Historic Gardens and Urban Parks in València

València's historic gardens and urban parks create a one-of-a-kind patchwork of green spaces just waiting to be explored. From time-worn courtyards to sprawling contemporary parks, the city invites you on a rewarding wander where heritage, nature and culture coalesce.

Nature in València: Gardens and Parks with a Story to Tell

In the historic centre, a collection of courtyards and cloisters awaits—the kind of hidden gems you’d easily miss if you weren’t looking. The courtyards of La Lonja de la Seda and La Beneficència (home to L’ETNO and the Museum of Prehistory), those at Palacio de Forcalló and Casa Benlliure, and the cloisters of the former convents of El Carmen, Santo Domingo and San Pío V (now the Museum of Fine Arts) all capture the essence of the Mediterranean garden: shade, stillness and a welcome coolness.

Step beyond the old town and you’ll find the horts de extramuros—former country estates that have become genuine green lungs for the city. Hort de Julià, Jardines del Real (Viveros), the historic Jardín de Ayora, the beautifully kept Jardín de Monforte and the Botanical Garden each offer a different kind of escape: from impressive plant collections to little groves, irrigation channels and quietly romantic corners.

It's also worth seeking out the public gardens created between the 18th and 20th centuries—spaces designed for strolling, meeting friends and watching the world go by. La Alameda, La Glorieta, El Parterre, Las Alameditas de Serranos, the gardens of the Palau de la Generalitat, the Blasco Ibáñez promenade and the Gran Vía Marqués del Turia are lined with sculptures, monumental trees and leafy avenues that still retain their original character. While you're at it, make time for the Neptuno gardens and the Hospital garden, too.

Next comes the Jardín de las Hespérides, a collection garden inspired by myth, where citrus trees take centre stage and every corner hints at a different story.

And, of course, València’s modern urban parks are part of the picture as well—Marxalenes, La Rambleta, Malilla, Benicalap, Orriols, Cabecera and Parque Central show how the city has reimagined its open spaces, weaving in water features, Mediterranean flora and places to relax and re-centre.

Finally, the city’s great verdant thread is the Jardín del Turia: a riverbed transformed into a buzzing, life-filled garden that ribbons right through València from end to end. Use this guide to discover the city's historic gardens and urban parks—and see València at its greenest, one brilliant stop at a time.