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Did you know that Valencia is the third largest city in Spain? Het is a city with an interesting historic center, iconic architecture and a mile-long sandy beach. A unique combination that makes Valencia as a city hugely attractive for a city break. Not to mention the friendly atmosphere, delicious hotspots and endless fun things to do. Hereby The best tips to do during a city break Valencia!
1. Explore Valencia's Old Town
Valencia's historic center is compact, making everything easily accessible on foot. In addition, walking through the streets of the historic center is simply incredibly fun. Enjoy every vista and admire the highlights of Valencia's Old Town.
2. Take a peek inside the Mercado Central
Mercado Central is one of the largest covered markets in Europe and is an absolute food mecca to walk through. You will find all kinds of Spanish delicacies to buy such as the well-known dried hams. Every day there is a lot of activity in the Mercado Central because this is the place in Valencia to buy fresh fish, vegetables and fruits. As you walk around here you will undoubtedly salivate at all the goodies you see lying around, but instead of looking at the stands, look up. The dome at the center of the market is painted with images of oranges. Very nice to see, but did you know that this is the fruit of Valencia?
Please note that on Sundays, Mercado Central is closed. On all other days, the market hall is open from 7:30 am to 3 pm.
3. Have a cup of coffee at Mercat de Colón
One of the most beautiful buildings in the center of Valencia is Mercat de Colón. A former gas factory that now houses cozy stores and the city's best restaurants. Every day, Mercat de Colón is a busy market hall where people gather for drinks and snacks.
4. Enjoy the view from the El Micalet clock tower
El Micalet Cathedral Tower attracts attention from afar and offers a magnificent panoramic view of the city. But before you can enjoy this, you have to brave 207 steps to the top. To visit atop the octagonal bell tower to stand, you pay €2 entrance fee per person with which you can also visit the cathedral.
5. Stroll along Placa de la Reina
El Micalet is located on the beautiful Placa de la Reina, a beautiful square in the middle of Valencia's old town. It is a nice place to take a break. Enjoy the beautiful buildings around you, order a coffee and buy a souvenir for home at one of the quaint stores.
6. Climb Torres de Serranos
Along the edges of Valencia's historic center, you can still find two old gateways: Torres de Quart and Torres de Serranos. Both gates were part of the city wall that protected the city. You can visit both gates and for €2 per person you can climb the towers. From the top you have a cool view of the city and the beautiful Jardín del Turia. A nice view of Torres de Serranos is from the bridge Pont de Fusta.
7. Sample the local drinks Horchata and Agua de Valencia
For every city, there are some highlights and local delicacies that you must have seen and tasted before going home. In Valencia, there are two typical drinks that you absolutely must try. The first is Horchata. This is a typical Valencian drink made from almonds, sugar and water. The second drink is a cocktail called Agua de Valencia. This sweet but also strong mixed drink consists of cava, orange juice, vodka, gin and sugar.
8. Eat delectable paella in Valencia
Paella!!! This dish is not to be missed if you go on a city trip to Valencia. In fact, Valencia is the birthplace of paella and is traditionally prepared by the men for the women on Sundays for lunch. The traditional dish is called "Paella Valenciana" and contains chicken and rabbit. You can order this at many hot spots, but of course there are many other variations of paella. One of the best restaurants to enjoy a plate of paella is La Pepica. Please note that advance reservations are a must!
9. Walk or bike through Jardín del Turia
Look on Google Maps and no doubt you will immediately notice that a green strip runs along the old center of Valencia all the way to the coast. This is the Turia Park, a popular spot among locals but now also known to tourists. It's a place where people exercise, take yoga classes, walk their dogs, bike through, hike, read a book, picnic and so on. The drained riverbed is a nice place in Valencia's busy city center. Rent a bike and brave the bike paths and feast your eyes along the way. After all, you will pass several beautiful bridges.
Tip: Follow the bike paths from the old town to the coast and you'll naturally end up at Ciudad de las Artes Y Sciencias.
10. Relax on Valencia's beach
One of the reasons Valencia is in our top five European cities state is because of the combination of city and beach. How nice that after a morning strolling through the streets of Valencia you can spend the afternoon at the coast. Valencia's beach is kilometers long and no less than 135 (!) meters wide. So there is always enough space and you are not crammed in. The beach is divided into three parts: La Malvarrosa, Las Arenas and Patacona. At Las Arenas you will find a pleasant promenade with stores and restaurants, but La Malvarrosa is also highly recommended.
11. Visit Ciudad de las Artes Y Sciencias
Valencia's most famous highlight is Ciudad de las Artes Y Sciencias, or in Dutch the City of Arts and Sciences. In terms of architecture, this is one of the most impressive buildings we have ever seen. The entire complex was designed by Santiago Calatrava of Valencia and construction has been officially completed since 2005. You can walk around here and you are guaranteed to feast your eyes. Also inside the buildings you will find fun things to do. For example, you can admire a whale skeleton at The Science Museum, dine at the super luxury restaurant Contrapunto, watch a movie at Hemisfèric and visit Europe's largest aquarium. Buy your tickets here!
12. Stay overnight in Valencia's old town during your city break
There are an awful lot of accommodations in Valencia, from luxury apartments to cozy b&bs. But where do you want to stay in Valencia, near the coast or in the city center?
We ourselves slept in the old center of Valencia so we could walk to almost all the highlights of the city. The hotel where we stayed is Casual Vintage, a basic and affordable hotel ideally located on Plaza del Ayuntamiento. When we later visited Valencia again, we slept in the apartment FlatsForYou Port. A simple but nice apartment which is especially suitable if you go with a group, for example during a girlfriends trip.
What is the best time for a Valencia city break?
The summer months (June-August) are the hottest months in Valencia where temperatures can exceed 40 degrees. Personally, we do not like to be on a city trip with such temperatures, this is way too hot. Therefore, going on a city trip to Valencia outside the summer months is definitely recommended. The temperature is cooler and it is more pleasant to walk around the city and visit the highlights. You can also consider going to Valencia in the winter months (November-February) when it is still sunny. Only then the temperature will be around 15 to 20 degrees.
Tips for a city break to Valencia
To really explore Valencia, we recommend spending at least three days in the city. You then have plenty of time to visit all the highlights, eat at your leisure at the many nice hotspots and spend an afternoon at the beach. Would you also like to go out one evening? Then a 4 or 5 day city trip to Valencia won't hurt. There are many nice clubs to be found. Two recommended ones are Mya Club and Marina Beach Club.
You can travel from the Dutch airports in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Eindhoven with a direct flight from Transavia fly to Valencia. The flight takes about 2.5 hours. From Valencia airport you can take a cab into town, which takes about 25 minutes and costs about €15. Alternatively, you can take the subway, which takes about the same amount of time but is cheaper.
Reasonable offers for a city break Valencia with TUI
The costs for a city trip can sometimes be quite high. Take a look at TUI's package tours that include airfare and hotel accommodation. This could be even more attractive than booking your flight ticket and hotel separately. Check out TUI's current Valencia city break deals here!
Going to Valencia for an extended period of time
Would you like to live in the sunny and vibrant city of Valencia for an extended period of time? That's an incredibly good idea! With its wonderful climate, beautiful museums and other attractions and plenty of fun hotspots, this is a city where you won't get bored easily. But how can you go to Valencia for a longer period of time?
Consider spending a year working in the Spanish city! Retrieved from Yobbers' website you will find a complete overview of jobs in Valencia. You can also easily apply for great jobs through the website. For example, did you know that here you can easily work at large and well-known companies such as Eneco, Odido, Otrium and Ace & Tate? There is also plenty of housing in Valencia. Can you see yourself sitting on a sunny terrace after your working day with a nice Agua de Valencia in your hand?
Travander
At Travander, we’re all about exploring hidden gems, unique destinations, and off-the-beaten-path travel experiences. Our motto, “Let’s Travel and Wander,” reflects our passion for discovering both local treasures and faraway adventures. As experienced travel bloggers and travel consultants, we share insider tips, personal stories, and practical advice to help you make the most of every trip. From city breaks and weekend getaways to tailor-made travel itineraries, we guide you to the most beautiful and inspiring places. Explore the world with Travander and let us spark your next unforgettable adventure!
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