Valencia

Understand

Valentia Edetanorum was established as a Roman colony in the second century BCE. In the early 8th century CE the Moors invaded, and Balansiyya became the capital of the Muslim Taifa of Valencia, thriving as a trading centre for paper, silk, ceramics, glass, and silver. With a brief interlude of Christian control in the 11th century under El Cid, the city remained in Muslim hands until the Christian Reconquista led by King Jaume I of Aragon in 1238, and was incorporated as a kingdom under the Crown of Aragon. Valencia experienced its golden age in the 15th century, with a growing population and flowering of Valencian culture and the arts. Significant monuments from this period include the cathedral’s Micalet, the UNESCO-listed Llotja de la Seda, and the Torres dels Serrans (Serrano Tower). During this period it became one of the most influential cities of the Mediterranean, and helped to fund Christopher Columbus's first voyages to the Americas. In 1609 the Spanish government ordered the expulsion of all Jews and Moriscos (Muslim descendants) from the kingdom to north Africa. The latter made up about a third of the population of Valencia and the surrounding region, and their forced removal brought about a major economic downturn, and in some nearby communities, economic collapse. It was more than a century before the city began to recover. Valencia was the capital of Republican Spain from 1936 to 1939, and during the Spanish Civil War sustained heavy bombardment by Franco’s forces, both by air and sea. Franco retaliated for Valencia’s Republican past with cultural and ideological repression, and banned the use of the Catalan/Valencian language throughout all the territories. In 1957 the Túria River overflowed its banks leading to catastrophic flooding of the old city centre with more than 80 dead. The river was consequently diverted to the south of the city, but it was not until the return of democracy that the original abandoned riverbed was finally converted into a park – now one of the city’s most outstanding features. In the 21st century Valencia has continued to evolve. In 2007 and 2010 the city hosted the America’s Cup, and from 2008 to 2012 hosted the Formula One European Grand Prix. Architecturally, too, the city has changed, most notably with the construction of the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences) by internationally-renowned Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava. The 2015 election of a new leftist coalition city council, after decades of control by the conservative Partido Popular (PP), brought renewed focus on expa

Getting there

By plane

1 Valencia Airport (VLC IATA) (in the neighbouring town of Manises, 9 km from the city centre), ☏ +34 961 598 500. Major airlines serving Valencia from several domestic and European airports are Air Europa, easyJet, Iberia, Ryanair, Transavia, Vueling and Wizz Air amongst others. Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal (free for the first 30 minutes), and there are a number of restaurants and duty-free shops after security. Nearly all intercontinental visitors will need to connect through a major European hub to reach Valencia, unless they are in a position to take the seasonal direct Air Transat transatlantic flight from Montreal. Metro Valencia lines 3 and 5 go directly to the town centre and link the airport to the main train station, Estación del Norte (beside the Xàtiva metro stop), running every 8 minutes and taking about 21 minutes. A one-way ticket to the city centre costs €3.90, plus an additional €1 for the cardboard ticket with rechargeable chip; tickets can be purchased at a manned service counter (English spoken) and at vending machines which do accept credit cards. Do not get confused: the paper tickets with magnetic strips are rechargeable. There are no trains between the hours of midnight and 05:30. Fernanbus operates bus line 150, with buses departing every 15 minutes and terminating at 2 Àngel Guimerá, 48, with a full schedule and route map online. Tickets cost €1.50 and the journey takes about 30-40 minutes. A taxi stand is just outside the arrivals hall. A ride from the airport to Carrer de la Pau, in the heart of the historic city centre approximately 11 km away, costs around €20-23 with an additional 'airport supplement' of around €5 (Jan 2015). The tariffs are on display in the taxi in Valencian, Spanish and English but are difficult to see. The same journey back from Carrer de la Pau to the airport is half the price! Book a taxi by calling a radio taxi company or book online at BookTaxiValencia.

