Valencia: City of Arts and Sciences Segway Tour

Valencia’s old riverbed gives this tour its best trick: you can cover a lot of ground without spending the day on foot. From the medieval Serrano Gates, you glide through Turia Park to the vast, futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, with plenty of room to learn the Segway before the sightseeing begins.

I like the private format, which lets the guide adjust the pace and answer your questions. I also like the route itself: the cool green spaces of Turia Park make a welcome break from city streets, while the City of Arts and Sciences supplies the big visual finish. The main consideration is that the tour requires at least two people per booking, and a Segway may not suit pregnant riders or anyone outside the 25 to 130 kilogram weight range.

Key points to know

• Start at the Serrano Gates: Meet your guide beside one of Valencia’s best-known medieval city entrances.
• Ride through Turia Park: The former riverbed stretches across the city and links the old center with the City of Arts and Sciences.
• See Santiago Calatrava’s complex: The route reaches Valencia’s famous group of white, futuristic buildings and reflecting pools.
• Expect patient instruction: Extra training time is included, and guides such as Santiago, David, and Erica have been praised for their calm approach.
• Allow more than the scheduled time: The official duration is 1.5 hours, though one outing lasted about 2.5 hours.
• Good value for two: At $118 per group of up to two, the cost works better for a pair than for a solo rider.

From the Serrano Gates into Valencia’s old riverbed

The tour begins at the Serrano Gates, a substantial medieval entrance that once helped defend Valencia. It is a useful meeting point because it gives you an immediate taste of the old city before the route shifts into open parkland.

You will meet your guide, collect your Segway, and receive a safety briefing. Helmets are supplied, as are raincoats if the weather turns damp. The extra practice time matters. A Segway responds to small shifts in your balance, so the first few minutes are better spent learning the controls than trying to admire the scenery.

The booking is private, which gives you more breathing room than a large group outing. If one person needs a little longer to feel steady, the guide can focus on that rider rather than holding up a crowd. The tour requires a minimum of two people per booking, however, so this is best planned for a couple, friends, or a small family group.

The company, Segway AnywayValencia, supplies a personal Segway for each rider. Luggage storage, a water cooler, and a free map of Valencia are also included. Those are small touches, but they are useful when you are carrying day bags or arriving with more gear than you want to take into the park.

Turia Park gives you room to learn

Once you leave the Serrano Gates, the route heads into Turia Park. This long public park occupies the former Turia riverbed and runs across Valencia toward the City of Arts and Sciences. Its broad paths and open green spaces make it a sensible place to get comfortable on two wheels.

The park is known locally as Valencia’s lungs, and that description makes sense once the stone streets give way to trees, lawns, gardens, and Mediterranean plant life. You are not simply using the park as a shortcut. It is one of the main sights, and the guide can explain how it became such an important part of the city.

One stop may focus on the park’s origins and the decisions that shaped it. A guide named David also pointed out Gulliver, the walkable sculpture based on Jonathan Swift’s giant traveler. The work represents the creation of the park and gives the route a playful break from formal monuments.

This part of the ride is also where the Segway earns its keep. Turia Park is long, and walking from the old center all the way to the City of Arts and Sciences would take considerably more energy. On a Segway, you can cover the distance while still stopping for explanations and photographs.

The path is not a nonstop race. You will pause at selected points, and the guide can help with pictures and short videos using a professional camera. Bring comfortable walking shoes even though most of the route is ridden. You will still stand for much of the outing, stop beside sights, and possibly walk around at the viewing points.

The City of Arts and Sciences is the grand finale

The route eventually reaches Santiago Calatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia’s signature modern complex. Its white structural forms, water channels, and sweeping shapes can feel almost theatrical after the shade and greenery of Turia Park.

The complex is made up of six buildings devoted to science and culture. This tour does not function as an indoor museum visit, so you should book it for the exterior views rather than for entry to the buildings. The reward is the chance to move around the complex, see how the structures relate to one another, and photograph the reflective water around them.

The Opera House and Science Museum are among the places you can see along the route. The buildings look different from every angle, which makes a guide useful. A good guide can point out the relationship between the architecture, the pools, and the open spaces instead of leaving you to take the same front-facing photograph as everyone else.

The stop also supplies a clear contrast with the Serrano Gates. Valencia’s story here is not presented as one uniform style. You begin with defensive medieval architecture, pass through a modern public park, and finish among buildings designed to represent scientific and cultural ambition.

Some routes can include the old center

The stated route runs from the Serrano Gates through Turia Park to the City of Arts and Sciences. In practice, the custom route may include additional views in central Valencia, depending on the guide and the time available.

One outing with David continued into the old city after the Opera House and Science Museum. That added historic buildings to the futuristic architecture and made the ride feel more like a general introduction to Valencia than a single-attraction visit.

This flexibility is one of the stronger reasons to choose a private tour. You can ask questions about the park, the city center, or the modern complex as you go. Guides including Santiago, David, and Erica have been singled out for patience, humor, clear explanations, and help with family groups.

