Valencia Public Transport and Tourist Card Guide 2026
Valencia's public transport is one of the most under-celebrated systems in Spain — 10 metro lines, 3 tram lines, around 50 EMT bus routes, and a Tourist Card that pays for itself on day one for most visitors. The headline metro fare is €1.50 single, day passes are €4, and the 72-hour Tourist Card costs €25 with unlimited transport plus around 100 attraction discounts. The honest 2026 guide to using the system well — and to deciding whether the Tourist Card is right for your trip.
Arrivals timed for the morning metro
The Metrovalencia airport line first train runs from 05:25 and the last train from VLC airport leaves at 23:00. Commercial flights landing before 05:00 or after 23:00 force the taxi option regardless of preference. Valencia Airport (VLC) handles light and mid-size jets directly with FBO transfer in 20 minutes off-peak — useful when flight timing falls outside the metro's operating window. JetLuxe quotes the common European city pairs in 90 seconds.
Search Charter Flights →What the system covers
Valencia's public transport is operated by three main bodies. Metrovalencia runs the metro (10 lines) and the tram (3 lines, integrated with the metro fare system). EMT València runs the city bus network (around 50 routes). MetroBus covers the wider metropolitan and regional buses to outlying towns.
For visitors, the relevant scope is:
- Metro — 10 lines, covering central Valencia, the airport, the outer neighbourhoods, and the metropolitan towns out to Bétera, Llíria, and Torrent. The standard tourist's main system.
- Tram — 3 lines (4, 6, 8), covering the beach (Patacona, Malvarrosa), the marina, the Cabanyal neighbourhood, and the northern suburbs. The beach line.
- EMT bus — around 50 routes covering the gaps between the metro and tram. Less essential for visitors.
The whole system uses a single integrated fare structure based on zones. Zone A covers all central Valencia and almost every destination a typical visitor will reach. The airport is in zone D, requiring an airport ticket (which is the only zone where a separate ticket type matters for visitors).
Metro — lines and routes
The 10 Metrovalencia lines:
| Line | Colour | Key stops | Useful for tourists? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 1 | Yellow | Bétera — Castellón — Plaça Espanya — Torrent Avinguda | Limited — outer routes |
| Line 2 | Pink | Llíria — Empalme — Xàtiva — Torrent | Limited — outer routes |
| Line 3 | Red | Rafelbunyol — Alameda — Colón — Xàtiva — Aeroport (VLC) | Yes — airport line, central |
| Line 5 | Green | Aeroport — Xàtiva — Colón — Alameda — Marítim | Yes — airport, centre, beach connection |
| Line 7 | Orange | Torrent Avinguda — Marítim | Limited |
| Line 9 | Brown | Riba-roja — Torrent Avinguda | Limited — outer |
| Line 10 | Light blue | Alacant — Russafa — Ciutat Arts — Natzaret — Marina (city centre to City of Arts) | Yes — central + City of Arts |
The lines a typical tourist will use are 3, 5 and 10. Lines 3 and 5 both connect the airport with the central stations (Xàtiva and Colón). Line 10 — opened in May 2022 — runs through the central neighbourhoods to the City of Arts and is the easiest way to reach the complex from the centre.
The central metro stations to know
- Xàtiva — directly outside Estación del Nord (the central railway station). The airport line drop-off for the historic centre and Eixample.
- Colón — in the Eixample, the closest stop to Mercat de Colón and Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
- Àngel Guimerà — large interchange, less central for tourist destinations.
- Alameda — north of the Turia, close to the Bellas Artes museum.
- Aragón — closest stop to Mestalla stadium.
- Marítim — connects to the trams for the beach.
- Ciutat Arts i Ciències (line 10) — directly at the City of Arts complex.
Tram — to the beach and back
The Metrovalencia tram network has three lines, all sharing the same fare and ticket system as the metro. The relevant lines for tourists:
Line 4 — Mas del Rosari to Doctor Lluch
The main beach-line tram. Runs from the western suburbs through Pont de Fusta (the central tram terminus, on the edge of the historic centre), through the Cabanyal neighbourhood, and down to Doctor Lluch — at the heart of Malvarrosa beach. Journey time from Pont de Fusta to Doctor Lluch is around 25 minutes. Trams every 10-15 minutes daytime, 20-30 minutes evening. The standard route to and from the beach for tourists.
Line 6 — Tossal del Rei to Marina Reial Joan Carles I
Connects parts of the northern suburbs through Cabanyal to the marina (the cruise port area). Useful for visitors based in the northern Eixample wanting beach or marina access; less central than line 4.
Line 8 — Marina Reial Joan Carles I to Marítim
A short connecting line between the marina/cruise area and the Marítim metro interchange. Useful mainly for visitors going from the cruise port back into central Valencia via the metro system.
