Car Hire in Valencia

About Valencia

Valencia is the capital of the Autonomous Community of Valencia. It is the third-largest city in Spain and is located in the east of the country. The city is known for its warm summers and mild winters, which means that all 12 months of the year are suitable for visiting this beautiful city. Once you have visited Valencia, you'll want to come back. This charming, colourful, playful, and hospitable place will simply enchant you. If you have decided to take a road trip through Spain, Valencia is one of the destinations you should not forget on your list. Here you will find pretty much everything: beautiful architecture, art, colourful facades, good food, beaches, hospitable people, and lots of fun.

As you walk or drive through the city, you will always be surrounded by oranges, palm trees, and other plants that give the city a special charm. But you can also admire the powerful architecture, which is a mixture of history and futurism. You can see mighty Gothic churches, Baroque palaces, Art Deco buildings to magnificent futuristic buildings. While you are walking around the city, be sure to treat yourself to a paella, as Valencia is considered the cradle of paella and you are sure to eat one of the best paellas in the country.

Art lovers will also get their money's worth, as Valencia offers you many high-quality museums, galleries, and art content in general. Various festivals take place in the city, which is worth a visit. But if you have the time, you should go to ZOO, because it is unique and worth a visit. In general, the city has a large number of parks and green areas, and you can easily spend the whole day in one of the parks and go to one of the parties in the evening because the choice is diverse.

So, if you visit Valencia, you will not regret it, on the contrary, you will get to know a place that you will fall in love with and to which you will return. Travelling to Valencia with family is also a great idea! 

Basic info and car hire in Valencia

• Location: Eastern Spain
• Population: 801,456
• Official language: Spanish
• Currency: Euro
• Weather:   Valencia has a subtropical Mediterranean climate
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:  Most roads in Valencia are in good condition.
• Car hire in Valencia:  The most common pick-up point for vehicles in Valencia is Valencia airport and Valencia Joaquin Sorolla Railway Station. Please note that prices vary frequently. It is best to book a car 3 to 8 weeks in advance of your desired pick-up date - this will ensure you get the cheapest rental rate. Alternatively, it is also possible to find cheap last-minute car hire. Find the best deal on car hire in Valencia!

 Driving in Valencia

To drive a car in Valencia you must be 18 years old, have a valid driver's license, and show valid proof of insurance for the vehicle you are driving. In Valencia, vehicles drive on the right-hand side of the road. The speed limit on the motorway is 120 km/h (75 mph). On normal roads the speed limit is 90 km/h (75 mph), on urban roads, it is 50 km/h (50 mph), and on all other through roads, there is a speed limit sign.

It's good to know that Spain has strict drink-driving laws, allowing only 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per millilitre of blood - stricter than in the UK, where the limit is 0.8. Novice drivers are effectively banned from driving under the influence with a very low limit of 0.1 mg/l. Seatbelts front and rear are compulsory everywhere.

 One thing: for those not used to roundabouts: There are a lot of them in Spain! And the following rules apply: The driver who is already in the roundabout has the right of way unless there is a traffic light at the roundabout that regulates the flow of traffic. Before leaving the roundabout, you should put on your right turn signal to indicate that you are leaving the roundabout.

If you are caught speeding in Valencia, the Spanish police act very quickly, and lack of Spanish is not considered an excuse. The police do not mind that you are a tourist on holiday, and fines are often issued immediately unless you can prove that you are a permanent resident in Spain. If you receive a fine, make sure the officer gives you an official receipt and if you pay immediately, the fine is usually reduced by 20%.

The Spanish law on the use of indicators on motorways is strictly enforced. You risk a fine if you fail to signal before overtaking and after overtaking if you move back into the adjacent lane. Traffic coming from the left always has the right of way. If you see a solid white line in the middle of the road, do not cross it. Continue until you either see a dotted white line or look for a sign that says "Cambio de Sentido" where you can safely and legally turn around.

• Age limits: The minimum age to drive a car in Spain is 18 years. However, most car rental companies require you to be at least 21 to rent a car and at least 25 years to avoid paying an additional young driver fee. 
• International Driving Permit:  Yes, if you are a non-EU license holder.  
• Additional papers:   Identification(passport), a valid driving license, and valid proof of insurance. (It is advisable to buy insurance at the car hire agency in case your policy doesn't cover you while driving in Spain)
• Additional requirements:  Glasses (in case you need glasses, you must always have a spare pair in the car), light bulbs (are usually already in the car and are provided by the car rental company), warning triangle (2 are required for all vehicles registered in Spain and 1 if coming from abroad), high visibility vest (recently made compulsory)- First aid kit (not compulsory, but we strongly recommend you have it with you, just in case).
• Children in the car:  If you are travelling with children under 12 or less than 135cm tall, you are required by law to have a child seat in your car. If you do not have your own, most car rental companies will provide one for a fee. However, it is advisable to request such a seat before collecting the vehicle, otherwise one may not always be available.
• Driving side of the road: Right
• Lights:  Check that all lights are working, clean, and correctly aimed.
• General speed limits:  The speed limit is 50 km/h in cities, 90 km/h on rural roads, and 120 km/h on the motorway.
• Parking suggestions:  Parking is prohibited in Spain in all areas where the curbs are marked yellow. The parking spaces marked in blue usually have a parking meter and you must buy a parking ticket to park in these spaces. You will usually find a machine nearby where you can purchase your parking ticket. Most of these blue areas have a parking limit of 2 hours, but this is displayed on the machine.

What to see in Valencia

La Llotja de la Seda

La Llotja de la Seda is one of Valencia's most famous landmarks, and it has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its architecture. This late Gothic building was built during Spain’s Golden Age in 1499 as a silk market which served both historical purposes but also acts to impressively represent how successful this commercial city could be at reaching peak power around 1500 AD- with over 2 million square meters worth of construction!

Central Market

There is no better place to shop than the Central Market. This historic market was built in the late 19th century and still serves its original purpose today! Whether you are looking for fresh produce or just want to escape the glow of the lights, you'll find everything your heart desires in this building. Do not forget about the attraction: the beautiful architecture and great shopping everywhere - just think of the gourmet food sold right next door.

Cathedral

The cathedral is a unique work of architecture and history. It's been called the "gothic," ''renaissance,'' 'baroque' or even neo-classical building with different eras mixed to create its distinct look, making it stand out among other churches for being so unusual. What makes this place special though? Well if you ask me they've got one thing that takes on some pretty sacred proportions--the Holy Grail or Chalic from the Last Supper which resides deep within these cavernous walls!

Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències

The City of Science and Arts was designed by a local world-famous architect Santiago Calatrava. It is located at the end of the drained bed of the River Turia, which turned south of the city after a major flood, leaving a beautiful 10 km long park. At the end of the park is this futuristic complex consisting of five buildings. Each building has its own story and each of them will amaze you both with its appearance and with the quality content it offers.

Best restaurants in Valencia

Grillo Grill Bar

Restaurante Nou Chocomeli

The Orange Club

Salad Planet

Eggcellent Brunch Cafe

Restaurante Gordon 10