Valencia has a wonderful palm tree lined sandy beach which is about 200 yards wide and about 6 miles long. It is east of the city and north of the container port. It can be reached from the Metro tram stops Les Arenas. Eugenia Vines and Neptu.

There are a few bars and restaurants along the paved beach promenade near the container port. They get busy with locals on Sunday lunchtime. They reserve their tables and then go for a walk up and then back down the beech. When they return Paella is top of the menu.

It is a nice place for a walk in the sunshine. The beaches in Valencia have blue flag safe clean beaches. As on any beach be careful and look after your property There are pick pockets about. They sit near you and the moment you look elsewhere they are gone with your things!

On some stretches of the southern end of the beach promenade you will find small market stalls selling leather belts, pashmina scarfs, wallets, toys and fake designer hand bags among many other things. They are normally run by African or South America traders. You can get some very cheap deals but be prepared to haggle. As you are walking along the promenade look out for the cleverly designed sculpture of a small sailing boat made from sheets of water.

The Valencian beach Metro line

The blue line 4 and the purple line 6 runs to the beach. A single journey costs 1.40 euros. Unlike the other metro lines these trains run above ground. They really should be classified as trams. Kids will love the way the high-speed metro tram bounces along. There are no traffic jams as they use the middle of the wide streets that are designated car free

It is an easy stress free way of reaching the beach. It takes about 20 minutes to reach the beach from the centre of town. You buy the tickets on the tram stop platform from the machine. You do not have to validate the ticket. Keep it just in case a ticket inspector comes on your tram. The doors do not all open when the tram stops. You have to push the green flashing button on the door.

The blue Line 4 trams can be caught on the northern side of the bridge called Pont de Fusta which is situated opposite the Serranos Towers. The tram stop is called 'Pont de Fusta' even though it is about 300 yards away from the bridge. The beach tram stops are 'Eugenia Vines' and 'Las Arenas' It terminates here so it's easy to find for your return to the Old Quarter of Valencia.

The tram seats are a bit more comfortable that the underground metro trains as they have slightly more padding. The green line 5 also goes to the beach. It stops at a station called Neptu just 100 yards from the fantastic modern clean hotel Neptune which is right on the beach. I booked this hotel via the Easyjet website. It was a reasonable price but do not eat or drink there. The beer was three times the price of beer you buy in the centre of town.

If you need the toilet whilst you are at the beach just walk into the hotel as if you are going to the restaurant at the back of the hotel near the beach. The clean toilets are in the corridor that leads to the restaurant. Just walk past the reception desk. They will think you are residents or restaurant customers.

Because the Neptune Hotel is near to the Line 5 Neptu Tram station it is an ideal place to stay if you want to get quickly into the old town and go for a swim in the sea. The hotel has sun loungers on the roof as well as Jacuzzi baths.

You can catch this train from the city centre metro station called Xativa near the Estacion del Norte railway station. It is just south of the old town. You have to change trains at the station called Maritim-Serreria. All you do is get off your underground train and walk to the over side of the same platform to catch the tram that will take you the three stops to the beach.

Be careful not to leave the station as you will have to buy a new ticket. The last train is very early at about 10pm. Do not get caught out like we were. We had to walk the 2km to out hotel at 11pm. There were no taxis or buses.

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