Direct Taxi Valencia, ☏ +34 960 077 705, [email protected]. Reservations can be made online. (updated Nov 2016) Radio Taxi Manises, Carrer de Villafames, 56 (Manises), ☏ +34 961 521 155, [email protected]. 24 hr. (updated Jan 2018) Radio Taxi Valencia, Carrer dels Gremis, 8, ☏ +34 963 703 333. 24 hr. Reservations can be made online, or via their smartphone app (iPhone and Android). (updated Jan 2018) Taxis de Valencia, ☏ +34 961 119 977. Reservations can be made online. (updated Nov 2016) Taxi Valencia, ☏ +34 661 719 393, [email protected]. Reservations can be made online. (updated Nov 20

Getting around

Streets in Valencia have two names, Valencian and Spanish, but most street signs are in Valencian only. Maps may list street names in Valencian or Spanish and rarely both, while addresses may be given in either language, which could create some confusion. Addresses in this guide are generally listed in Valencian. The city has begun changing some Franco-era street names to those commemorating other figures, especially women. By late 2017, about 50 streets had been renamed, with more planned; online mapping services are largely up-to-date but printed maps will likely not be.

On foot Aside from going to the beach and the City of Arts and Sciences, exploring the hub of the city requires no public transportation. Much of this city can be done walking, stopping for a coffee or a beer, and then walking more, all very leisurely. It's not necessary to have the mindset of mastering a complex public transportation system. However, for longer trips, see below for some pointers. Pedestrians should be careful not to walk in the designated bike lanes.

By public transportation Travellers visiting for a short period may want to consider purchasing a Valencia Tourist Card, a one-, two- or three-day pass which allows for unlimited travel on all metro and bus lines, including to/from the airport, over a period of 24 hours (€15), 48 hours (€20), or 72 hours (€25). The card also includes free admission to public museums and monuments, discounted admission for other tourist attractions, and additional discounts at some shops and restaurants. The card can be purchased at any tourist office, including at the airport, or purchased online for a discount and picked up on arrival at a tourist office. There is also a 7 day version without transport. For travellers not interested in the package, or staying longer than three days, the rechargeable SUMA 10 card provides a flexible means of getting around. It is valid for both metro and bus travel. This card allows for ten journeys, including transfers begun within 90 minutes of commencing your journey. The included transfers comprise unlimited transfers between metro (or tram) lines, and a single transfer to or from bus lines (i.e. between buses or to/from the metro). Cards are not personalized, and a single card can be used by multiple people (deducting multiple journeys, of course). The SUMA 10 cards are sold from machines in metro stations, and as of 2025 cost €8 (€4 until 30th June 25) for a single zone. There is an additional fee of €1 for a cardboard cart and €2 for a plastic card. The cards can be recharged at any metro tic

See

A total solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 Aug 2026, starting at 20.32 and lasting 1 minute. The chances of a clear sky are 70%, but you need to find a spot with a clear view to the north-west horizon, where the sun will be setting. Hilltops may be socked in by cloud, and after the show you’d have to descend an unfamiliar hill trail in darkness.

Monuments and architecture

1 Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias / City of Arts and Science), Av Autopista del Saler, 5 (take metro to Ciutat Arts i Ciències - Justícia 10 ), ☏ +34 90 210 0031. Call centre: M-F 09:00-20:00, Sa 10:00-20:00, Su 10:00-15:00. This ultra-modern architectural complex on the former Turia riverbed was designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava and Spanish-Mexican architect Félix Candela. If you don't want to pay the steep admission charges to the individual sights, you can wander around the complex and appreciate the architecture from outside for free. Combined admission for all sights (mid season): €46.40 (adults), €36.30 (reduced); valid for 3 days, however the same venue cannot be visited twice. You can buy day tickets for individual sections, see below.. (updated Mar 2025) 2 El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe (Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe / Príncipe Felipe Science Museum). Winter M-Th 10:00-18:00, F Sa 10:00-19:00; spring/fall and Christmas season daily 10:00-19:00; summer daily 10:00-21:00. A science museum designed to resemble a whale skeleton, it has interactive exhibits on three floors. €9.40 (adults), €6.90 (concessions). (updated Mar 2025) 3 L’Oceanogràfic (Oceanogràfic 10 ). Hours vary by season, open daily . The largest oceanarium in Europe, and the second-largest in the world, has seven sections devoted to different ecological zones. The building was designed by Félix Candela to resemble a water lily. Highlights include a dolphinarium, a walk-through shark tunnel, a shark tank (open for public diving), and spherical bird aviary. There are several restaurants on-site, and with so many attractions it’s easy to make this into an all-day affair. high season €41.80 (adults), €31.00 (concessions). (updated May 2025) 4 L’Umbracle. A botanic garden landscaped with plants native to Valencia. The park also has the Jardí d'Astronomia (Jardín de la Astronomía / Astronomy Garden) and the Passeig de l'Art (Paseo del Arte / Art Promenade), which has permanent and temporary exhibits of large-scale contemporary art, mostly sculpture. Free. (updated Jul 2015) 5 L'Àgora. A multi-use covered plaza, designed for sporting events, concerts

