A Montanejos day trip from Valencia swaps city streets for mountain trails, the enormous Black Cave and a swim in the 25°C waters of Fuente de los Baños. I visited on a guided tour, and this guide covers transport, tickets, hiking difficulty, facilities and exactly what to pack.
Irish Travel Addict contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I earn a tiny commission at zero extra cost to you. Your support means the world!
Did you know there are thermal springs just over an hour inland from Valencia that locals swear will make you look younger? Sounds like a wild claim, right? We’d been trying to make this trip to Montanejos thermal springs happen for a year. One plan after another fell through – until this week. And honestly… it was worth every second of the wait.
| Montanejos day trip quick facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Distance from Valencia | Around 90 kilometres |
| Journey time | Roughly 75 to 90 minutes by road |
| Best transport | Guided tour or hire car |
| Main attraction | Fuente de los Baños thermal pools |
| Water temperature | Approximately 25°C year-round |
| Our hike | Around five kilometres |
| Tour length | Full day |
| 2026 peak-season entry | €4.50 general admission |
| Advance booking | Recommended during regulated summer dates |
| Bring | Swimwear, towel, water shoes, SPF and drinking water |
2026 update: Access to Fuente de los Baños is controlled from 1 July to 6 September. General admission costs €4.50 during these dates, and the official tourism office recommends booking tickets three to five days before your visit. Entry is free outside the controlled-access period.
Why you can trust this Montanejos guide
I visited Montanejos from Valencia on a guided day trip, completing the five-kilometre hike to Cueva Negra before swimming at Fuente de los Baños. This guide combines my first-hand experience with updated ticket, access and facility information from the official Montanejos tourism authority.
My Montanejos tour was provided as a hosted experience through GetYourGuide. As always, everything in this guide is based on my own experience and honest opinion.
Is a Montanejos day trip from Valencia worth it?
Yes. Montanejos is one of the best Valencia day trips for travellers who want mountain scenery, manageable hiking and somewhere unusual to swim without needing to plan an overnight stay.
Our Montanejos day trip itinerary
We were picked up at 9.30 from the University area in Valencia. Not an early start, which was ideal, and an hour later the city had vanished. Mountains everywhere, roads hugging the edge of great valleys and gorges, the windows providing continuous views of sheer rugged beauty.
Our first stop was Montanejos village. Tiny, quiet, just a few streets with shutters half-open and locals moving slowly. We grabbed coffee, nothing fancy – just strong and hot, and sat there breathing the mountain air and soaking in the views from the panoramic viewpoint.
Book ON GETYOURGUIDE
Book this exact Montanejos Day Trip Itinerary on GetYourGuide
Read Next: Feria de Julio Valencia: Full Gran Fira Programme
The hike started straight after coffee. Five kilometres of winding trails, climbing and dropping along dusty paths, the water never far away. Then came the Black Cave, tucked into the side of a ridge – dark, dripping, and noticeably cooler than anywhere we’d been that day. From the outside, it looked unremarkable, but stepping inside was a surprise. The scale of it was enormous, towering like a stone cathedral. We climbed deeper, into a narrow chamber that could barely fit our group. There were no bats in sight this time, but this cave is home to a huge colony – the bat being Valencia’s own emblem of course!
Further along, the trail opened up to views that didn’t look real. Deep blue reservoirs. Pools hidden under rock ledges. A tranquil stillness that you could only get in the middle of nowhere. We took our time to admire the views then kept moving, the heat on our backs, legs burning a bit… in a good way of course.
Read Next: How to Get Around Valencia: Complete Valencia Public Transport Guide
By mid afternoon, we hit the thermal springs. A narrow path down into the gorge, then suddenly the valley swallows you whole – jagged walls, water glowing turquoise, 25 degrees year-round. No shock or sharp intake of breath, just perfectly pleasant water enveloping us. There’s a local myth that the water at Montanejos thermal springs makes you appear younger. I can’t tell you about that personally, but it does strip something off you. Stress, noise, hassles. They all vanish as soon as you slip into those velvet waters.
We left around 4:30pm, hair still damp, legs scratched from the trail, tired in the best possible way. We were back in Valencia for sunset, the most magical time of the day in this majestic city.
Read Next: How to Get to Valencia Beaches From the City Centre
How to get to Montanejos from Valencia
Montanejos sits inland from Valencia, surrounded by mountains and winding roads. It is close enough for a day trip, but getting there requires more planning than hopping on a local train or city bus.
For most visitors, the easiest options are joining a guided tour or hiring a car.
Taking a guided Montanejos tour from Valencia
A guided tour is the simplest way to visit Montanejos without worrying about driving, parking or piecing together limited public transport connections.
Our tour collected us from the university area of Valencia at around 9:30am. Roughly 90 minutes later, the city had completely disappeared behind us and we were driving through deep valleys, mountain passes and enormous rocky gorges.
The day included time in Montanejos village, a guided hike to Cueva Negra, several scenic viewpoints and time to swim at Fuente de los Baños. We left Montanejos at around 4:30pm and were back in Valencia in time for sunset.
The biggest advantage was being able to combine the hike and thermal springs without working out routes or transport ourselves. Our guide also helped us navigate the cave and trails, which made the experience much easier than arriving without a plan.
Before booking, check exactly what your chosen tour includes. Some Montanejos tours focus heavily on hiking, while others allow more time for swimming or include additional activities such as rafting.
Best for: Travellers without a car, solo visitors and anyone who wants the full experience organised for them.
