valencia travel card

Is The Valencia Tourist Card Worth It? (Guide To Pros And Cons)

Wondering whether to buy a Valencia Tourist Card for your city break? Find out what’s included and whether it’s worth it in this informative guide.

If you’ve been following my blog recently, you’ll have seen I fell head over heels in love with the city of Valencia in Spain. It’s a beautiful city, filled with history, great restaurants and quirky architecture. It’s perfect for a sunshine-filled getaway, particularly with its huge beach just a short bus ride from the city centre.

Before visiting, I ordered a Valencia Tourist Card . There are options of cards for 24, 48 or 72 hours, as well as another for 7 days.

The card includes free public transport within the city centre, complimentary entry or discounts at the key attractions, museums and restaurants, plus a few other freebies too – including tapas and drinks.

I’ll admit that part of my reason for wanting it was the ease of getting around. It covers journeys to and from Valencia Airport, as well as journeys within the city and down to the beach.

READ MORE: 29+ AWESOME things to do in Valencia 

So time to give an honest account of what I thought of it, how it works, whether I’d recommend it and how to order one if you’re visiting the city soon.

Planning your trip to Valencia? Here are a few quick highlights:

What is the Valencia Tourist Card?

This special card includes all public transport within the city, as well as to the beach and airport. There’s a mammoth list of attractions it’s valid at, offering free entry or discounted tickets. You can buy cards for different durations, depending on how long you’ll be visiting for. There are cards for 24, 48 or 72 hours, as well as another for 7 days.

If you’re flying to Valencia I’d recommend ordering a card online in advance, then collecting at the airport. You just need your order number and email address to pick it up.

Alternatively, you can collect it from the tourist office within City Hall, or have it delivered to your hotel. Kids aged 6-12, over-65s and students can get a 15% discount off, but you’ll have to go to the tourist office to buy the card.

How much is a Valencia Tourist Card?

As mentioned, there are cards for 24, 48 or 72 hours, as well as another for 7 days. The prices are as follows:

24-hour Valencia Tourist Card: 15 EUR

48-hour Valencia Tourist Card: 20 EUR

72-hour Valencia Tourist Card: 25 EUR

7 day Valencia Tourist Card (without transport): 12 EUR

I usually buy things like this using Get Your Guide – a tour booking website I’ve used lots on my travels, and wholeheartedly trust. I took a few tours with them during my trip to Valencia, including a historical walking tour and a food tour , and they were fab. They occasionally offer discounts if you book via them too!

READ MORE: Food Tour Of Valencia – REVIEW

What attractions are included for free with the Valencia Tourist Card?

There are quite a few that are free with the card, including…

Lonja de la Seda – Valencia’s ancient silk exchange

Museo de Historia – Valencia’s history museum

Museo Fallero – Museum dedicated to Valencia’s famous Fallas Festival

Torres de Serranos and Torres de Quart – Old city gates (great views!)

Museo de Ciencias Naturales – Museum of natural sciences

Museo de la Ciudad – City museum

Museo del Arroz – Rice museum

L’Almoina – Archaeology museum

Without the card, most have an entry fee of around 2 EUR. It’s not much, but if you’re thinking of visiting quite a few during your visit, the tourist card will be more economic way to see the icity. You can see the full list of Valencia tourist card attractions here .

Which attractions can I get discounts at with the Valencia Tourist Card?  

While there are plenty that are included complimentary, if the attraction isn’t on that list, it’s still likely to be offered at a discounted price with the card. I’ve picked out a few highlights but there are absolutely loads more!

15% off Museu de les Ciències (Valencia Science Museum)

15% off Oceanogràfic (Valencia Aquarium)

15% off Hemisfèric (Valencia IMAX Cinema)

15% off Bioparc (Valencia Zoo)

10% off Valencia Cathedral

10% off Jardín Botánico (Valencia Botanical Gardens)

It’s also worth checking out some of the discounts on rentals in the city too. For example, you can use the card to get 20% off renting a bike in the city, or 10% off jet-ski rental on Malvarrosa Beach.

Can I use my Valencia Tourist Card on any tours?

Yes! I think this is a really great perk of the card. From a discount on the tourist bus (yay for hop on, hop off life!), to bike tours, a nosey around Valencia Football Club and even a paella cooking class, there are lots of little extras that are included with the card. You’ll need to check timings as many of them only run on certain days of the week, and then book your spot in advance.

Here are a few tours that caught my eye…

20% off 4-hour Valencia Family Tour

15% off bike tours

10% off Guided tour of Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía

10% off Mestalla Forever Tour (Valencia Football Club)

10% off paella workshops

2 EUR off València Bus Turístic (hop on, hop off)

10% off Albufera Experience (jeep and boat trip)

10% off sunset sailing trip from Malvarrosa Beach

What about food and drink?

Eating out on holiday can really add up, so it’s worth making use of the discounts on offer at the city’s restaurants and bars. Some of the discounts are 15-20% so it can make a big difference to your bill.

You can use the card at Café de las Horas, Terraza L’Umbracle, El Camarote & the Roof, Casa Isabel, Ocho y Medio, Restaurante Océanos, Ubik Café, La Cigrona and the Hard Rock Café amongst others.

Did someone mention FREE food?

Not yet but I’m about to!! When you get your Valencia Tourist Card you’ll see a few ads for restaurants in the city where you get complimentary food and drink!

Head to El Corte Ingles for a complimentary tapa and a glass of wine, and then there’s one more voucher valid at a few restaurants around the city.

Anywhere else I can use the Valencia Tourist Card?

I didn’t have the chance to visit (partly because I was busy enjoying the sunshine outside) but the card is also valid at several spas in Valencia including Balneario La Alameda, Olympia Hotel and Spa Las Arenas.

How do I use the Valencia Tourist Card on public transport?

I used my card on several bus, tram and metro journeys. I’d describe Valencia as a walkable city, but if like me, you like to cram a lot in to your trips, you might want to save time by using public transport.

I navigated my way around using Google Maps. You can pop in your destination and select public transport. The app will then show you the best way to get there, including bus numbers and stop names.

In terms of where you can get to using the card, it covers the Metro in Zones A – D (including to and from Valencia Airport) plus buses and trams in Zone A. As a tourist visiting, it’s very unlikely you’d need to go outside of these areas. When you pick up your card you can check the maps. It also includes bus Line 25 which goes to Albufera.

In terms of using the card, you tap it on the machine by the driver when you board a bus, at the tram stop platform and at the gates to the metro. It’s worth mentioning that if you get the Valencia 7-day tourist card, it doesn’t include public transport (or it didn’t when I visited).

Also, if you don’t opt for a tourist card, I think that the system in the city is similar to others, where you have to pay a cost for a Valencia transport card and top it up with journeys as you go along.

So, the big question – is the Valencia Tourist Card worth it?

For me it was definitely worth it. If you’re planning a lot of sightseeing, and want the convenience of using public transport whenever you want, to get wherever you want, then it’s worth it.

I liked that I didn’t have to worry about figuring out metro tickets when I got to the airport, and could hop on public transport around the city whenever my legs got tired! 

I also used several of the free entry tickets and a few of the discounts. Free food was a bonus too! I didn’t get the chance to try out any of the tours as I’d already booked a few through Get Your Guide before my trip, but I’d bear it in mind for next time.

However, if you’re visiting Valencia for a relaxing break, with plans to hang out in the historical city centre, hop from tapas bar to tapas bar and explore on foot, you’ll probably find it cheaper to buy single or return tickets on public transport and pay full price at any attractions. Single tickets on Valencia’s buses start at just 1.50 EUR. Metro lines 3 and 5 go from the airport to the city centre, with a single costing 3.90 EUR.

Sometimes it’s worth paying for the peace of mind, and a card like this definitely brings that! It really depends on how much you want to do during your trip!

I hope this post helps you make a decision. If you have any questions, let me know! Don’t forget to read my other guides to Valencia to make the most of your time in the city.

29+ AWESOME things to do in Valencia  Valencia Cathedral bell tower vs Torres de Serranos – which has the best view of Valencia? Where to stay in Valencia – from budget to luxury  Valencia food tour – is this the most fun tour of the city? 

Chloe Gunning

With a passion for food, fun and adventure, Chloe is the content creator behind one of the UK's top travel blogs Wanderlust Chloe. From volcano boarding in Nicaragua, to sailing around Sicily and eating her way around Japan, her travels have taken her to some of the coolest spots on the planet. Named Travel Influencer of the Year in 2022, Chloe regularly works with a number of tourism boards, producing inspirational travel content across multiple platforms. Find out more about Chloe here.

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Valencia Tourist Card: The Ultimate Guide (From a Local!)

Are you planning a trip to Valencia, but feeling overwhelmed with the logistics? Trying to figure out how to see all the sights, taste all the flavors, and experience the city’s vibrant culture without blowing your budget? Well, you’ve landed on the right article!

As someone who lives in the heart of this sun-drenched city, I know a thing or two about making the most out of a visit to Valencia. And today, I’m going to let you in on a little secret that will make your Valencia adventure a breeze – the Valencia Tourist Card!

In this article, I promise to take you on a fun, friendly journey through all the ins and outs of the Valencia Tourist Card . I’ll talk about what it is, the benefits it offers, how much it costs, where to buy it, and how to use it like a pro – as well as who actually may not need to get this to still have a great trip. 

Planning a trip to Valencia last minute?

If you’re booking your  trip to Valencia last minute, I’ve got you covered. Below are some of the top tours, hotels, and more!

⭐  Top tours in Valencia

• City Highlights Guided Bike Tour (great way to see the city)
• Palosanto Flamenco Show (incredible night out)
• Old Town Tour, Wine and Tapas in an 11th Century Monument (all the highlights at once)
• Catamaran Cruise at Sunset (experience the Mediterranean – with cava)
• Oceanogràfic – Valencia Aquarium (biggest one in Europe!)

🛏️ Top hotels in Valencia

• Only YOU Hotel Valencia (5-star luxury)
• Vincci Palace (boutique hotel with beautiful décor)
• Hostal Antigua Morellana (great budget option in a superb location)

🚌 Want to see everything with minimal effort while you’re in Valencia? Check out the 24- or 48-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket !

Table of Contents

What is the Valencia Tourist Card?

The Valencia Tourist Card is a card for tourists (surprising from the name, I know) that’s designed to give you unlimited access to Valencia’s public transportation, free or discounted admission to many museums and monuments, tasty discounts at restaurants, shops, and more – including some free food and drinks!

Basically, this nifty little card is more than just a piece of plastic – it’s your golden ticket to experience the best of Valencia without the headache of juggling multiple tickets or fumbling for change in your pocket.

And it’s super easy to get your hands on one too. Simply buy the Valencia Tourist Card online right here and pick it up at any Tourist Info Office at the airport or around the city.

MY SUGGESTION: Picking up your Valencia Tourist Card at the airport is by far the best option, in my opinion, as it means your metro ride from the airport will be free. And I think we can all agree that saving €4.80 immediately is a great way to start any trip!)

Benefits of the Valencia Tourist Card

1. free public transportation.

With the Valencia Tourist Card, you’ll have unlimited access to buses, trams, and the metro across the entire city. Whether you want to explore the historic old town, lounge on the city’s sunny beaches, or feast on the best paella, you can do it all without spending an extra cent on Valencia’s public transport system. 

And as I just mentioned, even the trip from the airport to the city center is covered by metro, a 25-minute journey that’s normally €4.80 each way – isn’t that convenience at its finest?

2. Free Entry to Museums and Monuments

Art lovers, history buffs, and curious souls, rejoice! The Valencia Tourist Card opens the doors to a world of knowledge and culture without the usual entry fees. 

In particular, some of the places that will give you free entry include:

• La Lonja (The Silk Exchange), Valencia’s UNESCO World Heritage site
• The Archaeological Crypt of the Prison of San Vicente
• Torres de Serranos and Torres de Quart
• Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia
• La Almoina Archaeological Museum
• Las Fallas Museum
• The Museum of Natural Science
• Valencia History Museum
• … and more!

With so much to see, you’ll be grateful for the freedom to explore at your own pace.

3. Discounts at Other Attractions

While freebies are great, this card also lets you get some pretty impressive discounts at various sights all over Valencia. These include:

• Valencia Cathedral, the Miguelete (Bell Tower) and the Holy Grail (20% off)
• IVAM – Valencian Institute of Modern Art (50% off)
• Everything at the City of Arts and Sciences – meaning it includes the Science Museum and the Oceanogràfic aquarium (10% off)
• Marqués de Dos Aguas Palace and the Ceramics Museum inside (50% off)
• Bullfighting Museum (50% off)
• … and a ton more on top of these.

As you can probably tell, depending on how packed your Valencian itinerary is, you’re in for some pretty great savings here.

4. Discounts at Restaurants and Shops, and More

Who doesn’t love a good deal? Your Valencia Tourist Card doubles as a discount card at selected restaurants, shops, and tourist services, with up to 35% off at places that offer this. 

You can savor a mouth-watering paella with a side of savings, snag some unique souvenirs without breaking the bank, or even rent a bike in Valencia for less to pedal your way around this picturesque city.

5. Two Free Tapas and Two Free Drinks

That’s right, as a little extra bonus, if you get the 24-, 48- or 72-hour card, you’ll be entitled to get two free tapas with an (alcoholic!) drink!

6. Free City Map and Guide

As if all that wasn’t enough, the Valencia Tourist Card also comes with a free city map and guide. No more getting lost in translation or navigation! 

This handy guide will help you plan your route, learn about the city’s main attractions, and even pick up a few local tips and recommendations.

What Different Valencia Tourist Cards are Available?

Now, you’re probably wondering, “Wait, there’s more than one Valencia Tourist Card?” There definitely is – because who doesn’t want flexibility with their traveling in addition to saving money!

Just as Valencia caters to all sorts of travelers, the Valencia Tourist Card does too. Here’s a quick rundown of the different flavors this card comes in:

24-hour Valencia Tourist Card

Are you a speed traveler, looking to see the sights in a whirlwind of excitement? Then, the 24-hour Valencia Tourist Card is your perfect match. This card gives you all the benefits I’ve talked about for a full day of non-stop Valencia fun.

48-hour Valencia Tourist Card

For those who like to take things a bit slower, the 48-hour Valencia Tourist Card is your go-to. With two full days of benefits, you’ll have plenty of time to soak up the sun, culture, and flavors of Valencia.

What’s your perfect destination for your dream trip to Spain?

Want to discover a city or live your island dreams?

Embrace the food scene or step through the pages of history?

Whatever your travel style, discover the perfect Spanish city to add to your trip here!

72-hour Valencia Tourist Card

Ah, the 72-hour Valencia Tourist Card, perfect for leisurely explorers who really want to savor the Valencia experience. With three full days of access to the city’s best offerings, you’re free to enjoy Valencia at your own pace.

7-day Valencia Tourist Card

For those really wanting to see the ins and outs of this city, there’s also a seven-day Valencia tourist card. It gets you all the same great discounts at museums, monuments, stores, restaurants and more. In fact, you’ll actually get some extra bonuses like free entry to certain places that are discounted with the other cards, like the Cathedral and its Museum and the IVAM.

That said, keep in mind that this card doesn’t include free public transport, which is why it’s priced a bit differently from the others. 

Valencia Tourist Card for Children

Don’t worry, they haven’t forgotten about the little explorers! There’s a special Valencia Tourist Card tailored for children aged 6 to 12. 

It comes with all the same benefits, but at a lower price, because who doesn’t believe in nurturing the next generation of world travelers!

How Much Does the Valencia Tourist Card Cost?

Now onto the million-dollar question – or should we say, the less-than-a-fancy-dinner question. The Valencia Tourist Card is a steal, considering all the benefits you’ll get.

Prices vary depending on the duration of the card and while you can c heck here for more information on the cost of each card, the summary of this is:

• The 24-hour Valencia Tourist Card comes in at just €15 for adults and €12.75 for children.
• The 48-hour Valencia Tourist Card is a bargain at €20 for adults and €17 for children.
• The 72-hour Valencia Tourist Card is the ultimate deal at €25 for adults and €21.25 for children.
• The 7-day Valencia Tourist Card, with its extra discounts (but no free public transport) costs €12 for adults and €10.20 for kids.

Imagine, for less than the cost of a fancy meal, you get unlimited transportation, free entry to museums and monuments, discounts galore…and some free tapas and drinks on the side!

Where Can I Buy a Valencia Tourist Card?

You’ll be glad to know that purchasing a Valencia Tourist Card is a breeze. The easiest way is to buy it online before your trip and then pick up your card from the Tourist Info Office at the airport or in the city center when you arrive.

In fact, you can easily buy your Valencia Tourist card right here!

And guess what? If you’re already in Valencia, you can also buy the card online and then pick it up directly from any Tourist Info Office. 

In addition to the airport (which is the easiest and quickest option if you’ve bought it before arriving), the offices are also located at major points throughout the city, including the airport, train stations, and central squares. And yes, they’ll be thrilled to see you!

How Does the Valencia Tourist Card Work?

You’re all set with your Valencia Tourist Card. But how does it work, you ask? It’s as easy as uno, dos, tres!

The card is activated the first time you use it, whether that’s hopping on a bus, entering a museum, or using a discount. From then, it’s valid for the duration you chose – 24, 48, or 72 hours. 

Remember, the clock starts ticking from the first use, so plan your itinerary wisely to make the most out of your card.

Where Can I Use the Valencia Tourist Card?