Do

Falles

One of Spain’s most spectacular fire festivals, Falles (Spanish: Fallas) can be best characterised as a fire-fireworks-gunpowder street party extravaganza. The festival draws up to two million visitors annually, and is listed as a UNESCO ‘intangible cultural heritage’. Its origins date to the Middle Ages when the city’s carpenters burned piles of scraps in the streets and plazas near their workshops on 19 March, the eve of the day of San Josep (Spanish: San José, or St. Joseph). In the 18th century, it became customary to fashion these piles of junk with papier mache into human figures and sculptures, called ninots (Valencian for 'dolls'), which were assembled to form larger fallas. Eventually these fallas began to take on a satirical nature. Around 1870, Falles and Carnival were banned. In response to this, a popular movement arose to revive and preserve these traditions, resulting in a competition in 1885 for the best and most artistic falla. This prompted the development of casal fallers, neighbourhood associations which work year-round raising money and designing their fallas. Today there are about 400 casal fallers which each design an adult falla (falla mayor), and a smaller children’s falla (falla infantil); more than 400 of these fallas are burned on public streets every year. Many fallas reach 25-30 m in height – the best of these are in a special category Secció Especial (Spanish: Sección Especiál) and compete for the top prize, awarded annually by the City Council. A secondary feature of Falles are daily fireworks events, including gunpowder demonstrations (mascletàs) and large nightly fireworks displays (castillos del fuego). Along with these displays, people set off fireworks all day in the streets, beginning early in the morning and continuing throughout the day, making the city seem like a war zone and making it very difficult to catch any sleep.

Key events and dates

La Despertà (the 'wake-up call'). Last Sunday of February. Beginning at 07:30, brass bands parade down Carrer de la Pau and Carrer de Sant Vicent Màrtir to the Plaça de l'Ajuntament, followed by falleros and falleras throwing firecrackers. At noon more bands perform at the central square, and the season's first mascletà takes place at 14:00. (updated Mar 2018) 1 Cridà (the 'call'), Torres de Serrano. Last Sunday of February. Crowds gather along bridges and the Túria river bed to hear the fallera mayor (principal fallera) announce the beginning of the Falles season at 20:00. Fireworks conclude the event. (updated Mar 2018) 2 Mascletà, Plaça de l'Ajuntament (Plaza

