Gandía

Gandia is the capital of the county of La Safor, between the mountains and the beaches of the Mediterranean. It is 65 km south of Valencia and 116 km north of Alicante and is one of the largest coastal towns and a rather well kept secret. Traditionally Gandia's tourism is Spanish based with a major part of it coming from Madrid. It seems though that the cat may be out of the bag with more and more foreign tourism coming to the area. With the foreign tourism, we have also seen a rise in the number of people coming to live. Gandia is a thriving centre of commerce, and as such does not rely solely on tourism. The beach and the town are actually some 4 km apart which succeeds in separating the summer tourism from day to day living. Imagine, in the middle of August being able to visit the bank in Gandia without fighting through hoards of people waving travellers checks and smelling of suntan lotion, to then be able to visit the beach and be right in the thick of it all. The same advantages also exist in the winter time. Unlike many coastal towns which become deserted as the colder months approach, Gandia stays populated and open.
Oranges are a considerable source of income, but also onions, tomatoes, peppers and many other natural crops in La Conca de la Safor, handled and packed in the many local stores, contribute to the obvious wealth of the area, together with the industries that make the most varied of goods, the shops that sell them and the tourism, which has an important hotel infrastructure distributed along the coastline.
All these products were exported, up until recently, via Gandia harbour, inaugurated in 1893 due to an English company that built the narrow-gauge railway from Alcoi to Gandia, where the company boats unloaded the coal that heated the factory boilers. The harbour was for many years the main point of export of Valencian oranges and, though it has not the traffic that it used to have in the sixties, Gandia harbour still has a fishing fleet of some importance, while land transport has replaced transportation by sea. This has generated the appearance of many transport companies owning long-distance truck fleets that travel the roads and motorways of Europe and carry the name of Gandia everywhere in the world where it deserves to be known.

• Tourist Info Gandia

  phone: +34 962 877 788
  address: Avda Marques de Campo, 16

• Tourist Info Plages de Gandia

  phone: +34 962 842 407
  address: Passeig Neptú

By plane

Two major airports are close enough: Valencia and Alicante, at a distance of 70 km (the former) and 110 km (the later).

By train

• Estación de Tren de Gandía

  phone: +34 902 240 505 (reservations)
  address: Parc de L´estacio, s/n
  From Valencia, Renfe regional train line C1 departs every hour from Estació de València Nord; a one-way ticket costs €5.80 and the journey lasts about one hour.

By car

Major roads get you to the center of the city. The main A7 motorway is directly adjacent to Gandía.

By bus

• Estación de Autobuses de Gandía

  phone: +34 962 871 064
  address: Avda Marques de Campo, 12
  A large bus terminal with direct links to Madrid and other major city in Europe. Within the region, Alsa operates a route connecting all major coastal settlements between Valencia and Alicante, including Cullera, Gandía, Oliva, Dénia, Calpe, Altea, Benidorm, and Villajoyosa.

By boat

The marina at Gandia has 120 moorings up to 30M. No visitor moorings are available (typical med marinas) but turn up or book and you should get in.

• Trasmediterranea

  phone: +34 902 454 645
  address: Moll dels Borja
  Operates daily ferries to/from Ibiza (2½ hr, €70).

By bus

La Marina Gandiense (tel. +34 962 871 806) operates seven bus routes within Gandía and connecting the city to the surrounding pueblos. L2 and L6 connect the train station directly to the city beaches. A single journey costs €1.50-€1.80, depending on the route, and is payable directly to the bus driver on entry.

By taxi

• Radio Taxi Gandia

  phone: +34 962 843 000
  There is also a taxi stand in front of the train station.

• Palau Ducal dels Borja

  phone: +34 962 871 465
  address: Carrer del Duc Alfons el Vell, 1
  Built in the 14th century by the Borja family, the largely Gothic palace was renovated in the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

• Museu Arqueologic De Gandía - MAGa

  phone: +34 962 959 540
  address: C/ de l'Hospital, 20
  This museum is devoted to the history of the area, and displays items dating from the Paleolithic to the Iron Age.

• Casa de Cultura Marqués de González de Quirós

  phone: +34 962 959 535
  address: Passeig de les Germanies, 13
  The former 19th-century palace is now a venue for temporary art exhibits as well as concerts.

• Museu Faller

  phone: +34 962 966 819
  address: C/ Sant Martí de Porres, 29
  This ethnographic museum is dedicated to illustrating and preserving traditions of the Fallas celebration.

• Torreló del PiSo named from the pine tree that grows from the top, this is the only remaining and intact defensive tower from the city walls. It was built in the mid-15th century and restored in the 20th century. It is closed to the public but can be easily appreciated from the street.

• Castell de BairénThis ruined hilltop fortress was probably originally established by the Romans; the current structure dates to the Moorish period. In 1097 it was the site of a battle between the Almoravids and El Cid, and in 1240 it came under Christian control. The castle can be accessed by an easy hike of just over 1km, and has great views of the sea and the surrounding countryside.

