Gandia: Borja Palace, Old Town and Nord Beach

Gandia is a working town of more than 83,000 people on the Valencian coast, and it is really two places: a historic centre with a Gothic-origin palace, and a beach district about 2 km away. It suits travellers who want to split a stay between culture and sand without changing region, and it is a sensible base if you would rather sleep near the sea and visit the old town for a morning. Come for a few days rather than a quick stop. It is part of our Costa Valenciana guide.

Quick facts

• Where: Gandia, Valencia province, in the La Safor district on the Costa Valenciana.
• Residents: 83,135 (1 January 2025, INE).
• Beach: yes. The Nord beach is listed as 2 km from Gandia and almost a kilometre and a half long (Valencia Turisme).
• Old town: the historic centre holds the Borja ducal palace, the Santa María collegiate church and the town walls (Turisme Comunitat Valenciana).
• Nearest airport: Valencia, served by Aena; there is no airport in Gandia itself.
• Train: Renfe Cercanías commuter trains link Gandia with Valencia.
• Language: Valencian and Spanish; Spanish works everywhere.
• Tourist offices: three, one in the town and two on the beach front (Turisme Comunitat Valenciana).

Where to base yourself

Gandia is not a single compact centre. The town and the beach are separate districts, so the first decision is which of them you want outside your door. The regional tourism site lists a main tourist office in the town and two offices on the beach, which gives a hint of how the visitor side of Gandia is organised.

The historic centre

The old town is where the palace, the collegiate church and the remains of the walls are. Staying here suits couples and culture-first travellers who want to walk to the sights and eat in town rather than on the promenade. The beach is a short journey away rather than a stroll, so expect to use a bus, a taxi or a bike for sand days.

The beach district

The Nord beach and its promenade are the base for a conventional seaside stay. The Valencia Turisme page describes the beach as having golden sand of fine grain and lists a long run of services, including showers, a playground, sports fields, rentals for water sports and access for people with reduced mobility. This is the better base for families and anyone whose days are built around the sea.

The quieter edges

The regional tourism site also points to L’Ahuir beach, where it highlights a dune cordon and a wilder setting, and to the Marxuquera area and the Sierra de Falconera for walking. If you want a calmer stay away from the busiest beach front, look at this side of the municipality and plan on having a car or a bike.

Things to do

The Ducal Palace of the Borja family

The Palau Ducal is the main reason to visit the old town. The regional tourism site calls it the Ducal Palace of the Borgias, says it stands in the historic centre of Gandia, and says it was declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1964. Its architecture is layered: early Gothic remains from the 14th and 15th centuries, Renaissance elements from the 16th century, Baroque extensions from the 17th and 18th centuries, and Neo-Gothic rebuilding from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. That mix is worth knowing before you go, because the building reads as several periods at once rather than one style. Visits include guided tours and a living-history tour that recreates events from the palace’s past, and the palace also runs a programme of cultural events. Opening times and ticket prices change, so check them on the palace’s own pages before you travel.

The family is the other draw. The regional tourism site describes the Borja family as a legendary family that played a key role in the history of the area, and the palace is where you can learn about them. Even if you know nothing about the dynasty, the rooms give a good sense of how an aristocratic household lived over several centuries.

Churches, walls and museums

The Santa María Collegiate Church is described by the regional tourism site as a Gothic place of worship of great architectural importance, and it sits among the old-town streets with the surviving town walls. Two museums are named on the same site: the Gandia Archaeological Museum, known as MAGA, and the Faller Museum, which covers the Valencian fiesta tradition of the fallas. Neither is a full-day visit, but together with the palace they make a solid old-town morning.

Bairén Castle

North of the municipality stands Bairén Castle, which the regional tourism site describes as an Islamic and medieval fortress built on a hill between the 10th and 13th centuries. You reach it on a simple walking trail, and a rock climbing route is also mentioned for people who like sport. The same page recommends bringing water and sun cream and wearing comfortable shoes, which is good advice for a hilltop with little shade. From the top you look out over Gandia’s beaches and the large wetlands beyond them.

Walks, cycling and the countryside

Cycling through the wetland flats is suggested by the regional tourism site, along with walking in the Parpalló-Borrell Municipal Nature Area. The Marxuquera district also has El Morabito, an unusual circular structure thought to have stored snow in the 17th century. Outside Gandia, the Parpalló cave has remains dating back to the Palaeolithic, though it is a specialist stop rather than a casual one.

