Gandia Tourist Information and Gandia Holiday Guide

This page is all about the Spanish coastal town of Gandia on the Costa del Azahar. It contains useful Gandia tourist information for people intending to visit or holiday in Gandia.

GANDIA TOURIST INFORMATION

In this tourist guide to the tourist resort of Gandia in Spain we help visitors who are planning a trip with useful and practical advice on many tourism related subjects such as car hire, accommodation, hotels, hostels, villa rental, apartments to rent, map, sightseeing, weather, where to go, where to stay, travel information and what to see and do in Gandia.

To make the best of your visit and holiday we cover everything you need to know about Gandia. We also have photos, picture galleries, views, videos and webcams of Gandia.

Gandia is a large town at the southern tip of Spain's Costa del Azahar in the Valencia region. In actual fact Gandia actually has two separate areas from each other. There is the working town of Gandia which is about 5 km from the coast and then there is Gandia's beach resort which is of course the area which most people reading this page on Gandia's tourist information will want to visit.

The working town of Gandia is fairly unspectacular but it does have a pretty and attractive tree-lined central area the main road is called the avenue of Passeig de les Germanies, where locals often gather and socialise. Most shops are situated on the pedestrianised Calle Major, always a very busy area of Gandia. The popular Saturday morning market is held near here.

Gandia's beach resort is comprised mainly of high-rise apartments. There are fewer restaurants and bars than you would expect in such a large tourist resort. However all is forgiven when you see the sandy beach - this stretches for 20 km and is very wide with huge areas for beach volleyball and beach football.

Obviously the beaches are the principal reason for Gandia's popularity as a tourist destination but the surrounding countryside is also worth a visit. The scenery is lovely because in the background of Gandia are mountain ranges and huge stretches of orange groves and vineyards. This area is great for walking and climbing. The highest mountain is Mount Monduvar which reaches a height of 840 metres above sea level.

Little villages in the countryside such as L'Orxa and Vilallonga are quiet and unspoilt and give you a flavour of the real Spain. Jativa is also a nearby town worth visiting for its castle.

GETTING TO GANDIA

By Air: Gandia is close to Valencia airport which is approximately 45 minutes drive away. Also consider Alicante airport approximately 100 km to the south although it is about an hour and a half drive.

By Rail: Gandia's railway station is located at Parc de l'Estacio which happens to be handily placed next to Gandia's tourist information office. There are frequent trains from Gandia to Valencia which is only about 65 km to the north.

GANDIA BEACHES

Gandia has some fantastic beaches. The sand is white and very good quality. The waters are shallow and clean. Facilities are excellent, there are many volleyball nets and room for beach football. There is a pedestrianised promenade great for strolling in the evening.

The main beach centrally located is the Gandia Playa Nord. Behind the beach are many apartment blocks, hotels, cafes, bars and good restaurants.

The beaches in Gandia are so big that they are never truly overcrowded but if you do want to get away from it all - especially if you want to sunbathe nude (naturists) - then head for Gandia's Playa Alhuir next to the Rio (river) Vaca.

Of course water sports are very popular in Gandia, you can sail, windsurf and kite surf. There are boat trips going down the coast stopping at the resorts of Denia, Javea and Calpe.

GANDIA HISTORY

As we have already stated, the actual main town of Gandia is situated about 5 km inland from the coastal resort of Gandia next to the Rio (River) Serpis.

In the 14th and 15th centuries Gandia was an important cultural centre in the area and because of this many historical monuments were built. The main tourist attraction for history lovers is the Gothic Palace called the Palau Ducal. This was the birthplace of the famed Saint Francisco de Borja.

The Palau Ducal was built during the 14th century and is lavishly decorated. Look out for the neo-Gothic private chapel and the Baroque Golden Gallery with it's pretty mosaic and gold leaf decorations. In the middle of the palace is a handsome Gothic courtyard.

There are of course many churches in Gandia - look out for the Gothic church of Santa Maria with it's unusual nave made of five sections. The church was started in the 14th century and finished in the 15th century, badly damaged by fire in Spain's civil war it was restored to it's former glory in the 1940's.

The Duke Alfons de Vell founded the medieval Hospital of St Marc. This is now an important historical attraction of Gandia. It is now a Archaeological Museum which traces the prehistoric origins of the area.

EXCURSIONS AND PLACES TO VISIT NEAR GANDIA

If you are staying in Gandia or going on holiday to Gandia then do consider these ideas for excursions so you make the most of your trip to Spain's Costa Azahar:

1. Trip to the glamorous big city of Valencia which is only 45 minutes drive away
2. The smaller beach resort of Oliva which has fantastic sand dunes and is very different to Gandia.
3. Inland from Gandia in the countryside are orange groves, peace and tranquility and the lovely town of Jativa (Xativa).
4. Go into the mountains and go skiing just two hours drive away at either Javalambre or Valdelinares.

Gandia Tourist Information - Page Summary - If you are visiting Gandia on holiday, if you live in Gandia or are thinking of moving to Gandia we hope this page on Gandia tourism information has been useful.

Other useful Gandia pages:

Gandia Information - Tourist Information on Gandia

This page is all about the Spanish coastal town of Gandia on the Costa del Azahar. It contains useful Gandia tourist information for people intending to visit or holiday in Gandia.