Valencia is a city of contrasts – a charming historic centre, surrounded by ancient walls of the old capital of the kingdom of Valencia, while also home to the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences. And thatâs before we even tasted the paella or dipped our toes into the Mediterranean.
La Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències / Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias / City of Arts and Sciences
This futuristic complex stretches over two kilometers along the Turia River and includes several stunning examples of avant-garde architecture designed by architects Santiago Calatrava and FĂŠlix Candela.
It is one of Europe’s most impressive centers dedicated to cultural and scientific exhibitions with six main areas: the Hemisfèric IMAX Cinema, screening 3-D films and serving as a planetarium; the Umbracle landscaped area with distinctive views; the Museu de les Ciències, an interactive museum with exhibits about science, environment, and technology; the OceanogrĂ fic, Europe’s largest aquarium; the Palau de les Arts opera house; and the Ăgora concert space.
Well worth a visit, even if only for the staggering ultra-modern architecture.
OceanogrĂ fic
The crown jewel of the City of Arts and Sciences is the largest aquarium in Europe – OceanogrĂ fic. Itâs a complex of several buildings, each dedicated to one of the earth’s most important marine ecosystems and environments with a mind-blowing 45,000 individual animals from 500 different species using real seawater pumped from Valenciaâs waterfront.
You can walk through the longest underwater tunnel in Europe where youâre surrounded on both sides and overhead by swimming sharks. At the Arctic tank, youâll get to meet the only family of beluga whales on the continent swimming in a spacious and thoughtfully designed tank. Donât forget to visit dolphins at play in the dolphinarium.
Plan at least two hours for your visit and try to book tickets in advance as the queue can get quite long. It all adds up to a day adults and little ones wonât soon forget.
Porta dels Serrans, Porta de Quart / Torres de Serranos, Torres de Quart / Serranos Towers, Quart Towers
This impressive landmark is a symbol of Valencia and represents one of twelve entries through the original medieval city gates. Built in the 14th century, this ancient town gate was considered the main entrance to the city. Massive towers offer sweeping views of the cityscape.
If time permits, visit the nearby Torres de Quart too – towers riddled with bullet holes from Napoleonâs troops.
Platja de la Malva-rosa / Playa de la Malvarrosa / Malvarrosa Beach
You can enjoy sunbathing on a Mediterranean beach within minutes of the old town. Malvarrosa is a wide strip of golden sand that stretches for a kilometre along the cityâs seafront offering a wide range of outdoor activities.
It got its name when it was transformed from a swampy area into a hollyhock flower plantation in the middle of the 19th century.
Along the promenade, a broad selection of restaurants and entertainment awaits you to complete the experience.
Bonus: Paella
You might know Paella as Spainâs most famous dish, but this renowned delicacy can be traced back to the mid-19th century to the rural area around Valencia. The name comes from the large iron pans that itâs cooked and served in.
The most popular version today is seafood paella with prawns and squid, but the traditional “paella valenciana” is made with green and white beans, chicken, duck or rabbit and occasional addition of snails.
For the best paella in Valencia, try restaurants frequented by locals. Don’t forget to make a reservation or even pre-order as you can expect to wait at least 30 minutes for the real deal. And don’t forget some local Agua de Valencia cocktail to go with it!
Mercado Central, La Llotja de la Seda / Mercado Central, La Lonja de la Seda / Central Market, Silk Exchange
Central Market is a must-see. This magnificent Art Nouveau building is a foodie heaven and the largest covered food market in Europe.
Its extensive array of fresh produce is a real treat. Stop by one of the many colourful stalls and grab some fresh fruits from the nearby orchards. Walk along rows of hanging JamĂłn and a selection of fresh seafood. Stop by a bakery or indulge in the great selection of aged cheeses and olives available.
In addition to the grocery stalls, there are also a number of stands with ready-to-eat food for a bite on the go. Youâll find paellas, tortillas, churros, sweets and more within the delicious aisles of the food market.
Prices at the Mercado Central can be higher than in your average supermarket but it is definitely worth experiencing the market like a local while also getting superior quality of produce as well as supporting local businesses, which is always a good feeling.
