Travel tips · Valencia · Spain
Valencia travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Boris Dzhingarov, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Valencia is bilingual: Spanish is spoken everywhere, while Valencian, a variety of Catalan, appears on street signs and in local institutions. The city lives on a late Spanish timetable, takes rice very seriously and builds its year around Fallas, when neighbourhood associations spend months creating satirical sculptures only to burn them on 19 March.
Key facts
- Language
- Spanish and Valencian
- Currency
- EUR
- 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…
- Emergency
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Greet with 'Hola' or 'Bon dia' in shops; friends greet with a kiss on each cheek.
- Locals eat paella at lunchtime; ordering it at dinner marks you as a visitor, though restaurants will serve it.
- During Fallas, expect firecrackers in the streets day and night; keep children back from them.
- Cover shoulders and avoid beachwear in churches and the cathedral.
- Street names may appear in Valencian or Spanish (Plaza/Plaça, Calle/Carrer); both are correct.
- Book L'Oceanogràfic ahead: Buy tickets online in advance in summer and school holidays, when queues at the ticket office are long.
- The Museo de Bellas Artes is free, and several municipal monuments have offered free entry on Sundays; check current policies before you go.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected. Locals leave small change or round up in bars and cafés, and around 5–10% in restaurants for good service is appreciated.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bon dia | Good morning (Valencian) |
| Gràcies | Thank you (Valencian) |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| Una horchata con fartons | A horchata with fartons |
| Agua del grifo | Tap water |
What to wear
Dress is casual and summery for much of the year; bring a light jacket for winter evenings and cover up away from the beach.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink, though many people prefer bottled water for its taste.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- 4G and 5G coverage is good throughout the city and beaches; EU roaming applies to European SIMs, and eSIMs work well for other visitors.
- Time zone
- Europe/Madrid
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.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Spain's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Valencia?
Tipping is not expected. Locals leave small change or round up in bars and cafés, and around 5–10% in restaurants for good service is appreciated.
+Can you drink the tap water in Valencia?
Tap water is safe to drink, though many people prefer bottled water for its taste.
+What plugs are used in Valencia?
Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Valencia?
Spanish and Valencian.