Lorraine Williamson
Anyone heading to the city for the festival should check the latest Fallas travel changes to Valencia before setting off. Transport plans are being reinforced for the busiest days, but some stations will also close at key times, and certain trains will not stop in central Valencia during the daily mascletà period.
The biggest change affects the area around València Nord and the city centre during the lunchtime fireworks window. Renfe said Valencia City Council asked it to stop trains arriving at Estación del Norte between 12.00 pm and 3.00 pm on 14 to 19 March, arguing that it could not guarantee safe evacuation in the event of an emergency because of the crowds around Xàtiva and the surrounding streets.
Why some trains will not reach València Nord
Renfe said that, because of the request and the safety concerns set out by the city, it can only run C1 and C2 services as far as Albal during that time window. The operator said replacing that rail capacity with buses would be unrealistic because heavy road closures during Fallas would make large-scale alternative transport impossible.
That means travellers using Cercanías services should check their route carefully, especially if they normally expect to arrive directly at València Nord in the middle of the day. This is one of the most important practical points for visitors, commuters and festival-goers alike.
The changes also come amid wider concerns about strike-related disruption affecting parts of Valencia’s transport network during Fallas.
Metrovalencia will run 24 hours, but central stations will close at lunchtime
The better news is that Metrovalencia says it will operate a 24-hour service from the start of 13 March until the end of 20 March across all lines, with higher night frequencies during the busiest periods. That gives visitors much more flexibility for late-night events and the return journey after fireworks and street celebrations.
But there is a catch. From 14 to 19 March, the stations at Colón and Xàtiva will close between 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm, and trains will not stop there during that period. The pedestrian tunnel linking Xàtiva and Alacant will also close at the same time, with extra closures on the nights of 17 and 18 March between 10.00 pm and 2.00 am.
Metrovalencia recommends using Bailèn, Alameda, Àngel Guimerà or Plaça Espanya to reach the mascletà instead.
What this means for visitors
For many people, Fallas is one of Spain’s most spectacular festivals. It brings huge crowds, packed streets and intense pressure on the transport network. That is not new. What feels sharper this year is the degree to which safety management is shaping how central stations and train arrivals are handled during the busiest part of the day.
If you are travelling into Valencia for the mascletà, the safest approach is to leave extra time, avoid assuming your usual stop will be open, and check whether your train is terminating earlier than normal. If you are staying into the evening, the 24-hour metro service should make getting around easier, but central congestion will still be intense.
The key advice before you travel
The headline point is simple: do not rely on your usual city-centre arrival plan during Fallas. Midday is the pressure point, and both rail and metro access are being adjusted around crowd safety. For visitors coming for the festival atmosphere, that may be a minor inconvenience. For regular passengers, it could mean rerouting an otherwise familiar journey.
With the busiest festival days now here, Valencia’s transport story is no longer just about adding extra services. It is also about managing crowds in one of the city’s most tightly packed and high-profile weeks of the year.