Things to do in El Saler and La Albufera: The perfect day out
Fancy escaping the daily grind and connecting with Valencia’s true ‘green lung’? Many tourist guides recommend a visit to La Albufera as just another stop on a city tour, but today we’re going to go much further.
We’ve put together a complete one-day itinerary through the Dehesa del Saler, a magical part of the region characterised by its lush Mediterranean woodland, its natural dunes and that strip of pine forest separating the beach from the great lake of the Valencian Albufera.
In the morning: Connect with nature at the Dehesa del Saler
Depending on the time of year you visit, the park’s natural surroundings offer two completely different experiences:
In winter: The Dehesa del Saler trail and the ‘Route of the Senses’
In the cooler months, the perfect thing to do is to let yourself be carried along by the seafront promenade and not be shy about venturing into the pine forest. Surrounded by nature, you’ll find the Dehesa del Saler trail, with the famous ‘Route of the 5 Senses’ being a particular highlight. This route invites you to smell, touch, see and hear more than 850 species of native vegetation, whilst spotting over 350 types of birds – all concentrated along a magical 300-metre stretch.
If you prefer, you can also cycle the route, as the Dehesa has several flat, well-suited paths.
In summer: Relax on Saler beach, amongst the dunes and at the Gola de Pujol
If you’re visiting in the summer, we recommend enjoying the Valencian heat in a way that’s unique to this region: by relaxing on Saler beach. Its vast coastal dunes protect a unique ecosystem where marine vegetation blends with a sanctuary for a multitude of birds.
During your stroll along the shore, don’t forget to visit the Gola de Pujol, the waterway that connects La Albufera lake directly to the Mediterranean Sea.
At midday: Where to eat in the Dehesa del Saler, overlooking the sea
After a good walk along the shore or amongst the pine trees, it’s time to recharge your batteries with a delicious Mediterranean meal right in the heart of the nature reserve.
Have you ever tried authentic Valencian paella cooked in the traditional way, some fresh clóchinas or freshly prepared tellinas? At La Dehesa, we’ve been experts in seafood cuisine and rice dishes for over 50 years. We look forward to welcoming you to our sea-facing terrace, where you can enjoy the sea breeze whilst savouring the very best our region has to offer.
💡 Tip from the restaurant: At weekends and during peak season, tables get snapped up quickly. You can browse our [Full Menu] or secure your table directly via our [Online Bookings] section.
In the afternoon: The Albufera de Valencia and a boat trip
To round off a perfect day, there’s nothing better than winding down with a boat trip on La Albufera de Valencia. Having explored the area on foot, seeing it from the water will give you a completely different perspective. Watching the sun bathe the water in golden light whilst birds fly close to the boat is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful sights you can experience in Valencia.
Visit to the Racó de L’Olla Visitor Centre
Before setting off, head to the Racó de L’Olla Visitor Centre. From there, you can follow the signposted trail to the observation tower. Several park guides will reveal the secrets of the ecosystem and advise you on the best routes to take.
The best sunset at Saler Beach and La Albufera
To round off the day, we’ll let you in on our favourite spot: follow the canal to the small traditional jetty near La Gola. From there, you can watch the sunset over La Albufera without the crowds, as the sky turns shades of red, reflected in the water.
Practical information: How to get to the Dehesa del Saler and a map
To make sure you have no doubts when organising your getaway, here are the main ways to get there:
By car: From the centre of Valencia, take the V-15 motorway towards El Saler/CV-500. You’ll be there in just 15 minutes.
Parking: You’ll find designated parking areas next to the Gola de Pujol and at the beach entrances.
By public bus (EMT): EMT bus route 25 takes you directly to El Saler and La Albufera from the centre of Valencia for a very reasonable price.
Eating at El Saler Beach: The Authentic Paella Experience
Eating at El Saler beach
If you’re looking for somewhere to eat Valencian paella and want to choose from the best restaurants on El Saler beach, the choice you make will completely shape your day. Right in the heart of the Devesa de El Saler and next to the Albufera de Valencia Natural Park, dining in El Saler is an unmissable tradition for anyone wishing to savour an authentic rice dish by the sea.
