Valencia public transport: tickets, passes and apps

Valencia's network is cheap enough that the decision is mostly about how many rides you will take, not which operator you use. Metrovalencia runs the metro and tram; EMT runs the city buses. A single ride costs roughly €1.50 (2026 estimate), so four or five rides in a day already justify a day pass.

For a short city break, tap a contactless bank card or buy a single ticket each time. For three days or more, buy the rechargeable SUMA card and load it with either a 10-trip Bonometro or a 24, 48 or 72-hour tourist pass. The tourist pass is the simplest if you plan to move around a lot; the 10-trip card is cheaper per ride if you walk more than you ride.

If you are under 30, ask about the youth card before buying anything else — it can make the tourist pass unnecessary. Families with three or more children should ask about the large-family card at a Metrovalencia customer office.

Contactless bank cards and phones work on Metrovalencia and EMT readers, but each tap is charged as a single fare — there is no daily cap, so heavy use gets expensive. If you tap the same card twice in a row on the metro, you may be charged twice.

The rechargeable SUMA card is the local standard. Buy it at a metro station machine or an estanco (tobacco kiosk), then top it up with the ticket type you want. Keep it away from other cards in your wallet; the reader can pick up the wrong one.

The Metrovalencia app shows timetables, disruption notices and lets you buy some tickets. EMT has its own app for bus timetables. Neither replaces a physical card for every ticket type, so carry the card as backup.

Metrovalencia is divided into zones. Almost everything a visitor wants — the old town, City of Arts and Sciences, beach, port and airport — sits in Zone A, so a Zone A ticket covers the standard trip. The airport is a special case and carries a small supplement on top of the Zone A fare.

If you plan to go further out, such as to a suburb or a nearby town, check which zone it falls in before buying. A Zone A ticket will not open the gates at a Zone B or C station, and the fine for travelling on the wrong ticket is more than the upgrade.

Valencia Airport (VLC) is about 8 km west of the centre. Metro lines 3 and 5 run from the airport to Xàtiva in the city centre in roughly 20–25 minutes, with a small airport supplement on the fare (2026 estimate). Trains run frequently through the day; check the last departure if you land late.

A taxi from the airport to the centre takes about 20 minutes and costs roughly €20–25 (2026 estimate). For two or more people with luggage, the taxi is often the simpler choice. If you are staying near the airport, see hotels near Valencia airport before deciding.

Buses also serve the airport, but the metro is usually faster into the centre. Allow extra time on match days and during Las Fallas in March, when roads around the centre close.

Validate your ticket or card at the start of every journey. Inspectors do check, and the on-the-spot fine is much higher than the fare. On the metro, tap in and out; on buses, tap when you board.

Pickpockets work the busy metro lines and the central bus routes, especially around Xàtiva, Colón and the station. Keep bags in front of you and do not leave a phone in an open pocket.

The metro runs until around midnight on most nights, with a shorter service on Sundays and public holidays (check). Buses thin out earlier. If you are out late, plan a taxi or walk in lit, busy streets.

For a single day of sightseeing, walking the old town and the Turia gardens is often faster than riding. Use the metro for the beach, the City of Arts and Sciences and the airport.