Bike route to the Albufera
The Albufera is the natural park that begins just over ten kilometres south of the city: a freshwater lagoon separated from the sea by the Devesa del Saler, ringed by rice fields, with El Palmar as the reference village. It’s the classic long ride out of Valencia, and the route we’re asked about most in spring and autumn.
The route
From Guadalaviar 3 you ride down the Turia riverbed to the river mouth and continue south along the coast; after that the route enters the tracks between the rice fields. Round trip is 51.0 km and about 227 minutes of actual riding, with 166 metres of accumulated elevation gain: the challenge on this route is never the climb, it’s the distance and the headwind on the way back.
The scenery changes twice: first the seafront, then the rice fields, which in summer are flooded and mirror the sky. El Palmar and El Saler have bars and places to eat; the way back follows the same axis.
Which duration to book
This route doesn't fit into 4 hours if you want to stop for lunch. Book the full day (€12.00 on the city bike, €21.00 on the electric city bike, €32.00 on the fat bike) or 24 hours if you'd rather leave late and return the next day. On the full day you need to be back before we close, that same day — 19:00 Monday–Friday; no full-day rentals on Saturdays — so it's worth setting off in the morning. Collection and return must both be within shop opening hours; no Sunday collections or returns.
Which bike to take
Here you'll actually feel the difference. The electric city bike P275 SE is the most requested option: the assist carries you the whole way, and riding back into the wind stops being a problem. If the plan includes packed-earth tracks or the sandy approaches of the Devesa, the electric fat bike EP-2 rides more securely — but we only have one unit, so it's worth confirming the date before booking or calling +34 960 730 497. The city bike can also do the route, but it’s a plan for someone who rides fairly regularly.
What to bring
Water and something to eat for the rice-field stretch, sunglasses and sun protection: the route is open with little shade. Helmet and lock are included. Adult bikes also include a basket and rear rack; kids’ bikes do not have a basket.
When this route makes the most sense
The rice fields change with the calendar: flooded and mirror-like from November to May, green in summer, golden before the harvest. Sunset over the lagoon is what most people come to see, and that’s where the logistics matter: if you want to stay for it, the rate that fits isn’t the full day but 24 hours, because the full day has to be returned before the shop closes.
About the way back
The return leg is the part people underestimate. It happens late in the day, with more wind and legs already tired, and it's the same distance as the way out. If you're in a group and someone doesn't ride much, the electric is what keeps the route from turning into a problem; if you'd rather cut it short, you can always turn back along the same axis to the riverbed and finish through the park.
What’s along the way
El Saler and El Palmar have bars and restaurants; in between, the route crosses the Devesa, the strip of pine and dunes that separates the lagoon from the sea. We don’t assume opening hours or availability at any establishment — it’s worth checking before you go, especially out of season.
Full rates on the prices page; 