Parc de Capçalera

Parc de Capçalera is a municipal park in Valencia, Spain, stretching across the western edge of the city in the Campanar and Sant Pau districts. It occupies a stretch of the old Turia riverbed — the channel abandoned after the river was diverted following the 1957 flood — and marks the western end of the long green corridor that runs across former Valencia.

How do you get there?

The park sits right next to Bioparc Valencia and the Palau de Congressos, so it's easy to combine a visit here with a trip to the zoo. From the city centre, a bus or bicycle is the quickest option — a continuous cycling and walking path runs the length of the old riverbed, so it's also possible to walk the whole way from the historic centre, crossing bridge after bridge and garden after garden. The clearest landmark is the Pont del Nou d'Octubre bridge, where Parc de Capçalera meets the Jardín del Turia, the rest of the park stretching onward toward the City of Arts and Sciences.

What will you see?

Completed in 2008, the park ranks among the largest green spaces in Valencia. Its design deliberately echoes the natural landscape the river once created here, which is why water plays such a central role in the layout: artificial ponds, channels and waterside greenery recreate something of the Turia's original course before it was rerouted. Walking its paths brings open lawns, clusters of trees and viewpoints looking onto the neighbouring Bioparc — one of the few zoos in Europe built around the "zoo immersion" concept, where artificial rock formations, caves and vegetation mimicking the African savannah blur the line between visitors and animals. The park itself, though, is primarily a place to unwind — good for a picnic, a run, or a quiet walk away from the bustle of the centre.

When should you visit?

Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons, when Valencia's temperatures are milder and the greenery at its best. In summer, early morning or late afternoon are the better choices to dodge the heat, since the park's open layout offers less shade than the more densely wooded stretches of the Jardín del Turia closer to the centre. The park is open year-round and free to enter, making it a good stop for a longer walk that mixes sightseeing with rest.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry to Parc de Capçalera free? Yes, it's an open municipal park with free admission, unlike the neighbouring Bioparc, which is a paid attraction.

Can you walk to the park from central Valencia? Yes — the park forms the western extension of the Jardín del Turia, so in theory you can follow the old riverbed the whole way from the centre, though given the distance a bike or bus is more practical.

What else is worth seeing nearby? Bioparc Valencia (a zoo built on the immersion concept) and the Palau de Congressos both sit right beside the park, making it easy to combine several stops in a single day.

When was the park built? Parc de Capçalera was completed in 2008, the same year the adjoining Bioparc opened.