€5.80 gets you a one‑seat metro ride from Colón to VLC
Metrovalencia Line 5 runs straight to Terminal T at Valencia Airport, with in‑train time from central stations like Colón or Alameda typically around 20–25 minutes. The airport fare is €5.80 one way, same price reported for both L3 and L5. Trains stop inside the airport station, one level below the terminal, so you walk a few minutes up to check‑in.
Line 5 is the blue line heading Aeroport on the maps, sharing tracks with other lines through central hubs such as Xàtiva, Colón, and Alameda. Trains run all‑stops, so if you’re boarding from the port side near Marítim–Serrería, door‑to‑gate can push toward 35–40 minutes once you factor in walking and security. The trade‑off is a single seat from many newer neighbourhoods on the Line 5 branch.
A standard airport ticket for Line 5 costs €5.80 from any city station in the relevant zones, bought at the orange ticket machines or counters before the gates. Tickets cover one ride only; you tap through the barriers at Colón, Alameda, or whichever station you start from, then exit at Aeroport station just before the terminal. Keep the ticket handy, as you often need it to open the exit gates at VLC.
Step‑by‑step: getting from city to airport on Line 5
- 1. Check the timetable for Line 5 the day before, especially the first trains before 06:00 if you have an early Ryanair or Vueling departure.
- 2. Go to a Line 5 station such as Colón, Alameda, Xàtiva, or Marítim–Serrería and follow signs for Metrovalencia; in many stations the blue “L5 Aeroport” labels sit above the platforms.
- 3. Buy an airport ticket for €5.80 at the machine, select the “Aeroport” destination, and keep the printed card for both entry and exit gates.
- 4. On the platform, double‑check the front display reads “L5 Aeroport” and not “L5 Marítim,” since trains on this branch can run in both directions.
- 5. Ride 20–25 minutes from central stops like Colón to Aeroport; stay on through intermediate stations such as Àngel Guimerà and Mislata until the final stop marked “Aeroport.”
- 6. At Aeroport station, follow the “Terminal T / Sortida” signs, tap out with your ticket at the barriers, then walk 3–5 minutes up escalators and lifts to departures.
What regulars do and watch outs
Regulars planning flights before 08:00 often check the first Line 5 train and, if it cuts too close, switch to a taxi from the port or Ruzafa instead of risking a missed bag‑drop. Forum posts mention that late‑night service also tapers off, so after around 23:00–23:30 many locals skip the metro and budget €20–€25 for a cab to VLC instead of waiting on the platform.
Signage at interchange points like Colón can be confusing, with separate platforms for Aeroport and Marítim branches using the same blue color. If you’re changing from another line at Colón, follow the overhead arrows to “L5 Aeroport” specifically, watch the train’s end‑station display, and build a 10‑minute buffer so a wrong‑direction train doesn’t wreck your check‑in time.