8 things to do in Ayora with kids
Will you join us to discover the best things to do in Ayora with kids? We’ll reveal some legends and charming routes. This town has many stories to tell. Let’s get to know it!
We spent just one day in Ayora, and it wasn’t enough. The streets of the town invite you to take a nice walk searching for those special corners in the Barrio de los Altos and its castle, as well as a longer walk in the surrounding area to discover the landscapes around it.
Moreover, one of the things we liked most was the number of stories Ayora has to tell. From the German queen, the second wife of Ferdinand the Catholic, who spent long periods in the castle; to the story of a girl who lived in the Convent of San Francisco and one day went out for a walk in the village, and even the tale of a traveling boy who circled the world in 79 days.
🔝 Looking for more places to see around Valencia? Check out this article on excursions to take near Valencia.
Let’s explore them together:
Where is Ayora and how to visit it? MAP
Ayora is located in the valley of the same name, in the Valencia province, about 120 km southwest of the capital. There isn’t a straight route to get there, but our preferred option is to take the A7, then the A35, and finally the N-330.
If you’re traveling to Ayora with kids, we recommend doing the Red Thread Route (you can download the brochure here, or request it at the Tourist Office) and then the Queen’s Path. Along the way, you’ll come across several cool murals that are also part of a project. The other trails, which we’ll mention at the end of the article, are longer or might be a bit boring for kids.
Most of the spots we visited belong to the Red Thread Route.
What is the Red Thread Route?
This tourist and cultural route has a legend behind it that captivates both young and old. Benja was entertained following the red line painted on the city’s streets.
The legend says:
An ancient legend tells that in the San Francisco convent a girl grew hidden from the eyes of the people. Over time, she became a curious young maiden captivated by the stories the monks had told her for years about the Villa de Ayora.
Her curiosity was so great that on a cold full moon night, she jumped over the convent walls to discover everything she had never seen. In her escape, a thread from her long red cloak got caught on one of the rings on the convent walls. Throughout the night, she wandered the village, leaving behind a long red thread that has remained over time…
Do you dare to follow the steps of this maiden through 31 tourist spots? Be careful! Each site has a story to tell.
1) Ayora Tourist Office and Beekeeping Interpretation Center
We recommend that, as your first stop, you head to the Tourist Office, as they can advise you on the activities to do and sights to see in Ayora and its valley. You can also book their guided tours, which are very affordable and almost essential for visiting each site.
Inside the Ayora Tourist Office, there’s the Beekeeping Interpretation Center, a reading and play area that your kids will love. They’ll learn a lot about bees, how honey is made throughout the year, and why bees are so important to our planet.
Outside, there’s a large courtyard to stroll among the native plants of the area and play, but be careful! Don’t make too much noise since the bees will be resting in their own hotel—see if you can find it! There’s also a wall with murals where your kids can take the funniest selfies to remember the visit.
If you want to enjoy more of this experience, the beekeeping event “The First Honey Harvest” takes place in Ayora at the beginning of October.
2) Parque de los Morerales
We loved discovering this park in the center of Ayora, not just us, but also the kids who had a great time watching the ducks, geese, fish, and even little crabs.
In the center of the park, there’s a pergola where you can overlook the lake and a path to walk around it on a short stroll.
If you want to do the Water Route, this is the starting point.
3) Barrio de los Altos
From the Morerales park, you continue through the Olmos square and then, nearby, you’ll find the Portal de los Altos, which is the entrance to the Barrio de los Altos.
This portal was one of the 4 access points to the medieval town.
As you might guess, the Barrio de los Altos is the oldest in the city and still retains the layout of its streets from that time. During the walk, we discovered several charming corners. The little houses are painted white and have blue details on the door and window frames.
4) Castillo Fortaleza de Ayora
Another attraction to see in Ayora with kids is the castle. It’s located on the hill of the village and has Arabic origins, though it later came under Christian control after the Reconquista. It was during the Marquisate of Zenete, between the 15th and 17th centuries, that it was remodeled into a glorious palace-residence, although it fell into ruins during the War of Succession.
