Valencia splits its public transportation between two systems that don’t share a single ticket: EMT, the city bus network, and Metrovalencia, the combined metro and tram operated by FGV. A regional authority, ATMV, sets fares and runs an integrated SUMA card that works across both of them plus the metropolitan Metrobus and commuter rail — but day to day, most riders just pick whichever network gets them there and pay its fare directly.
The basics
Metrovalencia is the backbone for longer trips: 10 metro and tram lines fan out from the center to the airport, the beach, and the surrounding metropolitan area. Lines 3 and 5 both terminate at the airport; Lines 4, 6, 8, and 10 run as trams along the surface, including the line out to the beach and the City of Arts and Sciences.
EMT València runs the city bus network, which covers the historic center and neighborhoods the metro doesn’t reach as directly. For trips beyond the city limits — including the airport — a separate Metrobus network (coordinated by ATMV) fills in, most notably Line 150 to the airport.
How to pay
The two main networks work differently:
- EMT buses: pay as you board. Drop cash in the farebox, tap a contactless bank card or phone at the validator (a system called MovimEMT), or buy a ticket in the EMTicket app and tap your phone to validate (Tap & Ride). There’s no pre-purchase required for any of these.
- Metrovalencia (metro and tram): buy a ticket at the station machines with a card or cash. A single ride requires a physical paper or plastic card to hold it — a small extra cost on top of the fare — which you then tap at the gates going in, and again going out (trams validate on boarding only). If you’re staying a while, a reloadable SUMA card is the better option (see Fares, below).
Fares
EMT buses charge a flat €2.00 per ride — a paper single ticket (no transfers) or an EMTicket bought in the app, which is valid for one hour with unlimited transfers. If you’re using a bank card through MovimEMT, each validation is cheaper — €0.85, discounted to €0.51 through the end of 2026 — and your spending automatically caps at €35 a month (€21 through 2026), so you never need to buy a pass.
Metrovalencia prices by zone — how far you’re traveling, not how many stops:
| Zone | Single ticket |
|---|---|
| A or B | €1.50 |
| A and B | €2.80 |
| B+ | €3.50 |
| A and B+ (includes the airport) | €4.80 |
Add €1.10 (paper) or €2.20 (plastic) for the card itself on your first ride — it’s reusable after that. If you’ll make more than a few metro trips, load a SUMA card instead: 10 rides (SUMA10) run from €9 to €41 depending on zone combination, and a monthly pass (SUMA Mensual) runs from €35 to €131. Children under 10 ride the metro and tram free with a paying adult.
EMT and Metrovalencia also sell coordinated SUMA tickets — the SUMA10 and SUMA Mensual passes above — valid across both networks plus Metrobus and Renfe Rodalia commuter rail.
Getting from the airport
Valencia’s airport (Manises, 8km from downtown) has two solid public transportation options:
- Metro: Lines 3 and 5 both start right at the airport and run every 15–20 minutes, reaching the center in about 20 minutes. The fare is €4.80 (zone A and B+) plus the one-time card cost.
- Metrobus Line 150: boards at Terminal T1, Level 0, just past arrivals. It runs via Manises, Quart de Poblet, and Mislata into the city, with central stops at Ángel Guimerà and Mercat Central. It’s slower — about 45 minutes, every 20–30 minutes — and runs 6:21am–10:36pm Monday–Saturday and 7:35am–10:15pm Sunday, with a reduced night service.
A taxi rank sits at arrivals; expect to pay around €35 to the center.
Apps to download
- EMT València — the official app for live bus arrivals and planning trips on the city bus network.
- EMTicket — buy single EMT bus tickets from your phone and validate with Tap & Ride.
- Metrovalencia Oficial — FGV’s official app for metro and tram schedules, line status, and station information.
- Google Maps — reliable for trip planning with live schedules across every mode.
When it runs
Metrovalencia runs about every 10 minutes for most of the day. On weekdays the network operates roughly 4am to 11:30pm; on weekends it shifts later, running about 5am to 12:30am.
Accessibility
Metrovalencia stations use NaviLens, a scannable code system that helps riders find their way around — locating elevators, intercoms, and ticket machines — and pulls up real-time information like next-train times and service status, through a free app.
Etiquette & local quirks
- Metrovalencia tickets are checked twice — tap in and tap out — so don’t toss your card or paper ticket after boarding; you’ll need it to exit.
- EMT and Metrovalencia are genuinely separate systems with separate tickets: a Metrovalencia SUMA card works on EMT too if it’s a coordinated title, but a plain EMT Bonobús won’t get you onto the metro.
- On EMT buses, validate at the door whether you’re paying cash, tapping a card, or showing a ticket — the driver or validator needs to see it as you board.
Good to know
- Fare enforcement: riding Metrovalencia’s metro or tram without a valid, validated ticket means a 100€ on-the-spot regularization charge, in addition to the fare you owe.
- MovimEMT is new as of EMT’s latest fare update: register a bank card on EMT’s website or app, then just tap it every ride — no ticket to buy, and the system automatically applies the cheapest fare and caps your monthly total.
- Zone names can be confusing: Metrovalencia’s “B+” zone is a special designation that includes the airport, not a simple step up from zone B.