I tried a tennis camp in Valencia

I’ve been living in Valencia for almost 9 years for now, and I thought I knew every way to spend a week here. Beach, paella, a day trip to the mountains, repeat.

Then I tried a tennis camp. And honestly? It’s one of the best ways to spend time here if you are into sports (or at least think that you do). Or at least if you love watching prime tennis matches (as I do now)/

If you’re wondering whether an active holiday is for you, or you just want to stop feeling guilty about all that horchata, read on.

Key takeaways

• You don’t need to be a good player. Beginners are welcome
• “Light” camps train in the morning and leave the afternoon free for the city or the beach. No exhausting gym is a plus.
• A week of light camp costs around 250-300 euros
• It is better to book a place to stay near your club (and not in the old town).
• Bring sunscreen and appropriate footwear for clay courts

The motivation to come

Short answer: the weather. Valencia gets like 300 sunny days a year, so you can play outdoors almost every month. In winter, when everyone at home is playing indoors (or not at all), we are out here on clay courts in a t-shirt.

Also, Spanish people take tennis very seriously. There are academies and clubs all around the city, and the coaches are the real deal. In Valencia, you get the same level coaching but without paying Barcelona or Marbella prices.

Also, when you finish your daily practice, you have lots of options – paella for lunch, a nap, and a walk along the beach in the evening. Not bad for a “sports holiday”.

Read also: Is Valencia Worth Visiting?

What to know beforehand

• Light camp or full camp? Light camps are mornings only. Full-day camps and holiday camps (Easter, summer, Christmas) are more intense. For a first time, I’d go Light.
• Your level doesn’t matter much. Coaches put you in a small group with players at a similar level.
• You can come alone. I’d say most adults in my group came on their own, and it’s a great way to meet people. [Optional: replace with your own experience.]
• Spanish clay is slippery. Better bring tennis shoes, ideally ones made for clay, and not your running Nikes
• The sun is no joke. Even in spring and autumn, a morning on court means a sunburn if you’re not careful.

What a day at camp looks like

My camp was at Valencia Tennis Academy, in Malvarrossa. Here’s what a typical morning looked like for me:

[9:00] Warm-up with the group. Some running, some stretching, and a lot of yawning (it was early for me, okay?).

[9:30] Drills. Forehands, backhands, volleys. The coach watched everyone and fixed one thing at a time, which I really liked. Basically, every movement of me needed a lot of fixing. 😅

[11:00] Match play. Short games against the other people in my group. This is where everything you just learned falls apart, and then slowly comes back.

[13:00] Done! Shower, lunch, and the whole afternoon free.

Take the afternoon nap seriously. Three or four hours of tennis is more tiring than it sounds, and you'll want energy for day two.

Costs breakdown

This was the nice surprise. A Light camp in Valencia costs about 60-70 euros for a single day and around 250-300 euros for a full week (five mornings).

Holiday camps and full-day programs cost more, and some camps elsewhere in Spain include a hotel. In Valencia, most camps are training only, so you book your own place to stay.

I booked mine through Pelotista, where you can compare tennis camps in Spain by dates, ages and price.

Where to stay

Here is my main advice: stay close to your club (although they have shuttle bus, a black Toyota van if I remember correctly).

The tennis academies are not in the old town. Many are in the north of the city or near the beach (as with my choice of Valencia Tennis Academy that is close to Malvarrosa beach, so niceee!). If you book a hotel in El Carmen, you’ll spend your mornings in a taxi instead of on court.

For a beach-and-tennis week, look at apartments around Malvarrosa or Patacona. For a city-and-tennis week, pick a club closer to the center.

Read also: Where to Stay in Valencia

What to do in the afternoons

This is the fun part.

• Lunch at the beach. Paella or Fideua (valencia type with macaroni) or seafood, obviously.
• A bike ride along the Turia park. It is rather flat, so quite doable.
• Horchata and fartons. You have earned it. Here is the spot if you are near VTA – https://maps.app.goo.gl/8rkTxZTPH7FXHssu5
• The City of Arts and Sciences.
• One lazy afternoon of doing absolutely nothing – just chilling.

Read also: 41 Best Things to Do in Valencia

Was it worth it?

As a fan of Sabalenka – I would say definitely Yes. But with a couple of conditions.

It is worth it if you like being active on holiday, want to improve your game, or are traveling alone and want some company. It’s also great if you live in a rainy country and miss playing outdoors in winter.

It’s probably not for you if you want a pure beach holiday, or if you hate early mornings. Although, to be fair, Light camps don’t start that early.

For me, it was the perfect mix: tennis in the morning, Valencia in the afternoon. I’d do it again.

Final thoughts

I’ve written a lot about Valencia, but this was a new way to see it. Less sightseeing, more sweating, and a lot more paella without the guilt.

Have you ever tried a tennis camp or a sports holiday? Let me know in the comments below!

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be a good player for a tennis camp? No. Adult camps accept beginners, and coaches group players by level.

Can I go to a tennis camp alone? Yes. Many people do, and you train in a group, so it’s easy to meet other players.

When is the best time for a tennis camp in Valencia? Spring and autumn are perfect: warm but not too hot. Summer is very hot at midday, which is why most camps train in the morning. Winter is mild enough to play outdoors.

How much does a tennis camp in Valencia cost? A Light camp costs about €60-70 a day or €250-300 for a week of mornings. Holiday and full-day camps cost more.