Gandia City Guide
Image by Joanbanjo via wikidata

Spain

Gandia City Guide

Valencian Community

Gandia is a coastal city in Spain's Valencian Community, about 65 km south of Valencia. It has a historic city center and a beach area popular with tourists. The Mediterranean beaches are wide and sandy, and the city mixes cultural sites with a lively seaside vibe.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Excellent
8

Local dishes like paella, fideuà, and horchata are must-tries. There’s decent international food and more vegetarian/vegan choices lately. Late-night food is common near the beach.

Local Dishes:
Paella, Fideuà, Horchata
International Cuisine:
Italian, Chinese, Indian
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Good
7

Nightlife centers on the beach area and starts late, often after midnight. Various bars and clubs are open mostly during tourist season.

Coffee Culture
Good
6

Typical Spanish coffee culture with many cafes; quality is solid though not specialized.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Tipping is appreciated but not required; 5-10% in restaurants is common. Taxi tips and service gratuities are small.

Top Attractions
Ducal Palace
Cultural
Historic palace of the Borja family in the city center.
Gandia Beach
Nature
Long sandy beach with calm water.
Historic Center
Cultural
Includes Carrer Major and Plaza del Prado.
Collegiate Basilica of Santa Maria
Cultural
Historic church with notable architecture.
Paseo de les Germanies
Urban
Tree-lined promenade with shops and cafes.
Fallas Museum
Cultural
Museum about local festival traditions.
Archaeology Museum
Cultural
Displays from local historic digs.
Santa Clara Museum
Cultural
Franciscan convent museum.
Bairén Castle
Cultural
Ruins of a historical castle nearby.
SIM Cards

SIM cards are available at shops like Vodafone, Orange, Movistar, and Yoigo. You must register with ID or passport. eSIM options exist with major providers.

Available at:
Vodafone
Orange
Movistar
Yoigo
Recommended Apps
Renfe(Transport)
Moovit(Transport)
Glovo(Food Delivery)
Uber Eats(Food Delivery)
Just Eat(Food Delivery)
Booking.com(Accommodation)
Airbnb(Accommodation)
WhatsApp(Communication)
Google Maps(Navigation)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Good
7

Generally clean, especially in tourist and central areas.

24/7 Services
Limited
5

Emergency services and hospitals operate 24/7. Pharmacies rotate night shifts. Few minimarts are open all night.

Groceries
Mercadona
Carrefour
Lidl
Aldi

Supermarkets like Mercadona, Carrefour, Lidl, and Aldi cover most shopping needs with some international items. There's also a weekly market on Saturdays.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Cards are accepted widely but carry some cash for small shops and markets.

ATMs

ATMs from major banks are common across the city. Expect some fees based on your bank and the ATM used.

Schools
International

Several bilingual and international schools offer Spanish, Valencian, and English instruction. Contact schools directly for admissions info.

Available Schools:
Colegio Bilingue Las Colinas
Gandia British School
Colegio Los Naranjos
British School Alzira
Hablo Education
The English School Gandía

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Not Available
Work-Friendly Cafés
Good
Cafe Central Gandia
Wi-Fi and power outlets, moderate noise level.
La Ventana
Good for working during the day, comfortable seating.
Alternatives:
Public Library Gandia
Quiet space with Wi-Fi, open daytime hours.
Hotel lobbies
Some hotels offer quiet areas with Wi-Fi outside busy seasons.
Digital Nomad Community
Poor
3

Not a major nomad hub but has decent cafes with Wi-Fi. Close to Valencia for more options.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Excellent
8

Good green spaces along the Paseo de les Germanies and wetland areas like Marjal de La Safor.

Running
Good
7

Running routes include Marjal de Gandia, Serpis Greenway, and beach paths; safe and scenic areas.

Gyms
Available

Gyms including a tennis club with fitness facilities are available.

Available Gyms:
Club de Tennis Gandia
Local fitness centers
Tennis
Good
7

Club de Tennis Gandia offers multiple clay courts and padel courts with booking and rental options.

Padel
Good
7

Padel courts available at Club de Tennis Gandia with memberships and training options.

Yoga
Good
6

Yoga studios and wellness centers available; check locally for English-speaking instructors.

Martial Arts
Limited
5

Dojo and gyms for judo, karate, taekwondo, and more exist in Gandia.

Skiing
Poor
1

No ski resorts nearby; closest are several hours away in the Pyrenees or Sierra Nevada.

Water Sports
Good
6

Good opportunities for kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, and windsurfing at the sailing club.

Surfing
Poor
3

Calm waters mean limited surfing options; better surf spots are farther along the coast.

Diving
Limited
4

Some diving and snorkeling possible on the coast, but limited in Gandia itself.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
8

Spain has good public healthcare; private clinics may have more English-speaking staff. Pharmacies are common and well-marked. Emergency numbers include 112 and 061.

Hospitals:
Local public hospitals
Private clinics
Pharmacies:
Farmacias in city center
Farmacias near beach area
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water in Gandia is safe to drink.

Common Scams
Pickpocketing in tourist and crowded areas, Fake police officers asking for money, Fortune-telling scams, Taxi fare overcharging, Menu scams, Distraction thefts, Fake bracelet scams

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Excellent
8

Good for families with playgrounds, kid-friendly cafes, baby supplies, and safe beaches.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Excellent
8

LGBTQ+ friendly city reflecting Spain's general acceptance and legal protections.

Pet Friendly
Good
6

Pet-friendly culture growing; vets and green spaces available.

Communities
Expats and locals Facebook groups (Social)
Valencian Community forums (Social)

Quick Facts

Population
78,108
Power Reliability
Excellent
9/10

Electricity supply is stable and reliable in Gandia.

Beach Access
Available

Wide golden sandy beaches with calm Mediterranean waters. Gandia Playa is about 2 km from the city center.

Mountains
Available

Near the La Safor and Mondúver mountain ranges with accessible trails.

Languages
Spanish (Castilian)(90%)
Valencian (Catalan variety)(70%)
English(30%)
Emergency
112
General Emergency
061
Medical Emergency
080
Fire Brigade
091
National Police
092
Local Police
062
Civil Guard
011
Road Emergencies
016
Gender Violence
024
Suicide Prevention

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
2
🏔️
Earthquake
Low Risk
3

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Extreme heat
July, August
Summers can be hot with average peaks around 25°C in August.
Mild winters
January
Winters are mild, averaging 11°C in January.

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