Here’s everything you need to know about the Valencia Train Station. Learn how to get on the train, which tickets you need, and which of the two train stations you’ll need to use. The guide will help you navigate the Estació del Nord and Joaquin Sorolla Stations effectively. So keep reading to keep your trip to the Mediterranean city as stress-free as possible. 

Valencia Train Stations

If you need to take the train in Valencia, there is one important detail you need to know. 

There is actually two major train stations in Valencia.

1. Estació del Nord (The North Train Station)
2. València Joaquín Sorolla 

As a very general rule, the Estació del Nord is most commonly used for local trains. Joaquín Sorolla is mostly used for long-distance and high-speed trains. 

There are some exceptions, but this is generally true. As a traveler, this means you need to make sure you’re paying attention to which train station in Valencia you’re going to. 

Because the Estació del Nord is in the city center, but Joaquín Sorolla is relatively far away. 

So let’s dive deeper into both of the Valencian train stations. We’ll talk about:

• How to get to/from the station
• Ticket prices (in general)
• Common destinations from the station
• How to take the train (hint: they have different procedures)

Estació del Nord

Address: C/ Xàtiva, 24; 46007

The Estació del Nord is an emblematic station in the heart of the city. Right next to the Plaça de l’Ajuntament, this is the primary train station for local trains. 

If you’re going on day trips, or checking out smaller towns near Valencia, this is going to be the station you’ll need. 

Although as of 2024 – they are currently constructing a new line to connect directly with Madrid (Chamartín). It is set to be finished by the summer of 2024, but I’ll keep this guide updated when it’s completed. 

The building itself is a symbol of Valencian Modernism, making it a huge tourist attraction – even if you’re not taking the train. 

So make sure to look through my guide of things to do if you’d like to see more attractions. 

Now, let’s look at some more details about the Valencia – Estació del Nord.

Other names: Valencia-Nord, Valencia-Norte, Estación del Norte, València-Terme

Connections with Public Transport

Estació del Nord is very well-connected with the Valencian public transport system. As it’s situated in the heart of the city, it’s very easy to get to/from the train station. 

The metro is located directly outside of the station. 

The buses stop right in front of the station (and across the street). 

There are taxis that frequently stop here. 

There is a parking lot behind the station. 

And you’re in the city center – so it’s super easy to get to your lodging on foot! 

Here are the specific lines that connect easily with the Estació del Nord:

• Metro: Lines 3, 5, and 9
• Bus: Lines 5, 6, 7, 8, 19, 32, 35, 40, 63 

If you need to get to the airport from the Estació del Nord, you can take the Metro Lines 3 or 5. This also works in the reverse, if you’re coming from the airport. 

Parking

There is a parking lot directly behind the Estació del Nord. You can access it via C/ Bailén, parallel with the station. 

Cost: €3.60 an hour OR €30.20 per day.

You can pay with a credit card directly at the station. You shouldn’t need to reserve in advance, but you can through the Saba page. This is the direct vendor for this parking lot.   

If you can, I generally recommend avoiding driving in Valencia. Unless you plan on driving to cities throughout Spain, the public transport is normally enough for most travelers. 

But if you want more information, go ahead and check out my guide on renting a car in Valencia. 

Common destinations

The Estació del Nord uses several lines for the local train routes (Rodalies / Cercanías). These are the lines that run here:

• C1: The line for Gandia, Cullera, Sueca, Tavernes de la Valldigna, etc.
• C2: The line for Moixent, Xàtiva, Algemesí, etc. 
• C5: The line for Caudiel, Segorb, Sagunt, etc.
• C6: The line for Castelló, Vila-Real, Sagunt, etc. 

However, there are also some common destinations that use the long-distance trains. These are subject to change frequently and don’t have a set schedule like the above lines do. Here are some examples:

Zaragoza, Alcoi, Barcelona (Sants), Alacant, Vinaròs, Caratgena, Ciudad Real. 

As of January 2024, the Estació del Nord does not have a train from Valencia to Madrid (or vice-versa). However, there is one currently being built.  

Average price of train tickets

For the local trains, there are set prices so you don’t need to worry about getting the tickets far in advance. You can consult the official provider, Renfe, to confirm your ticket price. 