At the foot of the church is the Iglesia de Santa María La Mayor, which is part of the Route of the Hermitages and dates back to the 13th century. What’s interesting about its interior are the wooden beams of the ceiling that have hand-carved and painted human faces.
5) Other Points on the Red Thread Route
- Convento de San Francisco: while you can start the Red Thread Route from the Tourist Office, this is its “official” starting point. Today, it serves as the Casa de la Cultura de Ayora.
- La Calle de la Marquesa de Zenete: this refers to Doña Mencía de Mendoza, who became one of the richest women in Spain after inheriting her father’s estate. Still, she maintained a special relationship with the townspeople and was very much loved. On this street, you’ll find the two houses we saw on our tour, which we detail below.
- Casa de Casimiro Escribá: he was a priest and painter who had his studio in the attic of this house. There, he painted the large oil works that today cover the walls of the Catedral de Albacete, considered one of the largest paintings created by a single artist.
- Casa de Bruno García: This house currently belongs to the descendants of the Guillén family. One of its members, Santiago Guillén Martí, was part of a beautiful adventure—traveling around the world in 79 days—which he did with a friend on a Vespa scooter. One interesting fact is that Salvador Dalí made a drawing of the scooter named Dulcinea. If you ever pass through Pontederea (Italy), the scooter is on display at the Vespa Museum.
- Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Asunción: this is the main church of the town. Its first foundations were laid in the 16th century, and since then, it has undergone a series of renovations influenced by different eras.
- La Lonja: this iron structure was built in 1892 on the site where there once was a prison, courts, and a town hall. It’s also located next to the Plaza Mayor.
- La Glorieta: this park is perfect for a break with the kids after finishing the Red Thread Route. It has shade, benches, and playground equipment.
6) The Queen’s Path, another things to do in Ayora with kids
More than 500 years ago, Queen Germana de Foix, the second wife of King Ferdinand the Catholic, spent a long time in Ayora. During one of her walks to the small sanctuary that existed on this hill at the time, she lost her valuable crown.
So if you’re going to visit Ayora with kids, this activity is perfect for them to enjoy a nice walk while trying to find it…
The Queen’s Path is a 1.7 km circular trail of low difficulty that starts on route N-330, heading north out of Ayora, on the right side. It leads to the hill where the Hermitage of the Virgin of the Rosary is located, which can be accessed by walking along a path surrounded by pines or by car.
The stops along this path are:
- Viewpoint of Ayora, where you can take a very special selfie.
- Children’s Play Area with picnic table, located next to the hermitage.
- Hermitage of the Virgin of the Rosary: the current building was made possible by donations from Queen Germana in the 16th century, which expanded the hermitage she herself visited.
- And the next stop is the crown that the queen lost! When the kids find it, don’t forget to take a picture to collect the diploma at the Tourist Office.
- Area with caves in the wall.
7) Route of the Hermitages
This route was designed to explore the architectural, cultural, and artistic heritage of Ayora through the 9 hermitages in the town. Of these 9 hermitages, 5 are in the town itself and 4 are on the outskirts, one of which is the Hermitage of the Virgen del Rosario located on the hill of Camino de la Reina. They’re not too far to take a hike into the countryside.
In the town, you’ll find:
- Church of Our Lady of the Assumption
- Church of Santa María La Mayor
- Hermitage of Santa Lucía
- Hermitage of San José
- Hermitage of Santa Bárbara
On the outskirts, you’ll find:
- Hermitage of San Antón, to the south
- Hermitage of the Virgen del Rosario
- Hermitage of the Santo Ángel
- Hermitage of San Roque
8) Hiking Trails
Water Route: a circular trail of 6.2 km that starts and ends at the Parque de los Morerales, it’s easy and takes about 1.5 hours to complete, along a
Practical information for visiting Ayora
Where to stay in Ayora?
Ayora is a small place with few accommodation options. The available option is:
- Casa Rural Hotel La Placeta: a family hotel in a traditional and quiet neighborhood of Ayora, featuring 6 fully equipped rooms.
You can also look for rural houses in the village or nearby.
🔝 Check out these campgrounds we recommend for staying in the Comunidad Valenciana to see if any of them fit your route.
What you need for your trips to the Valencian Community
Plan your journey easily with these trusted resources:
