Valencia
Airports Valencia: Main and Nearby Options
Which airport to use for Valencia
For airports Valencia, start with Valencia Airport if you are staying in central Valencia or need the simplest transfer. It is the city’s main airport, so it fits first-time trips, business travel, and quick stays where the airport-to-hotel leg should stay short and predictable. Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport and Castellón-Costa Azahar Airport only make sense when your flight choice, coast plan, or route availability matters more than landing close to the centre.
If you are deciding between airports in the area, put transfer time first and flight choice second. Valencia Airport is the default for the city; Alicante works better for the south coast, especially the Costa Blanca, and Castellón suits travellers who want a quieter arrival on the Costa del Azahar. That order keeps you from choosing a cheaper ticket that turns into a long transfer after landing.
Our picks at a glance
- First-timers Valencia Airport — It is the simplest choice for a first trip to Valencia city and usually needs the least planning.
- Families Valencia Airport — Families often benefit from the shortest transfer and the most straightforward arrival into the city.
- Adventure Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport — It can suit travellers heading to southern coastal destinations beyond Valencia itself.
Valencia airport at a glance
Valencia Airport is the main airport for Valencia in the Valencian Community, and it is the one to choose when you want the shortest, simplest arrival into the city. It is a city airport, not a remote one, so you are not dealing with a long regional transfer before you even start your trip. That makes it the default for most stays in central Valencia, especially if you have luggage or arrive late.
For most visitors, the practical advantage is the transfer into town: you can move straight from the airport into Valencia without building the rest of the day around a long road journey. That also suits families and short business trips, where fewer moving parts matter more than chasing the widest set of flight options. If your plans stay in the city, Valencia Airport is the cleanest choice; if you are headed to the south coast, the other airports are more sensible.
Valencia Airport for most city trips
1. Valencia Airport
Best for: Most trips to central Valencia and the simplest city transfer
Valencia Airport is the right pick for most trips into central Valencia because it is the city’s main airport and the transfer is the most straightforward. If you are staying in the centre, or you want the least planning on a first visit, this is the airport that keeps the arrival simple.
The practical advantage is access. You can reach the city by metro, so you do not need to build the whole trip around a long airport transfer or a complicated changeover. That matters if you are carrying luggage, travelling with children, or landing after a short flight and want to get to your hotel without extra steps.
It is also the safest choice for short breaks in Valencia itself. You stay close to the part of the city you actually want to use, which keeps taxi time, station changes and arrival-day logistics down. If your trip is focused on the southern coast instead of the city, skip this and choose an airport that fits that route better rather than forcing a longer transfer into Valencia.
Alicante airport for southern coastal trips
2. Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport
Best for: Travellers combining Valencia with the southern Costa Blanca or finding better flight availability
Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport makes sense when your plans stretch beyond Valencia city and into the southern Costa Blanca. It is the better fallback if you find stronger flight availability into Alicante, especially on routes that are awkward or less frequent to Valencia Airport.
Use it when the airport choice should follow the rest of the itinerary, not the city name on the booking. Travellers heading for the south coast can accept a longer overland transfer if it gives them the right flight times, the right fare, or a cleaner arrival into their final destination. That trade-off works better for mixed city-and-coast trips than for a simple weekend in central Valencia.
For adventure travel, this airport can be the practical option when your route runs down the coast rather than straight into the city. If your stay is centred on Valencia itself and you have a direct option there, Alicante is the less efficient choice; if your trip leans south, it can be the better one.
Castellón airport for a quieter arrival
3. Castellón-Costa Azahar Airport
Best for: Travellers heading to the north of Valencia or wanting a smaller airport experience
Castellón-Costa Azahar Airport suits you if you are aiming for the north of Valencia or you want a smaller airport without the spread of a bigger hub. It operates 16 regular routes, with direct flights to 16 destinations in Spain and Europe, so the choice is narrower than at the main city airport but still practical for short breaks and coastal trips.
Mas de Catalá is the nearest town with hotels, at about 6.1 km in a straight line, about 7.9 km by road and about 15 min by car. There is parking in front of the passenger terminal, which keeps arrivals simple if you are collecting a car or meeting someone there.
Use it if your plans are around Castellón de la Plana, the northern Costa del Azahar, or a quieter arrival where you do not want a long terminal walk. If you are staying in central Valencia, the airport is workable but not the first choice; the benefit here is the smaller scale, not a wider route network.
How the airport options compare
| Airport | Main role | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Valencia Airport | Main airport for the city | Central Valencia stays and the simplest transfer choice |
| Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport | Southern coast gateway | Trips to Alicante and the Costa Blanca |
| Castellón-Costa Azahar Airport | Smaller northern option | North of Valencia and travellers who want a quieter airport |
How to get from the airport into Valencia
For airports Valencia, the simplest city transfer is from Valencia Airport. If you are staying in central Valencia, choose the shortest, least complicated ride: metro works well when you want a fixed-cost transfer, while a taxi or pre-booked transfer makes more sense if you land late, have heavy luggage, or are travelling with children and do not want to change lines after a flight.