EMT bus — the local layer
The EMT bus network has around 50 routes and reaches almost every neighbourhood in the city. For visitors, buses are less commonly used than the metro and tram — the metro covers most destinations, and the metro is generally faster and easier to navigate. The bus is useful for:
- Diagonal routes — journeys that don't follow the metro's roughly grid pattern.
- Some outer destinations — particular neighbourhoods (Patacona, El Saler) where the metro doesn't reach but the bus does.
- Night service — some night buses (lines starting N) operate when the metro is closed.
- The Albufera — EMT bus 25 runs from Plaza Reina to El Palmar (in the Albufera Natural Park) — a slow but workable route for the Albufera day trip.
Bus tickets are integrated with the metro and tram system. A single bus ticket is €1.50; bus journeys are included in the day passes and Tourist Card. Most buses have automated stop-announcement displays in Spanish.
Tickets — the options explained
Five main ticket types cover the typical visitor's needs:
Single ticket — €1.50
One journey on metro, tram or bus in zone A. Valid for 60 minutes from validation. Useful for occasional users.
Bonometro (10-trip card) — €8.00
Ten trips in zone A on metro, tram or bus. Significantly cheaper per trip than singles (€0.80 vs €1.50). The card itself is rechargeable. Worth buying for visitors making 5+ trips over the stay.
TuiN 1 day — €4.00
Unlimited metro, tram and bus in zone A for one day. Breaks even after 3 single trips; worth buying for active sightseeing days.
TuiN multi-day — €8/€12 (2 days / 3 days)
Unlimited transport for 2 or 3 consecutive days. Better value than the daily pass for multi-day visits.
Valencia Tourist Card — €15/€20/€25 (24h/48h/72h)
The card that combines unlimited transport with attraction discounts. See the dedicated section below.
Airport ticket — €4.90
Special ticket for any journey to or from the airport metro station. Includes the standard fare plus a €1.50 airport surcharge.
The Valencia Tourist Card — is it worth it?
The Valencia Tourist Card (VTC) is the city's official tourist pass, sold through Visit Valencia. The card combines unlimited transport with attraction discounts. The 2026 pricing:
- 24-hour card — €15.
- 48-hour card — €20.
- 72-hour card — €25.
- 7-day card — €13.50 (transport-focused, fewer attraction discounts).
What's included
- Unlimited transport on Metrovalencia (metro and tram) and EMT bus across the city.
- Discounts of 10-20% at around 100 attractions — including Oceanogràfic, Bioparc, the Cathedral, the City of Arts museums, the Mestalla Forever Tour, and several smaller museums.
- Some free attractions — including the Bellas Artes museum (already free), the Almoina archaeological site, and a handful of smaller venues.
- Discounts of 10-15% at around 80 restaurants and shops.
- Free travel from the airport on the 7-day card (the 24/48/72-hour cards do not include the airport metro segment).
The break-even calculation
The 72-hour card at €25 breaks even on transport alone if you use the metro/tram 3-4 times daily — easy to do on an active sightseeing trip. The attraction discounts add an additional €10-€20 of savings over a typical 3-day visit. Net value: usually €15-€35 of savings for a 3-day card holder, depending on attraction choices.
When the card is worth it
- Three-day or longer trips with substantial sightseeing.
- Trips including major paid attractions (Oceanogràfic, Bioparc, Cathedral, City of Arts).
- Visitors using public transport multiple times daily.
- Travellers staying outside the central historic core (where walking everywhere is harder).
When the card is not worth it
- Single-day visits (single tickets are cheaper).
- Visitors planning to walk almost everywhere and skip the major paid attractions.
- Trips focused mainly on food and bars rather than museums.
- Visitors using a hire car or pre-booked transfers for most journeys.
Multi-stop European trips with tight connections
Multi-stop European trips — a long weekend in Valencia followed by another European city — can be constrained by commercial flight timing between cities. Valencia Airport (VLC) handles light and mid-size jets directly with FBO transfer to the city in 20 minutes. JetLuxe quotes the common European city pairs in 90 seconds — useful when the connection timing matters more than the individual fares of two separate commercial flights.
Search Charter Flights →The airport metro fare and alternatives
The airport metro fare is a separate consideration because Valencia Airport (VLC) sits in metro zone D, requiring an airport ticket at €4.90 each way. Tourist Cards (24/48/72-hour) do not include the airport segment; the 7-day card does.
The metro option
- Cost — €4.90 single each way.
- Journey time — 22 minutes to Xàtiva, 24 minutes to Colón.
- Frequency — every 10-15 minutes.
- Hours — 05:25 to 23:00.
- Best for — single travellers with light luggage, off-peak arrivals.
The alternatives
| Option | Cost (2026) | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro line 3 or 5 | €4.90 single | 22-24 min | Light luggage, solo |
| Taxi flat rate | €25-€35 | 15-25 min | Couples, families |
| Pre-booked transfer | €28-€80 | 15-25 min | Groups, premium |
| EMT line 150 bus | €1.90 | 35-50 min | Cheapest, slow |
The full picture of every airport transfer option — including the private and luxury alternatives — sits in the Valencia airport transfer guide.
