What are the best things to do in Valencia?
Valencia is a city filled with history, culture, art, good restaurants, and trendy bars.
But what to do in Valencia on a short visit? I have been livingin Valencia for quite a while now, so it’s about time to share some of my tips!
Over the past 15 years I’ve visited Valencia many times and eventually decided I like this city so much that I should try living here. And it has been a great decision!
is Spain’s third-largest city, and a lot has changed here in recent years. It has always been a beautiful city with a well-preserved historic center, but in recent years, it seems to have become more lively, more international, and more popular among both tourists and expats.
Trendy coffee shops seem to open non-stop, and cultural, food, and sports events or meetups are held throughout the city almost daily.
In this article I want to share my recommendations for what to see and what to do in Valencia.
Whether you are spending just one day in Valencia or a longer time, I hope my tips will help make it into a great trip!
Things to Do in Valencia
1. Start Your Day with a Spanish Breakfast
The standard breakfast in this part of Spain consists of Pan conTomate (bread with tomato) and coffee.
If you visit you should try this breakfast at least once. And it isn’t hard to find. Pretty much every cafe that is open in the morning will offer this breakfast.
And the best part is: the entire breakfast won’t cost you much more than € 3.00
It’s a nice way to start the day. And if you pick the right spot, it will be perfect for people watching and to get a feel for how the Spanish start their day.
2. Check out La Lonja de la Seda (Silk Exchange)
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If you ask any Valenciano what to do in Valencia, La Lonja de la Seda will always be one of the first things they mention.
Built between 1482 and 1533, this group of buildings was originally used for trading in silk (hence its name, the Silk Exchange).
This set of Gothic-style buildings, known as Llotja de la Seda in Valencian, showcases the power and wealth of a major Mediterranean mercantile city in the 15th and 16th centuries.
It is well worth having a walk around these buildings as they are some of the most impressive buildings in Valencia’s historic center and a UNESCO Worlritage Site.
Tip: You pay extra for an audio tour but it’s well worth it if you want to know more about the history and former use of these buildings.
Admission: € 2.00 (free on Sundays & holidays)
3. Cross the Street to Visit the Mercado Central (Central Market)
This market is high on most visitors’ lists of things to do in Valencia.
The Mercado Central, or Mercat Central in Valencian, is one of the oldest markets still in use in Europe. It has been declared a Heritage of Cultural Interest site by the Spanish Ministry of Culture.
Situated across the street from La Lonja de la Seda, in the heart of Ciutat Vella (the historic city center), the market is popular among tourists as well as locals.
With its numerous aisles filled with local products, it’s a lovely spot to immerse yourself in Valencia’s local culture and to find out more about Valencia’s local food.
Buy some snacks to eat in the park later, pick up a colorful fruit salad that’s ready to eat as you walk around, or stop at the cafe inside the market and just enjoy the atmosphere of this lively market.
This is without a doubt one of the main places to visit in Valencia!
The market is open from Monday to Saturday, from 7AM until 3PM
4. Be Impressed by the Valencia Cathedral and Climb the Micalet Tower
The Metropolitan Cathedral–Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady of Valencia, also known as Saint Mary’s Cathedral or simply Valencia Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic church.
It is an impressive building that spans a variety of architectural styles, including Baroque, Romanesque and Gothic.
Built on the site of a Roman temple, which later became a mosque, the origins of the cathedral date back to the 13th century.
One reason why many people visit the cathedral is because there is a chapel here in which the Holy Chalice, a cup made of ancient gemstone, can be found. Some believe this is the Holy Grail.
Next to the main entrance you will find a baroque-style bell tower, the Torre del Micalet (the Micalet Tower).
This 13th-century bell tower takes its name from the main clock bell, el Micalet. 207 steps lead you up to a terrace area from where you have a lovely view over Valencia.
Valencia Cathedral admission: € 9.00
Micalet Tower: € 2.50
The Cathedral links two of El Carmen’s most iconic plazas – Plaza de la Reina and Plaza de la Virgen.
Both plazas are worth checking out and are good, albeit touristy, places for lunch or a drink. Don’t order a paella here though because you will be disappointed.
Instead, check out these places for the best paella.
5. Climb One of the Old City Gates
Valencia used to be protected by an impressive set of walls with 12 gates. Today, the medieval walls have disappeared, but two gates remain: the Torres de Serranos to the north, and the Torres de Quart to the west.
