Gulliver park

Gulliver Park is a free playground in Valencia’s Turia Gardens, built around a giant sculpture of Gulliver from Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels. Children climb ropes, stairs and ramps, explore tunnels and slide down the figure’s arms, legs and clothes; adults can join in too. Benches and a drinking-water fountain provide places to rest nearby. It’s a playful break from sightseeing, especially for families, though the climbing routes can be demanding for adults keeping an eye on children.

A playground inspired by Gulliver’s Travels

In Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, the giant Gulliver arrives in Lilliput and is tied down by its tiny inhabitants. Gulliver Park turns that scene into a place to play: a huge sculpture of Gulliver lies on the ground, with visitors climbing over him as the Lilliputians in the story might have done.

The sculpture is built into the playground rather than set apart as something to view from a distance. Its arms, legs and clothes form routes to climb and explore, with slides, ramps, stairs, ropes and tunnels along the way. There are details to notice as you move through the structure, including a small version of the playground inside Gulliver’s hat.

Climbing, sliding and taking a break

The play structure gives children several ways to move through it, from climbing ropes and stairs to finding tunnels and heading down the slides. Adults can join the fun, too, but keeping track of children takes attention when the park is busy. Some climbing sections may be challenging, so choose routes that suit the group.

The surrounding area has benches and a drinking-water fountain, useful for a pause between rounds of play. Bring sunscreen and water, as some spots are exposed to the sun. On sunny days, check slide surfaces before children use them, since they can become hot. Shoes with good grip are helpful on the climbing sections.