In general, they’ll range from €1.80 to €5.80, depending on the length of your trip. Return tickets are double the price (there’s no discount). 

If you purchase the Valencia Tourist Card with the transport ticket, you can use any of these local trains completely free. So for example, you could take a day-trip to Xàtiva with your card. 

For the medium and long-distance trains, however, the ticket prices vary. You could get them as low as €9 if you purchase them in advance, but if you wait until the last minute for a busy day they could easily go up to €70 one-way. 

My recommendation is to use Omio to get your tickets for these destinations far in advance. That’ll give you the most reasonable ticket prices. 

How to take the train in Estació del Nord

Taking the train at the Valencia train station is quite simple. 

If you are taking a local train (rodalies/cercanías), here’s what you’ll do:

1. Purchase a ticket (and a physical card) at the red machines located at the front of the station. Select your destination and pay. 
2. Check the electronic sign to figure out which platform your train is on. (Note: It might say the final destination, not the specific one at first, but it will scroll through the list of stops on the trip). 
3. Scan your card and hop on the train when if it’s ready. The trains are relatively punctual, so make sure to be there on time. 
4. Sit/stand where you like. There is no assigned seating, but there may be priority seating for the elderly or people with accessibility needs. 
5. Get off at your destination, and scan your card on the way out. 

It’s that easy! If you’re coming with luggage, the local trains have some overhead storage for smaller bags. 

To take a medium or long-distance train, the procedure is almost identical. However, I recommend purchasing your ticket beforehand. In this case, you’ll need to scan your digital ticket at the turnstile. 

If you have any difficulty getting it to scan, there are always several attendants who can help you. 

Joaquin Sorolla

Valencia–Joaquín Sorolla is the other major train station in the city. This train station is the primary connection for long-distance and high-speed trains. So it connects Valencia to many major cities throughout Spain. 

It also has a metro nearby, as well as easy access to buses, taxis, and parking. 

However, it’s important to note that it is towards the outskirts of the city. This means that it will take some time to get here. I also don’t recommend staying in this area, as there isn’t really much to see. 

Want recommendations on where to stay?
Check out my guide.

Regardless, it’s an important aspect to the public transport, so let’s go a bit deeper into what you can expect from the Joaquín Sorolla train station. 

Connections with Public Transport

Joaquín Sorolla is also fairly well connected with the rest of the city. It’s a bit further out, so it’ll likely take you longer to get to your destination. But regardless, it’s still quite easy to get around. 

Just like in the Estació del Nord, Joaquín Sorolla has a metro, bus, taxi, and parking area right outside.

The closest metro station is the Jesús Station, located about 3 minutes away walking. But the buses, taxis, and parking lot are much closer. 

Here are the connections with Joaquín Sorolla:

• Metro: Lines 1, 2, and 7. 
• Buses: Lines 5, 10, 27, 64

The downside to Valencia Joaquín Sorolla is that, unlike the Estació del Nord, there is no direct metro line to the airport. You’ll need to switch lines at Àngel Guimerà. 

The easiest way to get to the city center via metro is Line 7 (Marítim) and stop at the Colón station. 

Parking

There is ample parking at the Valencia Joaquín Sorolla train station. It is open 24/7. 

Cost: €3.85/hr 

Parking here can be a bit expensive. If you need to leave your car for several days, I recommend trying to park in “Zona Blanca” (white lines) somewhere nearby. 

Another alternative is to simply rent a car, so you don’t have to worry about parking it here. 

As I mentioned before, I generally recommend relying on public transport in Valencia, but if you need to rent a car – that is always an option. 

Common destinations

Joaquin Sorolla is the main station for high-speed AVE trains. These are fast, long-distance trains that connect Valencia to major cities across Spain. 

Here are some of the most important destinations:

• Madrid (Chamartín)
• Madrid (Atocha)
• Gandia
• Castelló
• Figueres
• Barcelona (Sants)
• Alacant
• Sevilla
• Cádiz
• Burgos

An important note – if you’re traveling from Valencia to Madrid Airport, the long-distance AVE train tickets also include your fare from the Madrid train station to the airport. 

