Gratis gids 10 verborgen natuurplekken in Europa. Meld je aan voor onze nieuwsbrief en ontvang inspirerende reistips en routes voor je volgende groene reis.
The natural environment in and around Valencia is beautiful and very diverse. Moreover, Valencia is a city that is very actively engaged in preserving nature both within the city and in the surrounding area. It’s no coincidence that the city has been named one of the healthiest cities in Spain to live in for years. In 2022, Valencia was even named the healthiest city in the world. Valencia is the European Green Capital for 2024. By 2030, the city aims to be “smart” and climate-neutral. Valencia is the capital of the Valencia region and is also the third-largest city in Spain.
Nature in Valencia: Sustainable Policies
Valencia has many sustainable initiatives, such as the creation and protection of green spaces like the Albufera Nature Park, the Valencian Orchard, and the Turia Park, which runs through the city. In addition, Valencia is also involved in initiatives for sustainable mobility, waste management, and the restoration of public spaces, such as City Hall Square and Plaza de la Reina.
Valencia, Green Capital of Europe 2024
The European Commission has selected Valencia as the European Green Capital for 2024. This award is given to cities with more than 100,000 residents that implement projects to reduce environmental impacts and improve quality of life. In 2023, the French city of Grenoble was the European Green Capital. In winning the title of “European Green Capital,” the Spanish city underwent a comprehensive assessment of its sustainability based on twelve indicators: air quality, noise, waste, water, nature and biodiversity, land use, eco-innovation, climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, mobility, energy efficiency, and governance. This is the first time Valencia has competed for the title of European Green Capital, an award that has so far been granted to only one other Spanish city (Vitoria, 2012), marking a milestone for Valencia and for its policies on urban sustainability and ecological transition.
Valencia to Be Climate-Neutral by 2030
Valencia has achieved significant milestones in sustainability, such as being named the European Capital of “Smart Tourism” in 2022 and the Capital of Sustainable Food in 2017. In addition, the city of Valencia is a pioneer in measuring and offsetting its carbon footprint in the tourism sector. Furthermore, it is one of the 100 cities selected by the European Union for the Cities Mission project, which aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.
Nature Parks in Valencia
Valencia has many unique green spaces, and Turia Park is one of them. Since its inauguration in 1986, the old riverbed of the Turia River has been adapted not only to the city but also to its residents and their way of life. Covering an area of more than 120 hectares and stretching 12 kilometers, it is the longest urban park in Europe. Other green, sustainable spaces—such as the Albufera Nature Park, the Turia Nature Park, the surrounding orchards, and the Mediterranean Sea—together form the most important group of green and natural areas in the city of Valencia.
Nature in the Valencia Area
Just outside and around Valencia lies the Huerta de Valencia. The “huerta” is an area spanning about 120 km around Valencia, set in a lush landscape of fertile orchards, orange groves, vineyards, rice paddies, and olive groves. The Huerta supplies produce to markets and restaurants in Valencia—as part of its sustainability policy—but also exports its bountiful produce throughout Spain and to other countries. The smart irrigation system
Just south of Valencia lies the Albufera Nature Park, featuring a freshwater lake, many migratory birds, and charming villages. It’s a wonderful place for birdwatching. Here you’ll find trips for wildlife photography and birdwatching in and around Valencia.
Northwest of Valencia lies the rugged Chera-Sot de Chera Nature Park. This mountainous area offers beautiful routes for hikers, but above all, trails for mountaineers. It is home to many birds of prey and is a highly diverse area featuring gorges, mountains, and valleys, covering an area of approximately 6 hectares.
Sustainable Downtown Valencia
Valencia’s city center has undergone several changes in recent years. The downtown pedestrian zone and the city’s main neighborhoods have been revitalized as part of projects under the Urban Strategy 2030. These projects aim to make Valencia one of the first carbon-neutral cities in Europe. Valencia is well worth a visit for a green city trip. Check out the highlights of Valencia by bike here.
January Tip in Valencia: Orange Picking
Will you be in Valencia at the end of January? If so, keep an eye out for the “orange shakers.” The city has more than 12,000 orange trees throughout the city and in all its parks. Every year at the end of January, about 400,000 kilos of oranges are “shaken” from the trees. These oranges are used in agriculture because, unfortunately, they’re too bitter to eat.
With a passion for travel and photography and over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, I love to share my special nature travel tips. Travel is wonderful and important, you meet new people and cultures and it opens your view of the world.
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Peloponnese Hiking Tour
A really beautiful six-day hike from Bologna to Florence. Communication with NatureTravelLab and the local agent was excellent. The information packet was waiting for us at the hotel in Bologna, and the app with the route worked great. Luggage transport was well organized every day, and our bags were waiting for us each time we arrived at our new room! We covered more than 1,400 meters of elevation gain, but unfortunately didn’t always get the views we’d hoped for due to cloud cover and some drizzle. Most days had great hiking weather. It was wonderful to walk into Florence on foot and stay there an extra day.