📅 Fancy coming along to enjoy a traditional rice dish? If you’ve already set a date for your getaway, we recommend booking your table before the weekend slots sell out:
📅 Book a table at Dehesa José Luis
📸 Whet your appetite before you come: We invite you to discover the flavours of our freshly prepared rice dishes and starters straight from the fish market:
How to choose from the restaurants on El Saler beach: 4 key indicators of quality
We recommend that you bear these four factors in mind before sitting down at the table:
1. Made to order (no shortcuts)
Good-quality rice is never reheated. From the moment the grains come into contact with the boiling stock until it reaches the table, it takes between 18 and 20 minutes of precise cooking, plus the necessary resting time. If you’re served a rice dish in ten minutes, it hasn’t been cooked from scratch for you.
2. Thin crust and al dente pasta
Authentic Valencian paella is cooked in a thin layer at the bottom of the pan. This ensures that the rice cooks evenly, remains loose and whole, and develops a clean, crispy ‘socarrat’ without burning.
3. Daily home savings
The secret to an outstanding rice dish lies in the pot. The stock must be simmered gently every morning, using fish from the fish market and fresh seafood for seafood paellas, or vegetables from Valencian market gardens and carefully selected meat for traditional paella.
4. Relaxed, unhurried service
Rice calls for a calm atmosphere both in the kitchen and in the dining room. A proper rice restaurant does not rush its customers or turn tables too quickly; diners should be able to enjoy their meal and linger afterwards in complete tranquillity.
Eating at La Devesa de El Saler: the importance of respecting the natural environment
La Devesa and the beaches of El Saler form part of a protected Natural Park, a vital refuge for native birds and dunes of great environmental value. (add a little more text)
- Authenticity and classic recipes versus passing fads
When looking at the restaurants on El Saler beach, what truly sets them apart is their commitment to traditional cuisine. Far from reinterpretations or trends that alter the essence of a dish, we are committed to the purity of traditional Valencian cuisine: stocks prepared with care, fresh produce from the fish market and local vegetable gardens, and absolute respect for the natural timing of each ingredient. Anyone who comes to El Saler to eat paella is looking to rediscover the familiar flavours of a lifetime – those that need no artifice to stand out.
- Peace and quiet and nature, in contrast to the hustle and bustle
The great privilege of the Devesa de El Saler and the Albufera de Valencia is their natural tranquillity: the scent of pine, the sea breeze and the song of the birds that inhabit this protected area. In contrast to noisy leisure activities or festive evenings that disrupt the balance of the ecosystem, we prefer to offer a haven of tranquillity. We believe that dining at El Saler should be a peaceful experience, designed for unhurried conversation and enjoying a leisurely after-dinner chat in harmony with the tranquillity of the surroundings.
- Living in harmony with the dune landscape
We believe in a hospitality offering that blends naturally into the Natural Park, coexisting with the landscape without the need for striking visual alterations that would clash with the unspoilt coastline. At our rice restaurant, the focus is never on outward appearances, but on what really matters: the quality of the food prepared daily in our kitchens and the warmth of a personalised service that has been looking after every guest for over two decades.
Our recommendation: Dehesa José Luis, a rice-growing tradition since 1989
At Dehesa José Luis, we have been cooking over the fires at El Saler for more than 35 years, guided by a single philosophy: to prepare every dish to order with the utmost consistency and respect for Mediterranean cuisine.
Our menu features the most iconic rice dishes of Valencian cuisine: Valencian paella, Paella del Seyoret, lobster paella, seafood paella…
El Saler Beach: how to get there and plan your visit
If you’re planning a visit to the Albufera de Valencia, this quick guide will help you do just that. Spend a full day connecting with the city’s true green lung, with a comprehensive itinerary through the Dehesa de El Saler.
The drive from Valencia takes just 15 minutes via the **El Saler motorway (CV-500)** towards El Perelló. There’s easy access and plenty of convenient parking spaces next to the pine forest and the beach, so parking won’t be a problem. It’s also possible to get there by public transport using the EMT bus routes that connect the city with the hamlet of El Saler.
The full itinerary: dunes, rice fields and sunset
To make the most of the Natural Park’s surroundings, we recommend combining local cuisine with a morning walk along the coast: