Spain has such a vibrant and rich culture full of beautiful historic cities just waiting for you to discover. Valencia is one of our favourites that we visited. It is located on the east coast of Spain on the Mediterranean Sea in the province of Valencia. It is the third largest city in Spain with approximately 800, 000 residents.
Valencia is easy to get to from Barcelona or Madrid. It can be a short plane ride, a 1hr train from Madrid or a 2.5-3.5 hr train from Barcelona depending on which train you take. We hopped on a high-speed train from Barcelona and arrived in 2.5 hours.
We believe this city deserves at least 3 full days to explore. I’ve narrowed down our top things to do while in Valencia so you can get the most from your time there.
El Cabanyal
This is a colourful neighbourhood right along the sea with a laid-back feel that’s full of locals. It is only 5kms from the city center, but far enough away to escape the tourist crowds. We chose to stay here because we just came from the hustle and bustle of Barcelona and the Merce Festival. We were looking forward to some R&R on the ocean side and a quiet place to return to after a day of site seeing. Keep in mind there is less English spoken here, so you might need to test out your Spanish or have your Spanish App handy. We did a lot of pointing and smiling while using our limited Spanish and it all worked out fine.
These charming traditional homes sit only a few stories high, which allows the light to flood through the streets bringing happiness and sunshine into the homes and the many terraces and cafes in the neighborhood.
*You will notice that in the main tourist areas in Valencia, many of the buildings are high with narrow streets, making them appear dark even in the daytime.
This old fisherman’s/gypsy neighbourhood is adorned with beautiful tiles surrounding doors and windows and entire facades of buildings. We particularly enjoyed walking down Calle de la Reina and Calle Rosario. We stayed in one of these charming places only 3 blocks to the beach and right beside the Ca La Mar restaurant, that we frequented. Our vacation home had wooden beams, and stone walls from floor to ceiling and was painted in a gorgeous blue that suited its proximity to the sea. We also found this area to be a lot cheaper than in the heart of the city.
El Cabanyal has a lovely market (Mercado del Cabanyal) where you can grab fresh fish or seafood that’s caught on the daily, along with a wide variety of fruits, meats, olives and cheese. We gathered a beauty selection one evening and had a romantic night in while sipping wine with our windows wide open taking in the sounds of the locals talking and dining in the streets.
Mercabañal is a very cool space full of food stalls, good vibes and great music. It is situated within the open aired brick walls of an old building with sea cans spread about and stacked in a uniquely designed format. They have 2nd-floor terraces with lovely views and indoor spaces to enjoy as well. The variety of food is extensive, ensuring there’s a little something for everyone.
La Fabrica de Hielo (The Ice Factory) is an eclectic venue inside an old factory, featuring different cultural artistic shows and live music of all genres. Their prices are decent, and the cocktails are tasty. This is the kind of place Ty and I would go to on the regular if we lived in Valencia.
Marina Beach Club is the place to go if you want to party hardy to some great DJs and dance, dance the night away in style. You’ll want to check out their events schedule and book tickets for any upcoming shows you don’t want to miss. You can also go to one of their restaurants or spend some time pool or beachside during the day.
Have a Chill Beach Day
El Cabanyal Beach (Playa de Las Arenas) is a beautiful place to spend the day. The beach is massive, you won’t have a hard time finding a place to lay down your blanket for the day. Even in September, it was hot. We cooled down in the water and grabbed a tasty fruit smoothy from a hut on the beach to quench our thirst.
This is a peaceful way to spend your day. There are several stalls along the beach selling stylish bags, handmade jewelry, and clothing. I scored a couple of pairs of earrings… they are my go-to while travelling! I have received many compliments when I wear them back home. We stayed out late enough in the day to watch the sunset. There were guys selling 2 beers for 1Euro. We took them up on this and relaxed along the promenade people watching and enjoying the beautiful colours across the sky as the sun went down. There is plenty to do in the area as far as places to enjoy tapas or cocktails along with a few nightclubs.
Malvarossa Beach is close and another excellent chill place to lounge seaside. It is 3kms long and 130m wide full of sunchairs and sunshades that you can rent for the day all while sipping on mojitos and watching all the watersports take place… or be adventurous and get in the water to try one out yourself! Join in on a volleyball game; you will see courts all along the beaches in Valencia.
*An absolute must while visiting Valencia is to try a paella dish. It is a rice dish that was first created in Valencia. It is a dish for 2 or more people cooked in a shallow metal pan, seasoned with saffron and can have a variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables. It is delicious, we ate it many times while travelling throughout Spain. Our recommended place to try it if you are close to Malvarossa Beach is Casa Carmela. Casa Carmela is a 4th generation owned restaurant serving up traditional Spanish dishes along with their famous wood-fired paellas. They have 20 different rice dishes to choose from all using fresh ingredients.
Rent a Bike
Valencia is perfect for biking. It is flat and has a fantastic trail system that takes you all throughout the city. We rented bicycles in our neighbourhood, but you can rent them all over the city for the day and at very little cost. We covered a lot of ground and saw so much more than if we just went on foot. We weaved seamlessly in and out of neighbourhoods and stopped all along the way to explore and refuel.
Turia Gardens
We started off on bikes in El Cabanyal and rode south along the water to the Marina area until we reached Turia Gardens. It was a former riverbed that has been turned into a segue through the city for pedestrians and cyclists. It is 9 km long and full of greenery, Palm and orange trees, fountains, 18 bridges and many points of interest along the way.
** The green hi-lighted route identifies this amazing route for cyclists and pedestrians though the city.
City of Arts and Sciences
From Turia Park, we reached the futuristic complex made up of six impressive buildings walkways, ponds, and sculptures. This area was designed to educate, hold conferences, concerts and exhibitions and intrigue curiosity.
We spent a couple of hours here, walking around and exploring. This unique modern part of the city expands a 2km area of land along the Turia riverbed. Walking around the grounds, made us feel like we were in a science fiction movie.
Igor Mitoraj Art Installation
When we were there, they had the works of Igor Mitoraj on display. He is a Polish artist that is famous for his large-scale sculptures of the human body. These fragmented pieces looked stunning amongst the modern design of the area. The art exhibits change over the months, so there may be something new to see upon your next visit.
*The City of Arts and Sciences is something you’ll want to explore during the day, although it is equally captivating all lit up in the evening. If you are someone who likes disco clubs and partying until the sun comes up, then Mya Club may be the place for you! It is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 11:59 pm – 7:30 am. They bring in world-class DJs that bring the house down! A heads up, there is an entrance fee and drinks can be pricey!
If you hop on your bike after the City of the Arts and Sciences and make your way toward the city center, you will ride past the Pont del Mar. This is a pedestrian medieval bridge that dates back to the 16th century. We thought this was the most beautiful of the 18 bridges along Turia Park.
Ruzafa
The Ruzafa Neighbourhood is in the L’ Eixample District south of the Historic Center. This hipster area is the most gentrified in all of Valencia. There is a wide variety of both high and low-end budget places to choose from, which adds to the diversity of its inhabitants and the overall eclectic nature of the area. There are art galleries and many unique boutiques and vintage shops to peruse. This place felt like the kind of neighbourhood you’d want to join a friend for a coffee or sit by yourself reading a book for hours outside at one of the many terraces. I wouldn’t want to come to Valencia without spending an afternoon here, although you might want to make your way back here one evening because this neighbourhood really comes alive at night!
While in the area, take a moment to appreciate Casa Judia (The Jewish House) with its vibrant colours and Arabic, Egyptian Style.
Las Fallas Festival brings the city alive with all its giant papier-mâché sculptures and parties in the streets. If you happen to be in Valencia during the month of March when the festival takes place, the people in Ruzafa transform their streets with wild decorations and a colourful display of lights that illuminate the alleys and corridors to pay homage to the Patron Saint Joseph. He was a carpenter in the Middle Ages. During those times the carpenters would burn candles on pieces of wood that they would hang in winter, to allow them to continue working throughout the darker months. Come March, they would burn the wood in celebration of spring returning. This eventually turned into these enormous ‘Ninots’ characters made of wood, foam, and papier-mâché that they burn at the end of the 5-day festival.
