In short
Valencia: ships berth by the Trasmed terminal, about 4 km from the old town. A port shuttle runs from the ship to the terminal; then take a taxi (15–20 minutes), a city bus or the cruise line shuttle. Four hours covers the cathedral, Silk Exchange and Central Market; a full day adds the City of Arts and Sciences.
Starting or ending your cruise here? Port guide: terminal, getting there, where to stay →
Where do cruise ships berth in Valencia, and how do you get into town?
In the port, about 4 km from the old town — too far for a comfortable walk. Ships tie up at the cruise quays next to the Trasmed passenger terminal at the northern entrance of the port; larger ships sometimes berth further in, and a port shuttle brings you to the terminal. From there the cathedral is 15–20 minutes by taxi, and there is a city bus and your cruise line's shuttle if it runs one.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where the ship berths | At the cruise quays of the Port of Valencia — Moll de Ponent or Moll Transversal de Costa — next to the Trasmed passenger terminal at the northern port entrance. You cannot walk through the port: if the ship is not right at the terminal, a shuttle bus runs to it. |
| Into town by shuttle | Many cruise lines run a bus into town, usually at extra cost. It stops at the edge of the old town — often by the Torres de Serranos gate or the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. The stop and times are in the daily programme. |
| Into town by taxi or bus | Taxis wait at the terminal: 15–20 minutes to the old town, about 10 to the City of Arts and Sciences. City buses stop across the road from the port entrance: number 4 goes to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, number 95 runs along the Turia gardens to the City of Arts and Sciences. Check routes at the tourist information desk in the terminal. |
| On foot | Only the Marina and Las Arenas beach are within walking distance — about 20 minutes from the terminal. The old town is about an hour on foot along busy roads. |
| Typical call | Usually 8–10 hours, from morning to early evening. Valencia is also a start port, so some passengers change over on the day you call. Exact times are in the daily programme. |
| Time, money and language | Central European Time, the same as the Netherlands and Belgium. Euro. Spanish and Valencian; in the old town English gets you by. Cards are taken almost everywhere. |
| Documents | Spain is in the EU and Schengen. If the ship comes from France, Italy or the Balearic Islands, there is usually no separate check; if it comes from Morocco, the UK or elsewhere outside Schengen, checks take place on board or at the port. Carry the document your cruise line asks for (what to check). |
| All aboard | Usually 30–60 minutes before departure. Allow at least 45 minutes from the old town: a taxi or bus to the port, and possibly the port shuttle to the ship after that. |
- Wind9 km/h
- Sea24°
- Sunset19:22
- Thu26°17°💧0%
- Fri26°17°💧0%
- Sat25°18°💧68%
- Sun20°14°💧83%
- Mon19°16°💧47%
- Tue21°10°💧44%
- Wed25°12°💧9%
Forecast by Open-Meteo, updated hourly. Check the forecast again the day before your stop.
What can you fit into a day in port in Valencia?
Valencia's old town is compact: the cathedral, the Silk Exchange and the Central Market are five minutes apart, and 3–4 hours is enough for them. With more time, walk the Turia gardens to the City of Arts and Sciences — or swap the city for rice fields and a boat on the Albufera lagoon.
Cathedral, Silk Exchange and Central Market
Start at the Plaza de la Virgen. The cathedral keeps an agate cup venerated as the Holy Grail, and 207 steps up the Micalet bell tower give the best view of the old town. Opposite the Central Market under its Art Nouveau domes (Monday to Saturday until 3 p.m.) stands the Gothic Silk Exchange, La Lonja, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Add the Turia gardens and the City of Arts and Sciences
From the Torres de Serranos gate, step down into the Turia gardens — a park in the old riverbed — and follow them for about 45 minutes to the City of Arts and Sciences, or take bus 95. Calatrava's white buildings over turquoise pools can be seen from outside with no ticket needed; the Oceanogràfic aquarium alone takes 2–3 hours. From here it is about 10 minutes by taxi to the port.
The Albufera lagoon — on a call of 9 hours or more
About half an hour south by taxi or excursion coach lies the Albufera nature park: rice fields, a freshwater lagoon and the village of El Palmar, where flat-bottomed boats take you out on the water for 30–45 minutes. Valencian paella was born in these rice fields — have it for lunch right here. Together with the old town, this fills the whole day.
The Marina, El Cabanyal and the beach
Walk from the terminal past the Marina that hosted the America's Cup into El Cabanyal, the old fishermen's quarter with tiled façades, and on to the wide sandy beach of Las Arenas. Have lunch on the promenade: paella with chicken and rabbit, or arròs a banda, rice cooked in fish stock. It is about 20 minutes back to the ship on foot.
Places on the map
The places from this guide, ready for your phone. The numbers on the map match the list. “Map” opens Google Maps; “Walk from the pier” shows the walking route from where ships usually dock.
Map images are loaded from OpenStreetMap servers. Your choice is remembered in this browser.
- ⚓Cruise pierMap
- 1Cathedral and Micalet towerMapWalk from the pier
- 2Silk Exchange (La Lonja)MapWalk from the pier
- 3Central MarketMapWalk from the pier
- 4Torres de Serranos gateMapWalk from the pier
- 5City of Arts and SciencesMapWalk from the pier
- 6Las Arenas beachMapWalk from the pier
- 7Albufera (El Palmar)Map
Which pier your ship uses depends on the day: check the daily programme.