Buy

The area around 1 Plaça del Patriarca (Plaza del Patriarca) is a good place to look for the major national brands like Loewe, LLadró, Louis Vuitton, Dolores, and Farrutx. 2 Plaça Redona (Plaza Redonda). M-Sa 10:00-20:00, Su and holidays 08:00-14:00 (flea market). Designed by Valencian architect Melchor Escrig Salvador in the mid-19th century, this unique building was constructed around a round plaza, and was noted by Valencian novelist Vicente Blasco Ibáñez in his novel Arroz y Tartana. The building has been completely renovated and now is home to a number of shops for traditional crafts as well as tapas bars. On Sunday mornings it is home to a flea market. (updated Nov 2015) 3 Mercat de l’Escuraeta (Mercado de L’Escuraeta), Plaça de la Reina (just S of the cathedral). Daily from the second Sunday of May until Corpus Christi, usually at the end of May or early June. This traditional market dates back to the 13th century and Jaume I, when vendors set up extra stalls by the cathedral to coincide with the annual Festividad de la Virgen (feast of the Virgin). Items sold here include crockery and traditional cooking utensils, as well as pottery and other arts and crafts. (updated Jun 2017) 4 Frutos Secos del Carmen, Carrer de Dalt, 20 (El Carme), ☏ +34 696 945 745, [email protected]. A traditional local shop that sells all kinds of dried fruits and nuts. (updated Oct 2017) 5 Insectum, Mercado de Ruzafa, ☏ +34 630924090. M-F 11AM-2PM. Shop specializing in edible insects. Only one of its kind in Spain. (updated Jul 2024) 6 Original CV, Plaza del Mercado, 35 (across from the Central Market). M–Sa 10:30–20:30. Local souvenirs, mostly food products and some art. (updated Sep 2025)

Food markets

7 Mercat Central (Mercado Central / Central Market), Plaça de la Ciutat de Bruges, s/n (El Mercat), ☏ +34 963 829 100. M-Sa 07:00-15:00. In a restored modernist iron and glass building dating from 1928, this is one of the largest markets in Europe. See how the locals shop for food and buy some fantastic fresh produce, meat, seafood, or olives. (updated Jun 2015) 8 Mercat del Cabanyal (Mercado del Cabañal / Cabanyal Market), Carrer de Martí Grajales, 4 (Cabanyal), ☏ +34 963 446 316, [email protected]. M-Th 07:00-14:30, F 07:00-20:30, Sa 07:00-14:30. Traditionally one of the better markets in the city for fish, this also has fresh produce and artisanal products. Has free Wi-Fi throughout the building, no registration or password required. (updated Sep 2016) 9 Mercat de Mosén Sorell (Mercado de Mosén Sorell), Plaça de Mossén Sorell (Carmen). M-W 07:30-15:00

Eat

Paella. There are several versions of this tasteful rice dish: paella valenciana, with meat (chicken and/or rabbit usually), paella de marisco, with fish or seafood, or even paella mixta, with meat and fish at the same time, the least popular among locals. It is very difficult to say which is the 'real' paella, as every person has his/her own version (though no paella that deserves this name contains sausage, ham or meat broth, for instance). If you want to eat an authentic paella, try it at the Malvarrosa beach area; you will find there are several good restaurants. The authentic Valencian paella is made only with fresh ingredients, in a special iron pan and using a fire made with wood (not gas or electricity). Vegetarian paella is called paella vegetal or paella de verduras. Authentic paella can be rather dry, it's not a soup and shouldn't look like gumbo. Don't be shy about scraping the caramelized rice from the bottom of the pan, it's delicious! (updated Jun 2017) Arròs a banda (arroz a banda). A side dish of rice cooked in fish stock, usually served with alioli. (updated Jun 2017) Arròs negre (arroz negro). Also cooked in fish stock, this rice dish is black because it contains squid ink, as well as squid or cuttlefish, peppers, and paprika. (updated Jun 2017) Fideuà. This paella-like dish, with short noodles and fish, was invented in Gandía and can be usually found in paella restaurants. It deserves a try too. (updated Jun 2017) All i pebre. A stew made of eel, a snake like fish typical from the Albufera, a lagoon near Valencia. You can drive to El Palmar and taste it there. Delicious, but a very special taste. You can find good paella, and other traditional dishes at the restaurants there too. (updated Jun 2017) Llet merengada (leche merengada). A kind of milk-based soft ice cream with a cinnamon-lemon taste. (updated Jun 2017) Bunyols (buñuelos). Fried doughnuts, sometimes round shaped, sometimes like rings. Widely available only during March during the Falles celebration. Dip them in hot chocolate. Sometimes they are too oily, so don't eat a lot of them or you will not be hungry again for several hours. If you can choose the carabasa (pumpkin) version, you should try it. They are generally tastier. (updated Jun 2017)

