8 things to do in Valencia

traveling with the train through Spain

In the summer of 2021 I traveled through Spain with the train for two weeks, my stops were: Barcelona (month Spanish course), Valencia, Madrid, Sevilla (with daytrips to Ronda, Cadiz and Cordoba) and Malaga. In this post I talk about 8 things to do in Valencia, perfect for a city trip.

Walk through the old city of Valencia

Valencia has a modern and a old part of the city. I stayed in the old part, and I really enjoyed it. I just loved walking through the old streets and get lost. Ciutat Vella is the first disctrict of Valencia and subdivided into six districts: La Seu, El Carme, El Botanic, El Mercat, El Pilar and Sant Francesc.

Tip: walk around without navigation, like this you can really see the old city for yourself and come across streets and boutiques you wouldn’t find with navigation.

La Ciutat de les Arts I les ciéncies

La Ciutat de les arts I les ciéncies is designed by Santiago Calatrava. The project started in 1989 with the first building Hemisferic. Through the years they build five more buildings. In 2009 the last building Agora opened for visitors. You can find this sight in the Jardin del Turia.

About the buildings:

• Hemisferic: A Imax cinema and digital projections.
• The umbracle: A landscaped vantage point and car park.
• Museu de les ciències: An innovative centre of interactive science.
• The Oceangràfic: The largest aquarium in Europe.
• The Palau de les arts reina Sofia: Which takes care of the operatic programme.
• The Àgora: which hosts the Caixaforum.

More information about the 6 buildings you can find on the website of La ciutat de les arts I les ciències.

Prices go from €8,70 to €35,20 depending on what kind of tickets you want. It is open everyday from 10:00 to 21:00 but because there are different buildings the opening times are also different from each other. More information about the opening times and the prices you can find here.

I didn’t had enough time to actually go inside, But if you do have time I would definitely recommend it.

Check here for tickets to the oceangrafic.

Enjoy the views at Torre del Micalet

Torre del Micalet is the bell tower of the cathedral of Valencia. It is located in the old part of Valencia. The cathedral itself you can enter for free, but to enter the bell tower you’ll have to pay. Keep in mind that there are a lot of stairs, so it is quit a climb to the top, but the views of Valencia make it worth it!

Tickets:

• adults: €2,-
• groups (adults): €1,50
• children: €1,-

Opening times:

• Summertime (April to October): everyday from 10:00 to 19:30
• Wintertime (November to March): Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:30. Saturdays from 10:00 to 19:00 and Sundays from 10:00 to 13:00 / 17:30 to 19:00

Note: There are some exceptions on holidays, you can check these on the website of Torre del Micalet. The website is only available in Spanish.

Note: Not recommended if you have difficulty walking.

Wander around at Jardin De Monforte

Jardin De Monforte is a public garden, and it is one of the prettiest that I have seen. It is pretty small, but definitely worth checking out.

Note: for the ones who likes to post on Instagram, this is a perfect spot!

Read a book at Jardins Del Reial

Another garden in Valencia is Jardins Del Reial, it is pretty big. Bring your book and find a bench or a spot on the grass and enjoy your time in the park.

Relax at Playa el Cabanyal

Valencia doesn’t only has a beautiful city, it also has beautiful beaches. Playa el Cabanyal is one of them. You can get here with the tram line 4 or the bus line 95, it is about 30 to 40 minutes. So it is a bit of a travel but it is definitely worth it! You can of course also take the taxi (Cabify is used a lot in Spain). The average price is 9 to 11 euros. Keep in mind that these are average prices.

Visit cathedral de Valencia

The Cathedral can be found in the old city of Valencia, you can combine this with the gorgeous views of Valencia at Torre del Micalet.

Paella Valenciana

Did you know that Paella is originally from Valencia? So I think it is kind of a must to try Paella in Valencia. In Ciutat Vella there are enough good restaurants where you can enjoy this delicious dish!

Where I stayed ~ San Lorenzo Boutique Hotel

San Lorenzo Boutique hotel is a 3 star hotel and located in the old part of Valencia, right in the city center. To my opinion it is a perfect location. The staff was really nice and overall I had a great time at this Hotel.

You can find this hotel here.

Flights & hotel

Check for hotels in Valencia on tripadvisor, trip.com, expedia.

Check for flights on kiwi.com

If you are already in Spain, check here for trains from and to Valencia.