Average price of train tickets

On average, you can expect the train tickets from Joaquín Sorolla to be higher than the ones from Estació del Nord. This is simply because they are long-distance trains and are not regulated by a specific rate. 

Sometimes you can find tickets super cheap, as low as €10 to Madrid. 

But if you’re traveling on a busy Monday morning, during a holiday weekend, or during peek hours – then the prices can go up as high as €80. 

My suggestion: get your tickets online from Omio and get them far in advance. Omio also gets you a student discount, so that can be a big help! 

How to take the train in Joaquin Sorolla

Taking the train from Joaquín Sorolla is slightly different. I don’t recommend buying your tickets at the last minute, as you can at Estació del Nord. 

So to stay prepared, here’s how to take the train at Valencia Joaquín Sorolla:

1. Buy your ticket in advance. I recommend Omio for cheap tickets. 
2. Show up at least 15-20 minutes early to the station. Check to see which platform your train is on. It may already be listed on your ticket, but double-check on the electronic boards.
3. Go through security (very short and easy), then walk up to the desk to scan your ticket. You will need to show your ID. 
4. Hop onto the train. Typically, you have an assigned carriage and seat. 
5. You may or may not need to scan on your way out. If you have a connecting train or metro, then you definitely will. 

Overall, it’s still quite easy! The AVE trains in Valencia are very comfortable and easy to use. They also have Wi-Fi and free charging, so it’s great for digital nomads! 

Recommendations for travelers

Let’s finish off this guide to the Valencia train stations with a few recommendations. 

Especially if this is your first time riding a train in Europe, then you’ll want to read!

Double-check your train station: 

Double, and triple-check to make sure you have the right train station. Valencia has two primary stations, and they’re far away from each other. So don’t make that mistake when planning out your itinerary. 

Get long-distance (AVE) train tickets ahead of time 

If you’re going for a long-distance train tickets (AVE), then I recommend getting them far in advance. The earlier, the cheaper. You can use a site like Omio for an easy and cheap way to buy them. 

For local trains, this isn’t necessary. 

Look at the timetables

There are two big reasons I say this. First – because sometimes your destination won’t appear exactly on the electronic signs. 

For example, if you’re taking a local train to Cullera, then that train’s final destination point is Gandia. In other words, the electronic signs might say Gandia and its departure time. But if you know what time your train is supposed to leave, then you’ll know which train is yours, even if you didn’t know it was leaving towards Gandia. 

But naturally – the electronic signs will also scroll through the destinations, but this is a quick way to double check. 

Second – it is very important to understand that 06:00 and 18:00 are not the same thing. 

Since my fellow Americans don’t typically use the 24-hr clock, here’s your warning to double check the timetables. Especially if you’re buying a long-distance train, make sure there’s no confusion here. 

Check if your ticket doubles for two trains

Some tickets might allow you to use two different trains for a single trip.

For example, if you buy an AVE ticket to Madrid that has “Cercanías” written on it – then that ticket is valid to take you to the Madrid airport from the train station. 

Within Valencia, if you purchase the Valencia Tourist Card, you can also take local trains. This is included within your transport title. 

So don’t overpay! 

Madrid to Valencia is an easy trip

I mention this mostly to help with your travel planning. 

If you’re coming to Valencia, but your plane tickets are considerably cheaper to land in Madrid, then it’s not a big deal. 

Of course, it will take you several hours. And you’ll need to buy a train ticket. But if you’re fine with the inconvenience, it’s not hard at all to get between Madrid and Valencia. 

I’ve done this several times when flying back to the US. Many times, the tickets are a couple hundred dollars cheaper for the flights, so it’s worth it to me. 

So if you don’t mind adventuring a bit more, then that is an option to think about. 

Here is my guide on how to get cheap flights to Spain

Explore more travel resources

Use this guide to help you navigate the Valencia train stations. It’s quite easy to take the train in Valencia, so you shouldn’t worry. 

It’s safe, straightforward, and fairly inexpensive. 

But if you need some more travel resources, here are some extra guides:

• A Guide to Public Transport in Valencia
• The best place for cheap train tickets
• The best site for cheap flights
• Where to stay in Valencia
• How to get mobile data in Valencia

Bon viatge!

FAQs