Budget 1 Tasca Ángel, Carrer de la Puríssima, 1 (behind the Llotja), ☏ +34 963 917 835. M-Sa 10:30-15:00 19:30-23:30. This tiny but very popular tapas bar is known for its sardinas (grilled sardines), served with garlic infused olive oil and white bread. Other specialties include champiñones a la plancha (grilled mushrooms)

Drink & nightlife

Traditional regional drinks

Aigua de València (Agua de Valencia). 'Valencia water' is a very famous mixed drink, invented in 1959 and based on a mix of orange juice and cava, the local sparkling wine. Many modern versions also include gin and vodka as well as sugar. Be careful, as this drink packs a punch! (updated Jun 2017) Orxata (horchata). A drink made from tigernut (Valencian: xufa, Spanish: chufa), which was first created during the Moorish period. Being cold and sweet, it is especially popular during the summer months, and can be ordered in orxateries or horchaterias and at street carts as well as in most cafés and bars. When ordering an orxata, you will most probably be asked whether you would like to have a fartón, a small pastry for being dipped in orxata, as well. (updated Jun 2017) Cibada. An iced malt drink. (updated Jun 2017) Llima granizada. Iced lemonade. (updated Jun 2017) Café del temps (café del tiempo). A popular summer drink, this is espresso served with a glass of ice along with sugar and a slice of lemon. Usually sugar is mixed first into the hot espresso, which is then poured over the ice. (updated Jun 2017) Blanc i negre (blanco y negro). Iced coffee with leche merengada, which is blend of milk, egg white, sugar, and cinnamon. (updated Jun 2017) Cremaet. A popular coffee mixed with burned alcohol (typically rum) that is normally consumed at esmorzar (the eating that takes place between breakfast and lunch). Its sweetness depends on the time spent burning it (the more burned, the more sweet it is, and the less alcohol percentage it has). (updated Aug 2023)

Cafés and horchaterías

1 Horchatería Daniel, Avda l´Orchata, 41 (Alboraia/Alboraya; metro line 3), ☏ +34 961 858 866, [email protected]. Daily 10:00-24:00. Established in 1949, this is the largest and most well-known horchatería in Alboraia (Spanish: Alboraya), a small agricultural town on the outskirts of Valencia whose primary crop is tiger nuts (chufa), the key ingredient in horchata. There is a second branch in the Mercat de Colóm (listed under 'Eat'). (updated Jan 2016) 2 Horchatería Els Sariers, Carrer Sarcet, 6 (Benimaclet), ☏ +34 963 693 879. M-Th 16:00-22:00, F Sa 11:00-02:30, Su 11:00-23:30. A very large and popular horchatería with artisanal fartóns. Takeaway available. (updated Aug 2016) 3 Horchatería Fabián, Carrer de Císcar, 5 (El Ensanche), ☏ +34 963 349 317. Daily 13:30-24:00. Serves hot chocolate with churros, horchata, granizada, ice cream, and pastries. This is one of the only places which sell bunyols (buñuelos) outside of the Fallas se

Sleep

Staying in or near Old Town means you will hardly need transport, unless you go to the beach.

