Valencia! Can you guys tell I love Spain? I spent three weeks studying in Valencia and absolutely fell in love with this city. I fall in love with every Spanish city, though, so it’s to be expected that I would here as well. This city has some of the most unique and iconic things in all of Spain. It’s so different from other Spanish cities because of its beaches mixed with history, architecture, and culture. Everyone is just so kind. That’s what I love most about Spain! The culture and the people are so welcoming, so lovely, so outgoing and kind. Get ready for the trip of a lifetime as you discover what to do in Valencia, Spain!
Another great thing about Valencia is that while it is a city, it’s covered in nature! There used to be a river cutting the city in half, but they turned it into an incredible garden and park. That means there is pretty much a park on every corner! The combo of park and plaza and beach makes Valencia so special! Everything with a *** means its a top recommendation from my experience!
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Ciudad de Artes y Ciencias***
This museum is unlike anything you will ever see again. It’s a mix of an aquarium, science museum, gardens, pools, and an art museum. However, you can literally just wander around the outside of all of the buildings and gape at them. It’s also really cheap to enter (around 9 euros or 7.65 with a student discount). The giant building in the middle of the pool is created to look like a clam, and the outside of one of the other buildings is built to look like a whale skeleton. There are flowers everywhere. It’s insane. A must visit!
Ceramics Museum***
This is one of the most iconic museums in all of Spain. The outside of this building is breathtaking, and the inside even more so! Be sure to visit here while in Valencia!
It’s only 3 euros for a ticket, which you can get at the door. If you’re a student and have a picture of or your actual ID, its free!
Take a Guided Tour to the San Jose Caves
This is an incredible experience; heading to these awesome caves right from Valencia! It’s definitely worth checking out. Click below for more!
Albufera de Valencia
This is a national park in Valencia full of boats, wildlife, lagoons, and RICE! There are rice farms you can check out, as well as small surrounding villages, boat rides, and paella! You can also visit the founding town of paella!
Take a Paella Cooking Class!
Paella is one of the most iconic foods in Spain. After checking out the founding city of paella (above), you can take a class to MAKE paella (as well as eat tapas and drink sangria… literally what could be better???).
Click below to book a paella cooking class!
Round Square
This is another iconic spot in Valencia, one which all the locals know! It’s right in the Old Town; its literally the heart of Valencia, as its in the exact center of the Old Town!
Torres de Serranos
Right before you head to the Old Town, check out these towers! They form part of the ancient city walls, and they date back to the 14th century! There are also a ton of cafes, ATMs, and souvenir shops right when you walk through these gates! While a touristy area, it’s surrounded by colorful streets and great, cultural food!
Plaza de la Virgen***
This is the most iconic spot in Valencia. It’s full of gorgeous buildings, an incredible fountain, and a ton of cafes! The Cathedral and Basilica of the Virgin are in this square as well!
Real Basilica de la Virgen de los Desamparados
This building is in the Plaza de la Virgen. And holy COW! It’s so awesome. It’s the important religious building in Valencia. There are often festivals here as well, so be sure to research and find some during your visit! One of the most iconic is the festival of Corpus Christi.
It’s free to enter!
Catedral de Valencia***
The cathedral lies in the Old Town; it’s stunning, both inside and out! There are services and festivals often.
It’s only 5 euros to enter!
Mercado Colón***
This is a really neat market full of restaurants and shops! This should definitely be a place to stop for lunch or drinks. It has little gazebos and mini plazas inside! It is truly unlike any market I’ve ever been to!
Flamenco Show at Toro y Luna Tablao
Flamenco dancing is SO AWESOME! And it’s such a huge part of Spanish culture! Going to a flamenco show was one of my favorite things I’ve ever done in Spain. Here, you can get dinner and drinks, watch the dancers and “the maestro”, and have the time of your life. After the show, there’s a huge dance party for everyone who wants to go up on stage. I personally hate dancing, but all my friends and I hopped up on stage and jumped around for 20 minutes and it was so awesome. I 100% recommend this!
Plaza de la Reina
Another iconic plaza. You’ll find palm trees, fountains, flowers, and more incredible architecture!
Mercat Central València Market***
I stumbled upon this market with some of my buddies and WOW! It looks pretty big from the outside, but when you go in, you find that it is absolutely HUGE! It’s full of every kind of produce, meat, and drink you can imagine. You could definitely either go grocery shopping here, stop for lunch, or just wander around and gaze at its splendor!