The Valencia Tourist Card is your trusty sidekick all across the city. Here are some of the main places you can use it:

1. Public Transportation

The Valencia Tourist Card has you covered on the city’s buses, trams, and metro lines, including the trip from the airport to the city center. With this card in your pocket, you’re free to roam the city at your leisure!

2. Museums and Monuments

Let the cultural adventure begin! Your Valencia Tourist Card grants you free access to a plethora of the city’s museums and monuments. 

These include the Museum of Sciences, the Fallas Museum, and the Almoina Archaeological Centre, among many others.

3. Restaurants and Shops

Feeling peckish or ready for a shopping spree? The Valencia Tourist Card gives you a smorgasbord of discounts at selected restaurants and shops around the city. 

So go ahead, treat yourself to a delicious paella or grab some unique souvenirs to remember your trip.

4. Tourist Services

Want to see the city from a different perspective? Use your Valencia Tourist Card for discounts on various tourist services like guided tours, bike rentals, and even boat trips. Explore Valencia your way and save while you’re at it!

Is the Valencia Tourist Card Worth It?

In my opinion, if you plan to see many of the main sights around Valencia and will be getting public transport when doing so, especially to and from the airport, then the Valencia Tourist Card is definitely worth it thanks to the free public transport and free entry to many places on offer.

I mean, who doesn’t fancy saving money while savoring all the sights, sounds, and flavors of this vibrant city?

Think about it. With free public transportation, you’ll be zipping around the city without spending an extra cent. With free entry to museums and monuments, you’ll soak up the rich culture and history of Valencia without breaking the bank. 

And let’s not forget the discounts at restaurants, shops, and tourist services – who doesn’t love a good deal?

In short, if you plan to explore the city extensively, the Valencia Tourist Card is not just worth it; it’s a no-brainer!

Who Shouldn’t Get the Valencia Tourist Card?

Now, I’ve sung the praises of the Valencia Tourist Card, but it’s also true that not every deal suits every traveler. So, who might not find the card as beneficial?

You may want to think twice about getting this if you fall into one of the following groups:

• If you’re only planning a quick stop in Valencia , or if your idea of a perfect vacation is lounging at the beach all day (no judgment here, by the way), then you might not need the Valencia Tourist Card. 
• If your itinerary doesn’t include a lot of museum-hopping , then the benefits of the card might not outweigh the cost.
• If you don’t think you’ll be taking public transport that often , you might not find yourself getting the full benefits.

Honestly, if you plan to get the metro to and from the airport (which I always do) and think you’ll go to a couple of the main tourist attractions, like a museum or other historical site, then you’ll easily hit the point where the Valencia Tourist Card will be well worth it for you.

Throw in some of the restaurant discounts or getting some savings on a tour or bike rental in Valencia, and you’ll be laughing.

Of course, it’s up to you depending on how you think you’ll be traveling in the city but, overall, it’s going to be a great deal for many visitors.

How Do I Use the Valencia Tourist Card on Public Transport?

Using your Valencia Tourist Card on public transport is a cinch! For buses, simply show your card to the driver as you board. For trams and the metro, just swipe your card on the card readers located at the entrance. 

Remember, your card covers all zones within the city, including the trip from the airport to the city center. So, whether you’re heading to the beach, returning from a night out, or journeying from one attraction to the next, your Valencia Tourist Card has got you covered.

How Do I Use the Valencia Tourist Card at Attractions?

As if the Valencia Tourist Card couldn’t get any easier to use, here’s how it works at attractions: Simply present your card at the ticket office of the museum or monument you’re visiting. The friendly staff will then grant you free entry – it’s like having a VIP pass to the city’s cultural treasures!

And remember, there’s no limit to the number of attractions you can visit during the validity of your card. So go ahead, indulge your curiosity, immerse yourself in the rich history of Valencia, and let each new discovery be a story to tell.

How Do I Use the Valencia Tourist Card at Restaurants?

Ready to tantalize your taste buds with Valencia’s culinary delights? Using your Valencia Tourist Card at participating restaurants is as simple as pie… or should we say, paella?

When it’s time to pay, just show your card to the staff. They’ll apply the discount to your bill, and voila! You can enjoy your delicious meal knowing you’ve bagged yourself a bargain. 

Just make sure to check in advance if the restaurant accepts the card – you can find a list of participating places in your free city guide.

Anna is the founder of Spain Inspired, where she shares insider tips and hidden gems to inspire thousands of visitors each month to take the road less traveled and explore Spain like a local. Having lived in Spain for some time now, Anna's made it her mission to help fellow travelers experience the very best of this stunning country - with some great wine and tapas along the way, ideally!

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Valencia Tourist Card: Freedom of Movement

Free transportation all around the city. Discounts in main tourist attractions such as museums, restaurants, shops, leisure activities, facilities... Everything is easer with Valencia Tourist Card, the best way to visit, taste and enjoy the city.

The Valencia Tourist Card gives you discounts in museums, attractions, shops, ...and free travel by public transport. You decide whether you want a card that is valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours. This visit card will not be valid until it is stamped with the time and date the first time you use it. The card is valid once per attraction and entitles you to unlimited travel by metro, bus and tram.

The Valencia Tourist Card can be bought in many hotels, tobacconists and newspaper stands, and the establishments that offer discounts on presentation of the Valencia Tourist Card are identified with a sticker.

• 1 or 2 or 3 days Valencia Tourist Card.
• The free public transport is within valencia City. Metro Airport-Valencia City is included.
• Brochure in English and Spanish detailing participating establishments.
• Map of the Valencia.

There are 160 Participant establishments including 32 Restaurants, 36 Museums and Tourist Attractions, 37 Entertainment and Nightlife venues, 52 Shops and Car rental firms. The establishments that offer discounts on presentation of the Valencia Tourist Card are identified with a sticker.

The card is valid from the first date of use and expires at midnight on the last day of the card´s validity. Use of the public transport system includes all buses, trams and metro (zone AB).

The Valencia Touirst Card inlcude the Valencia Bus Turistic discount (does not inlcude the Albufera Bus Turistic, Sagunto Bus Turistic and Puig Bus Turistic)

There is no card for children younger than 6 year but they have a free public transport and are admited free to the most of the Municipal Museums.

• 24 Hours Valencia Tourist Card   €15.00
• 48 Hours Valencia Tourist Card   €20.00
• 72 Hours Valencia Tourist Card   €25.00

Book 24, 48, 72-Hour Valencia Tourist Card:

Valencia Card

Take a city trip to Valencia, a charming city on the east coast of Spain and the third largest after Madrid and Barcelona. Valencia is a popular holiday destinations and every year thousands of tourists visit this coastal city and its attractive beaches. Purchase the Valencia Card and you are sure of a hassle-free city trip. This card allows you skip-the-line entry to popular attractions because you need not buy separate tickets for each museum or sight. What’s more, free public transport is also included in the card.

Valencia has a long history. The Romans founded the city in 138 BC and many Roman remnants can still be seen in Valencia. Valencia Cathedral and the Plaza del Ayuntamiento are both interesting places to visit. Did you know that Valencia is the birthplace of paella? Be sure to taste this culinary delicacy in one of the many paella restaurants in the city. Tapas are also very popular. They range from a simple bowl of olives to sophisticated shrimps in garlic or slow-cooked meat dish. Read on to see what is included in the Valencia Card.

Citytrip with the Valencia Card

With the Valencia Card in your pocket, you will not miss any of important sights in Valencia. This card is a sightseeing pass that has only advantages! The Valencia Card allows you to travel free on public transport: buses, metro and trams in zones ABCD and also L3 and L5 to and from the Valencia Airport. What’s more, this card allows free entry to municipal museums and monuments and discounts on another 20 museums, monuments and attractions such as the Almudín, the Casa Museo Blasco Ibánez, the Lonja de la Seda, the Tossal Galeria and the Rice Museum.

How to use the Valencia Card?

Purchase your Valencia Tourist Card online. After payment you will receive a voucher by e-mail. When in Valencia you exchange this voucher for a physical card which allows you to visit various attractions and sights. The pass is automatically validated when you use public transport or when you visit a museum or an attraction in Valencia. Select a pass that suits your needs: valid for 24 hours, 48 hours or 72 hours.

7 days Valencia Tourist Card

In addition to the 24, 48 or 72 hours Valencia Card you can opt for a 7-day Valencia Tourist Card. This card makes a longer stay in Valencia even more comfortable because you will have time to explore the city at leisure. Public transport is not included but this is not a disadvantage because a 90-minute bus tour of the sights of Valencia is included. Moreover, this card is cheaper than the other cards and still allows you free entry to more than 20 museums, sights and attraction.

Rated by 95 Happy Travelers!

Benefits of the valencia card.

A city trip to Valencia has never been so relaxed! The advantages the Valencia Card offer and numerous. You no longer need to buy single tickets at popular museums, monuments and other attractions in Valencia and you travel quickly from one attraction to the other by public transport. The list below shows all advantages and benefits of the Valencia Tourist Card. Valid at Almudin, Tossal Galeria, Lonja de la Sede, Museo del Arroz (Museum of Rice), Museo de Historia, Museo Fallero (Fallas-museum), Torres de Quart en Torres de Serranos.

Public Transport

Free public transport is included in your Valencia Card. This way you make the most of your city trip to Valencia. Free unlimited travel on bus, metro and tram ABCD as well as on L3 and L5 to and from Valencia Airport. Transport on regional buses is not included but a discount is offered. What’s more, you will get a discount on renting an electric bicycle and on taxi fares!

Entry to museums en attractions

With this card in your pocket you enjoy free entrance to more than 20 municipal museums, monuments and attractions, such as Almudín, Tossal Galeria, Lonja de la Seda, Museo Historico, Fallas Museum, Torres de Quart and Museo del Arroz (Rice Museum). In addition to these museums and monuments, there are many other places of interest that you can visit with the Valencia Card. This card ensures that your city trip to Valencia is a hassle-free experience!

Map and guide of Valencia

Your Valencia Card includes a map and guidebook. The map helps you to find your way in Valencia. The guidebook shows you the whole range of tourist services, restaurants and shops that offer discounts when presenting your Valencia Card.

Your Valencia Card not only includes free entry to national museums and monuments it also allows discounts up to 50% on participating museum, attractions, shops and restaurants. Simply show your Valencia card and enjoy discounts on the entrance fees: Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (15% discount), Bioparc (15% discount), Bus Turístico (12% discount), the palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas (50% discount) and the Cathedral (10% discount) and more. You also get discounts in selected restaurants and bars in Valencia.

The City of Valencia highlights

Valencia is steeped in history which is reflected in the imposing buildings and the historic centre. Valencia’s landmark is the Ciutat de les Arts and les Ciències, City of Arts and Sciences, a cultural entertainment complex composed of elegant modern buildings, designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Valencia has so much to offer and it is difficult to know where to start especially when your stay in Valencia is relatively short. Be sure to use public transport which whisks you effortlessly from one major sight to the next.

Musea in Valencia

Famous museums in Valencia include Galeria de la Plaza del Tossal, Museo del Arroz (Rice Museum), Museo de Historia and Fallas Museum (Museo Fallero). It depends on your personal interests which of these museums in Valencia you are going to visit. Some focus on the history of Valencia and Spain, others display paintings. Your Valencia Card includes free entry to the National museums.

Parks and Gardens in Valencia

Be sure to spend some time on the beaches on the Costa del Azahar and swim in the Mediterranean Sea. During the high seasons these beaches are crowded and hot but pleasant enough to while away a hot morning or afternoon. Come back in the evening, when the sun is down to enjoy the night life. If the beaches are too hot for you, spend some time in one of the parks or gardens in the centre of Valencia. Turia Park (Jardin del Turia) is 9 km long and situated in a dried-up river bed. Here you will find Bioparc, a zoo populated by African animals. Jardin Botánico is a 200-year old park and botanical garden with rare tropical vegetation. Jardines del Real is Valencia’s largest park and used to be part of the Royal Palace. Its continuation is Jardin de Montforte. A leisure walk through the parks is the perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Things to see and do in Valencia:

Plaza des Toros

Mercado Central

Lonje de la Seda

L’Oceanografic

Cathedral Valencia

Torres de Serranos

Ciutat de les Arts y les Ciencies

Purchase your valencia card online with ease:.

Valencia Transport

System messages

Getting Around

Valencia is a sustainable destination thanks to its excellent public transport network, which connects all neighbourhoods and major tourist areas. Although the city’s size allows you to get almost everywhere on foot or bike, for longer journeys, we recommend the underground, tram or bus.  Here is everything you need to know for your travel convenience – at the best price, while reducing emissions !  

How to get around in Valencia  

The city offers  60 bus lines, 5 metro lines and 4 tram lines, as well as  180 metropolitan bus routes and 6 commuter trains  to take you wherever you want. There is a connection to the airport, the center, the trendy neighborhoods, the beach, l'Albufera, local towns and all other points of interest.  

The whole city is connected!  

First stop: pick up a Valencia Tourist Card  

If you have decided to opt for public transport on your visit to Valencia, this card is the most convenient and affordable option. It offers unlimited trips for 24, 48 or 72 hours . It will be activated when you first use it (on a bus/train or other establishments), and you can use it as often as you want  on any of the  city and metropolitan bus lines, metro, tram and commuter trains . So forget about buying tickets and travel for less. 

The Valencia Tourist Card  includes the Valencia-Airport-Valencia route (metro lines 3 and 5), which by taxi would cost you around 15 euros each way. And you can also reach  l'Albufera, Port saplaya, El Puig, El Saler, Pinedo, Puçol and Sagunto with it. 

Plus, you get  free admission to city museums and monuments , discounts at leading tourist attractions and numerous stores in Valencia, and two tapas with free drinks. 

Valencia Tourist Card 24, 48 or 72 hours

Entry ticket to the Oceanografic and Valencia Tourist Card 72 hours

Valencia Tourist Card 72 hours and Entry to the Oceanografic, Science Museum and Hemisferic

Valencia Tourist Card 72 hours and Entry to Oceanogràfic, Science Museum, Hemisfèric and Bioparc

Bus: price, timetables and frequency .

If you have not purchased a Valencia Tourist Card , you have to pay for the ticket. You can buy a single ticket (1.5 euros) when boarding the bus or through the EMTicket app, a bus pass for €10.50 (€8.50 + €2 for the card), or the SUMA card for 10 trips on urban and intercity buses, metro, tram and suburban trains for €10 (€8 + €2 for the card). Both cards have to be activated when boarding the bus.  

The bus pass can be purchased at tobacconists, kiosks and EMT customer service offices, and it can be reloaded online at www.emtvalencia.es and in the EMTValencia app. Each trip is valid for one hour and allows unlimited transfers between EMT buses.

The SUMA10 card can be purchased at the ticket offices and self-serve machines in Metrovalencia and Renfe Cercanías stations, in kiosks, tobacconists and other usual points of sale of the ATMV sales network, and it can be reloaded through the RecargaSUMA app. Each trip is valid for 90 minutes. Transfers are only allowed within the same zone or for 110 minutes if traveling in different zones.

In Valencia, the buses run from 6.00 am to 10.00 pm. Average wait time is 12 minutes. Stops with a shelter have a panel informing passengers of the wait time for the next bus. The night bus service begins at 10 p.m., with different frequencies on 23 lines (4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 40, 60, 62, 63, 67, 70, 71, 72, 73, 81, 92, 93, 95, 98, 99, C1, C2 and C3).

Bus to L’Albufera Natural Park 

If you're planning to visit the lagoon, woods and paddy fields of the nature reserve, the best thing is that you can get there by bus! Municipal bus numbers 25 and 24 will take you to El Palmar and El Perellonet, respectively. If you're planning on a traditional boat ride on L’Albufera Lagoon, the Embarcadero and El Palmar stops are the closest. Buses on both lines run from 7.00 am to 10.00 pm. These buses also go through Pinedo, El Saler and El Perellonet, which boast spectacular natural beaches. 

Buses to visit nearby towns 

These are the typical yellow buses (Metrobus) that let you travel from Valencia to the main residential developments and shopping centers on the outskirts, as well as to most landmarks in the metropolitan area: Port saplaya, El Puig, El Saler, Pinedo, Puçol, Sagunto and more. 

With the Valencia Tourist Card, you can travel by Metrobus to all the stops in zones AB.

Download the EMT city bus app 

For your convenience, download the EMT Valencia app . The app can tell you how long it will be before the next bus; figure out how to get to any spot in Valencia; show you three route options; help you locate stops based on your location using GPS; and allow you to save your stops and locations as favourites to make it easier to use the app. Available for iOS and Android. 

City bus information

Underground and tram: price, timetables and frequency 

The underground and tram system offers 9 lines , which can be combined to get you anywhere you want in the city. A single underground ticket costs €1.50 for one zone, €2.80 for two zones, €4.80 for three zones. Your choice will depend on how much and where you want to travel. This price is in addition to €1 for the reloadable card. You can also purchase a bono SUMA (travel card) for €8 (plus €1 for the card). This includes 10 journeys and also allows you to transfer from the underground and tram to the bus, or vice versa. All these tickets can be purchased at underground or tram stations. Valencia underground and tram system map.  

Hours are 4.00 am to 11.30 pm on weekdays. On Fridays, Saturdays and holiday eves, the schedule is extended until 3 a.m. And since we’re always thinking about sustainability in Valencia, bikes are permitted in the carriages.  

A few of the stations are notable for their design. Among them is Alameda Station (underground lines 3 and 5), designed by internationally renowned Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava. The Amado Granell-Montolivet station is home to a spectacular mural by Valencian illustrator Paco Roca, 2018 National Comic Award winner. And at Colón Station, you can visit the Sala Lametro cultural exhibition space.

