La Albufera by boat

What you will see

An organised two-hour excursion combining two things: the journey by tourist bus from central Valencia to the l'Albufera Natural Park and a ride on the lake in a traditional boat, called an albuferenc, which departs from El Palmar. The boat is shared and holds about 30 people.

Along the way the bus narrates the landscape with an audioguide in eight languages: Spanish, Valencian, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Japanese. Note that the boatmen do not speak English, in case you are travelling with visitors from abroad.

Cost

An adult ticket costs €22.00 and a child ticket €15.00. Children under 6 travel free with an adult. There is a 15 % discount with the Valencia Tourist Card. The ticket is for a single journey and is not refundable, though the date can be changed through the Visit València website if you give 48 hours' notice.

Opening hours

There are three departures a day, and four in high season. It runs Monday to Saturday, so there are no excursions on Sunday. The exact times at each stop vary by season and are chosen when you book.

How to get there

The bus picks up at several stops in the city, including the Aqua shopping centre, Avenida de Baleares, Nuevo Centro, Plaza de la Reina and Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, so you can board at whichever is nearest to you. The boat departs from El Palmar and the bus itself takes you back to Valencia.

How long you need and when to go

• Allow about two hours in total, counting the bus journey there and back and the boat ride.
• In high season there is an extra afternoon departure; if you can choose, we recommend that one to see the lake in the light of the end of the day.
• It is a fixed route with a set return time. If you want to eat in El Palmar or walk around the Devesa at leisure, it is better to go on your own.