2 days in Valencia

Day by day

1. Day 1: City of Arts and Sciences and L'Oceanogràfic

   City of Arts and Sciences, L'Oceanogràfic, Gulliver Park and Museo Fallero, then El Carmen in the evening.

   1. Morning

      City of Arts and Sciences

      It includes L'Hemisfèric, an eye-shaped cinema and planetarium; the Museu de les Ciències, an interactive science museum; the Palau de les Arts opera house; and L'Umbracle, a landscaped walkway of palms and sculptures. Walking around the outside is free.

   2. Late morning

      L'Oceanogràfic

      Underwater tunnels pass through shark tanks, and there are beluga whales, penguins and a large dolphinarium.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Paella valenciana

      Restaurants in El Palmar in the Albufera, along the Malvarrosa promenade and traditional Valencian restaurants in the centre.

   4. Afternoon

      Gulliver Park

      It is free and one of the city's most popular play areas.

   5. Late afternoon

      Museo Fallero

      It is the easiest way to understand Fallas outside March.

   6. Evening

      El Carmen

      Bars and pubs along Calle Caballeros and around Plaza del Tossal in the medieval lanes of the old town.

2. Day 2: Turia Gardens and Lonja de la Seda

   Turia Gardens, Lonja de la Seda, Mercado Central and Valencia Cathedral and El Miguelete, then Ruzafa in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Turia Gardens

      Paths for walking, running and cycling pass under historic stone bridges, past orange trees, sports fields, fountains and playgrounds.

   2. Late morning

      Lonja de la Seda

      Its Hall of Columns has twisted pillars spiralling up like palm trunks to a ribbed vault, and the orange-tree courtyard and gargoyles are as striking as the interior.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Arroz a banda

      Seafood rice restaurants along the beach and in El Cabanyal.

   4. Afternoon

      Mercado Central

      Hundreds of stalls sell jamón, Valencian oranges, rice, saffron, seafood and snails, and a few counters serve tapas and drinks.

   5. Late afternoon

      Valencia Cathedral and El Miguelete

      A side chapel displays an agate cup venerated as the Holy Chalice, and the octagonal Gothic bell tower, El Miguelete, can be climbed by about 200 steps for views over the old town's domes and rooftops.

   6. Evening

      Ruzafa

      Cocktail bars, wine bars and late restaurants, the city's most fashionable night out.

Before you go

• L'Oceanogràfic: Buy tickets online in advance in summer and school holidays, when queues at the ticket office are long.

If it rains

• Swap in Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas (Ciutat Vella): Even if you skip the museum, stop to study the carved façade on Calle Poeta Querol.
• Swap in Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia (Turia Gardens): Head for the Sorolla rooms first; his sunlit beach scenes are a good preparation for Malvarrosa.
• Swap in IVAM (El Carmen): Pair it with a walk to the Torres de Quart and lunch in El Carmen.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–18 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.4 hours in December to 14.9 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Metro. Metrovalencia lines 3 and 5 run from the airport to the centre (Xàtiva and Colón stations); other lines link the centre with Benimaclet, the port and the suburbs.

More or fewer days

• One day in Valencia
• 3 days in Valencia
• 5 days in Valencia

Questions travellers ask