Book your Montanjeos Day Trip adventure here
Driving from Valencia to Montanejos
Driving gives you more freedom over your arrival time and how long you spend at Fuente de los Baños. The journey from Valencia generally takes around 90 minutes, although the final section follows winding mountain roads.
Arrive as early as possible during summer weekends and public holidays. Montanejos is no longer a secret, and parking close to the thermal springs can fill quickly during busy periods.
There are parking areas in and around Montanejos, including parking near Fuente de los Baños. From some parking areas, you may still need to walk to the main bathing zone.
Driving is a particularly good option if you want to stay overnight, explore additional hiking trails or visit the Embalse de Arenoso reservoir at your own pace.
Remember that parking and admission are separate. During the controlled summer period, you still need an entry ticket for Fuente de los Baños.
Best for: Couples, groups and travellers who want a more flexible itinerary.
Can you reach Montanejos by public transport?
It is technically possible to travel towards Montanejos using public transport, but it is not an easy day trip from Valencia.
There is no straightforward direct connection from central Valencia. Journeys generally involve travelling towards Segorbe or Jérica and changing to a limited local bus service. Depending on the day and timetable, the connections may leave very little time in Montanejos or require an overnight stay.
Schedules can also change, so do not rely on an old timetable found in a blog or forum. Check the latest connections directly before travelling.
For a straightforward same-day trip, a guided tour or hire car is far more practical.
Montanejos thermal springs tickets and 2026 access
Fuente de los Baños is free to enter for much of the year, but access is controlled during the busiest summer period.
In 2026, controlled entry applies on the following dates:
- 1 to 31 July
- 1 to 31 August
- 1 to 6 September
Current admission prices during these dates are:
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| General admission | €4.50 |
| Children aged four to ten | €3.50 |
| Seniors | €3.50 |
| Children under four | Free |
| Eligible visitors with disabilities | Free |
The official Montanejos tourism authority recommends buying tickets three to five days before your planned visit. Tickets are released progressively, so do not panic if your date is not available months in advance.
Tickets can be purchased online or at the entry points, subject to remaining capacity. Booking online is the safer choice during weekends, holidays and the peak summer months.
Outside the controlled dates, there is no general admission charge. I would still check the official Montanejos website before travelling in case weather, river conditions or local restrictions affect access.
Quick tip: Joining a tour does not automatically mean that admission is included. Read the booking details carefully so you know whether you need to reserve a separate Fuente de los Baños ticket.
Are the Montanejos thermal springs actually hot?
Despite regularly being called the Montanejos hot springs, the water at Fuente de los Baños remains at approximately 25°C throughout the year.
That makes it warmer than an ordinary mountain river, but it does not feel like stepping into a steaming outdoor bath. On a hot summer afternoon, the water feels refreshing and pleasantly mild. During cooler months, it may feel warm compared with the air, but getting out can still be chilly.
When we entered the water, there was no sharp intake of breath or freezing shock. It felt immediately comfortable, especially after several hours of hiking in the sun.
There is also a local legend that bathing in the spring water will make you look younger. I cannot promise it knocked ten years off me, but after a hot hike and a swim through the gorge, I definitely felt revived.
Facilities at Fuente de los Baños
Fuente de los Baños is a natural bathing area, but there are a few useful visitor facilities nearby.
You will find:
- Toilets and changing facilities
- A bar with an outdoor terrace
- Areas where you can sit beside the river
- Access points leading into the main bathing area
- Parking in and around Montanejos
The official facilities information does not list secure lockers, so bring as few valuables as possible. A waterproof phone pouch is useful if you want to take your phone into the water rather than leaving it unattended.
The riverbed is rocky, and some of the entry points can be slippery. Water shoes are not essential, but they will make getting in and out considerably more comfortable.
Important Fuente de los Baños rules
Fuente de los Baños is a protected natural area rather than a conventional swimming pool. Visitor numbers and equipment are restricted to protect the river and prevent the banks from becoming overcrowded.
The main rules include:
- Pets are not permitted
- Floats, inflatable mattresses and paddleboards are not permitted
- Large cool boxes and full picnic setups are restricted
- Camping equipment, tables, tents and large parasols are not permitted
- Visitors must remove all rubbish and leave the area as they found it
You can still bring a small bag with water and sensible snacks. Just do not arrive looking ready to build a full holiday camp beside the river.
Check the latest rules before visiting, as access arrangements can change during periods of high demand or difficult river conditions.
What to pack for a Monanejos Day Trip:
- Swimwear – The hot springs are the star of the show. Pack something you don’t mind getting wet, and maybe a quick-dry towel.
- Water shoes – The riverbed is rocky and can be slippery. Trust me, your feet will thank you.
- A refillable water bottle – There’s plenty of hiking and exploring to do, and the sun hits hard. Plus, there are fountains where you can drink the water, so why not indulge?
- Snacks or a picnic – While there are cafés in the town, having something easy to munch on by the water is bliss. Just be sure to clear away all rubbish and leftover food before you leave.
- A light jacket – It can get cooler by the river later in the day outside of the hotter months.
- Sun protection – SPF, sunglasses, and a hat at a minimum. The sun is relentless out here.
What not to bring:
- Heavy bags – You’ll be hopping between swimming and walking, so keep it light.
- Valuables – It’s not the place to bring all your gadgets. A phone for photos is fine, but leave anything precious back in Valencia.
- Massive pool floats – They look fun but take up too much space in the natural pools (and you’ll get some serious side-eye from locals).
Updated: 11 July 2026
Join the Adventure
Sign up for updates from Irish Travel Addict
Is Montanejos on your Valencia list yet?