Things to Do in Valencia
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Valencia, Spain, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Valencia. Hope you're hungry, this city takes rice very seriously, the birthplace of paella, home to a futuristic museum complex that looks like it fell out of a spaceship catalogue, and a nine-kilometre park built where a flooded river once ran straight through the city centre. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Valencia: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the appetite. Three main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Paella
Valencia is the birthplace of the world-famous rice dish paella, locals have very strong opinions about what does and doesn't belong in a proper one, I've learned not to ask, worth seeking out a proper Valencian paella, traditionally made with rabbit, chicken, and green beans rather than the seafood-heavy version more commonly served elsewhere in Spain and abroad.
The rice fields of the Albufera Natural Park, just outside the city, are where much of this rice is actually grown, worth a visit if you want to see the source directly, a good, relaxed half-day trip combining nature and food history.
Best time Lunch, traditionally when paella is eaten
Address Albufera Natural Park, near Valencia
The City of Arts and Sciences
A striking futuristic complex of museums and buildings, designed by Santiago Calatrava, dominates Valencia's skyline, the City of Arts and Sciences, looks like something from a spaceship catalogue, excellent thermals off all that white concrete, worth allowing a proper half-day, the complex includes a science museum, an aquarium (the largest in Europe), an opera house, and a planetarium, all connected by striking, curved white architecture.
It's worth visiting even without going inside any specific building, the exteriors alone, particularly reflected in the surrounding pools, are worth the walk, especially in the evening when the whole complex is illuminated.
Hours Daily, hours vary by attraction
Address City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia
The Turia Riverbed Park
Valencia's old riverbed, drained after a major flood, was transformed into a long park, nine kilometres of green space where a river used to flood the city, worth a proper walk or bike ride, I approve of any project that ends in more parks, one of the largest urban parks in Spain, running right through the heart of the city and connecting several major sights, including the City of Arts and Sciences at its eastern end.
It's worth renting a bike to cover a proper stretch of this park, considerably more efficient than walking the whole length, and the park's design turns what could have been a disaster-recovery afterthought into one of the city's best features.
Best time Any time; morning or evening for cooler temperatures
Address Turia Gardens, Valencia
Best time to visit Valencia
April through June and September through October give the most comfortable weather for the amount of walking this list involves, mild without summer's intense heat.
Las Fallas, Valencia's major spring festival featuring enormous sculptures ultimately set alight, is worth timing a visit around if your trip lines up with mid-March, a properly spectacular, if intense, local tradition.
Getting around Valencia
Valencia's metro covers the city well, and the Turia Gardens make cycling a properly pleasant, practical way to get around given the flat, connected route running through much of the city.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Valencia worth visiting?
- Yes, easily, the birthplace of paella, the striking City of Arts and Sciences, and the Turia Gardens together make it one of Spain's most distinctive, underrated cities.
- How many days do you need in Valencia?
- Three days covers the City of Arts and Sciences, the Turia Gardens, and a proper paella meal comfortably.
- Is Valencia expensive?
- No, generally affordable, comparable to or cheaper than Barcelona or Madrid for dining and accommodation.
- What is Valencia famous for?
- Being the birthplace of paella, the City of Arts and Sciences, a striking futuristic museum complex, and the Turia Gardens, a nine-kilometre park built along a former riverbed.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