All about the Metro de Valencia underground system

Download the underground map

The pleasure of biking .

If you’d rather hop on a bike, Valencia will be a paradise for you. There are over 200 kilometres of bike lanes throughout the city. Additionally, you can ride along the old course of the River Turia, which has been converted into a bike-friendly garden running through the entire city centre.  

The city’s terrain is flat, ideal for pedalling, and motor vehicles are limited to a maximum speed of 30 kilometres per hour. This is a great help in terms of safety. The beaches, L’Albufera Natural Park and La Huerta agricultural area are all incredible spots and accessible by bike. You can purchase bike tours to visit different sights around the city or travel around on your own with bicycle hire. 

Cycling in Valencia

Bicycle hire

Guided bike tours

Learn about other travel options.

Taxis in Valencia

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Valencia Tourist Card: Is It worth Buying? Best Using Tips

Here we explore the Valencia Tourist Card, how to best use to explore Valencia, is it worth buying, and tips.

Table of Contents

What is Valencia Tourist Card?

The Valencia Tourist Card is a convenient and cost-effective way to explore the fantastic Valencia . The card provides free access to public transportation, including the metro, bus, and tram, as well as discounts on attractions, restaurants, and shops throughout the city. It’s a great option for visitors who want to see the sights of Valencia while also saving money on transportation and other expenses.

What to Expect? How to Get?

The Valencia Tourist Card is available in several different durations, from 24 hours up to 72 hours, and can be purchased online or at tourist offices throughout the city. The card can be picked up at the airport or at any tourist office, and comes with a map of the city and a guidebook with information on the attractions and discounts available.

In addition to free public transportation, the Card also provides discounts on a variety of attractions in the city, including museums, monuments, and tours. The card also provides discounts on restaurants and shops, making it a great way to save money on dining and souvenirs during your trip.

Valencia Tourist Card – 7 Days

This is a longer duration option for visitors who plan to spend a week or more in the city. The card provides free access to public transportation for 7 consecutive days, as well as discounts on attractions, restaurants, and shops. This option is great for visitors who want to take their time exploring Valencia and its many attractions without worrying about the cost of transportation.

24, 48, or 72-Hour Valencia Tourist Card

This is a shorter duration option for visitors who plan to spend a few days in the city. These cards provide free access to public transportation for 24, 48, or 72 consecutive hours, depending on which card you choose. They also provide discounts on attractions, restaurants, and shops, making them a cost-effective option for visitors who want to make the most of their time in Valencia.

Overall, both the 7 Days and the 24, 48, or 72-Hour Cards are great options for visitors to Valencia, depending on their travel plans and the amount of time they plan to spend in the city. The longer duration option is best for those who plan to stay in Valencia for a week or more, while the shorter duration options are great for those who plan to stay for just a few days.

No Regrets Booking Advice

Attractions.

Some of the top attractions that offer discounts with the Valencia Tourist Card include the City of Arts and Sciences , the Oceanogràfic aquarium , and the Bioparc Valencia zoo.

The card also provides discounts on guided tours of the city, including bike tours and Segway tours, as well as discounts on the hop-on , hop-off tourist bus .

How to Use?

Using the Valencia Tourist Card is easy – simply present the card at the ticket booth of any participating attraction or restaurant to receive your discount. To use the card on public transportation, simply touch it to the card reader when boarding the metro, bus, or tram, and the fare will be automatically deducted from your card balance.

Overall, the Valencia Tourist Card is a great option for visitors who want to explore the city while also saving money on transportation and other expenses. With its free public transportation and discounts on attractions, restaurants, and shops, it’s a convenient and cost-effective way to make the most of your trip to Valencia.

Is the Valencia Tourist Card worth it?

Whether or not the Valencia Tourist Card is worth it depends on your travel plans and budget. If you plan to do a lot of sightseeing and use public transportation frequently, the card can be a cost-effective option, as it provides free access to public transportation and discounts on attractions, restaurants, and shops.

The Card provides free access to public transportation, including the metro, bus, and tram, which can save you money if you plan to travel around the city frequently. In addition, the card provides discounts on many of the top attractions in Valencia, including the City of Arts and Sciences , the Oceanogràfic aquarium , and the Bioparc Valencia zoo.

If you plan to visit several of these attractions during your trip, the discounts provided by the card can add up and make it a worthwhile purchase.

However, if you plan to only visit a few attractions and won’t be using public transportation much, the card may not be worth the cost.

Additionally, some attractions may offer discounts for seniors, students, or children, which could be a better deal than the discounts provided by the Valencia Tourist Card.

It’s worth considering your travel plans and budget when deciding whether or not to purchase the Valencia Tourist Card.

If you plan to use public transportation frequently and visit many of the top attractions in Valencia, the card can be a convenient and cost-effective option. But if you have a more limited itinerary, it may not be the best choice for you.

Buy Your Valencia Tourist Card in advance Online

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Valencia Tourist Travel Guide

Valencia Travel Cards

Getting Around ~ Valencia Travel Cards

Valencia Travel Cards are a great way to get around and see the sights of Valencia.  With the  VLC Valencia Tourist Card you can enjoy unlimited, free public transport around the city (including the Valencia-Airport route) PLUS get great discounts on museums, leisure activities, shopping and restaurants.

•  One Day Travel

If you’re here for one day but need to use the transport then a T-1 ticket gives unlimited access to travel in the center of town .

• 2 – 3 Day Travel

T-2 and T-3  tickets

• Single Journey

Just buy a single ticket. One-way tickets for the bus cost €1.50 and are available from the driver.

For those with children don’t forget that each adult ticket also covers 2 children under the age of 6 to travel free.

METRO TRAVEL CARD

Valid for 10 journeys on the metro and available for all zones. You can buy one of these cards at metro stations and automatic vending machines. When you’ve finished using the card don’t throw it away as you can top it up for 7.35 euros.

You can also use one bonometro for more people. Just pass it to the person following you and they can scan it.

Prices : 10 trips start at €8.00  depending on which zone you need. Single ticket 1,50 €.

BONO TRAVEL CARD

Bonobus is valid for 10 journeys and can be used for EMT routes and the Metro.

• The card is validated when used for the first time. Price for 10 trips starts at €9.00.
• If you buy the 10 trips add another €2 for the card.
• Then when you run out of rides you can just top it up.
• You can only travel through the zones you have purchased so if you want to travel out of the center, it’s worth paying more for another zone.
• You can also use the bonobus travel card for more people.
• Just pass it to the person with you and they can scan it.

Connections made on the same route are excluded.

Price : 9,00 € / Valid: EMT and Metro zona A. Points of sale and top-up: tobacconists, authorised kiosks and Metro stations.

If you only want the card for the central zone and then want to travel to the airport by metro, you can buy a ticket at the metro station for €4.90.

T1 / T2 / T3

Unlimited travel for 1 person over 1, 2 or 3 days.  Recommended for visitors and tourists.

Valid: EMT and Metro zone A.

Unlimited travel for 1 person over 1, 2 or 3 days. Recommended for visitors and tourists.

Valencia Travel Cards will save you money and if you are coming for more than a couple of weeks it’s a good idea to buy the Abono transporte which is valid for a month.

For more than one day …

• It’s best to buy the T-2 or T-3 which are for two or three days respectively and are combined tickets valid for both the underground and buses.
• They are non-transferable as they permit unlimited journeys for one person. Cost between €4 and €9.70.

24, 48, 72-Hour Valencia Tourist Card

• The Valencia Tourist Card is your key to the city with 24, 48, or 72 hours of excellent discounts, free travel, and entrance to museums. Eat in restaurants, shop, take a tour–and get great savings all at once! The card is easy and quick to use.
• Get up to 50% in museums, leisure activities, shops, and restaurants for 24, 48, or 72 hours.
• The free public urban transport is within Valencia city, zone AB, including the traject Valencia-Airport-Valencia (L3, L5).
• The establishments that offer discounts on presentation of the Valencia Tourist Card are identified with a sticker.

The card is validated when it is used for the first time on public transport, or with a dated stamp that can be applied at the sales points. If validation is not possible, it can be validated at a point of use by filling in the expiry date in ink.

Note: Identity cards or passports must be shown for children in order to give them the City Card.

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Valencia travel blog — the fullest valencia guide for first-timers.

Dubbed the Orange City, Valencia – the Spain’s third largest city has its own a strange charm: Not too big to make you tire and not too small to make you bore. Valencia balances for a weekend trip, while also filling you up for a long vacation with many memorable experiences: Pristine beaches, wonderful climate, unique and vibrant culture, stunning architecture, delicious food, cheap cost… Exploring Valencia will definitely not disappoint you. So, what to do and how to plan a perfect budget trip to Valencia – the vibrant coastal city of Spain for the first-time? Let’s check out our Valencia travel blog (Valencia blog) with the fullest Valencia travel guide (Valencia guide, Valencia tourist guide) from how to get there, best time to come, where to stay, best places to visit and top things to do to find out the answer!

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Valencia travel blog: Overview of Valencia

Valencia (or València as the locals call it) is a city located in central and to the east of Spain, next to the deep blue Mediterranean Sea. Valencia is one of the few Mediterranean cities that still keep its language and long cultural traditions, music, dance, cuisine, handicrafts and unique local festivals. This is also home to attractive tourist attractions with many imprints of an ancient city with beautiful, winding cobblestone streets, a towering medieval fortress.

This place was originally built as a resting place for Roman soldiers after battles. Throughout its more than 2,000-year history, Valencia passed through the Roman period and from time to time was under the ruling of the Moors and the Spanish. This gives the city a special interference in architecture, cuisine, culture… Today, you can easily see Muslim buildings next to Christian buildings. Valencian cuisine also “remains” somewhere with the taste of the Moors, but not completely disappeared.

Once an independent country, Valencia has its own language that is still preserved today. If you know Spanish, listen to Valencian people talking to each other but don’t understand anything, plz don’t doubt your level! It’s not the dialect, they’re talking in Valencian.

Valencia travel blog: 5 reasons to visit Valencia

These are the 5 biggest reasons you should put Valencia on your travel “blucket list”:

• The year-round warm climate is the first reason many travelers choose to come to Valencia. Winters are still cold, but not as harsh as most other parts of Europe thanks to its prime geographical location next to Mediterranean Sea.
• The “divine” Spanish Paella dish originated in Valencia. Here you will enjoy the purest and most delicious Paella that is hard to find elsewhere.
• Vibrant festivals take place throughout the year. The most famous one is Las Fallas with giant effigies erected throughout the city. In addition, the weird tomato-throwing festival called La Tomatina in the nearby town of Buñol is a famous festival known around the world.
• Valencia has well-preserved, thousands and hundreds of years old heritage sites. Besides, there are super modern buildings – great gifts for those who love architecture.
• Unlike Madrid and Barcelona, ​​traveling to Valencia is quite cheap and very safe, a good choice when you are fed up with insecurity and expensive in other big cities (perhaps because the city is not too big, so pickpockets “do not like” this place too much, LOL).

Valencia travel blog: When to go?

With 300 sunny days a year, it can be said that it is always a good time to visit Valencia. However, the midsummer months (July and August) are very hot, the temperature can reach 40 degrees Celsius. You should avoid going to Valencia during this period.

In terms of climate, the months of spring to early summer (April – June) or late summer – autumn (September – October) have beautiful weather, the temperature not too high, warm enough to swim in the sea but not too harsh, it is the best time to visit Valencia.

In the middle of March, although it is still a bit cold, the very unique Las Fallas festival will take place, it is worth to wearing warm clothes to wandering around streets at midnight and take part in this unique exciting festival.

Valencia belongs to Spain. Spain belong to the Schengen area, so international tourists need a valid Schengen visa to come here. If you are living and studying in countries in this bloc, you can go without any matter!

Valencia guide: How to get to Valencia?

The fastest and most popular way to get to Valencia is by train from Madrid or Barcelona. Train tickets can be bought on the Renfe website of the national railway company. You can also travel from some other cities as shown in the table below:

Train ticket price list to Valencia:

Train lines depart from Madrid will running through Cuenca. If you have time, you should combine visiting this city with its impressive hanging houses!

If taking the high-speed trains (AVE), you will arrive at Valencia Joaquín Sorolla station. From here, you can walk to Jesús metro station or catch a transfer bus (free) to the Nord Station.

Other trains will stop at Nord Station, located next to the old town, which is very convenient to travel. From here you can catch the metro or bus to other areas.

If the train ticket is too expensive, you can travel to Valencia by bus, although it is slower but the price is quite cheap:

Avanza ( www.avanzabus.com ) / Tel: +34 902 02 00 52: Running 10 trips/day on the Madrid – Valencia route, costing about €17-35. Traveling time is about 4 hours. The traveling time of express and normal buses on this route are not much difference, just different in terms of amenities and ticket price.

ALSA ( www.alsa.es ) / Tel: +34 902 42 22 42: There are more than 15 bus trips per day on the Barcelona – Valencia route, the fare is about €6-35. Yes, only about €6 (if you buy early) you can comfortable to travel between these two cities. Traveling time is about 4-5 hours. Route Alicante – Valencia with more than 20 trips per day, fare €5-25, running time about 2 and a half hours. This bus company also operating buses from Almería, Benidorm, Granada, Málaga, Murcia, Sevilla and France (Marseille, Paris, Toulouse).

While Autobuses Jiménez, Bilman Bus, Hife, Autobuses Buñol, La Concepción, Autocares Herca, Travicoi connect Valencia with other cities and small towns.

Flixbus, Linebús, Eurolines and Starbus operating international routes from Portugal, Andorra, France, Belgium…

All buses stop at Valencia Bus Terminal (Estación de Autobuses de Valencia). From here, you can walk to El Carmen area or take bus no. 8 to get to the city center.

Blablacar and car

Blablacar rideshare service from Madrid and Barcelona to Valencia for about €15-30. Travel time from both cities is about 3-4 hours.

If you want to self-driving, Valencia has a modern network of motorways connecting to other cities:

• Highway A-3 Madrid – Valencia.
• The Mediterráneo AP-7 highway running from south to north along the length of the Mediterranean coast to Barcelona and then connects to the French motorway network.

The two ferry companies Trasmediterránea and Baleària operate ferries to Valencia from Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca and Algeria:

Unless you want to try a new experience, you should take the ferry because it is both time consuming and rarely offers promotions like flying. You can check ferries timetables, routes here .

There are many daily cheap flights from other cities in Europe and also from Morocco in Africa to Valencia. You can go to flight ticket hunting sites like Google Flight , Kayak , Skyscanner or Momondo to find tickets, very easy.

If there is no flight to Valencia from your stay, you can find a flight to Alicante, Barcelona or Madrid and then take a train or bus to Valencia. Although it will take more time, but you can take advantage of visiting these 2 cities.

Note: There is currently no direct flight from Vietnam or other Southeast Asian countries to Valencia. You can fly to major cities in Europe and then fly to Valencia.

Getting from airport city center

Valencia has only one airport called Aeroport de Valencia (VLC), about 10Km from the center. When searching for airline tickets, you just need to fill in the name of the city, no need to worry about buying the wrong ticket to other distant airports.

There are two easiest ways to travel between the airport and the city center are bus and metro:

• Bus: Bus no. 150 runs between the airport and the city center in about half an hour. The two main bus stops in the center are Ángel Guimerà and Avenida Barón de Carcer, 26. Ticket price is €1.45.
• Metro: Metro lines 3 and 5 connect the airport and the city center in about 20 minutes. There is a trip every 15 minutes. The single ticket price is €3.90 but you should not buy this ticket but should use the TuiN card for only €2 or go for free with the Valencia Tourist Card. The main metro stations in the center are Ángel Guimerà, Xàtiva and Colón.

For more details about vehicle types, stations, timetables, prices… you can refer here .

Valencia travel blog: Getting around Valencia

Most of the main attractions are located in the old town. So, even though it is the 3rd largest city in Spain, you can fully explore Valencia on foot or by bicycle. If you want to rent a bicycle, you can refer Valenbisi rental service at a very economical rental price.

3 popular public transport when traveling to Valencia are bus (EMT), tram and metro. To buy tickets, you need to buy a Móbilis Card and then “top-up” the tickets you want to use.

To get to the sea and harbour, the best way is to take a combination of metro and tram. Single ticket price of €1.50. If you traveling by metro and tram a lot, you should buy a 10-journey ticket Bonometro (10-trip ticket) (€7.60) or a top-up TuiN Card (each trip in zone A only costs €0.76).

If you want to go to Albufera to watching sunset, you can take bus number 24 or 25 (these two routes are the same, only in the last section is divided into two different directions). Bus fare is €1.50/way, Bonobús 10-journey ticket costs €8.50.

Also, you can take the Hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour for 24 or 48 hours. This bus tour will take you to main tourist attracions with unlimited travel times within its time frame.

• Valencia: 24 or 48-Hour Hop-on Hop-off Bus Ticket

To be able to use a combination of bus, tram and metro, you can buy a 10-journey ticket Bono Transbordo (€9.00) or a Valencia Tourist Card.

Valencia Tourist Card

With this card you can travel for free with all Valencia public transport (bus, tram, metro) and get discounts to access, visit many tourist attractions, shopping, restaurants, and tourism services in Valencia. Cards cost €15, €20 and €25 respectively for 24, 48 and 72 hours. The 7-day pass, excluding transportation, costs €12. If you travel, visit or shop a lot, you should consider using these cards to save money.

