Buñol
Buñol, inland of Valencia: the town of La Tomatina, its official tickets, the train from Valencia and what to know before the battle.
At a glance
- The town of La Tomatina, the tomato battle held since 1945
- About 40 km west of Valencia, on Cercanías line C3
- Capacity capped at 22,000 people on battle day
- An official ticket and wristband are required to reach the battle street
- 1food festival
Food festivals in Buñol
flydime, CC BY-SA
Map of Buñol
What to taste in Buñol
Paella valenciana
A plate of it comes with the official La Tomatina packs, along with drinks and the post-Tomatina party.
Jamón (cured ham)
The prize of the palo jabón, the greased pole that participants climb on battle day.
Horchata
The Valencian tiger nut drink, sold cold in summer across the region.
Buñol, a small town inland of Valencia in the hills of the Hoya de Buñol, is known worldwide for one hour a year: La Tomatina, the tomato battle held in its streets since 1945. The town council, the Ayuntamiento de Buñol, organises it and sells the official tickets.
Buñol, a town of 22,000 places
On battle day, capacity is capped at 22,000 people, and access to the street of the battle is limited to holders of an official ticket.
- Where it began: in the Plaza del Pueblo, the town square, where a group of young people were passing the time, according to the town council’s history.
- Wristband: handed over at the checkpoint, the only way into the street of the route.
- Unofficial tickets: the council says it is not responsible for them.
In 2026, the single entry cost 15 euros and covered only access to the battle area. The 2027 prices had not been published on 14 October 2026.
One hour, one street
The battle itself is short and tightly framed by its organisers.
- Duration: the tomato throwing lasts exactly one hour. In 2026 it started at noon.
- The tomatoes: 120,000 kg of a pear-shaped variety, grown for the event and too acidic to eat.
- The ham: the palo jabón, a greased pole with a ham hanging at the top, is part of the day. Whoever reaches the ham wins it.
Valencia and the C3 line
- Train: Buñol is about 40 km west of Valencia, according to the official site, and line C3 of Renfe’s Cercanías commuter trains links the two. On Tomatina day the trains fill up fast.
- Beds: few in town, so Valencia is the usual base, with the airport, the hotels and the paella that the official packs serve after the battle.
Before you go
- Tickets: buy the official ticket on latomatina.info. The town council takes no responsibility for unofficial ones.
- Capacity: limited to 22,000 people.
- Wristband: handed over at the checkpoint, and the only way into the street of the battle.
- Train: Cercanías C3 from Valencia. On Tomatina day the trains fill up quickly.
- Beds: the town is small. Most visitors stay in Valencia.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Buñol from Valencia?
About 40 km west of Valencia, according to the official La Tomatina site.
Can you go to La Tomatina without a ticket?
No. Access to the battle area is limited, and an official ticket is required.
How many people take part in La Tomatina?
Capacity is limited to 22,000 people.
Who organises La Tomatina?
The town council of Buñol (Ayuntamiento de Buñol).