Oliva: Medieval Old Town, Marjal and Coast

Oliva offers a range of options for planning a trip: a very well-preserved medieval old town, the Marjal de Pego-Oliva wetland and a long coastline. If you are looking for a hotel in Oliva, you can first consider whether historic sites, nature or the beaches should be the focus of your stay. The routes and attractions below provide specific points of reference.

Old Town, Walks and History

Three tourist routes have been designed through the medieval old town. On the route through the Vila Condal, you will pass noble houses; it also reveals the remains of a Renaissance palace that belonged to the Señores de Centelles y Riu Sech. The route is 1.57 kilometres long, is rated as easy and takes 1 hour and 30 minutes.

The route through the Raval Morisco offers a different historical perspective. It leads through steep lanes associated with Oliva’s Arab heritage. It is listed as 1.38 kilometres long, easy and taking two hours. That makes it half an hour longer than the route through the Vila Condal, even though it is 190 metres shorter. So when planning your time, it is worth checking the duration of each route rather than looking only at its length.

Castillo de Santa Anna stands on the summit of the hill overlooking Oliva. It was rebuilt between 1520 and 1546 on the site of an earlier chapel of Santa Anna, and is considered one of the finest examples of Renaissance military architecture in its comarca. Exhibits and everyday tools at the Museu Arqueològic d'Oliva offer further insight into the area’s history. The museum is housed in a stately building dating from the 15th century; its collection spans prehistory, Iberian and Roman culture, the Middle Ages and the Islamic period, through to Oliva in the 16th century.

Wetland and Routes in the Marjal

The Marjal de Pego-Oliva Natural Park is a wetland between the Mostalla, Mediodía and Segaria mountain ranges. Its vegetation is of great ecological value and includes reeds, rushes, cattails, yellow irises, duckweed and extensive underwater meadows. The birdlife is also diverse: the Marjal is home to species such as purple swamphens, little grebes, purple and grey herons, squacco herons, marbled ducks, black-winged stilts and whiskered terns.

The red Muntanyeta Verda route is described as a walk along the Salinar River. This easy route takes 1.5 hours. Another option is the blue route, a cycling route in the Marjal: it starts at a stone house on the cycle path from Pego to El Verger. After 100 metres, it reaches the Racons River; a branch leads onward to the rice fields. The Camino natural de La Safor, meanwhile, runs from Oliva to Gandia. The different details can help you choose a route based on the activity and time available, without treating the routes as equivalent.

Beaches and Water Activities

Oliva’s beaches stretch for 8.5 kilometres. They are known for their fine golden sand and shallow water. Rabdells Beach has a designated area for kitesurfing; paddleboarding and windsurfing are also available along the coast. The waters of Font Salada maintain a constant temperature throughout the year. This means there are different aspects to enjoy by the water: the character of the beaches, water sports and Font Salada’s distinctive temperature.

For the 2026 high season, an adapted bathing service was available at Playa de Pau Pi, at Plaza de Europa, and at Playa de Aigua Morta, on Calle Jacomart. This included adapted door-to-door transport and assistance; both could be reserved 24 hours in advance. As this information applies to the 2026 season, check current availability if you are visiting later.

Choosing a Hotel Based on Your Travel Interests

Whether you want to focus on Oliva’s old town, the Marjal or the coast, first decide which of these aspects of the destination matters most for your stay. Then compare the specific location and amenities listed for each hotel.

Discover more destinations: Xirivella, Venta Del Moro, Chiva, Castelló De Rugat, San Rafael Del Río, Gestalgar, Alcàntera De Xúquer, Manises.

For the overview of the wider region: Valencia.