• Valencia: 24, 48, or 72-Hour Valencia Tourist Card

Buy online to get 10% off card price. To learn more about Valencia Tourist Card and buy it online, you can refer here .

Valencia travel blog: Where to stay?

When renting an accommodation in Valencia, you can choose the following areas depending on the purpose of your trip:

• If you traveling to Valencia by plane, you should find accommodation near the stops that metro lines 3 and 5 pass, especially the 3 stations of Ángel Guimerà, Xàtiva and Colón. These stations are located close to the old town, so it is very convenient to travel and visit.
• The areas around Ciutat Arts I Ciencies (City of Arts and Sciences) are for travelers who love the modernity. However, this area does not have metro, you can only use bus or taxi.
• Area near the sea: Of course for visitors who want to sunbathe and swim in the sea. There are many restaurants, bars and pubs suitable for partygoers. From here you can take tram or bus to the city center.
• Albufera area: Quite inconvenient for travel, only bus lines 24 and 25 connect to the center. However, there are many beautiful scenes here, wild beaches and even nude beaches. Albufera is also the place to watch the most beautiful sunset in Valencia.
• The Cabanyal area is being cleared, so it is quite complicated, you should not rent accommodation in this area.

In terms of cost, the room rates in Valencia is quite cheap, from only €12 you can find beds in hostels. Double rooms cost from €30 with a convenient location, not too far away like other big cities.

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• Hotel Las Arenas Balneario Resort ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ).
• Venecia Plaza Centro ( Booking.com ).
• Hotel Ilunion Aqua 4 ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ).
• Hotel Kramer ( Booking.com ).
• Hotel Melia Valencia ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Check out more top rated and best hotels in Valencia on Agoda.com or Booking.com .

Valencia blog: What to to and where to go?

Old town and plaza de la virgen (valencia cathedral).

Wandering around the old town will give you the feeling of stepping back in time with its well-preserved hundreds of years old buildings. The most prominent of these are probably Valencia Cathedral of Plaza de la Virgen. It is the soul of the city, with a combination of Gothic, Baroque and Neo-Classical architecture. Not only a church, this place is also a museum with many special masterpieces.

Visiting Valencia Cathedral, do not forget to find a small chapel inside the cathedral that preserved the original of the Holy Grail (The Holy Chalice of Valencia), which is said to have been used by Jesus at the Last Supper and if you climb up 207 steps of the Miguelete belltower, you will be able to enjoy a 360 degree panoramic view of the city.

One of the Cathedral’s treasures are the Renaissance frescoes of the main altar, which were rediscovered ten years ago by removing the Baroque vaults that covered them.

Address: Plaça de l’Almoina, s/n, 46003 València, Valencia, Spain Architect: Pere Compte Opened: June 23, 1262

Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences)

In stark contrast to the ancient look of the old town, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias complex with super modern architecture will overwhelm visitors. Splendid, magnificent, unique works make you think of sci-fi movies about the future. But everything here is real, you can see, touch to feel with all the senses. It includes a cinema with widescreen, planetarium and laser light projection room.

The project was inaugurated in 1998 by architect Santiago Calatrava – a Valencian resident. The cinema L’Hemisferic with 13,000m² is twice as large as Europe’s largest planetarium, the fancy design is modeled on the model of a giant eye, with the cinema room as the pupil. L’Hemisferic’s dome has an eyelid-like structure that can be closed or opened. This cinema officially opened in 1998 to serve exhibitions on science and art of the city of Valencia.

This complex is an open area, you can walk around for free. Only when you want to enter the buildings do you have to buy tickets.

Address: Av. del Professor López Piñero, 7, 46013 València, Valencia, Spain

Experience 2 World Heritage Sites

Valencia owns 2 World Heritage Sites that you cannot miss in your Valencia trip:

La Lonja (Silk Exchange Market): A group of buildings with Gothic architecture from the 16th century. This was once the largest silk trading market in Europe.

Water Court: Intangible cultural heritage from the 8th-13th centuries, still taking place regularly every week.

Garden of the Turia

The Jardines del Túria (Garden of the Turia) was once a river but has since been transformed into a huge park. You can take a walk or cycling along this park to reach the complex of Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias.

Address: Av. de Manuel de Falla, s/n, 46018 València, Valencia, Spain Hours: Open 24 hours

From the center, you can take the tram to reach Malvarrosa or Cabanyal beach. These are 2 beaches near the city, so there are all services to serve visitors. Because of this, these 2 beaches are always overloaded in the summer, so I don’t like it very much.

To avoid crowds, you should take a bus to the southern beaches outside the city like Autocine, El Saler, which are very deserted and clean. Note that in addition to the fresh water shower, there are no restaurants here, so you need to bring your own food and water.

Valencia National Ceramics Museum

González Martí National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Arts is housed in a 15th-century palace that has been reconstructed in the Rococo architectural style. The entrance in front of the door is highlighted by a statue of the Virgin Mary, water gushing from the statue’s hands. The museum houses and introduces visitors to traditional ceramic products from different locations, including Greek, Arabic, Roman and prehistoric times.

Address: Carrer del Poeta Querol, 2, 46002 València, Valencia, Spain Hours: 10AM–2PM, 4–8PM/Monday: Closed Founded: February 7, 1947

Bioparc Zoo

If you are a nature and animal lover, you should not miss the opportunity to visit the Bioparc Zoo. This zoo was built in 2008 and is located along the Turia gardens. Currently, this zoo is the habitat of many different animals, including many rare and precious wildlife species native to Africa.

Address: Av. Pío Baroja, 3, 46015 València, Valencia, Spain Hours: 10AM–7PM Notable animals: Hope, Ebo, Vito, Mohr, Apollo, Juanita

Plaza de Ayuntamiento

A place that is considered the heart of Valencia city that you should visit is Plaza de Ayuntamiento Square. This is a beautiful large square located right in the heart of city center. Surrounding the square are many important structures and buildings such as the Cinematography Institute and Teatro Rialto (Rialto Theater), Valencia City Hall and the post office, etc. In the middle of the square is a circular fountain, a statue of the hero of Valencia, Francesc de Vinatea. This square also where regularly takes place many important events and exciting festivals in Valencia. Therefore, this is always one of the busiest and busiest areas of Valencia city.

L’Oceanografic Aquarium

Oceanogràfic is the largest aquarium in Europe. It’s a Valencia tourist attraction that shows true homage to our planet’s sea and ocean. L’Oceanografic Outdoor Oceanographic Institute in water lily-shaped architecture covering an area of 110,000 square meters with glass tunnels, containing more than 11 million gallons of water, gathering 45,000 marine life of 500 species, such as sharks, white whales, seals, dolphins, penguins… The aquarium is divided geographically into ten different parts, from the North Pole to the equator.

• Oceanogràfic Valencia Entrance Ticket

Address: Carrer d’Eduardo Primo Yúfera, 1B, 46013 València, Valencia, Spain Hours: 10AM–6PM

El Cabanyal Neighborhood

As a famous tourist attraction located on the coast of La Malvarrosa. It is located on the east side of the city, where houses are clustered with colorful ancient architecture and impressive paintings on the walls.

Central Market

Valencian cuisine has much to be proud of and you can find it all at the Central Market with full of local products from fruit, seafood to crafts, souvenirs as well as Mediterranean flavors.

Albufera National Park

The most perfect place to enjoy nature when traveling to Valencia is the Albufera National Park. This is an area with large lakes, deserted beaches, rice fields and a place to watch stunning sunset. Albufera is also the cradle of legendary dish Paella, come and feel the fatty taste of this unique dish!

Bologfera Natural Park is 10 km from the city, here you can watch the dreamy sunset, take a boat ride. Like an oasis surrounded by rice fields and forests. You should visit it if you want to learn the origins of Valencian cuisine.

Visit El Palmar and try some of the typical dishes, such as all-i-pebre and llisa adobada. Enjoy food in a new way by learning about its origins. Stroll along six of the possible walking routes in the nature park, spot birds and aquatic plants, and have a real fishing experience in the largest lake area in Spain.

Address: mata de l’antina,, Valencia, Spain Established: July 23, 1986

Las Fallas Festival

Las Fallas, the biggest festival in the city, takes place in mid-March every year. Ninots of all sizes erected throughout the city from March 15 to the night of March 19 will be burned. The festival attracts many visitors from all over the world.

If you like festivals, noise and bustle, you should go to see Las Fallas, and if you like quiet, you should stay away because it is super noisy. Some Valencians even have to move away to avoid noise during festival time.

If you do not have the opportunity to go to Valencia in time for Las Fallas, you can go to the Museo Fallero (Fallas Museum) to admire the works that are kept every year.

Valencia travel blog: What and where to eat?

Like everywhere else in Spain, restaurants in Valencia are open very late. Lunch time at 2pm and dinner time at 9pm. Restaurants and bars open about 1 hour before this time frame. Some restaurants that cater to tourists open all day, but you should not eat at these places because the food are quite expensive and not very tasty.

The tap water in Valencia is said to be potable, but it’s usually hard to drink because it tastes weird. You should buy large bottles of water at supermarkets at a very cheap price of only €1/8l bottle, then extract it into a small bottle, bring and drink it gradually.

Must-try dishes in Valencia

Legend has it that Valencia is the birthplace of the famous Paella, a type of rice cooked with seafood or chicken and rabbit. I really like this dish. A lot of eateries in Valencia serve paella, but the quality is vary. People often say “Paella in Valencia is both delicious and has the best taste” and often forget the following sentence “but that doesn’t mean paella in other places is bad and every restaurant in Valencia is good”. Therefore, you should research carefully to find the best place to eat.

You can try paella at Barraca Toni Montoliu , Casa Roberto or Casa Carmela with “confirmed” quality.

A variation of paella, prepared similarly but replacing rice with small pasta is also loved by many locals.

Horchata (orxata)

A famous Valencia specialty drink made from chufa tubers grown right in the surrounding fields. Traveling to Valencia in the summer without trying this drink is a big omission. In terms of form and method of making, it is quite similar to make soy milk in Vietnam. Spanish love sweets, so horchata is usually added a lot of sugar and so sweet. Personally, I prefer unsweetened horchata because it has a very good taste, not overwhelmed by the sweetness.

Do not drink horchata from street food vendors because it is not very tasty, go to stalls specialize selling horchata called horchateria to enjoy. If you don’t mind going far, head to Alboraia, where the best chufas are grown with many famous horchaterias.

Agua de Valencia

Agua de Valencia is a popular local drink, made from water, cava (sparkling wine), orange juice, gin and vodka, quite attractive.

Tinto de verano

Tinto de verano is not a typical drink of Valencia, but in the middle of a hot summer afternoon, sitting at a restaurant by the beach, sipping its sweet and passionate taste, it is worth a try.

Where to eat?

The secret to eat cheap and delicious when traveling to Valencia in particular and the whole of Spain in general is to find lunch sets (called Menú del Día) for only about €10 including 2 main dishes, drinks and dessert. Make sure to eat full and sit in a restaurant.

The place with the most restaurants and the most affordable prices is the Barrio de Carmen area. Here there are many shops with different styles for you to choose from.

If you are tired of Western food, you can go to the Chinese area (on the “side” of the Valencia Nord station) to find Asian food at very cheap and diverse food.

Some restaurant I really like:

Mattilda (Carrer de Roteros, 21, 46003 Valencia): This restaurant has a pretty good paella lunch menu, but it only serves from 2 people or more.

Restaurante Taberna Gallega (Gran Via de les Germanies, 9, 46006 Valencia): This restaurant specializes in Galician region cuisine. It looks ugly from the outside but the food is extremely delicious, the price is super cheap, only €10 for a set meal (dinner with the same price as lunch). Moreover, this price includes wine. And really good wine, not a booze that doesn’t want to be tasted. The first time I ate at this restaurant, I was so fascinated that dinner, I came back to eat again in the evening, and continued drinking because it was irresistible.

Horchateria Toni (Carrer Colon, 11, 46120 Alboraia): Easily accessible by metro. The horchata and ice cream here are delicious.

Horchateria Toni (Av. l’Horta, 1, 46120 Port Saplaya): The same owner as the shop above, so the quality of horchata is the same. This shop is quite far when reach by bus, but it has a very good location close to the beach and right next to the small Venice area – Port Saplaya is very beautiful. My favorite dish in this shop is not horchata but super delicious chestnut ice cream.

Some tips to save budget when eating in Valencia

When traveling to Valencia, you can temporarily forget about buying home-cooked food to save money. The reason is that food in Valencia is very cheap and varied, it can be said that you can find food at any price. These are 2 most economical ways but you can still enjoy local cuisine:

Takeaway shops are very popular with people. These places often have Plato del Día (dish of the day) for only about €2.5. Other dishes are usually from €3-4/part and guarantee full. However, these stores are not located in the center, but only in residential and student areas, most of which are in Bernimaclet. If you see a place where food is displayed in a glass cabinet with the word “Para Llever” (takeaway food), you can go in and eat delicious and cheap right away.

If you want to saving more and more, you can go to supermarkets to find ready-made meals for only €2/box, with all kinds of food. Take it home to warm up in the microwave for a few minutes and you will have a delicious hot meal. It’s not great, but it’s not bad.

Valencia travel blog: Entertainment and nightlife in Valencia

Valencia has a wide variety of entertainment activities with live music, theatre, events, sports, cinemas… You can find daily updated information at the tourist offices or via websites: Love Valencia , AU, Hello, Cartelera Turia .

Valencia’s two main football teams are Valencia CF and Levante UD. If you like football, you can go to the Mestalla stadium or the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia to watch a match to satisfy your eyes.

Valencia blog: Traveling cost

As you can see above, the cost of traveling to Valencia is inexpensive. Except for the tickets to get to Valencia, every day here you only need to spend about €40 to be able to explore comfortably. The longer you stay, the more benefits you get with daily and weekly tickets. If you only eat with food buy from supermarkets or takeaway food and don’t use transportation, it can be even cheaper.

But anyway, don’t save too much, sometimes spending money to have fun is also bring memorable experiences.

Valencia travel blog: Some notes before you go

• Although it is a safe city, vigilance is needed. Don’t leave your belongings careless or careless about money.
• If you ride a bicycle, lock it properly. Repeat: Lock your bike well. Although it’s safe for visitor, but vehicle is not safe at all, be careful.
• Choosing a place to stay that suits your needs, tourists often stay near the old town for easy sightseeing.
• Always keep your travel tickets carefully to avoid losing them. If found without tickets or invalid tickets will be fined up to €100.
• Most attractions are closed on Mondays, so if you come to Valencia on this day, you should go to the beach or head to Albufera area.
• Don’t be afraid to communicate with strangers. Valencia is quite safe and the people are very friendly, so don’t worry too much when someone starts a conversation. As long as you are not too gullible, you will be fine, sometimes you will even find new friends.

Valencia blog: Summary of budget tips when traveling to Valencia

• Book in advance for all pre-bookable services to get the best price: Air tickets, trains, accommodation, Valencia Tourist Card…
• If you only take the metro/tram, use the TuiN Card.
• Buy 10-journey tickets, daily tickets or Valencia Tourist Card to save on travel costs.
• Maybe consider taking a taxi or Uber if traveling in a group.
• Rent a Valenbisi bike and change your bike every 30 minutes instead of renting by day.
• If you go in a large group, you can try AirBnB with family apartments.
• Take advantage of visiting places for free. Lots of attractions are free on Saturday and/or Sunday mornings before 2pm.
• If you visit a lot, you should buy a Valencia Tourist Card to get a discount on ticket prices. Remember to buy online to get 10% off.
• Buy meals at the supermarket or at takeaway stores.

Above are my “secrets” to have an economical trip to Valencia and many memorable experiences. Hope this article helps you get the best information to plan your trip. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to comment!

Valencia blog: Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Valencia you can refer to

• City of Arts and Sciences Tickets in Valencia
• Valencia Old Town Walking Tour With Tapas Experience
• Valencia Segway Tours
• Bike Tour in Valencia
• Valencia City of Arts and Sciences Tour with Rooftop Wine and Tapas
• Valencia: Catamaran Cruise with Swim Stop
• Valencia: Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Sparkling Wine
• Valencia: Sunset Catamaran Crusie with Cocktail
• Valencia: 3-Hour Guided Bike Tour
• Valencia: 48-Hour Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus & Oceanogràfic Ticket
• Valencia: Pub Crawl With Free Shots
• Valencia: Catamaran Cruise with Drink

Are you looking for more top things to do in Valencia: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here . And Spain here .

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Valencia Travel Guide

Tickets and passes for public transport in Valencia

In Valencia, there are many transport ticket options valid for buses, trams, and the metro. Some of them are combined, while others don’t share the same fare system. Here we’ll help you choose the option that best fits your needs.

Public transport discounts - 1st September to 31st December 2022

The Valencian government has introduced a discount on multi-journey transport passes.

The discounts bring the price of a SUMA 10 pass down to €5.60 (one zone), €8.40 (two zones), and €14.00 (three zones).

Bonobus tickets are brought down to €6.00.

Single tickets for metro, trams, and buses remain the same.

Free Transport Under 30 - 9th October - 31st December 2022

Free public transport (metro, trams, and buses) is available in Valencia for people under 30 years old.

To benefit from this initiative, users have to request their free transport card online. The only prerequisite is a Spanish DNI or NIE as proof of age.

There are a few factors to take into consideration when choosing your ticket or pass. You should, for example, consider the duration of your stay, the number of times you plan to use the services, and which of them you will be using most.