*All the main areas of Valencia take part in Las Fallas. People from all over come to take part in the lively activities that start early morning and go late into the evening. There is live music, bullfights, paella competitions, parades, and a nightly fireworks display. Book accommodation well in advance if you plan on attending.
The Historic Centre
There is so much to see and do in this area, I would give yourself a day to explore it. The architecture in and around here is stunning. Get ready to be impressed. Here are a few of the greats!
Plaza De la Virgen is a lovely square to walk around and take in the surroundings. Grab yourself a table at one of the cafes or bars and watch the passersby. Three distinctly Historical buildings can be seen here:
The Cathedral of Santa Maria is a Romanesque/Gothic/Baroque catholic church that dates back to 1262 and has been rumoured to own the Holy Grail, which has claimed to be the one used by Jesus at the last supper; although this is up for debate.
The Palace of Generalitat is a remarkably large government building housing the Presidential offices and its council.
The Basilica de la Virgen Desamparados. With its pink exterior and blue Dome, it is a standout in the square. The interior has an awe-inspiring ceiling painted by artist Antonio Palomino. The building honours Despamparados, the patron saint of Valencia.
In the center of the plaza is La Fuente del Turia (Turia fountain). It is a statue of Neptune along with its 8 maidens, it is meant to represent the Turia River and the 8 canals flowing from it.
Plaza de la Reina is the main square in Valencia. It is a busy touristy area with a flower-filled green space and many souvenir and coffee shops. It is also one of the most popular places to try Horchata in Valencia. Horchata is a non-alcoholic drink made of tiger nuts that are grown locally. They are often served with a Farton which is a sweet pastry.
Once in Plaza de la Reina, you really can’t help but notice the 50m tall octagonal Bell Tower, El Micalet (El Miguelete). It is attached to the Santa Catalina church. If you are keen to see a great view of the area from above, you can pay a small fee and climb the 200 stairs to reach the top.
The Ceramics Museum (Marques de Dos Aquas Palace) is an incredible structure covered in marble and oh-so-pretty! I honestly couldn’t stop staring at it! You can go inside where they house the largest collection of ceramics in Spain along with a large collection of art. This place oozes opulence from floor to ceiling.
Silk Exhange (La Lonja de la Seda). This place is a beautiful representation of Gothic architecture. If you walk along the outside, you can see all the gargoyles and chimeras and inside the grand columns and detailed design throughout.
Central Market Hall (Mercado Central de Valencia) is for the foodie in you! It has 1,200 stalls spread out over 8,000 square meters. Save your appetite because you are in for a treat, here you can find some delicious street food to satiate your pallet. If you are staying somewhere with a kitchen, you can find anything that you could need to whip up a delightful dish. I sometimes fantasize about all the cheeses, olives, and tasty tapas they had.
El Carmen
El Carmen is a neighbourhood north of the Historic Centre with narrow streets, medieval buildings, and well-preserved architectural treasures. We loved the artistic vibe and the wide range of cool bars to sit and sip on cocktails. This is also a place with a standout nightlife!
Murals, murals, and more murals! We couldn’t get enough of all the street art in Valencia, and this neighbourhood took the cake when it came to its abundance and talent. We spotted some of our favorites in Ciudad Vieja and Plaza de Tossal along with the art on the metal doors of El Mercat that can be seen before the vendors open.
The Institute of Modern Art is also in the area if you want to check it out.
Another point of interest is the Serranos Towers. The Towers are a well-preserved monument that once formed the main entrance to the city.
We loved how easy this city was to explore! Everything was effortless to get to and each neighborhood connected nicely to the next. It is a city you can do most of your exploring by foot or bicycle and we never felt like it was too crowded. It had a character all its own and was a place that we would be happy to return to.
Thanxs for Stopping By!
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