Marina Porto di Valencia

After nearly 400nm in six days, the Porto di Valencia was a welcome sight! The imposing outer mole jutting out from a wide, sandy beach gave excellent shelter as we berthed stern-to, just inside the breakwater to the right, near the welcome and fuel quays. The harbour itself goes much further inland, and has an interesting layout in the inner areas. Although our berth meant a 15 minute walk to get to the beach area (plenty of bars and restaurants) and buses/taxis into the centre of the city, we were a little further away from the deep, bellowing bass of the nightclubs on the beach. Even so, it was still a bit bothersome into the early hours. We were berthed next to the rather shabby ablutions block, essentially a portacabin which could do with some refurbishment, and which seemed to be used by the general population in the next-door bar. The bar started gently enough at midday, but in the evenings became louder and louder until past midnight. With that, the clubs and the many folk taking a stroll to the end of the pier, it was a rather noisy port. Next time we will ask for a berth on the southern side of the entrance, trading an even further walk to the amenities for a more peaceful berth. The lazy lines were also in a poor state, covered in barnacles and limpets which scratched the hulls quite badly. Gloves definitely needed for handling.

As we were out of season the berth was pretty reasonable - just under 100 Euros a night for us. They did charge extra for water and electricity; this charge was levied whether you used any electricity or water or not.

As a city, Valencia is well worth a visit. It takes about 20 minutes by taxi to reach the historic parts of town, and the walk back down the now drained former river is a pleasant way to return to the coast. The markets were amazing, the beach scene vibrant, the nightlife lively. All in all it was a useful and welcome stopover, but be aware the port can be noisy so ask for a quieter spot if you want a more restful stay.