The Torres de Serranos formed the main entrance to Valencia. This is the gate through which the royal processions of visiting kings would enter.
The Torres de Serranos, built in the late 14th century, is considered to be the largest Gothic city gateway in Europe.
During the Spanish Civil War, the towers protected works of art that had been rescued from the Prado museum.
And today, this is where Valencia celebrates la Crida, which marks the start of the famous Fallas festival.
The second remaining gate, the Torres de Quart, was built in the 15th century. The most interesting aspect of this gate are the still-visible bombing marks from the Siege of Valencia by Napoleonic forces in 1808.
From 1586 until 1887 the towers were used as a prison for nobles.
Both gates are impressive and remarkably well-maintained. You can climb to the top of either one of them and both give a similar view of the city center.
So I would say, just pick the gate you happen to be closest to, but definitely add climbing one of them to your list of things to do in Valencia.
Admission: € 2.00 (free on Sundays & holidays)
6. Visit the Bullring & Adjacent Bullfighting Museum
This is a controversial one, and it took me a long time before I finally visited Valencia’s bullring, the Plaza de Toros. Because yes, Valencia still uses it for bullfights.
But, thankfully you can visit the bullring when there are no bullfights. So I eventually decided that even though I am VERY MUCH AGAINST bullfighting, I do want to know more about it. Even if it is just to be able to have a better-educated discussion about it.
And I have to admit, the building is impressive! It makes such a great place for concerts and other events not harming animals…
Anyway, my personal opinion aside, the Plaza de Toros is one of the main places to visit in Valencia.
The bullring is a neoclassic building built between 1850-1860. It is 18 meters high, has a diameter of 52 meters and can hold around 12.000 people.
Right next to the bullring you’ll find a small bullfighting museum.
The museum was founded in 1929 and is one of the oldest and most important bullfighting museums in Spain, holding historical objects from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. It also shows a video of what happens during a bullfight. If you have a weak stomach or hate seeing animal cruelty you might want to give this video a miss.
The main bullfights take place during the Fallas and at the July Fair.
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Tip: The entrance to the bullring and the museum is a bit tricky to find since it is on a side street. Check out themap here, or type in Museo Tauri in Google Maps.
Admission: € 2.00 (free on Sundays & holidays)
The bullring and museum are closed on Mondays.
When you are here, also check out the impressive central train station, Estación del Norte (Estació del Nord in Valencian) which is located right next to the bullring.
It’s a beautiful building and the square in front of it is often used for entertainment such as live music, groups of dancers, etc.
7. Be Amazed by the Architecture of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias
The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, or City of Arts and Sciences, is a collection of ultra-modern buildings housing several attractions.
It has become the icon of the city and is featured in every guidebook, blog, and Youtube video about what to see in Valencia.
The City of Arts and Sciences is the most important modern tourist destination in Valencia and one of the 12 of Spain. Originally budgeted at €300 million, it has cost nearly three times the initially expected cost.
Inside the different buildings that make up this futuristic complex you can find the following attractions to visit:
- Oceanographic, Europe’s 2nd largest aquarium.
- Hemisferic, a 3D cinema.
- The Príncipe Felipe Science Museum.
- Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía; an opera house and cultural center.
- L’Umbracle; a sculpture garden and landscaped walk with plant species indigenous to Valencia.
- L’Àgora: A multifunctional space designed to host events such as concerts and exhibitions.
Apart from L’Umbracle, which is free to enter, all of these attractions are surprisingly pricey.
But, even if you are not willing to pay for any of these, do still visit the area. Stroll around, take pictures of the impressive buildings and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere while sipping on a refreshing drink at one of the outdoor cafes.
Tip: Everyone I have spoken to seems to agree that the science museum is a bit of a letdown and not worth the money.
For more information: cac.
8. Go for a Stroll or a Bike Ride in the Turia Park (Jardines Del Turia)
The Jardines del Turia (Turia Gardens) are located in the former riverbed of the River Turia.
The river, which was drained and rerouted after a catastrophic flood in 1957, ran around Valencia’s city center. The 9km long park that has since been created is one of the things many of my friends in Valencia love the most about this city.
The park offers a mixture of playing fields, cycling & walking paths, fountains, and gardens. It even boasts a bizarre-looking children’s playground called Parque Gulliver.
The Turia Gardens is one of the largest urban parks in Spain, crossed by 18 bridges full of history.
It forms a lovely green space that is easily accessible from anywhere in the city. People of all ages actively use the park and you can often find me here for an afternoon walk, a sports class, or a picnic with friends.
