Valencia Airport (VLC) is a mid-sized international airport in Eastern Spain. It is sometimes called Manises Airport after the Valencian municipality nearest to it. The airport is about 8 km west-northwest of Valencia city centre.
In 2024, VLC handled nearly 11 million passengers, a record for the airport. More than 70% of all flights are international, making VLC very much a gateway to Europe. Valencia is the tenth busiest airport in Spain.
Major Airlines - Ryanair
Valencia is served by a mix of low-cost carriers and legacy airlines, connecting to many European cities and seasonal routes.
Major airlines operating include Ryanair, Vueling, Iberia, Air Europa, Lufthansa, KLM, easyJet, Wizz Air, among others. Of these, Ryanair has by far the most operations, with over 1100 monthly flights to more than 60 destinations. Iberia follows behind with direct flights to 11 cities across Spain.
The airport sees a hike in flights during the summer, with over 100 direct destinations served from VLC over three continents during peak season.
The busiest international destination markets included Italy, Germany, France, the UK, and the Netherlands.
See a full list of airlines at VLC and all destinations reachable by direct flights.
Terminal Layout and Gates
Valencia Airport consists of 1 passenger terminal: Terminal 1. It is built in three interconnected zones/check-in areas.
Check-in counters are grouped into three landside sections:
The newest is Counters 1-12, above the airport’s train station.
The main building includes Counters 13-42.
The larger annex has Counters 43-56.
After passing through a central security checkpoint, the airside (departures) area has gates 1-22.
Gates 1-4 are in the terminal’s newest section and serve non-Schengen flights.
All other gates are for Schengen flights. Gates 5-12 are directly ahead of the main check-in/security, and Gates 13-22 are in a regional hall for many of Iberia’s regional “walk-boarding” flights and some low-cost carriers.
Connecting Flights and Transit
With just one terminal at VLC, transfers are generally simpler than in multi-terminal airports. In most cases, you only need to follow signage for “flight connections” or “transit” after arrival.
However, for non-Schengen to Schengen (or vice versa) transfers, you need to go through Immigration, Customs, and Security. Gates 1-4 are for non-Schengen flights. Allow at least 60 minutes if you have to switch zones (Schengen/non-Schengen), or during busy periods.
Transit between domestic or inter-Schengen flights does not require any additional Security checks as long as you don’t have any luggage to re-check (most flights at VLC are point-to-point, and your luggage won’t be checked through to your final destination) and don’t leave the airside area.
Longer layovers may give you enough time to hop over to the city and check out some of the best things to do in Valencia.
Free Wi-Fi at Valencia Airport
Valencia Airport provides free airport Wi-Fi with the SSID “AENA Free WiFi” throughout the terminal.
Once you connect, the welcome page will automatically open in your browser. You can use your email address to register as a guest. After that, you have 15 minutes of internet in which to open your email and confirm it via the link in the message you will receive. Once confirmed, you can use the wi-fi for as long as you like.
Dining Options at VLC
Valencia Airport has fewer than 10 dining establishments to offer, but they are varied enough to give you a sense of diversity.
If you want to try local Iberian ham and other cold meats one last time before you leave Spain, check out the Enrique Tomás food truck in both Departures and Arrivals.
Nearby is Foodies - a shop where you can buy various Spanish delicacies like canned food, oil, rice, liquors, pastries, and chocolate.
Trib’s in Departures offers a sit-down venue serving local and Iberian products, such as “fartons,” “horchata,” and “buñuelos,” as well as regional wines.
For something on the go, try Santa Gloria (public zone of Departures). This shop specialises in artisan breads and traditional cakes.
To have a quick beer or watch the game, go to Mahou Sports Bar (airside)
Other options at VLC include Burger King, Starbucks, Lavazza, and several vending machines.
Lounges at Valencia Airport
There is only 1 lounge at Valencia Airport: the Sala VIP Joan Olivert.
It is located on the first floor of the Departure area (airside), close to Gates A1/Gate 12.
The lounge welcomes all passengers on Schengen or non-Schengen flights with a pay-at-the-door model. The 4-hour pass costs €44.60 for adults or €20.61 for children 6-10 years old (<6 years old enter for free). Holders of associated airline business class tickets and club cards can access for free.
The lounge is open from 04:00 to 23:00 daily.
Amenities at the lounge include snacks and complimentary food, including options for special diets, drinks, WiFi, TV, work areas, rest areas, showers, and a children’s area.
Transport to and from the airport
Commuting between the airport and the city is straightforward, especially using the Metrovalencia Lines 3 (Red) or 5 (Green).
The airport has a dedicated station where both lines start. The journey to central stops like Xàtiva, Colón takes about 20-25 minutes. A single ticket costs €4.80. Trains run at a frequency of 15 minutes on weekdays and 20 minutes on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, between approximately 5:30 AM and 11 PM (check the official website for exact times).
The EMT Bus Line 150 (or Metrobus L150) is another popular option. This bus runs between the airport and the city center (e.g., Plaza de España and Estació del Nord) every 20-30 minutes during the day. The journey takes 35-40 minutes, depending on traffic. The fare is just €1.50 for a basic EMT bus seat, making it the cheapest way to reach the city.
Official taxis are available 24/7 at the arrivals terminal. To the city centre, fares are typically around €20-€25, including all supplements.
Similarly, ride-sharing apps allow you to book a ride online and see the price beforehand. Cabify and Free Now are the two most popular providers in Valencia.
Car rental desks are located in the arrivals hall, landside. Seven companies have kiosks there - Avis, Europcar, Enterprise, Hertz, Goldcar-InterRent, Sixt, and OK Mobility.
Private transfers are also an option, usually more costly but useful for comfort or destinations outside of the city center core. See more information about airport transfers from Valencia Airport.
Official Airport Parking
VLC offers several parking options - from garages right next to the terminal, to express or short-term parking, as well as longer-stay car parks.
The General Car Park P1 is perfect for parking for up to 4 days or for picking up or dropping off passengers. It is just 1 minute from the terminal. The price per day is 18 EUR
The Express Car Park is located opposite the terminal in the arrivals area. Parking here is free for up to 10 minutes, but the maximum authorised parking time is 2 hours. The parking fee if you overstay the 10-minute gratis is €20 for the first 30 minutes, then €40 per hour.
The Long-stay Car Park is best if you are going for an extended holiday or long trips. There is no maximum stay, and it costs just €10.50 per day.
Bicycles and scooters can be parked on level 0, near the outer arrivals pavement, about 50 metres from the main departure gate of the terminal.
Motorcycles can be parked at Parking P6.
Hotels near Valencia Airport
There are no on-site hotels within the terminal complex. Nearby hotels in Manises or around Valencia city provide accommodations, particularly useful for early morning or late evening flights.
Some hotels offer “Park & Fly” packages, which is typical for many European airports.
The three closest hotels to the terminal are:
Hotel Aviación: A 2-star hotel with spacious rooms and the expected necessities, though with less than stellar reviews.
ibis budget Valencia Aeropuerto: A 1-star typical Ibis property, which is a good compromise between price and quality.
Travelodge Valencia Aeropuerto Hotel: Another 1-star property, which makes for a good short stay before a flight.
If you want something more luxurious, the Hotel Port Azafata Valencia is just a 5-minute drive away from VLC and offers a free shuttle, outdoor pool, gym, sauna, and a restaurant.
Valencia, Spain
Yes
