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Ever dreamt of being part of a crazy food fight with thousands of people throwing ripe tomatoes at each other — all in good fun? Welcome to La Tomatina, Spain’s most iconic and colorful street festival, where getting messy is the whole point!

Every year on the last Wednesday of August, the small Valencian town of Buñol — a half-hour drive or 50-minute train ride from Valencia city — transforms into a red sea of joy, laughter, and tomato pulp. People from all over the world gather here to celebrate a festival that’s all about fun, chaos, and letting go!

What’s the Story Behind La Tomatina?

It all started back in 1945, when a street scuffle between a pair of farmers during a parade accidentally turned into a tomato fight. The locals decided to make it a raucous annual occurrence (unusual during the harsh dictatorship of General Francisco Franco), which in recent years has grown into a global event, officially recognized and organized with great energy and enthusiasm.

The best part? There’s no age limit or cultural barrier here. Whether you're 20 or 60, once you step into the streets of Buñol with a squishy tomato in hand, you're one among thousands laughing, slipping, and soaking in tomato juice.

How the Day Unfolds

The day kicks off with a tradition called “palo jabón” (a greased wooden pole with a ham stuck on top). Once someone successfully climbs and claims the ham, water cannons go off and the tomato madness begins! Trucks unload more than 100 tons of overripe tomatoes, and for one whole hour it’s all-out tomato warfare.

(And fun fact: After the streets are hosed down, the acid in the tomatoes actually leaves them cleaner than before!)

Tips if You Plan to Go

• Wear old clothes (they hose everyone down afterward, but trust us, you won’t want them back).

• Use goggles to protect your eyes.

• Squash before you throw – it’s the rule!

• Keep your phone/camera in a waterproof pouch.

• And most importantly, have fun - but without being too aggressive.

Buñol Beyond the Tomatoes

This charming town of around 9,000 is downright sleepy outside this one day in August, but with enough local charm and tempting restaurants along the narrow cobbled streets of its old town and points of interest to merit a visit in its own right. The main highlight is the large castle looming above the town, built during Moorish rule in the 11th and 12th centuries. One of the best preserved of Spain´s many, many castles, it also houses fascinating museums of archaeology and ethnography (traditional life and customs). Down in the old quarter, also check out the fine neoclassical Church of San Pedro Apóstol, built in the late 18th century. Enjoy the street life in Plaza del Pueblo and Plaza del Ayuntamiento, as well as parks such as Parque Fluvial and Parque San Luis.  Outside town, explore an impressive natural bridge, the Turche Cave with its beautiful waterfall and swimming hole, and the Caves of Sant Josep, home to impressive stalactites and one of Europe´s longest navegable underground river. You can also visit and taste wines at the Bodegas Vicente Gandía in the nearby town of Chiva.

Spain Portugal tour packages from Kerala that include La Tomatina, historical cities, and stunning coastlines — all in one incredible trip.