Valencia is one of the most popular cities in Spain, and that is probably because it has something for everyone. There is a lovely city with many restaurants and bars, a lovely beach with a promenade, and some places to see animals, although in captivity. The city is relaxed, as it is the cradle of paella and oranges. Keep reading if you want to know more about the city:

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How to get here: Valencia is easily accessible with its airport. Madrid is 2 hours by train, while Barcelona is 4.5 hours.

How much time needed: 2-3 days give you sufficient time to get to know the city.

Walk around town and see the beauty of the building

Valencia is a really walkable city, with the sights close to each other. The buildings, terraces, and streets are great to discover when walking through Valencia. The city has a relaxed vibe, and you will feel it when you are here. Examples of beautiful buildings to discover are the cathedral and the church of Santa Caterina.

Visit the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias

Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias opened in 1998 and is the new modern part of Valencia. Later, more artefacts were added until 2009. This modern part is very strange and interesting next to the older part of town. It is mostly focused on the arts and sciences. You can get in, but the architecture on the outside is especially impressive. This is a highlight you can not miss in Valencia.

Tourist occurrence: Depending on what to do.

How much time needed: 2 hours would be enough. 

Visit the biggest tank in Europe at l'Oceanogràphic

Part of Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is L'Oceanogràphic, one of the best aquariums in Europe. There can be shows, but do not do that!! I think they slowly stop with it. They do a lot for conservation purposes. The tank under the ground is the biggest in Europe and contains a lot of sharks, rays, and big fish. There are also environments with flamingoes, sea lions, crocodiles, and more. It is a new and very pretty place to go.

Price: €40

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 2 -3 hours

Be impressed by Plaça de l'Ayuntamient

Plaça de l'Ayuntamient is the heart of Valencia, and it has the most iconic picture of the city. The fountain is famous, and I felt really impressed with all the huge buildings around me. You have, for example, the city hall and the Palau de les Comunicacions de València. This is the place to visit in Valencia. 

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 1 hour

Go to a football match

In Spain, football is a very popular sport. There are two main teams in Valencia: Valencia CF and the smaller Levante. It can be a nice activity to do. I went to a Levante match, and we had a great time. The city is perfect to watch a game of football, but I have to be honest, I am a big football fan.

Price: Depending on club, game and seat.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 2 -3 hours

Explore the city by bike

Valencia is very easy to walk, but it is even easier and more convenient to take a bike in the city. There are many bike lanes, and traffic is also expecting bikes, so it is a very convenient way to explore the city. Especially biking through Jardín del Turia is pleasant as it is a long park. 

Price: Depending on time, organization and amount of bikes.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 1 or 2 days 

Enjoy the fantastic Jardín del Turia

Jardín del Turia is a very long park. It stretches all around the city centre of Valencia. The park was a river, but it was flooding a lot, so they decided to put away all the water and make it a park. The park has 18 bridges above it. The park is around 7 kilometres long, and it goes from Biopark in the west to Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias in the east. Biking or walking through Jardín del Turia is an absolute must-do in Valencia.

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: A couple of hours, but we also used it as a form of transportation.

Enjoy the food and oranges of the city

Spain has a great cuisine, but in Valencia it is even better, as it is the cradle of the famous dish paella. The great rice with seafood and rabbit is very tasty, and you should order it at least once. It is also the city of oranges, and you will probably find some orange trees when visiting Valencia. Never forget to taste a Jason Iberico as well. 

Spend some time at the beach

I am not a guy who really loves the beach, but it has something extra next to the city. The beach has a promenade with many bars and restaurants, although they are pretty touristy. The beach is nice to have a swim after a good day of sightseeing, especially in the summer. This is not my highlight, but a nice addition to a city trip in Valencia.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 1-2 hours.

Visit a nice market in Valencia

I am a big market enthusiast, and that is not different in Valencia. I really like the vibes of people, and you can find many cultures in one place. In Valencia, there are several, and I went to two different ones. The first one is Mercado Central (picture above), a traditional Spanish market where you can get many different Spanish products. The other one was Mercat de Colón (picture below), where you found some more restaurants and bars to have a meal or a drink. The differences between the markets are big, and they are both worth a visit.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 1-2 hours per market

Feel in Africa at Bioparc

This is one of the best zoos in the world, and it is very new as it was opened in 2008. At the entrance, there is a big statue of an elephant, and from there, you will be in a fantastic zoo. The zoo is focused on Africa, and it has four areas: Madagascar, Equatorial Africa, Savannah, and the Wetlands. The zoo focusses on natural environments, so there are no fences, and it has very natural exhibits. You have to follow a certain path and really search for the animals, so it makes for a more natural experience. This zoo is absolutely fantastic and should be one of the best in the world. 

Price: €27

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 3-4 hours as you take your time for the animals.

Things I have not done, but could be cool

I think I saw my favourite sights in Valencia, but I missed a nice day trip, for example, to the rice fields.

Final thoughts

Valencia is a city that has it all. The mighty city has nice beaches, good restaurants, a lovely park, and some great attractions. The city is not too big, so you can go through it at your own pace. For me, this is one of my favourite cities in Spain and should be on your list when travelling to this country. This city has something for everyone. 

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