Free walking tours in Oliva and what to see

Must-sees

Oliva is a quiet town south of Gandia, with an old town worth a stroll. Climb up to the Santa Anna quarter, on the hillside, where there are remains of the castle and a chapel with views over the orchards and the sea. In the centre are the church of Santa María la Mayor and the house museum of Gregori Mayans, an 18th-century Enlightenment scholar born here.

The other big attraction is the beaches. Oliva has several kilometres of fine sand with protected dunes, far less built-up than elsewhere on the coast. To the south, the Marjal de Pego-Oliva is a natural park of wetlands and rice fields, with clear rivers such as the Bullent, where you can walk and watch birds.

Free tours and guided visits

You will not usually find free tours in Oliva. The usual options are guided visits of the old town on set dates, covering the Santa Anna quarter, the church and the manor houses, and interpretive walks in the Marjal de Pego-Oliva about its wildlife and the history of rice growing. From Oliva you can take trips to Gandia, to Dénia and its castle, or to the inland valleys of the Marina Alta. There are also kayak trips on the marsh rivers.

How long to spend

Three or four hours are enough for the old town, with the climb to Santa Anna and a stop at the house museum. If you add a morning in the marsh and an afternoon on the beach, it makes a full day. If you are coming to relax, three or four days let you combine the beach with trips to Gandia and Dénia.

Where to stay

For a beach holiday, the best place to stay is the coastal strip, with hotels, campsites and apartments near the sand and the promenade. If you prefer local life, bars and shops, the centre of Oliva is more practical and a few minutes’ drive from the coast. Public transport between the two is limited, so a car helps.