Do you need to rent a car in Valencia?

Europe > Spain > Valencia

See: Why rent a car in Valencia ? | Why not? | Ratings | Summary | Comments

(All of these pages will look a lot nicer when they are tidied up later in the spring)

Your key questions for any destination:

Do I need a car in Valencia ?

Strictly speaking, there are very few travel destinations anywhere in the world where it's absolutely essential to rent a car in order to see the main points of interest.

That's why we give you loads of ratings scales from 1 to 10, rather than just yes or no answers!

The need question is generally answered by looking at public transport (transit) options. Is it good enough for visitors who are happy to consider using it?
How many public transport routes are there, and are they mainly rail or road (bus) based?
Is public transport fast, frequent, safe, reliable and cheap?
Does public transport actually take you to the places you'll probably want to see?

Is it worth hiring a car in Valencia ?

This question is usually more about value for money. For this, we look at Valencia car hire options, and consider how rental costs compare with using transit.

How far are you likely to drive anyway, and how much might you expect to spend on fuel, road tolls, parking and any other charges. We compare Valencia with other destinations locally and around the world.

This is obviously much more of an issue if you are planning a longer road trip than it is on a small island.

Should I rent a car in Valencia ?

This is basically a merging of the two questions. Everything else might be about giving certain facts about the costs of car rental or using public transport in Valencia , but answering this question is very much a matter of opinion.

Spain’s third city has gone to great efforts to put itself on the tourist map, especially with the vast City of Arts and Sciences complex. This huge white monument to steel, concrete and glass, which was designed by home-grown architect Santiago Calatrava really is one of the most impressive feats of modern architecture in Europe.

Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2022 (northern hemisphere) tourist season.

We do not intent to include detailed covid information, nor do we intend to suggest hiring a car, just because public transport might still have a mask requirement. Our advice will be based on the same criteria we've always used, ie whether or not you can get a better travel experience, or at least a better value one, by choosing not to hire a car.

Quick Ratings

Price band:

Valencia is in car rental price band: 1/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)

General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Valencia ?

Yes. Extremely cheap car hire, but parking costs in city can mount up if you don't have this provided by hotel / apartment.

Volatility:

Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Valencia between the peak and the off peak season?

6/10 (0 = stable prices)

Driving score: 5/10

Non car score:7/10

Balance: 3

(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)

General comment -

Valencia also has a delightful historic core, and the city is also close to several great beaches. So if there any need to get a hire car for your visit?

Why? Visiting Valencia using a hire car

Why do you need a car in Valencia ?

Resorts — Valencia is also a gateway to some of the major resorts on the Costa Blanca. Arranging Valencia hire car is ideal for quick and easy transfers and getting around once there.
Flexibility – just as we would say for anywhere else, a hire car will give you the flexibility to explore the area around Valencia at your own pacee.

Why not? Visiting Valencia without a car

Why don't you need a car in Valencia ?

Valencia City — as said above, for those not already familiar with Valencia, the city has a great deal to offer, and it certainly shouldn’t be overlooked on the way to the beach.
City of Arts and Sciences – this is the showstopping architectural feat that really has put Valencia on the map. Featuring a science museum, opera house and aquatic centre, there really is enough here to keep anyone occupied, and certainly no car needed!
Riverbed Gardens – following extensive flooding in 1954, the Turia River was diverted away from the centre of Valencia, turning the former river bed into a series of linked parks, culminating in the City of Arts and Sciences.
Metro — Valencia has a very modern metro system supplemented by a network of suburban trains which make getting around the immediate area extremely easy. A direct metro link from the airport to the city centre has also recently been opened.
Multiple city break — it is easy to combine a visit to Valencia with other Spanish cities, especially either the capital Madrid or the Catalan hub of Barcelona.
Generally, it is easier to find flights to Barcelona than to either Madrid or Valencia. The new high-speed AVE line links Madrid with Valencia in just under three hours. Allow a similar time to get to or from Barcelona along the slower coastal line.

Ratings: How does Valencia compare?

Is it worth hiring a car in Valencia ? TBC

This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Valencia , and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.

How does this compare if:

You are travelling:

Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc

Does car rental make sense on different budgets?

Do you need to hire a car in Valencia ? TBC

This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Valencia (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".

Should you rent a car in Valencia ? TBC

This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.

See global comparisons

Hiring | Driving | Parking

Trains | Buses | Local travel

Car hire basics:

Public transportation basics:

Regular bus services: YES

Coach (inter-city): YES

Tram: NO

Metro: NO

Commuter Rail:

High Speed Rail:

Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):

As you start ....

Does Valencia airport have a direct rail link?

(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No

Changelog

Has our advice for Valencia car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?

2017 - 3

2019 - 4

2021 - 3

Average score - 3

Notes:

Conclusion — Valencia car hire is useful if you are heading beyond the city, but we would certainly recommend spending a bit more time in Valencia itself then you might have otherwise planned. For this reason, a hire car really isn’t necessary.

Summary

Do you or don't you need a car in Valencia ?

Valencia