Must See~£22
City of Arts and Sciences
Ciutat de les Arts
A gleaming complex of white futuristic buildings holding an aquarium, science museum and opera house.
- Suggested time: 4 hrs
- Booking recommended
Daily, roughly 10:00–19:00 (longer in summer)
Valencia
Futuristic architecture, paella’s birthplace and a sunny city beach.
Overview
Why go to Valencia
Valencia pairs a medieval old town with the gleaming City of Arts and Sciences, a huge riverbed park and a wide city beach. It is flatter, cheaper and easier to cycle than most Spanish cities, and paella was born on its doorstep.
- Where
- Valencian Community, Spain
- Recommended stay
- 3–4 nights
- Best time to go
- March–June and September–October; Las Fallas fills the city with fireworks in mid-March.
- Approx. daily budget
- £55–110 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
Things to Do
See all 9 Top picks in Valencia
9 places with prices, timings and booking advice.
Must See~£9
Valencia Cathedral and El Miguelete
Ciutat Vella
A cathedral of many styles with a climbable bell tower and views across the old town rooftops.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- Booking recommended
Most days, roughly 10:00–18:30; limited hours Sundays
Must See~£2
La Lonja de la Seda
Ciutat Vella
A late-Gothic silk-trading hall with twisted stone columns and an orange-tree courtyard.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
Most days, roughly 10:00–19:00; shorter on Sundays
MarketsFree
Valencia Central Market
Ciutat Vella
A modernist iron-and-glass hall of fruit, cured ham and seafood, right beside the Silk Exchange.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- No booking needed
Monday–Saturday mornings to mid-afternoon; closed Sundays
FamiliesFree
Turia Gardens
Turia riverbed
A green ribbon along a former riverbed, perfect for walking, cycling and picnics.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
Open-air; always accessible
BeachesFree
Malvarrosa Beach
Malvarrosa
A broad, sandy city beach backed by a promenade of paella restaurants.
- Suggested time: 3 hrs
- No booking needed
Open access; lifeguards in season
Food & drink
What to eat and drink in Valencia
A few local favourites to look out for. Ask where locals go rather than following the menu with photos.
-
Paella valenciana
-
Horchata and fartons
-
Agua de Valencia
Day trips
Worth leaving Valencia for
Day Trips~£13
Albufera Natural Park Sunset Boat
Albufera (10 km)
A lagoon of rice fields and reed beds, best seen on a quiet boat trip at sunset.
- Suggested time: 4 hrs
- Booking recommended
Boat trips daily; sunset departures are most popular
Where to stay
All hotels Hotels in Valencia
Sample data. Sample hotels with indicative prices, not live rates or availability. A live hotel provider will be connected in a later version.
Sample listing
Casa Naranja Boutique
Ciutat Vella, Valencia
A small townhouse hotel near the cathedral with a leafy courtyard for breakfast.
£105–165per room / night · indicative
Sample price for two adults, not live. Availability is not checked.
Sample listing
Hotel Turia Garden
Turia, Valencia
A family-friendly hotel with a rooftop pool, close to the riverbed park and bike paths.
£90–145per room / night · indicative
Sample price for two adults, not live. Availability is not checked.
Sample listing
Malvarrosa Beach Hotel
Malvarrosa, Valencia
A relaxed beach hotel steps from the sand and the paella restaurants.
£70–110per room / night · indicative
Sample price for two adults, not live. Availability is not checked.
A suggested Valencia itinerary
3 nights Couple
Valencia · Highlights
Valencia in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Valencia picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · La Lonja de la Seda, Valencia Central Market, Turia Gardens, El Carmen Old Quarter Bars
- Day 2 · Albufera Natural Park Sunset Boat, Valencia Cathedral and El Miguelete
- Day 3 · City of Arts and Sciences, Malvarrosa Beach
Plan Valencia your way
Tell us your dates, who’s travelling and what you enjoy. We’ll build a first draft you can edit.