Travel guide · Spain
Valencia travel guide
Paella's home city, with a riverbed park, futuristic museums and city beaches
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Boris Dzhingarov, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Spain's third-largest city combines a Gothic old town around the cathedral and the UNESCO-listed Lonja de la Seda with Santiago Calatrava's white City of Arts and Sciences. Linking them is the Turia Gardens, a 9-kilometre park laid out in the old riverbed after the river was diverted following the 1957 flood, ideal for walking and cycling. Wide sandy beaches at Malvarrosa and El Cabanyal are a short tram ride from the centre, and the rice fields of the Albufera lagoon, where paella was born, lie just to the south. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are April–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- Spain
- Best time to visit
- April–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- VLC
- Mid-range daily budget
- $130–$220 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Paella, City of Arts and Sciences, Fallas and Turia Gardens
Why visit Valencia
- The Turia Gardens let you walk or cycle across the city through a green riverbed park, from the Bioparc to the City of Arts and Sciences.
- Paella valenciana, arroz a banda and horchata with fartons are best tasted in the place they come from, including the Albufera village of El Palmar.
- The old town packs in the cathedral and its Holy Grail chapel, the Gothic Lonja de la Seda and the Art Nouveau Mercado Central within a few minutes' walk.
- City beaches at Malvarrosa and Patacona are reachable by tram, and prices are generally lower than in Barcelona or the Balearics.
- Fallas in March, when giant satirical sculptures fill the streets before being burned, is one of Spain's most spectacular festivals.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 20 things to do.
Architecture · Penya-roja (City of Arts and Sciences)
City of Arts and Sciences
Santiago Calatrava's complex of white, skeletal buildings rises from shallow pools at the eastern end of the Turia Gardens.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Kids
- Photo spot
- After dark
Aquarium · Penya-roja (City of Arts and Sciences)
L'Oceanogràfic
One of Europe's largest aquariums, set in buildings with Félix Candela's shell-like roofs, recreates marine environments from the Mediterranean and tropical seas to the Arctic and Antarctic.
- Time needed
- 4–5 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Park · Ciutat Vella
Turia Gardens
After a devastating flood in 1957, the Turia river was diverted south of the city and its old bed became a 9-kilometre park running from the Bioparc to the City of Arts and Sciences.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Active
- Iconic
Historic site · Ciutat Vella
Lonja de la Seda
The late-Gothic silk exchange, built from 1482, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the finest civil Gothic buildings in Europe.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Market · Ciutat Vella
Mercado Central
One of Europe's largest fresh-food markets fills a Valencian Art Nouveau building of iron, glass and ceramic tiles, opened in 1928 opposite the Lonja.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Architecture
- Shopping
- Free
- Iconic
Religious site · Ciutat Vella
Valencia Cathedral and El Miguelete
Built from the 13th century on the site of a mosque, the cathedral mixes Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque doorways.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Architecture
Where to stay
Ciutat Vella is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, culture and couples
Ciutat Vella
Gothic old town of the cathedral, the Lonja and the Mercado Central
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget, solo travellers and culture
El Carmen
Medieval lanes, street art and late bars in the old town's north-west corner
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, couples and solo travellers
Ruzafa
Cafés, brunch spots, galleries and late dinners south of the North Station
$$$ · Best for shopping, luxury and families
Eixample and Pla del Remei
Elegant grid of shopping streets around the Mercado de Colón
What to eat
- Paella valenciana — The original paella is made with chicken, rabbit, flat green beans, garrofó butter beans, tomato, olive oil and saffron, cooked in a wide, shallow pan until a toasted crust, the socarrat, forms on the bottom.
- Arroz a banda — Rice cooked in a rich fish and shellfish stock, originally eaten by fishermen with the fish served separately.
- Black rice — Rice cooked with cuttlefish or squid and its ink, which turns it glossy black, served with a dollop of allioli.
- Fideuà — A paella-like dish made with short, thin noodles instead of rice, cooked in fish stock with seafood until the tips curl up.
- All i pebre — A stew of Albufera eels with potatoes, garlic and paprika, a traditional dish of the lagoon's fishing villages.
- Horchata and fartons — A chilled, milky drink made from tiger nuts grown around Alboraya, just north of the city, served with fartons, long glazed sweet buns for dunking.
When to go
The best times to visit Valencia are April to June and September to October, when days are warm and sunny, the sea is pleasant from June and the city is not at its summer peak. Visit in mid-March for Fallas, but expect crowds, noise and high prices. July and August are hot and humid but good for beaches, while winter is mild and quiet.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Fallas fills mid-March with fireworks and crowds; April and May are warm, sunny and ideal for walking and cycling. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot and humid with busy beaches, Noche de San Juan bonfires and the July fair; sightsee early in the day. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm sea in September and pleasant city weather, though heavy storms are most likely in this season. |
| Winter | December–February | Mild and sunny days with cool nights, low prices and few visitors; too cold for most swimmers. |
Getting there and around
Valencia Airport is about 8 km west of the centre. Metro lines 3 and 5 reach Xàtiva and Colón stations in the centre in about 20–25 minutes, and a taxi takes about 20 minutes outside rush hour.
Valencia is flat and easy to explore on foot and by bike, with the Turia Gardens acting as a traffic-free route across the city. Metrovalencia's metro and tram lines and EMT buses cover everything else, including the airport and the beaches.
Plan your days
Two days covers the old town, the Mercado Central, the Turia Gardens and the City of Arts and Sciences. Four days adds a beach day, a sunset boat trip and paella at the Albufera, and a day trip to Sagunto or Xàtiva.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Spanish and Valencian
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, though many people prefer bottled water for its taste.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected.
Pickpocketing occurs in the old town, the Mercado Central, on the metro and on crowded beaches, so keep valuables out of sight. In autumn, heavy storms can cause sudden flash flooding in the region; follow official weather alerts and avoid riverbeds and underpasses during warnings.
Flights to Valencia
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Valencia?
Two days covers the old town, the Mercado Central, the Turia Gardens and the City of Arts and Sciences. Four days adds a beach day, a sunset boat trip and paella at the Albufera, and a day trip to Sagunto or Xàtiva. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Valencia?
The best times to visit Valencia are April to June and September to October, when days are warm and sunny, the sea is pleasant from June and the city is not at its summer peak. Visit in mid-March for Fallas, but expect crowds, noise and high prices. July and August are hot and humid but good for beaches, while winter is mild and quiet.
+What is Valencia known for?
Paella, City of Arts and Sciences, Fallas, Turia Gardens, Horchata, Mercado Central and Beaches. The Turia Gardens let you walk or cycle across the city through a green riverbed park, from the Bioparc to the City of Arts and Sciences.
+Is Valencia expensive?
Valencia is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $130–$220 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Valencia?
No. Public transport, bikes and walking cover the city and the beaches; a car only helps for inland day trips such as Chulilla or Peñíscola.