Budget

Hostels 1 Hôme Backpackers Hostel Valencia (Feetup Home Backpackers Valencia), Plaça de Vicent Iborra, s/n, ☏ +34 963 913 797, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00-24:00, check-out: 12:00. In town centre and specialised in backpackers and groups. The cheapest one in Valencia, and claims to be the 'best'. Free Wi-Fi and bed linens, wheelchair accessible, nonsmoking rooms, free Wi-Fi. Towels €1. €14 (dorm bed), from €51 (room w/shared toilet). (updated Sep 2016) 2 Innsa Hostel, Carrer de Baix, 48 (Carmen), ☏ +34 963 917 751, [email protected]. Check-in: 12:00-22:00, check-out: 09:00-11:00. Free Wi-Fi, has onsite bar/restaurant. From €38 (room w/shared toilet). (updated Sep 2016) 3 Purple Nest Hostel (Hostels Valencia Spain), Plaça de Tetuán, 5, ☏ +34 963 532 561, fax: +34 963 427 128, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00-24:00, check-out: 05:00-11:00. A good budget hostel in Valencia hostel in the city centre. Has free Wi-Fi, family room, rooftop terrace and barbecue, and bar. From €43 (dorm bed). (updated Jul 2023) 4 Red Nest Hostel (Hostels Valencia Spain), Carrer de la Pau, 36, ☏ +34 963 427 168, fax: +34 963 427 128, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 07:00-11:00. A good budget hostel Valencia in the city centre. Has a large kitchen free lockers, free bed linen, and free Wi-Fi; towels €1. €40 (dorm bed). (updated Jul 2023) 5 The River Hostel, Plaça del Temple, 6, ☏ +34 963 913 955, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:30, check-out: 11:00. Has nonsmoking rooms, free Wi-Fi, and a 24-hr front desk. €10-40. (updated Feb 2018) 6 Valencia Lounge Hostel, Carrer dels Cadirers, 11, ☏ +34 963 923 425, [email protected]. 11 rooms (double, triple, quadruple) with balconies, aesthetically decorated, no en-suite bathrooms, in a quiet alleyway. Doubles €39+. (updated Feb 2017)

Hotels 7 Hospedería del Pilar, Plaça del Mercat, 19 (Mercat), ☏ +34 963 916 600, [email protected]. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. Operating since 1886, the hostal has nonsmoking rooms with private baths, and a 24-hr desk. Free Wi-Fi. Doubles €36-40. (updated Feb 2018) 8 Hotel Beleret, Carrer del Campament, 80 (Benimàmet, near the Les Carolines metro stop), ☏ +34 963 640 505, fax: +34 963 640 303, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00-24:00, check-out: 05:00-12:00. On the northern outskirts of the city, the hotel has nonsmoking rooms, an onsite restaurant and bar, and free Wi-Fi. Pets permitted on request, free nearby parking

Go next

Outskirts Albufera Natural Park — A fresh water lake which is part of the protected natural space, composed of the lake and surrounding marshy areas, as well as the pinewood and sandy dunes and beaches of El Saler. Rice is cultivated in the surrounding area of the lake. The Albufera also hosts many interesting varieties of migratory birds. The village of El Palmar is also a good place, if not the best, to try some paella or other local dishes. Manises – 15 km northwest of Valencia, it is not only the site of Valencia's airport, but is also an important centre for pottery. The city can be easily reached by Valencia's metro lines 3 and 5. Paterna – This bedroom community 5 km to the northwest is known for its cave dwellings, Moorish tower, and Moors and Christians Festival. El Puig – 15 km north of Valencia, this village is best known for its impressive Gothic monastery, and is easily visited as a half-day trip from the city. Torrent – 9 km southwest of Valencia, the second largest city in Valencia province has a couple of interesting sights.

Further afield Rent a car and do a day trip to any number of picturesque villages or small cities in the region, including Chulilla, Sot de Chera, Xàtiva, and Sagunto, among others. La Tomatina, hosted by nearby Buñol on the last Wednesday of August. A festival that involves thousands of participants throwing ripe tomatoes at each other. Make sure you wear clothes that you can throw out after wards, as it gets very messy. Cullera, is the nearest beach resort from the city, apart from the more aimed at locals Pobla de Farnals, and worth a day visit from Valencia if you have time. It is settled down an isolated mountain (with a big white sign saying "Cullera" on it) beside a beautiful bay. It has crowded and quiet beaches. The most quiet ones are along the lighthouse road. There is also a naturist beach right North of Cullera, in Playa del Dossel, with a tricky road to access it. There is a castle on top of the mountain from which to enjoy stunning views. Gandia, 65 km south of Valencia and easily accessible by regional train, is the historical capital of the ancient Dukedom of Gandia, origin of the infamous Borgia (Borja) family, whose Ducal Palace is worth the visit, and birthplace of fideuà. Montanejos, with its scenic mountains, gorges, and hot springs.