Open-air cinema in Valencia.

We are already in the middle of summer and the temperatures are rising… Luckily Valencia offers us some refreshing plans to find relief from the midsummer heat. Have you ever been to an open-air cinema in Valencia?

The open-air cinema (cine de verano) is one of the most deeply rooted and beautiful summer traditions in Spanish culture. Like the Great July Fair, it is also an essential event on the Valencian cultural agenda.

In Valencia, during the months of July and August, the cinema leaves the conventional cinemas to reach the city’s neighbourhoods. Large screens are installed in open spaces, such as squares, parks, courtyards, cloisters and even beaches, to entertain the public with film screenings in the evening.

It is also known as “cine a la fresca”, as it is an experience that is enjoyed outdoors in the evening, which is when the temperature drops and it tends to cool down.

To digress for a moment: have you heard of the expression “tomar la fresca” or “tomar el fresco”? This is another Spanish habit, very common in the hottest parts of the country, especially in towns. When the sun has gone down, people usually take out their chairs and gather in the streets with other neighbours and friends to chat and enjoy the coolness of the evening.

It is undoubtedly an endearing social ritual that you will be lucky enough to see if you visit the villages in the region.

Returning to the subject, here is some useful information about the most popular open-air cinemas.
We are sure that, glancing at the different movie listings, you will find that film that you have been waiting to see…

Filmoteca d’Estiu.

Let’s start with a classic of Valencia’s open-air cinema.

From the 2nd to the 31st of August, the Filmoteca d’Estiu will be held, as usual, in the gardens of the Palau de la Música.
This year’s movie listings include 26 screenings of 12 films, some of them awards-winners at the most important film competitions such as the Cannes Film Festival or the Oscars.

As always, the film offer is very varied in terms of genre, country and period. In fact, we find works of classic cinema such as “Young Frankenstein” (1974) or recent films such as “Oppenheimer” and “Anatomy of a Fall”, both released in 2023.

The ticket for each film costs 3,50 euros, but it is also possible to buy a voucher for 10 films at the price of 25 euros.
Finally, you can get your tickets on this website or directly at the box office, from 9.30pm onwards.

Cinema on the beach.

A perfect plan for those who want to enjoy the beach, both day and night.

After a four-year hiatus, this cultural event is back on 19 beaches in the Valencian province. Among them, the Patacona beach in Alboraya, the North Beach of Gandía, the beach of El Perelló or the beach of San Antonio in Cullera.

The programme includes 43 screenings, which will take place from the 7th of July to the 30th of August and are completely free of charge.

So, we encourage you to take a look at the programme and to equip yourselves with deckchairs, beach towels and some food to enjoy a pleasant evening under the stars.

Open-air cinema in La Eliana.

This summer cinema has a long history and this year celebrates 49 years of history.
From the 28th of June until the 1st of September, this cinema offers a total of 50 screenings of 20 films, all of them released in the 2023-2024 season.

As usual, the programme is divided into three categories: auteur films, Spanish films and family films. All screenings are scheduled at 10.30pm, on the large and pleasant terrace located in the Municipal Park of La Eliana.

Tickets (general: 3,50 euros / reduced: 2,50 euros) can be bought online or at the box office, from one hour before the beginning of the films.

Open-air cinema Terraza Lumière.

With its 50 years of history, this summer cinema is one of the oldest.

Located on the Paseo Aragón in Alboraya, the Terraza Lumière has a bar service. So, as well as bringing your own food, there is also the possibility of having dinner there, by reserving a table.

Their film programme includes the latest releases of the year and there are double screenings every day.
Tickets for each film cost 6 euros on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; and 5 euros on Mondays and Sundays.

Here, you can consult the film listings, get tickets for the films and even take a look at the bar menu.

Finally, at our Spanish language school, El Rincón del Tándem, we always advise our students to experience local customs, in order to better understand the Valencian culture.

In addition, we remind you that watching films in Spanish is one of the most effective methods to improve your oral comprehension of the language. And, of course, to learn new words and colloquial expressions.

We hope that this article will encourage you to include in your summer plans a nice open-air movie night.
If you have run out of plans, we also invite you to take a look at our post about 5 Sunday plans in Valencia.

See you soon!