Remember that Valencia is a great city to explore on foot and that it is also extremely bike-friendly , with an extensive bike-lane presence. That’s why we recommend alternating public transport with walking tours in the city centre.

To help you explore Valencia we have created our own selection of itineraries.

Public transport zones

For public transport use, the city is divided into three concentric areas ( zonas in Spanish) and one overlap area. The majority of tickets and passes come in different zone-coverage options. Here you have an explanation of the different areas so that you can make the best choice with regards to your transport ticket.

• Zone A is the biggest and most central one. It covers the city with its most important sightseeing spots, the old centre, the newer and trendy neighbourhoods, as well as the beach. The tram service runs mainly in this area. You will most likely be moving around zone A on your visit.
• Zone A-B is the overlap area. Its function is to keep prices low for those that travel between bordering zones. People moving from these areas to the nearby zones A or B (and vice versa) will be able to get single-zone tickets. The municipalities belonging to this area are those of l’Horta - the larger urban area of Valencia.
• Zone B is the area directly around A. It covers mostly small towns and municipalities belonging to the metropolitan areas of Camp de Turia (northeast of the city), Camp de Morvedre (north of the city), and Ribera (south of the city). You are not likely to visit this area, as it is of little tourist interest.
• Zone C is equivalent to the airport. It serves the purpose of separating the airport from all other areas.

What ticket should you choose?

The discounts bring the price of a SUMA 10 pass (valid for metro, tram, buses, and railways) down to €5.60 (one zone), €8.40 (two zones), and €14.00 (three zones).

To help you choose the best ticket, here is a brief overview of available options. These are not all the available ticket and pass options, but they are the most interesting for tourists.

For example, there are monthly pass options (like SUMA Mensual and SUMA Mensual Jove ). These have not been included, as you are not likely to need passes for that long, and obtaining them requires an appointment and documents.

More information about each option can be found in the other sections of this article.

*Children under 10 may travel free of charge while accompanied by an adult with a valid transport ticket. A maximum of 2 children per adult is allowed.

If you still have a Bonometro or Bono Trasbordo (old transport passes, no longer available), you can still use them. They will be valid for another six months, starting January 31st, 2022.

You can also load your SUMA passes (except the monthly options) on a Móbilis card, either plastic or cardboard.

Remember to always validate your travel card. Normally, in underground metro stations, you will find turnstile gates at entrance and exit points. You will need to tap your ticket or transport card on the red circle in order to open the swinging barriers and access the platforms. You will also need to tap on your way out with the same ticket.

However, in some above-ground stations (often located in the outskirts of the city), you will find free access to the platforms. This doesn’t mean you don’t have to tap your card. You must tap your card on the column-like access control devices (they have the same red circle as the other kind).

If you don’t do this and metro security checks your card, you will be fined. On the bus and at tram stations, you only need to validate once.

People with severe disabilities (equal to or greater than 64% who require the care of someone for their displacement) can be accompanied by a person with the same transport title, provided they can prove their disability.

Our recommendations

If you don’t plan on using public transport more than three times a day, we would recommend using the 10-journey SUMA card.

The card is valid all across metro , bus , and suburban train services. It is a great option because it has virtually no expiration date, and it is not personal. This means they can be used by more people (up to 15), even on the same journey.

Another great pass is the Valencia Tourist Card (VTC). This discount card will give you free public transport (bus, metro, tram) in all zones, as well as discounts and free entries to many tourist sites. Just keep in mind that the VTC is only valid for 24, 48, or 72 hours, depending on the one you choose.

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Characterised by its early 20th century buildings, Plaza del Ayuntamiento is one of the most important squares and meeting points in Valencia.

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A nightly appointment for all Valencians under Fallas, when the sky shatters into droplets of light and glistening colours

The Ultimate Guide to Using the Public Transport in Valencia

Traveling to Valencia and planning to use public transport to move around? Valencia’s public transportation system is a network of metros, trams, buses, bike lanes, and ride-sharing services. This network is highly efficient, safe, and clean, making it easy to reach almost any part of the city in under 30 minutes.

In this article, I’ll cover all the different modes of transport available, what types of tickets you can use, each service’s operating hours, and some insider tips to help you have a smooth and enjoyable experience.

In This Article

What is the best way to get around in Valencia?

Taking the metro and tram in valencia.

    Benefits of using the metro in Valencia

    Metro and tram zones

    Metro and tram operating hours

    How to buy a metro or tram ticket

    Types of metro tickets available

    How to validate your metro ticket in Valencia

    Good to know when using the metro in Valencia

Using the bus in Valencia

    Bus lines

    How to pay for the bus in Valencia

    Types of bus tickets available

    Good to know when using the bus in Valencia

Biking in Valencia

    Bike sharing

    Bike subscription

    Bike rental and tours

Ride-hailing services in Valencia

    Hailing a taxi

    Cabify and Uber Taxi

The best way to get around Valencia is by metro . The underground metro system in Valencia is inexpensive, fast, reliable, and clean. It reaches the airport and various neighborhoods but also connects Valencia with the nearby villages.

However, you cannot go everywhere by metro and sometimes you’ll have to take the bus . The bus network is more extensive and reaches all neighborhoods. You can also take a bus to go to a number of villages and commercial centers outside Valencia.

Biking is another great alternative to the underground metro, having a huge advantage in that it’s environmentally friendly. There are over 175 km of bike lanes all over Valencia and you can even go on day trips outside Valencia by bike .

Last but not least, taxis and ride-sharing services really come in handy when you have a lot of luggage or need a ride at night, outside of the metro’s operating hours.

As you can see, the best public transport method in Valencia depends on where and when you want to travel.

If you are only visiting Valencia for a few days, you’ll likely not need to use public transport more than on a handful of occasions.

Valencia is a very walkable city and depending on where you’re staying, you might be able to walk pretty much anywhere and have little need for public transport.

If you want to avoid using public transport as much as possible, I recommend staying in the Old Town. This way, most tourist attractions will be within walking distance from your accommodation.

When staying in the Old Town, you’ll only need to take public transport to go to the beach, the El Cabanyal neighborhood, the City of Arts and Sciences, and Bioparc. If you have time to spare and don’t mind a long stroll, the last two are also reachable on foot from the city center.

If you haven’t booked your accommodation yet, check out the best neighborhoods to stay in Valencia as well as the top boutique hotels in Valencia .

Both metros and trams in Valencia are part of the same network, called MetroValencia. There are 10 lines – 6 metro lines (lines 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9) and 4 tram lines (lines 4, 6, 8, 10).

Trams and metros in Valencia are a clean, fast, reliable, and inexpensive way of moving around the city. All coaches are air-conditioned.

Service frequency is 10 minutes on average but it varies greatly between individual lines and the time of the day. Usually, several metro lines share the same stops and routes in the city center, often reducing the service frequency to 5 minutes, especially during rush hour.

As a consequence, the metro in Valencia is rarely crowded to the level that it feels uncomfortable.

Benefits of using the metro in Valencia

There are a number of benefits to using a metro in Valencia.

• Kids under 10 travel for free (up to 2 kids per adult)
• You can take your e-scooter or folded bike on the metro or tram. Unfolded bikes can only be taken on board on overground segments of the MetroValencia network and on underground segments on weekends only
• Assistance dogs, as well as small animals, such as cats and small dogs, can travel on the metro in a closed carrier
• Metro and tram stops are announced well in advance, so you don’t risk missing your stop

Metro and tram zones

Valencia’s metro and tram network is divided into three zones. Zone A, B, and the airport.

Zone A covers the entirety of the city of Valencia and several nearby villages. If you are only visiting Valencia for a few days, this is the zone you are interested in.

Zone B covers a bunch of villages that are further away from the city. Metro lines reaching these villages run at a low frequency – 1 or 2 per hour.

A third zone, which appears as zone C or + on MetroValencia maps consists exclusively of the Aeroport metro stop. The metro fare to the airport is a bit higher (€4.80), however, the airport is located only 10 km from Valencia city center or 25 minutes from the city center.

Metro and tram operating hours

Each metro and tram line operates on a slightly different schedule. For this, it’s best to check the exact timetable for the route you’re interested in.

As a general rule of thumb, metros and trams in Valencia stop pretty early. Which is surprising for a city that goes to sleep so late.

To give you an idea, trams, and metros in Valencia start running around 6 AM .

From Sunday to Thursday, the last service is somewhere a little after 10 PM . On Fridays, Saturdays, and public holidays, however, trams and metros run until almost 3 AM, with a maximum of 3 services per line per hour after midnight.

How to buy a metro or tram ticket

Metro and tram tickets can be bought at any metro station and on tram platforms.

You can use the vending machines to buy single tickets or Móbilis travel cards .

For single journeys, you can also pay directly with your credit card, smartwatch, or mobile phone, without the need to purchase a Móbilis card. This option is currently being implemented and might not be available in all metro stations yet.

The vending machines offer multiple language options, and you can easily switch between them by tapping on the small flags displayed on the screen.

In popular transport hubs such as Àngel Guimerà, Xàtiva, and Colón there’s always somebody to help you with your purchase.

You can pay in cash or by card .

When you purchase your first Móbilis travel card, you will be charged €1 extra for the paper card or €2 extra for the plastic, more durable card.

When the number of journeys on your card runs out, you reuse it by topping it up.

If you want to see how many journeys you have left, you can do so by simply inserting your card into the smaller card readers available in metro stations.

Types of metro tickets available

Several types of tickets and passes are available, which can be confusing. Here I’ll only highlight 3 of them, which I believe are the most useful for someone visiting or even living in Valencia , but who doesn’t use public transport on a daily basis.

Note: A temporary financial aid is currently in place until December 31st, 2023 . This means you’ll get a 50% discount on all SUMA 10 and TuiN card purchases . The prices shown in the article are the normal prices.

• Single ticket – €1.50 per journey within zone A and €4.80 for going to the airport (there are no discounts for round trip tickets)
• SUMA 10 – €0.80 per journey within zone A. This is a multi-ticket rechargeable card. The minimum top-up amount is €8. It is zone specific – once you top it up, you can only use it to travel within that particular zone. It can be used on MetroValencia, EMT, MetroBus, and RENFE Cercanías (basically, on the entirety of Valencia’s public transportation network).
• TuiN card – €0.80 per journey within zone A and €2 for going to the airport. This is a multi-ticket rechargeable card. The minimum top-up amount is €5. It can only be used on the MetroValencia network (metro and tram). The biggest advantage of this card is that it can be used in multiple zones.

Important: Both the SUMA 10 and TuiN cards can be used for groups of up to 15 people traveling together. This is important because you can purchase one card for your whole party.

How to validate your metro ticket in Valencia

Remember to always validate your ticket before getting on the metro or tram. If you fail to do this, you risk a fine. You might also have to tap your ticket on the way out.

Validating your ticket on the way in

Underground stations in the city center usually have full-panel ticket gates. To open the gates, tap your ticket or transport card on the red circle.

Most tram stops in Valencia, as well as some above-ground metro stations (often on the outskirts of the city), have free access to the platforms. Here too, you’ll have to tap your card on the red circle before getting on the metro or tram.

Tapping your ticket on the way out

On your way out you’ll also have to tap your ticket. But there are some exceptions.

When using the metro, you always have to tap your ticket on your way out, whether there’s a turnstile gate or not, to avoid being overcharged.

When using the tram, however, if there’s no turnstile gate, you don’t need to validate your travel card when you get off, since all tram stops are in zone A. But, if there is a turnstile gate, you’ll have to validate your ticket for the gates to open.

Tip: If you have several travel cards, remember to use the same one to validate both on your way in and on your way out.

Good to know when using the metro in Valencia

Here are some practical tips for using the metro in Valencia.

• The maximum travel time per journey is 90 minutes from the moment you validate your ticket (within one travel zone). During this time, you can transfer between tram and metro lines as needed
• You can only travel in the zone your title is valid for
• Metro lines 3 and 5 connect the airport to the city center
• Metro line 5 also connects the airport to the seaside neighborhoods. If your accommodation is close to the beach, change to tram line 6 or 8 at Marítim. You’ll have to tap your ticket again at Marítim – you won’t be charged extra
• Get off at either Àngel Guimerà, Xàtiva, Colón, or Alameda station for the city center
• No metro line goes all the way to the beach. For Playa del Cabanyal, take tram lines 4, 6, or 8. For Playa de la Malvarrosa, take tram lines 4 or 6.
• To go to the City of Arts and Sciences, take tram line 10 from the city center

Valencia has an extensive bus network that reaches all neighborhoods. Buses in Valencia are clean, comfortable, safe, and a great way to travel if you want to enjoy the cityscape . All buses in Valencia have air conditioning.

Valencia is served by two types of buses – EMT city buses (red) and MetroBus buses (yellow) . The latter connects Valencia with the nearby villages and commercial centers on the outskirts of the city.

Using the bus in Valencia is a great option if you want to reach a part of the city that doesn’t have a metro or tram stop nearby.

But using the bus comes with a few limitations to take into consideration.

• Bus journeys typically take longer than metro rides
• The duration of bus trips is dependent on traffic conditions
• Buses usually tend to be more crowded compared to the metro, particularly during peak hours

Below I’ll be talking about EMT city buses only.

EMT has a fleet of nearly 500 buses. Many of them are hybrid electric.

There are 45 bus lines operating in the city during the day. The frequency of the service varies between individual lines.

During peak times many lines have a frequency of approximately 10 minutes . But they tend to be less frequent very early in the morning and late at night, as well as during weekends and on public holidays.

During the night , there are approximately a dozen bus lines operating in Valencia. These buses are called CorreNIT and they run at a frequency of approximately 1 to 2 hours.

How to pay for the bus in Valencia

Tickets can be purchased directly on the bus, as well as from EMT offices, kiosks, and tobacco shops around the city.

For single journeys, you can pay in cash to the driver (having exact change is recommended). You can also pay with your credit card, smartwatch, or mobile phone .

If you have a Móbilis card , tap it on the red circle as soon as you get on the bus.

Types of bus tickets available

EMT offers several types of bus tickets and passes. Out of all the options, I will only emphasize 3 that I believe can be the most beneficial for visitors and infrequent users of Valencia’s public transportation system.

Note: A temporary financial aid is currently in place until December 31st, 2023 . This means you’ll get a 50% discount on all SUMA 10 card purchases . The prices shown in the article are the normal prices.

• Single ticket – €1.50 per journey (there are no discounts for round-trip tickets)
• SUMA 10 – €0.80 per journey. This is a multi-ticket rechargeable card. The minimum top-up amount is €8. It can be used on EMT, MetroBus, MetroValencia, and RENFE Cercanías (basically, on Valencia’s whole public transportation network). Zone specific.
• EMT Mascota – a personalized card for pets under 15 kg traveling in a carrier. It costs €5 and is valid for an unlimited number of journeys. It has to be renewed every 2 years.

Good to know when using the bus in Valencia

Here are a few things you should know when using the bus in Valencia.

• You have to put your hand out to signal the bus driver to stop. This is particularly important if a bus stop is used by several bus lines
• Use the front door to board the bus. Use the rear door to exit
• Pay or validate your travel card as soon as you get on the bus by tapping the red circle next to the driver
• Press the “Stop” button in advance to let the driver know you want to get off at the next stop

Biking is another great mode of transportation in Valencia and it comes with a lot of freedom and flexibility to explore.

As one of the most bike-friendly cities in Spain, Valencia has over 175 km of bike lanes reaching all neighborhoods and even some of the nearby villages.

On top of that, the city is pancake flat and has a 9 km long green lung that crosses the city from east to west. This is known as Turia Park , a former riverbed converted into a lush public garden.

The weather in Valencia is pleasant year-round. Even winter in Valencia sees day temperatures within double digits Celsius. This means no freezing cold hands while riding your bike during the cold months, which in Valencia are basically January and February only.

If you need even more reasons to hop on a bike, then the fact that it’s a healthy, cheap, and environmentally-friendly way to get around should seal the deal.

If your preferred mode of transportation is biking, then in Valencia you basically have 3 options.

Bike sharing

The bike-sharing scheme in Valencia is called Valenbisi . They have a fleet of approximately 2,750 bikes and over 275 docking stations throughout the city.

Not only are they accessible, but they are also cheap – €13.30 per week or €29.21 per year.

This is the cost of the basic subscription and it comes with 30 free minutes for every ride . If you use the bike for trips exceeding 30 minutes, additional charges will apply for every hour that passes.

Valenbisi is a great option to get around Valencia on the cheap. But it’s not a good option if you want to explore the city stress-free and without looking at your watch every 5 minutes.

Also, if you want to go on a day trip to Albufera or visit the tigernut fields in Alboraya, it can get pretty expensive.

Another caveat is that Valenbisi bikes are heavy and they only come in one size . If you are in Valencia with kids , you might want to look into other options.

Bike subscription

If you plan on staying in Valencia for more than a month, a bike subscription might be just what you’re looking for.

Kleta is a bike rental company located in Ruzafa. They have both bikes and e-bikes and their subscription starts from €19.90 per month and €44.90 per month respectively.

This includes unlimited repairs and an anti-theft guarantee for peace of mind. You can also customize your bike with a basket or child seat.

Bike rental and tours

If you’re in Valencia for a few days only, you can either rent a bike per day or join a guided bike tour.

Bike rentals in Valencia usually start from €10 per day and you can choose from a variety of bike sizes.

Most guided bike tours start in the city center . Some of them will take you to the beach, others to the City of Arts and Sciences, or show you around the historic center.

Also read: Top Biking Routes in Valencia (+ Other Useful Tips)

Because Valencia is such a compact city, taxis and similar ride-hailing services are not top of mind when thinking about public transport. But they do come in handy if you are traveling late at night or have a lot of luggage.

Hailing a taxi

To hail a taxi, you can either call by phone, use the FREE NOW app, take a taxi from a taxi rank, or put your hand out when you see a taxi with a green light – this means the taxi is available.

All taxis in Valencia run on a meter . Night rates are higher than day rates. A minimum trip cost applies – €4.30 during the day and €6.40 during the night.

Cabify and Uber Taxi

Cabify and Uber Taxi operate in Valencia. Both companies have clearly branded cars. Ordering a ride is through their respective apps.

Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided in this article is solely intended for informational purposes. Rates, schedules, and conditions related to public transport are subject to change without prior notice. While I strive to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this article, I highly recommend that you verify the details with the relevant service providers before your trip.

Hola Lara, That was a really informative detailed article on Valencia transport system. Thank you so much for sharing this article. I wanted to ask you how is the train system in Valencia? Can we ride trains from Valencia to reach other Spanish cities for example: Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Granada, Cordoba or Malaga?

I am looking forward to hear from you soon.

Yes, you can take a train from Valencia to several major Spanish cities, but in some cases, flying can be faster/cheaper. That being said, the best way to reach Madrid is by fast speed train. All the other cities you’ve mentioned are 3+ hours away by train. Spanish trains are comfortable and clean and I highly recommend them.

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• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Best for no annual fee

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel

5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

1.25 Miles - 5 Miles

• 1.25 Miles 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

What we love: This card offers some of the same advantages as the Capital One Venture, without the burden of an annual fee. It gives you the chance to earn flat-rate miles on your everyday spending and the option to transfer miles to over 15 loyalty program partners to even cover travel purchases outside Capital One — a unique level of redemption flexibility for a starter travel card. Learn more: Reasons to get the VentureOne Rewards Card Alternatives: A general-purpose flat-rate credit card that offers 2X points or 2 percent cash back on all purchases may bring more value if you don’t travel often and aren’t ready to upgrade to a travel rewards credit card with an annual fee. However, the Discover it® Miles earns a flat-rate 1.5X miles that can also be redeemed for cash back at 1-cent per mile, which is unusual for travel rewards.

• The welcome offer is generous for a no-annual-fee travel credit card.
• Booking hotel stays and rental cars through Capital One Travel nets you an impressive 5X miles.
• Unlike several no-annual-fee travel cards, redeeming for non-travel purchases waters down your rewards’ value.
• Capital One has no major U.S. carrier in its line-up of travel partners.
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Best for foodies

American Express® Gold Card

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

• 4X Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4X Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• 3X Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

What we love: Few credit cards are more rewarding for traveling foodies than the American Express Gold Card. Both the food-related annual credits and the rewards rates at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and on flights booked directly with airlines or via the Amex travel portal are some of the best on the market. In fact, the up to $240 in credits each year alone nearly make up for the annual fee. Learn more: Why the Amex Gold is worth the annual fee Alternatives: If the Amex Gold Card’s annual fee sounds high, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . It carries key travel perks, high travel and dining rewards rates, and a much lower annual fee.

• This card features one of the best rewards return rates available on dining, groceries and food deliveries.
• There is no preset spending limit, so you can enjoy extended purchasing power, and you also have the option to pay off purchases with Pay Over Time if necessary.
• Although the card touts a solid collection of travel perks, it doesn’t include popular premium card perks like airport lounge access or trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
• Only eligible airfare earns more than 1X points, while rival cards often earn similar (or higher) reward rates on hotel stays and other travel purchases as well.
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.

Best for everyday spending

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

• Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com

Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases

• 10X Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• 3X Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
• 1X Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases

What we love: This card’s high rewards rate in everyday bonus categories makes it an especially good choice for occasional travelers and people looking for a standalone rewards card. Its practical bonus categories mean you can earn rewards quickly, even if you don’t actually spend a ton on travel. Alternatives:   As long as you don’t mind buying groceries online, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card could be an even more lucrative everyday rewards card. That’s thanks mostly to its high point redemption value (1.25 cents per point when you use points to book travel with Chase, versus just 1 cent per point when you book with Citi using the Strata Premier).

• It’s one of the only travel cards that offers a high rewards rate on groceries, dining and gas, so it should work well whether it’s your standalone card or just one part of your card stack.
• Its annual hotel benefit carries enough value to potentially offset the annual fee on its own.
• The annual hotel benefit, though generous, isn’t very flexible: You’ll only get the $100 discount if you book a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) through CitiTravel.com.
• Based on Bankrate’s latest point and mile valuations, Citi ThankYou rewards carry a lower average redemption value than Chase, Amex and Capital One rewards.
• Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Best for intro APR

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

• 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
• Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• 1.5X Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

What we love: This entry-level travel card keeps things simple for occasional travelers. It offers simple flat-rate rewards and lets you redeem for a broad mix of travel options not typically available on many travel cards, such as cash back toward purchases with travel agencies,  zoos, art galleries and more. It’s even more valuable if you’re a Bank of America customer and can qualify for a rewards boost through the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program. Learn more: Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards card worth it? Alternatives: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is another great starter travel card, but, unlike many cards in this category, it lets you transfer your miles to airline and hotel partners, potentially for a higher redemption value.

• Its easy-to-earn sign-up bonus and intro APR offers give this card good short-term value.
• No annual fees or foreign transaction fees sweeten this offer.
• It only offers 1.5X points on purchases, and you can’t transfer points can’t to airline partners for more rewards value, so it may not be as lucrative as competing cards.
• The top tiers of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program may be out of reach for many cardholders.
• Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
• Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 19.24% - 29.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
• If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
• Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Best for point values

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠. Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

• 10x Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠.
• 5x Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠.
• 3x Earn 3x points on other travel and dining.
• 1x Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

What we love: Rewards-savvy travelers will be hard-pressed to find a card with better rewards potential than the Sapphire Reserve. Points are worth 50 percent more through Chase Travel, and potentially more with the right transfer partner. It’s a stellar partner for Chase’s cash back cards and stacks on even more value with enough perks to recoup the annual fee without relying on hard-earned rewards. Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Alternatives: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers some of the same key perks as the Sapphire Reserve at a much lower cost. Along with a generous rewards rate on both Capital One Travel and general purchases, the card boasts valuable, practical benefits like competitive airport lounge access , up to $300 in annual Capital One Travel credits and 10,000 bonus miles every year on your account anniversary.

• You can kickstart your rewards bank with one of the most valuable sign-up bonuses on the market.
• Its top-tier benefits include up to $300 in annual travel statement credits, Priority Pass airport lounge access, exhaustive travel protections and stand-out partner perks.
• The card’s cost could be a deterrent for some new cardholders, especially if they plan on encountering adding multiple authorized users.
• You won’t get as many luxury hotel and airport lounge perks with this card as you would with some of its rivals.
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $1125 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®

Best for practical perks

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel

10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

2 Miles - 10 Miles

• 10 Miles 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 5 Miles 5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel

What we love: This is the perfect middleground for travelers who want the practical benefits from luxury travel cards without dealing with bloated features and an annual fee upwards of $500. It offers complimentary lounge access, high-earning bonus rewards categories, anniversary credits and bonus miles, which can easily make the card worth it for frequent travelers. Learn more: Capital One Venture X Benefits Guide Alternatives: If a higher annual fee is no issue, consider The Platinum Card® from American Express. It’s a top choice for frequent travelers thanks to its impressive welcome offer and luxury perks like annual travel credits, lounge access and hotel elite status. However, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® may be better if your luxury travel experience calls for racking up more rewards.

• Offers anniversary bonus miles and a chance to earn credits worth hundreds of dollars starting at your first account anniversary.
• Comes with complimentary lounge access at over 1,300 lounges for you and two guests per visit.
• To earn the anniversary credit, travel must be booked through the Capital One Travel portal. That’s not as flexible as some other cards, which offer credits that cover any travel purchases, regardless of how you book.
• Lacks some perks found on other premium travel cards like airline or hotel elite status, which can get you benefits like free checked bags or room upgrades.
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more

Best for pairing

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service 1.5% on all other purchases

• 5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
• 3% 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service
• 1.5% 1.5% on all other purchases

What we love: Not only does it earn 1.5 percent cash back on general spending, but it also has a bonus cash back rate for drugstores and dining at restaurants. And if you pair it with one or two premium Chase travel cards, you could pool your rewards for better travel redemption value.  Learn more: Why I love the Chase Freedom Unlimited Alternatives: If you want to take advantage of even more rewarding cash back categories and remain in the Chase family, consider the Chase Freedom Flex℠ .

• You can pool rewards with other Chase cards to maximize your earnings.
• The additional rewards rate offer can add even more cash back to your pocket for the first year.
• The welcome offer isn’t as competitive as other cards’ offers.
• Maximizing rewards with this and other Chase cards can get complicated for people who like simple rewards programs.
• Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.

Best for hotel bookings

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

• Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.

Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels Earn unlimited 4X points on airlines Earn unlimited 3X points on other travel and restaurants Earn 1X points on other purchases

• 5X Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels
• 4X Earn unlimited 4X points on airlines
• 3X Earn unlimited 3X points on other travel and restaurants
• 1X Earn 1X points on other purchases

What we love: It offers a great rewards rate on hotel bookings and gives you a chance to earn a $50 annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase. Add in a solid rate on airline purchases, other travel and restaurants and this card carries great value as a standalone mid-tier card for occasional travelers. Alternatives: If you want to earn travel rewards but don’t actually spend much on hotels and airfare, the lower-tier Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is also worth a look. Though it earns also rewards on travel, it boasts a great mix of other practical everyday categories (including gas stations).

• You can transfer points to Wells Fargo’s new list of airline and hotel partners, including popular programs like British Airways Executive Club, Choice Privileges and more, which could boost the redemption value of your rewards.
• The $50 annual statement credit offsets more than half the card’s $95 annual fee and should be a cinch to earn if you fly at least once per year.
• Wells Fargo only offers one other card that earns travel rewards (the Autograph), and there is some category overlap between the two, so they may not be as lucrative as some competing card stacks.
• The card doesn’t carry some popular travel perks available on other mid-tier travel cards, such as credits for expedited airport security screening or rideshares.
• Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases.
• $95 annual fee.
• Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
• Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
• Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
• Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.

Best no-annual-fee hotel card

Hilton Honors American Express Card

• Earn 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/31/2024.

Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.

• 7X Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• 5X Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• 3X Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.

What we love: This card earns rewards in a terrific mix of everyday bonus categories, so it should be easy to rack up Hilton points even if you don’t spend a ton on hotel bookings. Since it charges no annual fee and provides a few Hilton Honors benefits like Silver status, it’s also a great fit if you’re new to hotel cards and want a single no-annual-fee option instead of juggling multiple rewards cards. Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Hilton Honors American Express Card Alternatives: The American Express® Green Card could be more flexible since it lets you earn and redeem rewards on a much wider variety of travel purchases, including airfare and bookings with several hotel brands, not just Hilton. You can transfer points to the Hilton Honors program as well, but the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card may be better if you prefer upgraded Hilton-specific rewards, loyalty status and other perks.

• Comes with automatic Silver Elite status, which includes a free fifth award night when you book at least four consecutive nights with points.
• Earns rewards in three of the average person’s biggest spending categories, making it a terrific standalone option for earning Hilton points.
• A higher-tier Hilton card would earn more on Hilton bookings and could be more lucrative for frequent guests, even with an annual fee.
• You can only redeem points with Hilton and its partners, which limits the rewards value you earn on the everyday categories compared to a general-purpose cards’ rewards.
• Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
• Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
• No Annual Fee.

Best luxury hotel card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

• Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines 2X points on all other eligible purchases

• 6X Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
• 3X 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines
• 2X 2X points on all other eligible purchases

What we love: Frequent Marriott guests looking for luxury card-level perks and elite status should be able to justify this premium card. Along with a terrific rewards rate on Marriott bookings and an annual free night award, you could enjoy generous annual credits for restaurant purchases and Marriott property stays, airport lounge access, elite night credits and more. Learn more: Best Marriott credit cards Alternatives: If you’re looking for top-tier travel perks but want the flexibility to earn and redeem rewards for stays at any hotel chain, consider an elite travel card from Chase or Amex, which can come with generous travel benefits, airport lounge access and the ability to transfer points to Marriott. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is another lucrative alternative.

• Outperforms other Marriott cards with its boosted rewards on travel-related categories and 21X points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, thanks to the automatic Platinum Elite status.
• It’s one of the only hotel cards that includes complimentary Priority Pass lounge access, top travel protections and credits for expedited airport security screening.
• Unlocking some of the card’s best perks — like Five Suite Night Awards — requires a $60,000 annual spend, which may be tough to reach even for frequent Marriott guests.
• Unless luxury perks are at the top of your wishlist, the annual fee may not be worth it and a lower-tier hotel card may offer more value overall.
• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
• With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
• Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
• $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
• Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
• With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• $650 Annual Fee.

Best for transfer partners

Bilt Mastercard®

Intro offer is not available for this Wells Fargo credit card.

3x points on dining 2x points on travel 1x points on other purchases Earn up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year. When you make at least 5 posted transactions in a statement period using your Bilt Mastercard, you'll earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases.

1X Points - 3X Points

• 3X Points 3x points on dining
• 2X Points 2x points on travel
• 1X Points 1x points on other purchases
• 1X Points Earn up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year. When you make at least 5 posted transactions in a statement period using your Bilt Mastercard, you'll earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases.

What we love: Not only is this card is a terrific choice for renters since it earns rewards and waives transaction fees when using it to pay rent, it’s also great for rewards strategists considering the extremely robust travel rewards program. You can earn rewards on travel and dining and your points carry a high value whether you redeem through the Bilt travel portal or one of the many airline and hotel transfer partners. Alternatives: If you like the Bilt card’s travel rewards program but don’t see yourself renting long term, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It earns generously on both travel and dining and also boasts high-value points and transfer partners. If the way you pay rent doesn’t incur credit card payment fees, a flat-rate card may also be worth weighing. 

• It’s the only card that helps you avoid the fees typically associated with paying rent with a credit card.
• Offers a solid collection of travel perks for a no-annual-fee card, including trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip delay reimbursement and other high-level travel protections.
• You can only use rewards to cover rent, toward a future home down payment or for travel and shopping. Cash back isn’t an option.
• There is no sign-up bonus. Most competing travel cards — even those with no annual fee — offer at least a $200 bonus.
• $0 Annual Fee.
• Earn up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year.
• 2x points on travel.
• 3x points on dining.
• 1x points on other purchases.
• Earn points when you make 5 transactions that post each statement period.
• When renting at a Bilt Alliance property, you can choose to have your rent payments automatically reported by Bilt to the three major credit bureaus each month; Experian™, TransUnion™, and Equifax™.

Best for gas

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

• Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.

Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Earn 1X points on other purchases

• 3X Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans.

What we love: The Wells Fargo Autograph card is a great option for occasional travelers and households on the go looking to earn rewards while avoiding an annual fee and reduced redemption value for cash rewards. It’s one of a few entry-level travel cards to offer high, year-round bonus rewards for gas, dining, transit and other key travel needs. Learn more: Is the Wells Fargo Autograph worth it? Alternatives: If you’re looking for ways to maximize the value of your rewards, you should consider a travel card that lets you transfer your points to airlines or hotels, like the Bilt Mastercard® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

• While some issuers only reward travel purchases made directly with airlines or through issuer portals, this card lets you shop around for the best deal on third-party travel sites and still earn extra rewards.
• Carries decent perks such as rental car collision damage waiver coverage, roadside assistance and Visa Signature® Concierge benefits, like access to Visa’s Luxury Hotel Collection (terms apply).
• Unlike with traditional travel cards, you cannot transfer your points to airlines or hotels
• The travel perks and intro APR are weak compared to competing travel-oriented cards’ offers.
• Select "Apply Now" to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
• $0 annual fee.
• 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR thereafter.
• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
• Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.

Best for companion tickets

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

• Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

• 3X Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
• 2X Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
• 1X Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

What we love: The annual companion certificate on Main Cabin domestic flights (taxes and fees apply) comes with this card after the first year is valuable enough to justify the annual fee even if you’re just looking for great Delta perks to make travel smoother with a partner. Plus, the companion certificate is easier to obtain than other airline cards’ since it carries no spending requirement that must be met beyond the card’s annual fee. Alternatives: The American Express® Green Card could be a great alternative since it charges a lower $150 annual fee, lets you earn and redeem rewards on travel with any eligible airline (not just Delta) and offers credits for Loungebuddy lounge access and Clear Plus. You can even transfer points to Delta at a 1:1 ratio.

• Boasts several valuable travel perks, including priority boarding, a free first checked bag and specialized annual credits for select rideshare services and reservations with Delta Stays and Resy.
• Gets you closer to Medallion Status and discounts on in-flight purchases, complimentary upgrades, and more.
• Its rewards rate on non-travel purchases is lacking — a general-purpose travel card could potentially offer better rewards value and flexibility for rewards travel outside Delta.
• No longer offers complimentary Delta Sky Club lounge access as of this year, although airport lounge access is a staple perk for premium travel cards.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
• Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Resy Credit: With the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Resy Credit, earn up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Enrollment Required.
• Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
• Receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive $100 back for Global Entry or up to $85 back for TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
• $350 Annual Fee.

