Valencia Road Trip: a Mediterranean Exploration Itinerary

Valencia is located halfway Spain’s Mediterranean coast, making it an ideal place from where to explore this popular beach-holiday area. On this Valencia road trip, you can also venture inland and discover an often ignored region of old medieval villages, and one of the three least populated areas in Europe.

This itinerary starting and ending in Valencia takes you to the old Roman ruins of Sagunto, to Albarracín, one of Spain’s most gorgeous villages, to the hanging houses of Cuenca, and to Don Quixote’s windmills.

To end this itinerary full of contrast, you’ll have some time to chill on Oliva’s stunning beach.

Start your Valencia road trip by heading north, towards Sagunto, only 40 minutes away, and visit its castle and the Roman Theatre. From Sagunto drive your campervan on the A-23 motorway towards Teruel.

About halfway, it’s worth stopping at Mora de Rubielos, a small medieval village with an imposing castle. This region is known for its great serrano ham and black truffles. Don’t miss the opportunity to try both!

Back on the road, head towards Teruel, the province’s capital. You can stop for a quick visit to the small city or head directly to Albarracín.

This stunning village tops many lists of Spain’s most beautiful villages. Its old twisted streets sit on top of a rocky promontory carved out by the Guadalaviar River. The cathedral, the castle, and its fortifications are witness of Albarracín’s great history. Let them tell you their story!

From Albarracín, continue your Valencia road trip towards Cuenca. You now have entered La Mancha region, famous for Don Quixote’s misfortunes.

The highlight of Cuenca is the hanging houses built on a cliff edge above the Huecar River gorge in the 15th century. Its historic centre is packed with civil and religious buildings of different artistic styles, the majority of them constructed between the 12th and 18th centuries.

Don’t miss Cuenca’s cathedral, which is, together with Ávila’s, the first Gothic cathedral built in Spain. Wander around the old city to appreciate its cultural heritage full of palaces, towers, churches, convents, old squares, and walkways.

Next, visit the nearby geological site of La Ciudad Encantada (or The Enchanted City), where water, ice, and especially a lot of time, have carved out bulbous and strangely humorous rock formations.

From Cuenca drive your campervan south towards Belmonte. Here, the road trip enters the land of Don Quixote. Belmonte is a beautiful town of noble buildings and major monumental heritage.

The unquestionable star is its castle, where a great number of movies have been shot. Located on a hillside, the exterior pentagonal complex has a Gothic gate and is linked to the city walls running down to the town. Together, they make for a mightily impressive site!

Other buildings of interest are the Palace of Don Juan Manuel and the Gothic church of San Bartolomé.

Just 15 minutes away from Belmonte, this Valencia road trip itinerary takes you to Mota del Cuervo. Known as El Balcón de La Mancha (The Mancha’s Balcony) for its elevated location, this village was once an important crossroad point between the Toledo/Madrid to Valencia route, and one heading south from Cuenca.

Admire the seven old windmills on top of the promontory and read a passage from Don Quixote under the shade of their sails.

Enter the last part of your Valencia road trip, where you leave behind the historic landmarks in search of the beautiful Mediterranean coast. Break the long drive in two and take a rest in Albacete.

Visit its old quarter and have tasty tapas for lunch there before resuming your journey to Oliva. After a week of intensive sight-seeing, it’s time to relax on Oliva’s eight kilometres of thin sand and dunes. Besides, this cute beach town is less than an hour away from Valencia — which doesn’t mean it has to be your final stop.

Further south, you’ll get to Denia, a lovely beach town, and if you head north, it’s worth stopping at Cullera.

On your way back to Valencia, end this wonderful road trip with a visit to Albufera Natural Park, a Mediterranean ecosystem of unspoilt dune beaches, forests, rice fields, and a huge lake where you can enjoy boat trips.

What’s more, this is where paella was invented. To sample the best of the local gastronomy, go to the village of El Palmar.