3 days in Valencia

Day by day

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

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

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      L'Oceanogràfic

      Arrive at opening and see the shark tunnels and Arctic area first, before tour groups and school visits arrive.

   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

      A giant figure of Gulliver lies pinned to the ground in the Turia Gardens, and children climb over his body, ropes and hair and slide down his clothes as if they were Lilliputians.

   5. 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 and Mercado Central, then Ruzafa in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Turia Gardens

      Rent a bike or use the Valenbisi bike-share and ride the whole length; it is flat, traffic-free and the best way to get across the city.

   2. Late morning

      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.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Arroz a banda

      Seafood rice restaurants along the beach and in El Cabanyal.

   4. Afternoon

      Mercado Central

      Go in the morning, when the stalls are fully stocked; it does not open on Sundays.

   5. Evening

      Ruzafa

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

3. Day 3: Valencia Cathedral and El Miguelete and Plaza de la Virgen and the Water Tribunal

   Valencia Cathedral and El Miguelete, Plaza de la Virgen and the Water Tribunal and Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas, then Plaza Cánovas in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Valencia Cathedral and El Miguelete

      Built from the 13th century on the site of a mosque, the cathedral mixes Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque doorways.

   2. Late morning

      Plaza de la Virgen and the Water Tribunal

      Arrive a few minutes before noon on a Thursday to watch the Water Tribunal; the session is short and held entirely in Valencian.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Black rice

      Rice restaurants in El Cabanyal, Malvarrosa and the old town.

   4. Afternoon

      Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas

      A palace with an extravagant rococo alabaster doorway of river gods and the Virgin, home to the National Ceramics Museum.

   5. Evening

      Plaza Cánovas

      Upmarket bars and clubs around Plaza Cánovas del Castillo in the Eixample, with a smarter dress code.

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 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.
• Swap in Museo Fallero (Penya-roja (City of Arts and Sciences)): Visit after the City of Arts and Sciences; it is about a 10-minute walk away.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Ciutat Vella keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, El Carmen ($$) suits nightlife, budget, solo travellers and culture. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–19 hours of visiting over 3 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.

More or fewer days

• One day in Valencia
• 2 days in Valencia
• 5 days in Valencia

Questions travellers ask