La Lonja de la Seda – Silk Exchange
Just across the street, you can find magnificent late-15th-century Silk Exchange, the masterpiece of Valencian Gothic architecture – La Lonja de la Seda. This UNESCO World Heritage site resembles a medieval castle and represents the Valencian golden age when it was one of the most influential cities on the Mediterranean, even funding Christopher Columbusâ voyage to the Americas.
Catedral de València / Valencia Cathedral
This former Roman temple and later Moorish mosque is without a doubt one of the most unusual cathedrals in Spain. Built between the 13th and 15th centuries, the architecture is a blend of stylistic influences, including Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque.
The most sacred, and perhaps controversial object is a reliquary containing the Holy Chalice, an artifact from the first century AD said to be the goblet that Jesus used to perform the Holy Eucharist at the last supper.
El Miguelete Tower
The cathedralâs octagonal bell-tower originally stood completely detached from the main building, but extensions in the late-15th century brought the two structures together. It only takes 207 narrow steps to the best panoramic views 50 metres above the city and a chance to admire the famous old bell cast in 1432. With its light weight of over ten tons, it is affectionately called El Miguelete – Little Michael.
Plaça de la Verge / Plaza de la Virgen
On your way to the cathedral, stop at this iconic central square. Plaza de la Virgen is among the oldest in Valencia, dating back to Roman times, and is full of life no matter the time of day. Graceful Neptune fountain at the centre is a favorite meeting place among locals.
The square is surrounded by several landmarks. Across the square is the Palace of the Generalitat. Catedral de València is a beautiful centerpiece, and right next to it is the Real BasĂlica de Nuestra SeĂąora de los Desamparados, the first Baroque church in Valencia. The colourful buildings and scent of nearby restaurants simply add to the experience.
JardĂ del TĂşria / JardĂn del Turia / Turia Garden
Turia Garden is not your usual city park, but rather a former riverbed converted into green spaces, supplemented with playgrounds and sports facilities. After a devastating flood in 1957, the Turia river’s course was diverted south of the city.
This nine kilometres long ribbon of greenery runs from the Bioparc to the City of Arts and Sciences and on towards the sea. It boasts footpaths, leisure and sports areas as well as lovely romantic spots where you can unwind.
Parque Gulliver
If youâre visiting with little ones, you canât miss Parque Gulliver, a 70m long sculpture of giant Gulliver with ramps, slides and staircase for children to climb like Lilliputians.
Bioparc Valencia
Experience Africa in this incredibly immersive Zoo. The landscape is created to resemble animals’ native habitats as closely as possible. If you need some extra cuteness in your life, donât hesitate to put Bioparc on your to-do list as it is the next best thing to a safari visit.
Plaça de bous de València, Estació del Nord / Plaza de Toros de Valencia, Estación del Norte / Bullring, North Station
On the southern side of the old-town look for the Neo-MudĂŠjar Plaza de Toros bullring inspired by Roman architecture like the Colosseum in Rome. It was built between 1850 and 1859 and is one of the more beautiful, as well as bigger bullrings in Spain. It was designed to hold almost 17,000 seated spectators, later reduced to a capacity between 10 and 12 thousand.
Next to the plaza, you’ll find the spectacular EstaciĂł del Nord, the main railway station in Valencia. The building is an art nouveau masterpiece, with decorations honoring the importance of the Valencian orange trade. It is still an active railway station 100 years after it opened.
Falles / Las Fallas / Falles Festival
Probably the noisiest and most colourful fiesta in Spain marks the beginning of spring on St. Josephâs Day, the 19th of March.
During the festivities, time is measured in cups of hot chocolate with the side of churros, glasses of Horchata with fartons and other traditional food.
Throughout the week ninots, huge, satirically themed cardboard sculptures, make their way around the city and are then burned in the CremĂ , massive fires at midnight on the last day of the fiesta. Custom originates from the Middle Ages, when carpenters and other craftsmen would burn leftover scraps of wood and other materials on the Fiesta de San JosĂŠ.
Final Thoughts
Moorish treasures, delicious food, fiery drinks, a gorgeous beach, lively cultural scene and language diversity, it’s really hard not to fall in love with Valencia.
As the locals say, Valencia is a ‘little piece of heaven, fallen to earth.’ We simply have to agree.