Beaches and places nearby

The Nord beach is the one most visitors mean when they say the Gandia beach. Valencia Turisme lists it as 2 km from Gandia and almost a kilometre and a half long, with fine-grained golden sand, a Blue Flag among its certificates (the page gives no year, so check the current season’s list before relying on it), parking, restaurants, Red Cross supervision, and options for windsurfing and sailing. Behind it runs the seafront promenade, which the regional tourism site mentions together with water sports.

L’Ahuir is the contrast. The regional tourism site describes a dune cordon and a wilder feel, which makes it the better choice if you would rather have space than services. Beach conditions, flags and facilities change by season, so check the flag at the sand before you swim.

For day trips along the same coast, Cullera lies to the north, Oliva is a short hop to the south, and Valencia is the obvious big-city outing. Tavernes de la Valldigna is another coastal town in the same part of the province.

Other town guides nearby: Dénia (about 28 km in a straight line), Carcaixent (about 29 km in a straight line), Algemesí (about 33 km in a straight line).

On CostaMap near Gandia: Collegiate Basilica of Gandia (0.1 km) · Archaeological Museum of Gandia (0.2 km).

Food and drink

The regional tourism site names fideuà as the dish to look for in Gandia, describing it as a traditional pasta and seafood dish. It is close kin to paella but made with short noodles instead of rice, and it is usually eaten as a long lunch. The beach front has restaurants along the promenade, and the old town has bars and cafés that fill up with locals on weekends. A simple rule works on this coast: eat your main meal at lunch, order the dish of the day, and choose places where the menu is written in Spanish or Valencian first. The palace also runs guided visits that end with a drink, but dates change from year to year, so look at its current programme.

Where to stay

Accommodation falls into two clear groups. Near the Nord beach you will find apartments and hotels aimed at beach holidays, which are the practical choice for families and groups. In the old town the options are fewer and more suited to short city-style stays. Prices depend heavily on season and school holidays, so compare dates rather than trusting a single figure, and book early for July and August. If your plan is to see the palace and then spend the rest of the time on the sand, staying on the beach side and visiting the old town for one morning is usually the simplest split.

Getting there and around

The easiest way to reach Gandia without a car is to fly into Valencia airport, run by Aena, and continue by train or bus. Renfe Cercanías commuter trains connect Valencia with Gandia, so check the current timetable on Renfe before you travel, because frequencies vary by season and day. Gandia has no airport of its own.

By car, the coast road and the motorway both pass close to town, and having a car makes it easier to reach Bairén Castle and the quieter beaches. In summer the beach district is busy, so allow extra time for parking. Between the old town and the beach, the 2 km gap is easy by bike, bus or taxi. Once you are in the old town, the main sights are close enough to walk.

Best time to visit

The regional tourism site describes Gandia as bathed in sunlight and caressed by the Mediterranean breeze, but it gives no temperature figures, so use the forecast from AEMET for the weeks you plan to travel. Beach weather usually runs from late spring into autumn, while the palace, church and castle are comfortable in spring and autumn, when walking the hill is easier than in midsummer heat. Winter is quiet, and some seasonal services on the beach slow down. For fiestas, check the town’s own calendar for the year you travel rather than planning around remembered dates.

FAQ

Is Gandia worth visiting?

Yes, if you want a beach town with real history behind it. The Borja palace, the old town and a nearby hilltop castle give you more than a sunbed holiday.

Does Gandia have a beach?

Yes. The Nord beach is listed as 2 km from Gandia and almost a kilometre and a half long, with fine-grained golden sand and a full set of services. L’Ahuir has a more natural dune setting.

What is the Palau Ducal in Gandia?

It is the palace of the Borja family in the historic centre, declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1964. Its architecture mixes Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Neo-Gothic work.

How do I get to Gandia from Valencia?

Renfe Cercanías commuter trains link the two, and the road along the coast is the other option. Valencia airport is the nearest for flights.

What should I eat in Gandia?

Fideuà, a traditional pasta and seafood dish, is the local dish named by the regional tourism site. Ask for it at lunch.

Sources and freshness

Last checked: October 2026. Sources: INE, Municipal Register; Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, Gandia; Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, Ducal Palace; Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, Bairén Castle; Valencia Turisme, Nord beach; Aena; Renfe; AEMET.

Main photo: Joanbanjo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.