Tip: Go on a bike tour to see a lot of Valencia, including the Turia Gardens.
9. Relax at One of Valencia’s Stunning Beaches
Despite being on the Mediterranean Sea, even locals say that “Valencia has always lived with its back to the sea”, meaning that the core of the city is not integrated with its beaches.
The city center and the most visited neighborhoods are quite far from the beach.
While Valencia is a very walkable city and most of its tourist attractions are within walking distance from each other, to the beach you probably want to take a bus, metro, tram, or taxi.
Or rent a bike and cycle to the beach.
La Malvarrosa is the name of Valencia’s main beach, which most locals and tourists go to.
La Malvarrosa is a lovely, long, and wide sandy beach. It offers a few (beach) bars, numerous restaurants, and a long boardwalk, the Paseo Maritimo. It can get crowded here in summer, but in general, it’s the perfect place for a beach day.
Although it looks like one long beach, La Malvarrosa is split up into different beaches. The three main areas are: Malvarrosa, Las Arenas, and Patacona. Patacona is the northernmost part of the beach, and if you are looking for a quieter stretch of beach, then this is your best choice. Plus Patacona has some lovely breakfast and lunch places that are well worth checking out!
If you enjoy watersports, you can take a windsurfing or go . I’ve done both activities in Valencia and do feel I should mention that the waves can make windsurfing tricky if you’ve never tried it before.
10. Admire Some Great Street Art and End Your Day with Drinks in El Carmen
You can find cool street art throughout Valencia, but the neighborhood of El Carmen is one of the best places to wander around in if you enjoy street art. Additionally, this area also offers some of the city’s best nightlife.
Barrio del Carmen is peaceful during the day and very lively at night. It’s one of the most popular areas of Valencia’s medieval old town.
Barrio del Carmen is located in the northwest of the old town, behind Plaza de la Virgen and near Torres de Serranos and Torres de Quart. El Carmen is famous for its many cafes, bars, and restaurants.
Keep in mind that the Spanish don’t have dinner before 8 pm (10 pm is a much more appropriate time) so save this area for the end of your day to really soak up the atmosphere.
Tip: If you want to combine a tour of the old town with a unique dining experience, then I can truly recommend this tour. It shows you the best parts of the old town and then takes you to a unique location inside an 11th-century historic monument for a tasting menu of local tapas paired with regional wines. Well worth it if you are looking for something special to do in Valencia!
11. Visit Some of Valencia’s Many Museums
Valencia has a surprisingly large offering of museums. From art and history museums to a ceramics museum and a museum dedicated to the famous Fallas festival.
I’d recommend fitting in at least one or two museums during your visit.
Most museums are small, so they won’t take up much of your time, and most only cost around 2 euros to enter.
Check this link for a list of museums in Valencia.
12. Try an Authentic Valencian Paella
Many people don’t know this but Valencia is the birthplace of paella. And the Valencians are very proud of this dish!
So you really can’t visit Valencia without trying paella at least once. For lunch, because paella is a lunch dish.
Other than paella, Valencia also has two local drinks worth trying: Agua de Valencia (a sweet, alcoholic cocktail) and Horchata (a milky drink made from tiger nuts).
Both drinks you can find throughout the city, but I’d recommend Cafe de las Horas for the best Agua de Valencia. Plus, it’s a really cool, quirky cafe in the center of Valencia.
How Much Time Do You Need in Valencia?
Of course, the more time you have, the more you can soak up Valencia’s culture. And the more hidden gems you can find, away from the touristy sights.
But, thankfully, Valencia is a compact city, so you don’t need a lot of time to see the main sights.
Most tourist attractions are within walking distance from each other and a weekend is enough to see the highlights.
3 days in Valencia is what I would recommend, but if you only have 2 days in Valencia you can also see most of the things listed above.
Other Things to Do in Valencia
If you have some time left after exploring the highlights of Valencia, check out this cooking class I did.
Or stop for a drink at a rooftop bar in Valencia. Read all about the bars in and opinion of them.
And, the area around Valencia is worth exploring as well if you have more time. Check out these day trips from to see some of the highlights of the region.
Tip: offers cheap flights to Valencia from many Spanish and other European cities. Alternatively, check out my article about how to find the for more tips.
Enjoy your trip, I hope you will love this city as much as I do, and that this article gave you a good idea of what to do in Valencia!
Map of What to See and What to Do in Valencia
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