Further afield

• Reial Monestir de Sant Jeroni de Cotalba

  phone: +34 619 524 093
  address: Autovía Gandía-L’Ollería (CV-60), Exit 35
  Established in the 14th century with expansions built in the 17th and 18th centuries, this significant monastery incorporates the styles of Valencian Gothic, Mudéjar, Renaissance, and Baroque. The monastery was dissolved in 1835 and has since been in private hands; it was opened to the public in 2005. Especially noteworthy are the Mudejár cloister, Nicolás Borrás' fresco of the Saint Supper, the 16th-century gold monstrance, and the 20th-century romantic gardens.

Beaches

Gandia has seven kilometres of beaches, which are known for their especially fine sand. The beach season runs from June until the end of September.

• Platja del NordThe most developed beach, with lifeguard and first aid stations, showers, toilets. Sun loungers and umbrellas are available to rent, and there are a number of restaurants and snack bars immediately adjacent to the beach.

• Platja de VenèciaA small urban beach by the Serpis River, with basic services.

• Platja de L’AhuirA quieter beach in a more natural setting, with protective dunes and vegetation, and a nudist section.

• Platja CanA dog-friendly beach located just south of Playa de L’Ahuir.

• Platja de RafalcaïdGandia's most southerly, semi-urban beach has small dunes with vegetation, and is a good place for kitesurfing.

Festivals

Like its much larger neighbour Valencia, Gandia greets the arrival of springtime with a spectacular pyrotechnic festival known as Falles. Various events and entertainments take place over the period of a few days, culminating in the Feast of Saint Joseph on 19 March. All the hard work put into the creation of giant figures of wood and paper go up in smoke in the great bonfires that take place in the evening as part of the Gandia Falles celebrations.

• Mercadillo de la PlayaA weekly street market for local produce and other goods.

• Mercadillo del Grau

  address: Plaça Orient
  Another street market.

Fideuà, a paella-like dish with thick, short noodles and seafood, is originally from Gandía. A variation of this is fideuà negra, prepared in the same manner but with the addition of squid ink.

• El Hogar del Pescador

  phone: +34 962 84 2209
  address: Plaza Mediterrània, 1
  Located directly on the harbourfront, this is a favourite, informal place with locals specialising in fresh seafood. Reservations recommended.

• Restaurante Casa Manolo

  phone: +34 962 818 568
  address: Paseo Marítimo de Daimús, 5
  Seafood and rice dishes, with excellent wine in a pleasant ambiance.

• Restaurante Kayuko

  phone: +34 962 840 137
  address: Carrer Asturies, 23
  In addition to fish and seafood the restaurant serves traditional Valencian cuisine, including fideuà and rice dishes.

Budget

• Hotel Borgia

  phone: +34 962 878 109
  address: Avda de la República Argentina, 5
  Nonsmoking throughout the building, has free wifi and luggage storage, no parking.

• Hotel RH Riviera

  phone: +34 962 840 300
  address: Passeig Marítim Neptú, 28
  Located across the street from the beach, the hotel is completely nonsmoking and has a pool as well as onsite restaurant and bar. Luggage storage available, free wifi, parking €10/day.

Mid-range

• Hotel Biarritz Gandía

  phone: +34 962 848 057
  address: Carrer Alcoi, 15
  Has an outdoor pool, onsite restaurant/bar, and free Wi-Fi. Parking €12.90/day.

• Hotel Cibeles Playa

  phone: +34 962 848 083
  address: Carrer del Clot de la Mota, 9
  Has an outdoor pool, onsite restaurant/bar, and free Wi-Fi. Parking €10.70/day.

• Hotel Los Robles

  phone: +34 962 842 100
  address: Carrer de Formentera, 33
  Has an outdoor pool, onsite restaurant/bar, and free Wi-Fi.

• Hotel RH Bayren Parc

  phone: +34 962 840 700
  address: Carrer de Mallorca, 19
  Has an onsite restaurant, pool, fitness centre, and bicycle rental. Nonsmoking rooms available, free Wi-Fi, parking €15/day.

• Hotel San Luis

  phone: +34 962 840 800
  address: Passeig Marítim de Neptú, 5
  Has an outdoor pool, onsite restaurant/bar, and free Wi-Fi. Pets permitted, parking €12/day.

Splurge

• RH Bayren Hotel & Spa

  phone: +34 965 853 939
  address: Passeig Marítim de Neptú, 62
  Directly across from the beach, with onsite restaurant, pool, fitness centre, and bicycle rental. Nonsmoking rooms available, free Wi-Fi, parking €15/day.

Camping

• Camping l'Aventura Playa

  phone: +34 962 818 330
  address: Carretera Platja Daimús, s/n
  Can accommodate tents, campervans, and caravans. Has an onsite bar-restaurant, pool, toilets and showers, and laundromat. Non-dangerous dogs permitted.

• Camping L'Alqueria

  phone: +34 962 840 470
  address: Avda del Grau, 142
  Can accommodate tents, campervans, and caravans, and also has bungalows. Facilities include toilets and showers, laundromat, bicycle rental, pool, bar and cafeteria, and supermarket. Pets under 5 kg permitted.

• Camping La Naranja

  address: Cami Assagador de Morant, s/n
  Can accommodate tents, campervans, and caravans. Facilities include toilets and showers, pool, tennis court, bar, and horse and bicycle rental. Pets permitted (€2/night).