Gandia Holidays: Ducal Palace, Castle and Coast Guide
Província de València · Valencia · Spain · 73,829 residents · on the coast
Convento de Santa Clara
Ducal Palace of Gandia.JPG/500px-Exterior_del_Museu_Arqueol%C3%B2gic_de_Gandia_(MAGa).JPG)
Museu Arqueològic de Gandia
Castle of Bairén
Museu Faller de GandiaGandia is a coastal town of nearly 74,000 people in the Província de València, sitting just 34 metres above sea level on Spain's eastern seaboard. Its centre has the Ducal Palace of Gandia and the Convento de Santa Clara within a few minutes' walk of each other, with two museums close by and the Castle of Bairén on the edge of town. Valencia airport is under an hour's drive away, and Alicante is not much further. Both have direct flights from the United Kingdom. Summers reach 32°C, winters stay mild at around 16°C, and April, June and October bring the most comfortable balance of warmth and dry days.
Why go
- The Ducal Palace of Gandia and Convento de Santa Clara lie within a short walk of the centre.
- Valencia airport, with direct UK flights, is roughly 40 miles and under an hour's drive away.
- April, June and October offer warm days of 22 to 28°C with little rain.
Top sights in Gandia
Palaces, Convents and Museums
Gandia's main sights sit close together in the centre. The Convento de Santa Clara, a convent about 0.3 miles from the middle of town, is the most widely documented of them, and the Ducal Palace of Gandia stands even nearer, roughly 0.2 miles away. Together they set the cultural tone of a visit.
The Museu Arqueològic de Gandia, an archaeology museum about 0.3 miles from the centre, and the Museu Faller de Gandia, around 0.6 miles out, both suit families as well as culture-minded travellers. For something more outdoors, the Castle of Bairén is a listed cultural property about 2 miles from town.
Tours and tickets for Gandia and the surrounding area can be booked directly on this page through the booking cards below.
1monastery- 2palace
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Museu Arqueològic de Gandia
In the centre · Photo
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Tours & tickets in Gandia
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Gandia can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Gandia
Choosing Your Base in Gandia
Gandia works on two levels. The centre, where the Ducal Palace, the convent and the museums are all within walking distance, suits travellers who want sightseeing on the doorstep and the feel of a working town of some 74,000 residents. As Gandia is coastal, there is also the option of staying nearer the sea for a more classic seaside holiday.
If you prefer something smaller and quieter, Miramar is only about 2.5 miles away and has fewer than 1,700 residents. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare options across the area.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Gandia and the villages around it is a hire car from Valencia (VLC), about 56 min away.
Best time to visit Gandia
When to Visit Gandia
- 16°CJan31 mm
- 16°CFeb48 mm
- 21°CMar13 mm
- 22°CApr10 mm
- 24°CMay73 mm
- 28°CJun20 mm
- 32°CJul10 mm
- 32°CAug22 mm
- 27°CSept68 mm
- 26°COct68 mm
- 21°CNov34 mm
- 17°CDec12 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
The most pleasant months are April, June and October. April brings highs of about 22°C with only three rainy days, June warms to 28°C and stays largely dry, and October still reaches 26°C, although it can bring a few heavier showers.
July and August are the hottest months, with daytime highs of 32°C and nights that barely drop below 24 to 25°C. The wettest spells are May, with around 73mm over ten days, and September and October, each with roughly 68mm. Winter is mild, with highs of 16 to 17°C and lows near 10°C, which makes December to February suitable for a quiet sightseeing break.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16°C | 10°C | 31 mm | 8 h |
| Feb | 16°C | 10°C | 48 mm | 9 h |
| Mar | 21°C | 12°C | 13 mm | 10 h |
| Apr | 22°C | 14°C | 10 mm | 11 h |
| May | 24°C | 17°C | 73 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 28°C | 21°C | 20 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 32°C | 24°C | 10 mm | 14 h |
| Aug | 32°C | 25°C | 22 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 27°C | 21°C | 68 mm | 11 h |
| Oct | 26°C | 19°C | 68 mm | 9 h |
| Nov | 21°C | 15°C | 34 mm | 8 h |
| Dec | 17°C | 10°C | 12 mm | 8 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Getting to Gandia from the UK
Valencia airport (VLC) is the closest, about 40 miles away and around 56 minutes by car. Alicante (ALC) is roughly 52 miles away, about 1 hour 15 minutes by road, and Murcia (RMU) is about 95 miles away, around 2 hours 15 minutes. All three have direct flights from the United Kingdom, so car hire from whichever airport suits your departure works well.
Driving all the way from Calais takes around 19 and a half hours. Once you are here, the port of Dénia, about 19 miles away, has ferries to Ibiza, Formentera and Palma, and Valencia's port, about 34 miles away, serves Palma, Ibiza, Maó and Tangier Med in Morocco.
By air
- Valencia (VLC)40 miles, about 56 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Alicante (ALC)52 miles, about 1 h 13 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Murcia (RMU)95 miles, about 2 h 15 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 19 h 23 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Dénia (19 miles), Valencia (34 miles), Ibiza (88 miles).
Gandia is good for
Around Gandia
Day Trips Along the Coast
Miramar is the nearest neighbour at about 2.5 miles, with Oliva around 5 miles south and the small town of Favara about 12 miles away. Cullera, roughly 14 miles up the coast, makes an easy half-day outing.
Several towns sit around 18 miles away. Denia is the largest of them and also has the ferry port for the Balearics, while Xàtiva and Carcaixent lie inland. Benissa, about 21 miles away, rounds off the options to the south.
Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Your Stay
Plan around the heat in July and August, when highs reach 32°C and nights stay warm. Do your sightseeing at the palace and convent in the morning, then rest during the afternoon.
Pack a light waterproof if you travel in May or in early autumn. Those months see the heaviest rainfall, with around 70mm falling over relatively few days.
With close to 74,000 residents, Gandia is a proper town rather than a seasonal resort, so it makes a sensible base outside the summer months too, especially in the mild winter.
Questions people ask
What is the nearest airport to Gandia?
Valencia airport (VLC) is the nearest, about 40 miles away and roughly 56 minutes by car. It has direct flights from the United Kingdom. Alicante, about 52 miles and 1 hour 15 minutes away, is another option with direct UK flights.
What is the best month to visit Gandia?
April, June and October offer the best conditions. April brings highs around 22°C, June about 28°C, and October around 26°C. June and April are particularly dry, while October can bring occasional heavier showers.
How hot does Gandia get in summer?
July and August are the hottest months, with average highs of 32°C and night-time lows of 24 to 25°C. Rain is rare then, with around four rainy days a month, so plan sightseeing for cooler parts of the day.
What are the main sights in Gandia?
The Convento de Santa Clara and the Ducal Palace of Gandia are the headline sights, both within about 0.3 miles of the centre. The Museu Arqueològic and Museu Faller suit families, and the Castle of Bairén lies about 2 miles from town.
Can I take a ferry to the Balearic Islands from near Gandia?
Yes. Dénia, about 19 miles away, has ferries to Ibiza, Formentera and Palma. Valencia's port, roughly 34 miles away, serves Palma, Ibiza and Maó, as well as Tangier Med in Morocco.
Is Gandia worth visiting in winter?
Winter is mild, with highs of 16 to 17°C and lows around 10°C. December is one of the driest months, with only three rainy days, which makes it a reasonable time for a quiet break around the palace, convent and museums.