La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia (Silk Exchange)
This is actually a UNESCO World Heritage site! It’s an incredible place to visit, and its only 2 euros (or 1 if you’re a student)!
Roman Ruins
Before coming to Valencia, I had no idea about all of the Roman history that lies within the city! One of these places are preserved Roman ruins near the Old Town in Valencia! You can literally walk by them and see them through a glass; they’re underground. It’s fascinating to see how much further down the Roman city was than Valencia currently is!
- You can find the ruins right behind the Cathedral.
Plaza del Ayuntamiento
Yes, another plaza! I can’t get enough! This is one of the main squares in Valencia, with tons of shops and Valencian food. You can find the City Hall in this plaza.
Visit the Oldest Horchataria in the World
Horchata is a pretty famous drink, but it’s especially significant in Valencia! You’ve got to try it, and where better to go than the literal oldest horchataria in the world?! It’s also one of the oldest cafes in all of Europe! It’s called Santa Catalina; its beautiful on the inside, with tiles and murals, and obviously has great horchata.
Patacona Beach
The beaches in Valencia are nice, but honestly, not great. They’re not the clear blue water and white sand beaches that you find in other parts of Spain. However, it is neat to go to the port and explore how important Valencia is as a port to export and import goods! All the gigantic boats are really cool.
If you’re wanting to go to a beach in Valencia, however, I recommend Patacona Beach! It’s usually not quite as crowded as the other beaches, and there are lots of fun little places to get lunch and a drink! Don’t forget a towel and your favorite book!
Some of the stands on the beach selling drinks or ice cream only take cash, so consider bringing around 10 euros in cash if you’re planning on buying something!
Water Court
This is one of the coolest (and most random) things I’ve ever seen. Every Thursday at 12 pm, a “water court” is held to discuss the water and irrigation in Valencia; since water is scare in Valencia because of the lack of rain, these men sit outside of the Cathedral to see if anyone has any complaints or suggestions about the water.
- P.S. the entire court session was in Valencian, I didn’t understand pretty much anything; so my description above is my best bet!
- Usually, the court session only lasts about 2 minutes. However, sometimes the citizens will make a complaint or the court will have something to argue, and then it can last hours. Most of the time, it’ll be very short though.
Plaza de Toros de Valencia
No, this is not another plaza! This is actually a bullring built in the 1800s. If you’ve seen a Roman colosseum, you’ll definitely be able to see the resemblance. You can simply gawk at the outside or go inside and explore!
It’s only 2 euros to enter!
Iglesia de Santo Tomás y San Felipe Neri
I also discovered this wandering through the streets of Valencia. It has a breathtaking exterior and color! It was built in the 1700s, and it’s also called “the Congregation.” The inside is incredible as well. However, you can only visit during mass; I listed the hours below.
- Mass times:
- Monday – Saturday: 9am, 10:30am, 7:30pm and 8:30pm
- Sunday: 9am, 11am, 12 noon, 1pm and 7pm
Bio Parc***
I’m typically not a big fan of zoos. This, however, blew my expectations! It’s a sanctuary and recovery spot for animals, and instead of typical cages, the animals are kept in by natural things (such as water, wood, rocks, cliffs, etc.). You can get incredibly close to the animals. It’s such a well done experiment and exhibit. You absolutely must go while in Valencia!
Palacio de la Generalitat
If you enjoy going to palaces, be sure to check this place out! It dates back to the 15th century and is stunning on the inside! However, if you’re not crazy about palaces / if you are running low on time, this is something to skip.
Marina Beach Club***
If you’re looking for a fun night out, this place is for you! It’s a beachside discoteca with crazy loud music, a pool, and tons of people. It can be a little overwhelming, so be sure to bring a friend or two and stick together! If you’re going out though, you HAVE to go here!
Barrio del Carmen
This is basically just the “Old Town” of Valencia. This is an area that you can just wander around and explore for hours!
Guided Tour of Art and Architecture
There are a LOT of things on this list. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stop right there! Take a tour that combines a ton of the things on this list. It includes tickets to a ton of different monuments and sights.
Thanks for Reading!
I hope you enjoyed learning what to do in Valencia, Spain! Every time you read one of my posts, you make my dreams come true! Yikes… that was cliché. All that to say, I’m grateful for each one of you guys. I love this community of fellow adventurers! Love y’all so much!
xoxoxox, AnitaBelle