Best starter airline card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

• Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

• 2X Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
• 2X Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
• 2X Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
• 2X Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
• 1X Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

What we love: This card’s anniversary bonus offers enough value to nearly offset the annual fee on its own, so it should be a terrific low-stakes option whether you’re new to airline cards or a regular Southwest flyer looking for a low-maintenance card. Plus, its sign-up bonus value is on par with the value you’ll get with much pricier airline and travel cards. Learn more: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus benefits guide Alternatives: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card could offer better value overall, despite its $149 annual fee. It carries an annual $75 Southwest travel credit and 7,500 bonus points each year on your account anniversary — more than enough value to justify the higher fee.

• You’ll automatically earn 3,000 Rapid Rewards points each year after your account anniversary, which could offset much of the card’s already-low annual fee.
• Delivers the same hefty sign-up bonus as higher-tier Southwest cards.
• Unlike several travel cards, it doesn’t carry rewards categories for popular everyday purchases like gas or dining.
• It may not be the best Southwest value for frequent flyers since it poses a 3 percent foreign transaction fee and doesn’t offer perks like upgraded boardings or elite status benefits.
• 3,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
• Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
• Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
• 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Best for savers

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

• Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases. Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

• 2X Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases.
• 1.5X Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

What we love: If you do your banking with Bank of America and qualify for Preferred Rewards status, this card could provide an exclusive 25 percent to 75 percent rewards rate boost. The  rewards rates — 2X points on dining and travel, with 1.5X points on all other purchases — could increase to an incredible 3.5X on travel and dining with an unrivaled flat 2.62X points rate. Learn more: Why expert Sara Coleman loves the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card Alternatives: The similarly-priced Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best alternatives thanks to its stellar travel protections, yearly bonus rewards and stronger rewards program. However, flat-rate cards like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card or the Discover it® Miles card could be lucrative if you don’t think the $95 annual fee is worth it.

• The $95 annual fee is relatively affordable for this card category thanks to the up to $100 in yearly airline incidental statement credits.
• You can smooth out your travel experience with great benefits like credits toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and comprehensive travel insurance.
• Attaining the highest rewards rate is not an easy feat, since you’ll need to hold significant funds in Bank of America accounts.
• This card does not offer a few popular premium travel perks like lounge access.
• Low $95 annual fee.
• Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. No limit to the points you can earn and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn 2.5-3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 1.87 - 2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 you spend.
• Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center.
• Get up to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually and TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry Statement Credits of up to $100, every four years.
• Travel Insurance protections to assist with trip delays, cancellations and interruptions, baggage delays and lost luggage.
• No foreign transaction fees.

Best for first-year value

Discover it® Miles

• Unlimited Bonus: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. You could turn 35,000 Miles to 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.

Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase.

• 1.5X Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase.

What we love: In addition to the exceptionally valuable Discover Match® , this card combines solid flat-rate rewards with consumer-friendly terms, like minimal fees and an equal value for both travel and cash back redemptions. Travelers who value simplicity will appreciate this card’s straightforward rewards and adaptability — even when you aren’t traveling. Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Discover it® Miles Alternatives: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card carries a more straightforward and still easy-to-reach welcome bonus. The VentureOne card also gives you the option of transferring miles to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners, which could increase the redemption value of your rewards.

• All miles earned in your first year will be matched at the end of the year, which could make it one of the most valuable first-year offers for no annual fee.
• Miles don’t lose value when they’re redeemed for cash back, which gives it a leg up over many travel rewards programs for occasional travelers.
• You’ll miss out on pretty standard travel perks like travel insurance, and car rental damage protection.
• The rewards structure lacks flexibility; you won’t be able to transfer your miles or use them to book travel.
• Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
• No annual fee
• Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% - 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
• Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
• Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
• Terms and conditions apply.

Best for fair credit

Credit One Bank Wander® Card

Intro offer is not available for this Credit One Bank credit card.

Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas Earn 1x points on all other purchases

• 10X Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site
• 5X Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas
• 1X Earn 1x points on all other purchases

What we love: The Credit One Bank Wander® Card is a solid option if you want to earn points on travel but have trouble qualifying for mainstream travel cards. Not only is this card accessible with only fair credit, but its rewards program boasts generously high rewards rates in key travel categories. Learn more: Best travel cards for people with bad or fair credit Alternatives: If you don’t mind putting down a refundable security deposit, consider a no-annual-fee secured card like the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card *. It’s a unique secured card that lets you build credit while earning rewards in a category of your choice (with travel just one of many popular options) as well as grocery stores and wholesale clubs.

• It’s one of the only travel rewards cards available with a fair credit score, making it a decent option if you want to earn travel rewards as you work on your score.
• Provides 5X points in travel, dining and gas, plus 10X points on eligible hotel and rental car bookings through Credit One Bank — rare and impressive rates with only fair credit.
• Its annual fee is high compared to other cards you can get with a fair credit score , so it may not be the best fit if you prioritize building credit over earning rewards.
• Other travel cards may offer better perks, fewer redemption restrictions and more value, so it may be worth working on your score with a lower-cost card before committing to the costly annual fee.
• Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site
• Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas
• Earn 1x points on all other purchases
• Redeem your reward points for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, flights, hotels, and more
• With $0 Fraud Liability, you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
• Free Online Credit Score and Credit Report summary, terms apply
• If you are a Covered Borrower under the Military Lending Act, you may get a different offer
• See Rates & Fees

Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit  AmericanExpress.com/benefitsguide  for more details. Underwritten by Amex assurance company.

The information about the American Express® Green Card and Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuers.

Compare Bankrate's best travel credit cards of 2024

What are travel credit cards.

Travel credit cards allow cardholders to earn points or miles on a variety of purchases (typically travel-related), which are redeemable for travel bookings, statement credits, gift cards and more.

The best travel credit cards do more than help you foot the bill for your next flight — travel cards also offer perks to upgrade your entire travel experience. Trip insurance , annual travel credits, concierge services and lounge access are all common benefits. Airline and hotel co-branded credit cards sometimes offer specific discounts and perks for loyalty program members.

Pros and cons of travel credit cards

Although a well-chosen travel card can pay huge dividends, it might not be the right move for every traveler. Before you apply, take time to weigh the benefits versus the drawbacks of travel credit cards .

Tips on choosing the best travel credit card for you

The right travel credit card for you will carry features and benefits that give you the best value. To help you narrow down your choices, here are the steps to choosing the best travel card.

How to choose a travel credit card

1. know how you prefer to travel.

Knowing whether your travel expenses lean toward airfare, hotel stays or a mix of other travel will help you decide whether you should get an airline card, hotel card or general-purpose travel card. A co-branded airline or hotel credit card may be a good fit if you mostly travel with a certain brand and want exclusive privileges to enhance your experience. A general-purpose travel card is better if you prefer to keep your travel options open.

2. Prioritize redemption value

You may have to pick between simplicity and maximum value when comparing cards and rewards programs. Many travel cards offer a standard point or mile redemption value of 1 cent when you redeem toward travel through the issuer portal, but some cards can get you a higher redemption value when you transfer rewards to airline or hotel partners. However, it's common for many travel reward programs to reduce the redemption value toward non-travel options or limit these redemption options altogether. If you prefer simplicity over maximizing rewards, you may want to consider cards that allow you to redeem points or miles at an equal 1-cent value toward general travel purchase credits, cash back or other non-travel options.

3. Match your card to your spending habits

Take a look at your typical spending and find which travel categories and non-travel categories you spend the most in to help you choose a card that offers a high rewards rate for your regular spending. Just make sure you factor in rewards spending caps.

4. Note what's worth the extra money

High rewards rates and valuable travel perks are the biggest reasons to get a travel card, but many of the best cards carry a high annual fee. You could stick with a no-annual-fee travel card (or at least one with around a $99 fee) if you're mainly focused on earning rewards, but you may have to pay up to $500 or more for luxurious perks like airport lounge access, comprehensive travel insurance and hundreds of dollars in annual travel credits .

5. Look toward your next trip abroad

If you travel overseas, check to see if the card you're considering charges a foreign transaction fee. And since some credit cards aren't as widely accepted as others, you'll also want to make sure your credit card will work when traveling overseas . For example, merchants may not accept Discover and American Express cards as widely as Visa and Mastercard. If a trip is coming up in the next three to six months, keep an eye out for the big sign-up bonuses travel cards are known for. As a rule of thumb, the higher the annual fee, the higher the sign-up bonus should be.

Co-branded travel cards vs. general travel cards

Experts typically divide travel credit cards into two categories: co-branded travel cards and general travel cards. Co-branded cards are linked to a particular airline or hotel, while general travel cards offer more flexible reward opportunities. Here’s why and when you might want one or the other.

• Co-branded cards
• General travel cards

Co-branded travel cards tend to offer higher rewards rates on eligible travel purchases in exchange for limiting your reward redemption options to just one airline or hotel program . These cards may also feature more specific perks associated with the respective hotel or airline, such as free award nights, complimentary airline elite status or priority boarding — which general-purpose travel cards don’t often carry).

However, you won’t be able to use your rewards with a wide variety of different hotels and airlines like general-purpose cards allow. Plus, despite co-branded travel cards’ typically higher rewards rates, many brand-specific rewards tend to be worth less than the potential value of general-purpose cards’ points and miles.

When to get a co-branded travel card : When you often fly or stay with a specific airline or hotel and want to maximize your benefits with that brand.

General travel cards earn rewards on various travel categories and aren’t limited to a particular airline or hotel. Such cards may lack some of the dedicated perks you’ll find on a co-branded travel card, such as in-flight discounts, but make up for it with rewards flexibility and broader perks like general travel credits, expedited security screening and wider airport lounge access. 

The top travel cards even let you transfer your points or miles to airline and hotel loyalty programs, often at a 1:1 rate. Redeeming with some airlines and hotels can even make your rewards more valuable than they would be if you redeemed with the card issuer.

When to get a general travel card : When you have no preferred airline or hotel and want the additional flexibility a general travel card offers. 

Who should get a travel credit card?

A travel credit card is almost always worth it for frequent travelers or anyone who wants to earn rewards toward their next vacation.

If you can save up airline miles, rack up points for free nights at hotels or get discounted travel through your credit card issuer, you’re on your way to significant travel savings. However, the right travel card for you will depend on your travel habits.

Frequent travelers

Naturally, the ideal candidate for a travel card is someone who travels a lot or plans to book several flights and hotel stays per year. However, in some cases, you don’t have to be a frequent traveler to reap the benefits of a travel rewards card. A number of cards offer good rewards rates on general purchases.

Travel beginners

If you’re new to travel rewards, a good place to start is with a travel card that makes it easy to earn and redeem points, without requiring you to navigate a complex rewards program or worry about tiered rewards rates or varying point redemption values. 

Brand loyalists

If you tend to book travel with the same brands frequently or already belong to an airline or hotel loyalty program, a co-branded travel card can offer terrific value.  Airline- and hotel-specific rewards cards often earn a top rate on bookings with the brand as well as exclusive perks like lounge access and automatic elite status. 

Business travelers

Some of the most valuable travel credit cards are business cards . Whether you're a freelancer on the go or the CEO of a Fortune 500, the right travel credit card can help you earn high rewards rates on everyday business purchases. 

International travelers

If you frequently travel abroad, a card with no foreign transaction fees is a great way to help you avoid extra costs on overseas purchases. Plus, if you hate waiting in line at airport security or customs, a lot of travel cards offer statement credits to reimburse you for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees.

Luxury travelers

Luxury travel cards often charge a pretty penny but also offer a ton of value via perks like lounge access and annual travel credits. These perks not only make travel more comfortable, but also often carry enough value to offset the card’s cost on their own.

Still unsure if a travel credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool where you can get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.

Here’s how a Bankrate editor chose his travel card

Here’s how a bankrate editor chose his travel card.

With all of this advice in mind, let’s see how a credit card expert made their pick. Here’s Bankrate editor Nouri Zarrugh on how he chose his travel card:

When it comes to earning rewards, I’ve always stuck with cash back cards, preferring the simplicity of knowing exactly how much my rewards are worth and the ease of redeeming for statement credits. Recently, though, I decided I wanted to travel a bit more frequently, and I figured a new travel rewards card could be a great tool to help me earn free trips. When choosing the right card for me, a few major points of consideration stood out: Cost: I didn’t feel like I traveled enough to justify a huge annual fee. Simplicity : I wanted to stick with a single, streamlined travel card and not worry about juggling multiple rewards programs or rewards rates. Perks : While I didn’t need anything too fancy, I thought it might be nice to have a perk like TSA Precheck included, since I hate waiting in long airport security lines. To my surprise, the card that stood out most was the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Though it carried an intimidating annual fee of $395 ( See Rates & Fees ), I found this cost was more than worth it once I dug into the details. In fact, its benefits were so valuable, I barely needed to worry about offsetting the cost.  Two of its annual perks — a $300 Capital One travel credit and 10,000 bonus miles every year on my account anniversary — are valuable enough to offset the fee on their own. This means as long as I take one flight a year, I can basically break even on the card. Any rewards or perks I get beyond that feel like pure upside. It’s a huge bonus, then, that the card also includes practical benefits like Priority Pass lounge access and a credit of up to $100 toward the cost of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. While I’ve never frequented airport lounges, I see these privileges as essentially free considering the value of the annual travel credit and bonus miles. So, I figure, why not take advantage?  For me, the Venture X strikes the perfect balance: A flat rewards rate that makes it easy to earn miles on everything I buy; flexible redemption through Capital One or via transfer to airlines and hotels, and practical perks I know I’ll use when I travel. I never imagined I’d have a $395 travel card in my wallet, but for me, it’s at worst a coupon for a flight every year, which can nudge me to take that next trip. — Nouri Zarrugh, Editor, Bankrate

Travel benefits may differ from card to card, but some of the most popular travel cards available often feature a few key perks. 

Travel insurance

Travel cards may offer various travel insurances , such as trip delay protection, trip cancellation insurance, lost baggage insurance or car rental insurance. These benefits aren’t worth anything until you need them, but you’ll be glad you have them when your flight is canceled or your luggage gets lost.

Travel credits

Credits toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry are a popular and common benefit on many travel cards. You can typically use this credit once every four years, which roughly corresponds to how long a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership lasts. Some cards may also provide an annual credit toward Clear Plus — another expedited security membership. Higher-end travel cards often offer annual statement credits toward travel purchases, and many of these credits nearly offset these cards’ annual fees. 

In-flight perks

Co-branded airline cards typically offer some airport and in-flight benefits on top of their reward-earning capabilities. These can include discounts on in-flight purchases (usually 25 percent back on refreshments and WiFi), free checked bags, flight seating upgrades or priority boarding. 

Free hotel award nights

Co-branded hotel cards may include free hotel award nights annually as part of their benefits. Some cards also add an extra complimentary awards night to your stay if you’ve booked a certain number of consecutive nights. These nights are typically capped at a certain value (sometimes based on the card or your elite status), and may be valuable enough to make up for some cards’ annual fees.

Airport lounge access

One of the most popular (and valuable) travel benefits featured on high-end and luxury travel cards is complimentary access to airport lounges. The lounges you gain access to depend on the card, though co-branded cards will often grant access to the lounge corresponding to the card’s airline. The Amex Platinum card currently offers the best airport lounge access .

If you want to add a credit card to your portfolio for your travel needs, knowing what cards are popular and why people like them can help steer your decision. We regularly stay abreast of these conversations online and noticed two travel cards come up regularly: the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card from American Express .

These cards shine because they offer some of the best rates on travel purchases and the most comprehensive set of benefits and perks . Despite their annual fees, what you get in return can far outweigh your costs. And the conversation around these two cards isn’t new: Is the effort of maximizing their perks worth it?

What people say about travel credit cards perks

The Sapphire Reserve is often referred to as the gold standard in travel benefits and protections, and the value of its trip insurance is a big part of that. A member of the Rick Steves Forum remarks on the value of the insurance: “It has pretty extensive coverage wherever I travel … my entire trip is covered as long as I charged any portion of the trip to my card.” This feature is unique to the Sapphire Reserve and sets it apart from other premium cards, which require you to charge your entire trip purchase to the card to have active coverage.

But using trip insurance isn’t always a simple process. As a user in the r/CreditCards forum on Reddit cautions: “Credit card travel insurance in general is very specific on what it covers, and people tend to overestimate just how useful the coverage actually is,” they write. “These are named peril policies, so unless you see your exact situation as a covered hazard the policies won't pay out.”

The Platinum Card from American Express gets a lot of buzz for reasons similar to the Sapphire Reserve. The card gives so many benefits, credits and additional perks that it’s often called a coupon book for luxury travel. But for many people, the value comes down to whether they’re willing to do the work to maximize its features. Another r/CreditCards member says they use the card’s Hilton and Marriott status boosters, rental car company loyalty program automatic status features, Centurion lounge access, hotel and airline incidental credits, membership credits and more. Using all these features helps them offset the annual fee.

While some people love maximizing the card’s features to extract  as much value as possible, others, like this Redditor, think it’s too much work:

“The only benefit the Platinum card really adds is Centurion and Delta Sky lounge access but only to the [cardholder] … I believe the Platinum is worth [it] at least the first year for the [sign-up] bonus but then it doesn't get much use after that. Trust me the credits are really annoying to use.” — r/CreditCards user

These two premium cards stand out from the rest because they offer the most comprehensive features available to suit your travel needs and protect you from any issues that arise. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is an exceptional option to protect you from travel issues, but make sure you know the fine print. While the Amex Platinum may not be as ideal for travel protections, the credits offered more than offset its annual fee if you can put in the effort to fully maximize them.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned cardholder, your travel card should always work in your favor by offering the features and benefits you’ll actually use and that make your travels more enjoyable. But whether you’re willing to put in the effort to maximize a card’s value is something you’ll need to decide for yourself.