⏱ Will I make it back? Plan the day by the minute →
Shuttle, taxi or bus: how do you get from the ship into Valencia?
This is the one thing worth planning in Valencia. The port is a working container port, closed to pedestrians, and the old town is about 4 km away. Decide how you will get in before you go ashore.
- The port shuttle. If your ship is not right at the Trasmed terminal, a bus runs between the ship and the port exit. It is part of going ashore and usually no ticket is needed, but there can be a queue at peak times.
- The cruise line shuttle. The easiest way in: the bus takes you to the edge of the old town and back. The stop is often by the Torres de Serranos or the Plaza del Ayuntamiento — remember it, and the time of the last return.
- Taxi. There is a rank at the terminal, and the old town is 15–20 minutes away. For three or four people it is often the most practical choice. On the way back, ask for the cruise terminal in the port (Terminal de Cruceros, Puerto de Valencia).
- Bus and tram. Buses 4 (to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento) and 95 (along the Turia gardens) stop across the road from the port entrance. The Grau – La Marina tram stop is nearby: change at Marítim to metro line 5 for the centre.
- On a Sunday call. The Central Market is closed, the cathedral opens for visits only in the afternoon and the Silk Exchange closes at 2 p.m. Put the City of Arts and Sciences and the beach first instead.
On your own or on a ship's excursion?
Valencia's old town is easy to do on your own: the main sights are close together, and a taxi or shuttle covers the distance from the port. That is what most passengers do.
A ship's excursion makes more sense for the Albufera — boat, rice fields and paella without working out buses — or on a short call when you want both the old town and the City of Arts and Sciences by coach in one go. The ship generally waits for its own excursions if they run late — it does not wait for independent passengers.
How do you make sure you are back on board in Valencia?
- Know your berth. The daily programme says where the ship is moored and when the last port shuttle runs. The port is closed to pedestrians: without the shuttle you cannot get from the terminal to a ship further in.
- Shuttle queues. In the afternoon, when several ships are in, queues build up at the old-town stop. Take the shuttle before the last one.
- Traffic to the port. Taxis are easy to find in the centre, but the roads to the port get busy in the evening. Leave the old town at least 45 minutes before all-aboard time.
- The heat. From June to September it is around 30°C in the shade. Take water, a hat and sunscreen, and walk the Turia gardens in the morning.
- What to take. Your cruise card, the document your cruise line asked for, a little cash for small cafés and a phone with the ship's emergency number.
Where do cruises calling at Valencia start?
Valencia is both a start port and a port of call: on Western Mediterranean loops the ship spends a day here, and you can board in another port on the route. Departure ports:
- Cruises from Valencia — if you would rather start and end your cruise right here.
- Cruises from Barcelona — the most departures in the region, including sailings calling at Spanish ports.
- Cruises from Marseille — week-long Western Mediterranean loops with calls in Spain.
- Cruises from Genoa — the Italian start port for routes via France and Spain.
Often on the same itinerary: Barcelona in a day, Palma de Mallorca in a day and Marseille in a day.
Common questions
Where do cruise ships dock in Valencia?
At the cruise quays of the Port of Valencia, next to the Trasmed passenger terminal at the northern port entrance, about 4 km from the old town. If the ship berths further into the port, a port shuttle runs to the terminal. The exact berth is in the daily programme.
Can you walk from the Valencia cruise port to the city centre?
The old town is about an hour on foot along busy roads, so most people take a taxi (15–20 minutes), a city bus or the cruise line shuttle. Only the Marina and Las Arenas beach are an easy walk — about 20 minutes from the terminal.
Is there a shuttle from the cruise ship to Valencia city centre?
Many cruise lines run a bus into town, usually at extra cost; it stops at the edge of the old town, often by the Torres de Serranos gate or the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. The port shuttle only runs between the ship and the port exit.
What can I see in Valencia in 4 hours from a cruise ship?
In 4 hours in Valencia you can see the cathedral and the Micalet bell tower, the Plaza de la Virgen, the Silk Exchange and the Central Market — they are five minutes apart. The City of Arts and Sciences needs another hour or two.
Can you visit the Albufera from Valencia on one cruise call?
Yes, on a call of 9 hours or more: the Albufera nature park and the village of El Palmar are about half an hour's drive south, and a boat trip on the lagoon takes 30–45 minutes. The ship's excursion or a taxi is the easiest way.
Do I need my passport to go ashore in Valencia?
Spain is in the EU and Schengen. If the ship comes from a Schengen port, there is usually no separate passport check; if it comes from Morocco, the UK or elsewhere outside Schengen, checks take place on board or at the port. Take ashore the document your cruise line asks for.
How the club fits in
Cruises calling at Valencia that are available in the club work on the same terms as any other route. You choose one way to pay per booking: the member price (INsider Pricing), roughly 17% below the listed price, or your Reward Points, which can cover up to half of the cruise price. They do not add up. To pay up to 100% with points, you need to have accumulated enough points and book 270 days or more before departure.
Not every cruise line can be booked through the club: check the specific sailing in the club's search, or ask us and we will tell you which itineraries calling at Valencia are available in the month you have in mind.
How booking with points works →
Practical port information is summarised from public sources as of October 2026: berths, call times, timetables, entry rules and visiting arrangements may change. Before you travel, check the ship's daily programme and the requirements for your passport. Percentages describe the club's rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.