Every year in Spain, on the last Wednesday of August more than 40,000 people, hungry for fun and fiesta, get roped into tomato throwing in the Tomatina de Buñol, a friendly battle in which more than 110 tons of ripe tomatoes fly through the air. Come and enjoy a fiesta that is unique in the world!
Come and enjoy a fiesta that is unique in the world with a curious protagonist that leaves everything red and that cleans and disinfects: the tomato.
At approximately 11 in the morning a convoy of lorries will begin to parade, full of tomatoes, along the street called Cid and the Town Square, dyeing the roads, pavements, walls, façades, participants, the curious and everything that crosses their path red with the red and ripe projectiles. Just one hour later the time comes to leave everything just as it was before. The restorative water will return the original colour to the buildings, and the tomato will gradually disappear down the street until everything goes back to normality. Two hours are sufficient for the cleaning brigade, with the help of the neighbours who offer their help as volunteers, to leave the streets of Buñol just as they were before the tomatoes dyed them red.
A word of advice, if you come to the Tomatina respect the rules: you have one hour for throwing tomatoes from the moment a rocket announces the start of the battle until the end, one hour later, when another rocket is set off. The tomatoes, which are ripe, should be squashed between your hands before throwing them. Grab a tomato and have fun.
How to arrive
Buñol is located only 38 Km from Valencia and 33 Km from Manises International Airport. Accesses:
Road
By the A-3 highway.
Train
By Cercanias Renfe, line C-3 to Utiel. 45 minutes aprox. For timetables and lines map: Cercanias Renfe
Itinerary: Valencia Sant Isidre Station (conect with bus and metro line 1 and 5), Xirivella-Alqueries, Aldaia, Loriguilla-Reva, Circuit R. Tormo, Cheste, Chiva, Buñol, Venta-Mina, Siete Aguas, El Rebollar, Requena, San Antonio de Requena y Utiel.
Accommodation for Tomatina
Search hotel available for the Tomatina Festival: Hotels near Valencia Nord Railway Station (Renfe)
Useful Tips
If you decide to participate in the Tomatina, here are some useful tips:
- Tomatoes, before throwing them away, must be crushed to prevent them from being too hard and causing damage: the goal is to have fun and not get hurt!
- Wear comfortable shoes that you don't mind especially. You will be submerged in rivers of tomato sauce so that your shoes are your personal sacrifice of the Tomatina. Another important thing is not to wear flip-flops or open shoes because in the chaos your feet will be stepped on several times.
- Tip: wear swimming goggles or a mask. The acidity of the tomato burns your eyes and you will also have a perfect view of your "combat field".
- Sleep in Valencia and not in Buñol where, on the occasion of the Tomatina and, given the few beds available, The prices are crazy!
- If you want to immortalize the event, I advise you to get a disposable camera to prevent it from falling or getting submerged in the tomato pulp.