For a short city break, keep the transfer as direct as possible and avoid adding another connection after arrival. A pre-booked car suits late arrivals and door-to-door hotel drop-off; taxi suits flexible timing; metro suits lighter bags and a daytime arrival. If your plan is a longer stay on the coast, the airport choice matters more than the last leg, because the wrong airport adds more time than any transfer option can save.
Castellón-Costa Azahar Airport is a different case. It sits on Carretera CV-13, Km. 2,4, with parking in front of the passenger terminal, and the nearest hotel area is Mas de Catalá, about 7.9 km by road and about 15 min by car. That setup suits travellers who want a quiet arrival and are already heading toward Castellón de la Plana or the Costa del Azahar, but it is a poor fit if your base is central Valencia and you want the fastest transfer into the city.
The airport itself operates 16 regular routes and connects with 14 national and international destinations, so it works best when the flight schedule fits your trip rather than the other way round. For most first-time trips to Valencia, the decision is simple: keep the transfer direct from Valencia Airport and only use a farther airport when the flight or the coastal location makes that trade-off worth it.
Where to stay in Valencia
Hotels in Valencia that fit this guide:
- MYR Palacio Vallier (5-star · rated 10/10 · 1972 reviews) — Electric bicycle charging station, air conditioning, restaurant.
- Room Mate Collection Helen Berger (4-star · rated 9.6/10 · 2646 reviews) — Carrer de les Comèdies address and limited-hassle transport via concierge and shuttle suit those wanting a historic-core base.
- Ramírez Flats Valencia (3-star · rated 9.6/10 · 4492 reviews) — Port-side Avenida del Puerto location suits travelers who want easy water access, with a 24-hour front desk and concierge support.
- Parker The Urban Flats (rated 9.4/10 · 4013 reviews) — De Espinosa location works for independent travelers, and lift, concierge, and shuttle help keep routines smooth.
- Only YOU Hotel Valencia (5-star · rated 9.6/10 · 6458 reviews) — Plaça de Rodrigo Botet in central Valencia fits travelers wanting an in-town base, with restaurant, room service, and concierge service.
- MYR Puerta Serranos (4-star · rated 9.5/10 · 3896 reviews) — Electric bicycle charging station, air conditioning, room service.
- Room Mate Cosmo – City Centre, Valencia (3-star · rated 9.4/10 · 3430 reviews) — Avinguda de María Cri… city-centre setting suits travelers seeking a calm start, supported by restaurant, lift, and concierge service.
- Mon Suites Jardín de Ayora (rated 9.4/10 · 1818 reviews) — Near green spaces and metro connections on Carrer de Berenguer Mallol suits travelers using public transit, with bicycle-friendly facilities.
- Caro Hotel (5-star · rated 9.6/10 · 170 reviews) — Carrer de l’ Almirall location fits visitors who want the city’s rhythm on foot, with terrace and 24-hour front desk.
- ESTIMAR Valencia (4-star · rated 9.4/10 · 1515 reviews) — Electric bicycle charging station, fitness facilities (surcharge), air conditioning.
Common questions about Valencia airports
Which airport should I use for Valencia city centre?
Valencia Airport is the best choice for central Valencia, because it is the city’s main airport and gives you the simplest transfer into town. If your stay is in the centre and you want the least planning on arrival, use this airport rather than adding a longer road trip from Alicante or Castellón.
Are there two airports in Valencia?
Valencia is served by Valencia Airport and Castellón-Costa Azahar Airport, while Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is another option in the Valencian Community. For a city stay, Valencia Airport is the straightforward pick; the other two only make sense when your route or coastal plans fit better.
How do you get from Valencia Airport to the city centre?
Valencia Airport connects to the city by metro, so you can go straight into Valencia without a complicated transfer. That works well with light luggage and daytime arrivals, while a taxi or pre-booked transfer is the better call if you land late or want door-to-door drop-off.
What is the best airport for the Costa Blanca?
Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is the better airport for the Costa Blanca and the southern coast. It works when your trip is really about the coast, because the airport choice should follow your final destination instead of forcing a city airport and then adding a long overland transfer.
What should you know about Castellón-Costa Azahar Airport?
Castellón-Costa Azahar Airport operates 16 regular routes and has direct flights to 16 destinations in Spain and Europe. The nearest hotel area is Mas de Catalá, about 6.1 km away in a straight line and about 15 min by car, and there is parking in front of the passenger terminal.
Choosing the right airport for your trip
For most airports Valencia searches, Valencia Airport is the right choice for central city stays because it keeps the transfer simple. Use Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport only when your trip is really about the southern Costa Blanca, where the route fit matters more than convenience. Castellón-Costa Azahar Airport works for a quieter north-coast arrival and for plans built around Castellón de la Plana or the Costa del Azahar. If your trip is centred on Valencia itself, pick the closest airport and do not add extra road time without a clear reason.
