 people, perfect if you are traveling in a group or with your family. (3 minutes walking) » book a room

Luxury: Part hotel, part museum and part gallery, the Caro Hotel offers its visitors a five-star stay and a very unique look at Valencia’s history. Housed in the Palace of the Marquis of Caro, during the renovation of the 19th-century building, the workers came across a staggering number of archeological findings, among them Gothic arches, the original medieval staircase, remains of the 13th century Arabic fortress wall, and a mosaic and column bases from the Roman founding city, Valentia Edetanorum (2nd century B.C.). These treasured artifacts were restored and incorporated into the Caro Hotel’s sleek, minimal design, combining the history of the city with modern luxury in a unique and compelling way. Declared Bien de Interés Cultural, the Caro is the first hotel in Valencia to also be declared a national monument, and is one of the city’s oldest original buildings. (6 minutes walking) » book a room

Nearest Metro Stations

Túria, Alameda