Practical tips
Eight practical tips for using Valencia public transport in 2026:
- Buy at the machines, not the kiosks. Automated ticket machines at every station have an English interface and accept cash and card. The kiosk option is slower and rarely worth seeking out.
- Hold onto the ticket. You need it to exit the station as well as to enter. Lost tickets mean paying again.
- The TuiN card requires a deposit. The reusable plastic card itself costs €1 (refundable at the tourist info office if you return it within the validity period). Bonometro 10-trip cards also use the same plastic.
- Children under 10 travel free. Up to 2 children under 10 may travel free per accompanying adult. Strollers and prams travel free on metro and tram.
- Last train is earlier than you think. Most lines stop service around 22:30-23:00. After hours, you'll need a taxi or night bus.
- Bikes allowed off-peak. Metrovalencia accepts bikes outside the peak hours (typically 07:30-09:30 and 17:00-19:30). Folding bikes are allowed any time.
- Pickpockets exist on busy metro segments. The standard European urban pickpocket caution applies — particularly on the airport line and around Colón and Xàtiva stations in peak hours.
- App support. The official Metrovalencia app shows live train arrivals, route planning, and ticket purchase. Google Maps and Citymapper both work well for Valencia transit routing.
The full context of how transport fits into a Valencia trip sits in the 3-day Valencia itinerary, which assumes a Tourist Card or day passes for the active sightseeing days. The neighbourhoods guide covers which areas need transport vs which are walking-distance to the headlines.
Valencia's transport system is one of the city's quiet strengths — clean, reliable, well-priced, easy to navigate, and meaningfully cheaper than equivalent systems in Madrid or Barcelona. For visitors taking the time to set up the right ticket type on arrival, the network removes most of the friction from a city visit. The Tourist Card is worth it for most three-day visitors; the day pass is worth it for one-day visitors; and the metro from the airport is one of the better-value urban airport connections in Europe.
Common questions
A single ticket in zone A (covering all central Valencia and most major destinations including the City of Arts) costs €1.50 in 2026. A 10-trip ticket (Bonometro) costs €8 for zone A. A day pass (TuiN 1 day) covers unlimited rides in zone A for €4. The airport — which lies in zone D — requires an airport ticket at €4.90, which includes the standard fare plus a €1.50 airport surcharge applied to all journeys to or from the airport metro station.
For most three-day visitors with a typical sightseeing pattern, yes. The 72-hour Tourist Card costs €25 in 2026 and includes unlimited use of metro, tram and EMT bus across the city, plus discounts of 10-20% at around 100 attractions (Oceanogràfic, Bioparc, the Cathedral, the City of Arts museums) and around 80 restaurants. The card breaks even on transport alone if you use the metro three to four times daily. The attraction discounts are an additional value layer that often saves another €10-€20 over a 3-day trip. For visitors who plan to walk almost everywhere and skip the major paid attractions, it is not worth it.
Three main channels. Online in advance — the official Visit Valencia website (visitvalencia.com) with the digital card delivered by email. At the tourist information offices in Valencia (Plaza del Ayuntamiento and Plaza de la Reina are the most central). At Valencia Airport (VLC) — the tourist info desk in arrivals sells the card. The online option is generally easiest; the card activates on first use rather than on purchase. Some hotels also act as resellers and can include the card in your check-in pack.
The Metrovalencia system is straightforward. Buy a ticket at the automated machines at any station (English interface available). Tap the ticket on the gate sensor to enter. Take the platform for your direction — the central destination shown at the platform end indicates where the train is going. On the train, the next stop is announced visually and in Spanish. Tap the ticket again at the destination gate to exit. The system runs from approximately 05:25 to 23:00 with trains every 5-15 minutes depending on the line and time of day.
Take the metro line 3 or line 5 from the airport station inside Valencia Airport (VLC) terminal. Single ticket €4.90 (includes the airport surcharge). Journey time: 22 minutes to Xàtiva station (in front of Estación del Nord, the central railway station), 24 minutes to Colón station. Trains run every 10-15 minutes from 05:25 to 23:00. The airport metro station is signposted from baggage reclaim with a 3-minute walk through the terminal. The full picture sits in the airport transfer guide.
Both work; the right answer depends on the journey. Trams (lines 4, 6, 8) are the strongest option for the beach — line 4 runs from central Valencia (Pont de Fusta) to Patacona via Cabanyal, line 6 covers the beach circuit, line 8 connects to the marina. Trams run every 10-15 minutes. EMT buses (around 50 routes) cover the rest of the city's gaps not served by the metro and tram — useful for diagonal routes across the centre or for reaching some of the outer neighbourhoods. The standard tourist will use metro for most journeys and tram for the beach; buses are less commonly used by visitors.
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