We experienced the Walk of the Gods as a great adventure. Our start in Bologna didn’t go quite as planned because our app wasn’t working yet and we couldn’t find a single sign for Via degli Dei in the square. Fortunately, we were quickly able to join two young hikers from Florence who were also doing the hike. After a wonderful night’s stay at the beautiful Rio Verde agritourism farm, Day 2 went much better with the help of the hiking app. Along the way, we enjoyed stunning views, met some great fellow hikers, and sampled delicious local dishes. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t always on our side, and we had a day of heavy rain, which made the trail very slippery and required us to be careful. It’s a real treat when, on the last day, you can already see Florence in the distance and walk into this beautiful city a few hours later. Thank you so much for your quick and friendly responses to all our questions.
We enjoyed the trip. We also made some changes to our itinerary, and the email correspondence went very smoothly. We started in Mantera; the next day, our first and only hike was a really beautiful one. The taxi picked us up right on time. Unfortunately, the second day’s route was almost the same when we cycled to Ostuni. The bikes were well-maintained, including panniers and helmets (these were simply included). You could even bring your own water bottle!!! We found the route very scenic and varied. There were charming little villages where we could stop for lunch or coffee. The app worked great. All the hotels ranged from good to excellent, though we didn’t think the hotel in Leuca was worthy of 4 stars. We followed your advice for the two nights we stayed there. We found Leuca a bit underwhelming for a two-day stay. We would have preferred to stay in Gallipoli or Lecce for two days. We took this trip in April and were very lucky with the weather. It’s still a quiet time of year, but we didn’t mind that. We definitely recommend it!!!
Thanks to a great tip from Nature Travel Lab, we had a wonderful week in Italy. Fattoria di Maiano, just outside Florence, was a beautiful and peaceful place. And the suggested road trips were a great guide for exploring the region. We’ll definitely check here for tips for our next vacation, too. Highly recommended!
We spent a divine week in Italy: we walked the Path of the Gods, from Bologna to Florence—about 135 km spread over 6 days of hiking. Challenging distances and climbs, amazing views, nature, and a warm welcome every time we arrived at the agriturismo or albergo/hotel. All of this was perfectly organized by the Italian company Slow Active Tours, entirely in line with Nature Travel Lab’s itinerary proposal: upon arrival in Bologna, an information packet was waiting for us, complete with a hiking map, a booklet, and passports for the stamps. And the hiking app was very practical for along the way! Our luggage was transported every day and was always waiting for us when we arrived at the next location. Communication was smooth and clear. In short, highly recommended, well worth it, and well-organized.
In September, I walked the Cammino Materano. Communicating with Madelon about the booking was a pleasure. To be honest, I was quite nervous because it was my first time doing a multi-day hike—alone and in a region I wasn’t familiar with—but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The hike to Matera was beautiful, and I was able to complete it without any trouble thanks to the clear on-site signage and the routing and advice provided by the GPS app. The rest of the organization was top-notch as well. My luggage always arrived on time at the right destination, and the hotels and B&Bs were of high quality. In addition, the organizers were easy to reach via WhatsApp if I had any questions. Highly recommended!
Slovenia was absolutely amazing. A beautiful country, friendly people, lovely hiking trails, and truly top-notch hotels. The staff at the local organization were also very easy to reach and helpful. The hiking was manageable. As Dutch people, we’re not used to high altitudes, of course, so it was pretty tough at times. But it was also a lot of fun.
We had a wonderful trip. Everything was well organized. Due to an unfortunate fall, I ended up traveling with my luggage for a day, but that was handled well, too. We really liked all the accommodations. Only the Hotel Hebe in St. Piero a Sieve was a little less impressive, but it was still okay.
Looks fantastic! I'm definitely going to book a trip with this company... they're committed to sustainability and personalized advice. Definitely worth it.
Madelon and her team are true experts. Thanks to their years of experience and passion for travel, they manage to surprise us time and time again.
Beautiful hikes, the most picturesque spots—it’s a real treat.
I highly recommend them!
Nature Travel Lab provided us with very helpful and honest assistance!
If you’re looking for travel itineraries, the most beautiful hikes, and destinations, you can find it all here. You’ll find endless inspiration for your next trip. Beautiful cities are interspersed with nature. You’ll find everything you need to know about practical matters. Plus, there are plenty of tips for sustainable travel. That way, you’ll get the most out of your trip.
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Get inspired
Are you looking for the most beautiful hiking and biking routes? Or do you want information about traveling by train or advice for the most beautiful road trips through nature. Get inspired for your next trip in green; ideas for planning your own trip or opting for an organized trip.
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