*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Be sure to check the issuer's website/terms and conditions for all up to date content. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.

Credit card points and miles are two of the key types of credit card rewards , along with cash back. You’ll earn points and miles by making purchases with your credit card, but you can typically redeem these rewards for travel, gift cards and more — not just statement credits.

Points and miles tend to be more flexible than cash back, but since their value depends on how you redeem them — and, in the case of travel redemptions, where you’re going, when you book, your fare class and more — it may take a bit more effort to make the most of them.

What are your points and miles worth?

Since many airlines and hotels use dynamic pricing models that continually optimize airfare and room prices, it can be hard to know exactly how much your rewards are worth without doing a little math.

Luckily, you don’t need to be a travel hacker to get a sense of this idea. Before you redeem, you can check your reward redemption value by dividing the cost of a plane or hotel booking in cash by its cost in points or miles. This calculation will result in the cash value of your points or miles.

You can also compare this value to Bankrate’s latest points and miles valuations to determine if you’re getting a good deal on your redemptions. Bankrate collected data on hundreds of bookings across dozens of airline, hotel and credit card rewards programs and estimated how much each program’s rewards are worth on average .

• Airline rewards values
• Hotel rewards values
• Credit card program rewards values

The table below shows Bankrate’s estimated reward redemption value for a variety of popular airline loyalty programs. You’ll notice how widely the value varies between airlines, with some offering close to 3 cents per point in average redemption value and others struggling to meet a 1-cent-per-point value.

Keep in mind, however, that these values are averages based on a variety of fare classes, destinations, booking periods and more. For example, while Bankrate estimates Delta SkyMiles carry an average redemption value of around 1.2 cents per mile, they could be worth more or less depending on the details of your booking. 

*Based on weighted average of median point/mile values across economy and first/business class fares.

Like airline miles, hotel points fluctuate in value. The table below shows Bankrate’s estimated point values for some of the most popular hotel brands. 

As you can see, hotel points tend to be worth less than airline and credit card rewards on average, often carrying less than 1 cent per point in redemption value. That said, hotel loyalty programs sometimes offer more favorable exchange rates when you transfer rewards from a credit card rewards program. For example, you may be able to turn 1,000 credit card points into 2,000 hotel points (a 2:1 transfer ratio). 

*Based on median point values across budget, mid-tier and luxury hotel bookings.

Unlike hotel and airline rewards programs, credit card reward programs typically earn points or miles that offer a consistent redemption value when you use them with the issuer. Though the redemption value of your rewards may vary based on how you redeem, each redemption method should offer a consistent baseline value. 

Some credit card rewards programs may also allow you to transfer your points or miles to airline and hotel loyalty programs, which could boost their value considerably. For each major credit card rewards program, we estimate a baseline redemption value (assuming you book for travel with the issuer) and a Bankrate’s Value, which averages the program’s best-value transfer partners.

*Based on an average of the issuer’s five highest-value transfer partners (if available).

When to use rewards vs. cash

To demonstrate when it’s best to use your reward miles versus paying in cash, we set up this example:

We estimate American Airlines AAdvantage miles are worth 1.0 cents. If you book a seat in the main cabin on a one-way flight from Boston to Miami, and it costs either $139 or 21,500 miles, your miles are only worth $0.006 ($139 / 21,500 miles = $0.006). Since your miles for this flight are worth less than 1.0 cents, you may want to save your miles and pay cash for this flight.

But if you book a first-class seat on the same flight for $433 or 31,500 miles, your miles are now worth $0.013 ($433 / 31,500 = $0.013). Since 1.3 cents is higher than our latest valuation, you’re coming out ahead if you use your miles to pay for this flight.

Bankrate experts share their advice on using travel credit cards

It’s important to know how to maximize your rewards and perks. Otherwise, a travel card could end up being a money pit. Here are a few pointers from our experts for making the most of your travel card: 

Combine cards to maximize rewards

Knowing how much you spend in different categories and which merchants are eligible for rewards will help you earn more and build an optimized stack of rewards cards. A flat-rate card is often a great starting point to earn the same rate on every purchase you make. As you build out a rewards strategy, you can incorporate a card with bonus categories to earn even more in your highest spending areas.

Expert Insight:

“For a long time, I’ve used a combination of Chase credit cards known as the Chase trifecta for all my family’s spending…. [I] don’t typically use my Sapphire Reserve for everyday spending and bills. Since it only offers 1X points on non-bonus category spending, I use my Freedom Unlimited to make sure I earn a minimum of 1.5 percent cash back on everything I buy.” “I use each card strategically to earn as much in rewards as possible, then I pool them in my Sapphire Reserve account to redeem them for airfare, excursions, hotels and more.” — Holly D. Johnson — Award-winning personal finance writer and Bankrate contributor: Why I love the Chase Sapphire Reserve

Maximize your rewards value with transfer partners and issuer travel

Save your rewards for the most valuable redemption options. Travel points and miles often lose value toward non-travel options like cash back, so you’ll want to redeem your rewards for travel through the issuer portal for at least 1 cent per point or mile. However, transferring your rewards to the right airline or hotel partner program is usually worth the extra effort since it could net you even more value.

Expert Insight

“When I redeem my points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, the most I can get is 1.25 cents apiece, which is pretty good. However, if I transfer them to a partner airline’s loyalty program, I will often get much more. For example, I can transfer my points to United Airlines MileagePlus and use them to pay for flights. When I do, I generally get a value of 2 or more cents per point — in line with Bankrate estimates that Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth around 2 cents apiece on average when used with the right transfer partner.” — Margaret Wack — Personal finance expert and Bankrate contributor: Why I love the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Make the most of your travel perks

Travel benefits are one of the main reasons to get a travel card, and are often key to making up a card’s annual fee. Be sure to read the fine print to make sure you can take full advantage of these offers . For example, one card’s travel credit may apply to any travel purchase, including airfare, while another card’s may only cover costs like baggage fees or in-flight purchases. 

“This is the year to take inventory of your credit cards and make sure they’re serving you well. If you’re paying an annual fee, look for a card with recurring benefits. Whether it’s annual award nights, waived luggage fees or elite status benefits, these perks can offset your annual fee and make your travels more pleasant … Despite putting minimal spending on my Hilton Honors Amex Aspire card, I keep renewing it every year. That’s because the card provides automatic Hilton Diamond elite status, which can easily offset the $550 annual fee. Recurring card benefits like [these] can save you a lot on travel and are worth considering when shopping for a new credit card.” — Ariana Arghandewal — Travel rewards expert and Bankrate contributor: Five benefits you need from a travel credit card

Plan for the sign-up bonus

The best travel cards come with generous welcome offers, but these bonuses may require a high spend in a short timeframe. That’s why it’s important to consider whether the spending requirement fits with your typical spending habits or whether you need to plan purchases to meet the requirement. Just be sure not to overextend yourself or take on debt you can’t pay back just to earn a bonus — interest and fees can easily eat through any value you’d get.

“Keep in mind that credit card sign-up offers change often. So if you’re interested in a particular card but not blown away by its current offer (there are some for 100,000 points or more that aren’t always worth the trouble), it could be worth your while to wait for a better one.” — Ariana Arghandewal — Travel rewards expert and Bankrate contributor: 6 ways to get bigger credit card bonuses

Look out for limited-time offers, partner perks and other benefits

Keeping an eye out for limited-time offers like extraordinarily high sign-up bonuses, perks with partner services (like rideshares or delivery services) and other reward-earning opportunities is a great way to squeeze the most value from your travel card. Issuers sometimes provide shopping and travel portals and card-linked reward programs for select purchases (like for pre-paid dining or participating merchant spending), which can help you bank extra rewards.

“Keep an eye on your email inbox and rewards portal for any limited-time promotions your issuer may be offering. Many American Express cards feature Amex Offers, which lets you access perks like statement credits for spending a certain amount on specific hotels and other retailers.  Other cards, like the Capital One Venture X, also have occasional promotional offers, such as a credit for 5 percent back on VRBO rentals.” — Lori Zaino — Travel expert and Bankrate contributor: How to maximize credit cards for cheaper accommodations this holiday season

Track your spending and rewards each account statement

Track your favorite stores’ and services’ merchant category codes (MCCs) to fine-tune your spending habits for maximum rewards. If you notice your expenses changing, this practice may also help you notice whether you need to change which rewards cards you carry.

“The first step to optimizing your spending is to take the time to collect the MCCs of stores you frequently shop at. During the process, you might find that some stores in the same chain may have different MCCs, depending on their primary inventory. Even different counters or sections in the same department store may carry different MCCs. You can use this to your advantage if you know one location near you will provide a better cash back rate than the other. These “loopholes” can provide great opportunities to reap cash back on purchases that typically wouldn’t earn rewards.” — Garrett Yarbrough — Writer and credit cards expert at Bankrate: Merchant category codes: How to earn more cash back

Our data: What credit score do you need for the best travel cards?

It’s no secret that your credit score heavily influences which cards you’re likely to get approval for. But how good does your credit need to be to get the best credit cards for travel? We analyzed our data of Bankrate readers who applied for credit cards on our pages in 2023 and compared the approval rates of readers’ different credit tiers.

We found that, on average, 61.9 percent of users with excellent credit were approved for travel cards on our site. Then, an average of 39.5 percent and 19.5 percent of users with good and fair credit, respectively, got approval for travel credit cards they applied to.

If you have fair or bad credit, you still have options for travel credit cards. For example, the Credit One Bank Wander Card caters to people with fair credit — 57 percent of people with fair credit who applied on our site in 2023 were approved for this card , according to our data.

Obviously, the better your credit, the more likely you are to get the card you apply for , but other factors can affect your application. Issuers may also consider your income, recent credit applications, homeownership status and monthly rental or mortgage payment. Keep these other factors in mind with your credit score when you apply for credit cards.

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email , find us on Facebook , or Tweet us @Bankrate .

When evaluating the best travel cards, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards in popular categories to scoring a large sign-up bonus or high-value perks. Whenever possible, we also feature cards that are available at various credit levels and price points. 

We analyzed over 150 of the most popular cards and scored each based on its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, welcome bonus value, APR, fees, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup of the best travel cards.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the key factors in our rewards card scoring methodology — our primary scoring category for travel cards — and details we considered when putting together our list of the best travel cards.  

• Flexibility 15%
• Customer experience 5%

Great rewards value

The primary criteria for a rewards-earning card’s rating is its rewards value. This includes the card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value.

To estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings, we first calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories and how closely its categories align with the average person’s spending habits. In other words, we assess whether the card earns rewards at a high rate in the most popular spending categories. 

We use consumer spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to get a reliable third-party measure of people’s spending habits. The most recent BLS data estimates average total spending in 2022 was $72,967 per consumer. We then narrow our focus to which purchases are likely to be put on a credit card and earn rewards, subtracting expenditures like housing, vehicle purchases and education. This gives us a total “chargeable” annual spend of around $25,500.  

This includes the following spending by category:

• Groceries: $5,700
• Dining out: $3,600
• Entertainment: $2,400
• Gas: $3,100
• Apparel and services: $1,900

Using this data, we assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories. For example, a card’s grocery rewards rate receives a 22 percent weighting based on how much of the average person’s budget is spent on groceries.

We also estimate the redemption value of points or miles from various issuer, airline and hotel rewards programs.

This weighting and rewards valuation allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your purchases — as well as what those points are worth. We also use point valuations to determine a card’s sign-up bonus value

With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value, rewards rate and redemption value stack up against other rewards cards.

The better these values, the higher its score will be, making it more worthy of inclusion in our list and increasing its potential ranking.

Reasonable rates and fees

We also score cards based on how much it costs to keep them in your wallet or carry a balance. 

To start, each card is scored based on whether it offers an intro APR and how its ongoing APR compares to the rates available on other rewards cards. However, the latter rating only has a slight influence on the card’s score and whether the card is included in our list, since rewards card users generally try to avoid carrying a balance.

More important to both a card’s score and its inclusion in our list is how its annual fee influences its overall value. We consider a card’s annual fee in two ways — how it ranks relative to the fees you’ll find on other cards in the category and how it impacts a card’s overall rewards value. 

Cards with an annual fee will always be at a slight disadvantage in our scoring system since annual fees inherently cut into your rewards value. However, if a card offers terrific value via its ongoing rewards and perks, it can earn a high score and a spot in our list even if it carries a high annual fee. After all, the highest rewards rates and most valuable perks are often found on cards with annual fees. 

With this in mind, we rate a card based primarily on how its ongoing rewards value and ongoing perk value (such as annual credits or bonuses) stack up against those of other cards in the category when you subtract annual fees.

That said, we strive to include as many no-annual-fee options in our list as possible since many people would rather not worry about offsetting fees, even if a card carries impressive rewards and perks.

Redemption flexibility

Rewards cards may make it easy to earn a lot of points, miles or cash back, but how easy is it to use those rewards? After all, if it takes a ton of effort to redeem rewards or you can only redeem rewards in a couple of ways, a card may be more trouble than it’s worth. 

As such, we rate each card’s flexibility based on the restrictions it imposes on earning and redeeming rewards. We factor this rating into a card’s overall score and consider it when deciding on a card’s inclusion in our list. 

Flexibility factors include whether a card only allows you to earn a high rewards rate on only a small amount of spending or requires you to meet a certain earning threshold before you can redeem rewards. We also examine whether your points are worth less when you opt for some redemption options over others and whether a card gives you the flexibility to transfer rewards to travel partners.

Valuable perks

We also score each card’s set of features – its perks and benefits — against five tiers of features to provide a rating. 

We break down these tiers as follows:

• Tier 1 includes fewer features than even standard credit cards (for example, an ultra-streamlined card that offers basic utility and next to nothing in the way of ancillary benefits). 
• Tier 2 includes the benefits you’d expect on standard Visa or Mastercard credit cards, such as free access to your credit score, car rental insurance and $0 liability for fraudulent charges. 
• Tier 3 includes “prime card” or better-than-average card features like cellphone insurance, lost luggage insurance, concierge services and purchase protection. 
• Tier 4 includes luxury features such as airport lounge access, elite status with an airline or hotel and credits for expedited security screening membership programs. 
• Tier 5 includes the sort of exemplary benefits you’ll find on top-tier luxury cards, such as high-value travel credits, cardholder memberships and other unique and valuable perks.

In evaluating the best cards, we tend to favor cards that offer at least Tier 3 benefits, unless they include other unique features that could make up for less-impressive perks.

And since this list focuses on travel cards, we tend to favor cards that carry travel-centric features like travel insurance, airport lounge access and credits for expedited security screening, instead of more general perks like food delivery credits or shopping discounts.

More information on travel credit cards

Frequently asked questions about travel credit cards, are travel credit cards worth it.

Travel cards can be well worth it since they often have exclusive travel perks like credits for airfare, hotel stays, expedited airport security services and more, as well as complimentary airport lounge access and airline or hotel privileges. However, many of the best travel credit cards come with annual fees. It’s important to at least offset the cost of these cards by taking advantage of the various travel perks and features included on the card. 

What credit score do you need for a travel credit card?

It’s possible to get a travel credit card with bad or fair credit, but most travel rewards cards are geared toward people with good or excellent credit (a FICO score of at least 670, or a VantageScore of at least 661).

Do travel miles or points expire?

Even though many major credit cards earn rewards that don’t expire, you may lose your points and miles if your account closes or isn’t in good standing. However, some co-branded cards’ rewards may expire if you don’t earn or redeem rewards within a certain timeframe (typically 12 to 36 months after the rewards are earned).

Check out our guide to credit card rewards expiration for a thorough breakdown of several popular issuers’ policies.

Are points or miles better on a credit card?

Whether points or miles offer better value will depend on the specific rewards program and how you redeem rewards. One airline loyalty program may earn miles that offer less than 1 cent each in average redemption value while another program’s points may offer close to 3 cents each on average. Similarly, a hotel card’s points may be worth less than half of a credit card issuer’s rewards points. Some programs offer points with only average baseline redemption value but high value when transferred to a partner airline or hotel. 

Ask the experts: Is it a good idea to have multiple travel credit cards?

Thomas Nitzsche

Stephanie Zito

Erica Sandberg

Financial Educator, Debt and Credit

Whether you should have multiple travel credit cards depends on several factors, including your brand affinity, frequency of travel and ability to pay off your cards in full each month. As a credit counselor, I see many people carrying credit card debt at high interest rates while continuing to make charges to the account for the sake of earning rewards. They lose far more than they earn each month. Having more than one travel credit card could make sense for you if you’re able to maximize your earnings by strategizing spending across each card. Just take into account annual fees and actual interest paid.

Contributor, Personal Finance

If you’re up for managing multiple cards and their benefits, then there are definitely big reward payouts to be had. But if the thought of multiple cards is overwhelming, it’s also a good strategy to have one or two more flexible cards and focus on maximizing your earnings and redemptions until it becomes second nature.

Contributor, Credit Cards

Definitely! I currently have two travel credit cards. In addition to the Chase card that I use for my United Airlines purchases, I have the Capital One Venture card for all other airlines. I earn a solid amount of miles on everything I buy with it, so it's an easy go-to for non-travel related expenses.

Article sources

We use primary sources to support our work. Bankrate’s authors, reporters and editors are subject-matter experts who thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate, timely and relevant.

Global entry: Trusted traveler enrollment program . U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Accessed on Feb. 21, 2024

Discover International acceptance . Discover. Accessed on Feb. 21, 2024.

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.

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