Still, you should not assume every departure follows exactly the same extended route. The published duration is 1.5 hours, and the extra old-town section may depend on pace, guide, and the route selected for your group. One recorded outing lasted around 2.5 hours, so it is wise not to schedule a tightly timed meal, museum booking, or train immediately afterward.

Why the private price can make sense

The price is $118 per group of up to two people. That works out to $59 each for a pair, which is a reasonable price for a private outing that includes the Segways, helmets, training, guide, water, luggage storage, and photo support.

It is less attractive if you are booking alone, but the activity requires at least two people per booking anyway. For two people, the private setup gives you more personal attention than a standard group tour and lets you ask questions without competing with a large crowd.

The value also comes from the distance covered. You see the Serrano Gates, Turia Park, Gulliver if included on the route, the City of Arts and Sciences, and possibly parts of the old center in one outing. You are paying not only for the vehicle but also for local orientation and the ability to move between areas that are spread across the city.

I would not choose this tour mainly to save money. I would choose it because you want a lively introduction to Valencia and like the idea of combining transport, sightseeing, and a little amusement. If you already know the city well, the price may be harder to justify unless you specifically want the Segway experience.

Guides make the difference

The guide can make or break an activity that depends on both movement and explanation. The names that come up most often in the supplied material are Santiago, David, and Erica.

Santiago is described as patient, cheerful, and ready to answer questions. He also guided a family group through Valencia, which suggests a useful approach for mixed ages and different confidence levels. David combined the park’s background with stops at Gulliver, the Opera House, and the Science Museum, then continued toward historic buildings. Erica led a German-language outing and helped the group see many sights in a short time.

The available languages include Spanish, English, Russian, French, Italian, and Portuguese. A multilingual guide may lead the tour, so you should select your preferred language when booking and be prepared for a guide who handles more than one language.

The guide also controls the pace. You should expect time to practice before departure, but you still need to speak up if the Segway feels unfamiliar. The tour is meant to be enjoyable, not a test of balance.

What to wear and who should book

Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Choose clothing that lets you shift your weight easily, and remember that a raincoat is supplied if needed. Valencia can be sunny, but the tour may be canceled if conditions are unsafe.

The activity is not recommended for pregnant women. Riders must weigh at least 25 kilograms and no more than 130 kilograms, or about 55 to 290 pounds. The separate suitability information lists 287 pounds as the upper figure, so if you are close to the limit, confirm the exact requirement before paying.

You should book this if you:

• Want to see several parts of Valencia in a short period
• Enjoy light adventure rather than a conventional walking tour
• Prefer a private guide to a large shared group
• Are comfortable learning a balance-based vehicle
• Want a route that links old architecture, public gardens, and modern design

You may want another activity if you are pregnant, outside the stated weight range, uneasy on a Segway, or looking for a detailed indoor visit to the City of Arts and Sciences. This is an exterior sightseeing ride, not a museum ticket.

Timing, weather, and practical planning

The official outing lasts 1.5 hours, with starting times based on availability. Because the route can sometimes run longer, I would leave a generous buffer afterward. The old center, Turia Park, and the City of Arts and Sciences are not all next door to one another, and the point of the Segway is to connect them without rushing every stop.

Weather matters. The tour may not operate in poor conditions, and a cancellation caused by weather comes with the choice of another date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your money out of the booking until later.

Alcohol and drugs are not allowed. That is basic safety advice, but it matters more here than on a passive sightseeing tour because you are controlling a moving vehicle.

Should you book the Valencia Segway tour?

I would book this tour if you have at least one companion, want a quick orientation to Valencia, and like the idea of riding through a former riverbed park to one of Spain’s most recognizable modern complexes. The private format, included training, multilingual guides, and custom route give it more substance than a simple ride around a single attraction.

The best parts are the variety and the sense of movement. You begin at the Serrano Gates, practice in Turia Park, stop for local context, and finish among the striking forms of the City of Arts and Sciences. Guides such as Santiago, David, and Erica also appear well suited to first-time riders and family groups.

I would skip it if your priority is a long museum visit, a slow architectural study, or a guaranteed 1.5-hour finish. The tour can stretch longer, and the Segway itself requires a basic level of comfort and balance. For the right pair, though, $118 buys a lively and efficient way to get your bearings in Valencia.

FAQ

How long does the Valencia Segway tour last?

The scheduled duration is 1.5 hours. One outing lasted about 2.5 hours, so allow extra time in case the route runs longer.

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins at the Serrano Gates, one of Valencia’s historic medieval entrances.

What sights are included?

The route passes through Turia Park and continues to the City of Arts and Sciences. Depending on the custom route, you may also see Gulliver, the Opera House, the Science Museum, and historic buildings in the old center.

Is the tour private?

Yes. It is a private group experience, with a minimum booking requirement of two people.

What languages are available?

Guiding is available in Spanish, English, Russian, French, Italian, and Portuguese. The tour may be operated by a multilingual guide.

Who cannot take the tour?

The tour is not recommended for pregnant women. It is also not suitable for people over 130 kilograms, or about 287 to 290 pounds, and the stated minimum rider weight is 25 kilograms, or 55 pounds.