Are you looking for ideas of places to see in Valencia and great things to do in the city? In this post we are going to tell you about 20 essential things to see in one, two, three days or however many you have!
Poor anyone who thinks that Valencia is only fallas and paellas, because they couldn't be more wrong. The capital of the Valencian Community is a vibrant city, full of surprises and activities perfect for any type of traveler. Old or young. Foodie or healthy. Party-goer or cultural. In this post we are going to tell you 20 things to see in Valencia , you'll see how you find your perfect plan!
The best things to do and see in Valencia
Under the burning Mediterranean sun, Valencia wakes up in a whirlwind of passion and colour. Orange trees line the streets like soldiers in formation, their ripe fruit giving off a heady perfume that mixes with the salty aroma of the sea. Palm trees stand proudly on the horizon, silent witnesses to the intertwined histories of this city and best of all… after the tour of Valencia you know you are going to eat a great paella. Oh yeah.
Remember that at the end of the article we leave you more information about the spectacular community that the city houses: the Valencian Community (in case you have several days of extra time and you feel like visiting more areas).
Ready to discover everything there is to see in Valencia ? Let's go for it!
1. Free tour of Valencia
As always, we recommend spending your first few hours breaking the ice with the city by taking a free tour . For us, it is the best way to “make friends” with the destination and start visiting Valencia. The best thing of all is that there are several super interesting ones in this city, these are the best:
- The essentials of Valencia
- Urban art route through the El Carmen neighborhood
- Legends and mysteries of Valencia
- City of Arts and Sciences
⭐ Here we expand the list of the best free tours in Valencia
2. Valencia Cathedral and its “Miguelete”
After the free tour of the historic centre, you can climb the Miguelete , to see, this time, the city from above. But what is the Miguelete? Also known as the Micalet , it is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Valencia that rises proudly tickling the sky of the city. Once you have climbed the 207 steps (and after taking control of your lungs again), you can delight in a 360º panoramic view of Valencia.
How much does it cost to go up to Miguelete? The entrance costs €2.50 and it is located in the Plaza de la Reina, which is beautiful by the way.
Come on, don't miss it because it is one of the best places to see in Valencia... without a doubt!
3. Lonja de la Seda, one of the most beautiful places to see in Valencia
Although if there is a building that we would label as “the most precious of the beauties of Valencia”, it is the Lonja de la Seda . In the Valencian civil Gothic style, this was the place destined for commerce and all the mercantile transactions of the city. In fact, in the past it was also known as the Lonja de los mercaderes. Due to its beauty it was proclaimed a World Heritage Site in 1996.
It was built in the 15th century and stands out for its Gothic architecture, with its pointed arches and high-quality ornamental sculptures. Today it is one of the most visited tourist places in Valencia and we personally found it to be an architectural marvel and one of the must-see monuments in Valencia.
Admission costs €2 (free on Sundays and holidays).
4. Town Hall Square
And obviously you can't leave Valencia without stopping by the Plaza del Ayuntamiento , where the beautiful Post Office building is also located. This square is the main attraction of the mascletá , a fireworks display that literally shakes the city during the Fallas. You have to experience it at least once in your life.
5. Turia Garden
On 14 October 1957, Valencia suffered a terrible flood, which is why it was decided to divert the course of the Turia River to the south. As a result, a large area where it had previously flowed was left unused.
What was done with this land? One of the most beautiful and largest urban parks in Spain was created: the Turia Garden . Today you can do sports there, there are play areas for the little ones and spaces where you can have a picnic or just walk. It's so cool! Whenever we visit the city we try to come here, as it is one of the most pleasant places to see in Valencia 🙂
And speaking of Turia… another thing to do in Valencia is to try Turia beer , it's delicious!
6. City of Arts and Sciences, a must-see in Valencia
But when you talk about Valencia, the silhouette of the City of Arts and Sciences comes to mind . There you can discover the most avant-garde side of Valencia and visit several buildings and pavilions:
- Hemisfèric , where there is an impressive IMAX cinema and a planetarium.
- Museum of Science , an interactive science museum.
- L'Umbracle , a walk full of native plants and sculptures.
- The Oceanográfico , an aquarium (although we prefer free animals, so you are not obliged to visit it).
- Reina Sofía Palace of the Arts , dedicated entirely to the performing arts.
⭐Tickets can be purchased separately for each attraction, or combined (on the official website or here )
7. Palace of the Marquis of Dos Aguas
Another place to visit in Valencia is the Palace of the Marquis of Dos Aguas , a true Rococo jewel in the heart of the city. Behind its ornate façades (don't miss the entrance covered in alabaster marble), which are crowned with imposing towers, is the González Martí National Ceramics Museum.
But what is really interesting, beyond its exterior, are its interior rooms, decorated in an ostentatious and, in reality, a little tacky way. Entrance costs €3 (free on Saturday afternoons and Sundays).
8. Eat a paella, a must-do in Valencia
Although it may be a cliché, you can't leave Valencia without eating a nice paella on the beach , because it's true that Valencia is not just about paella... but would you leave Naples without eating pizza? Oh no! An area where Valencians usually go, and therefore it never fails, is El Palmar.
We actually ate a senyoret rice , but to avoid confusion, we're going to tell you what the authentic and original Valencian paella is like: Bomba rice is used and among the ingredients we find rabbit, chicken, green beans (garrafon), tomato, peppers, paprika, olive oil and lots of love. If there's chorizo, run away XD
⭐ In the post about restaurants where to eat in Valencia we tell you about several places where you can try a delicious Valencian paella.
9. Tiger nut milk
We continue with another thing that is almost mandatory to do in Valencia: try its famous horchata de chufa . It is a typical drink from the Valencian Community that is prepared with tiger nuts (or xufas), cinnamon, lemon peel, water and sugar. The result is delicious and refreshing and if you want more, accompany it with some fartons .
A legendary place to try the best horchatas in Valencia is the Horchateria Santa Catalina .
10. Serranos Towers
The Serranos Towers are a living testimony to what the medieval walls of Valencia were like. These two curious polygonal towers flank one of the old city gates. A very photogenic place and a must-see in Valencia: don't miss it. They began to be built in 1392 during the reign of Pedro IV of Aragon and beyond their defensive function, they had several uses... the most curious of which was as a prison for nobles.
Do you know why they are called that? The name Serranos is due to the sawyers (or carpenters) who lived near the gate.
11. Quart Tower
Not too far away is the Quart Tower , another of the entrances to the medieval citadel. Built with stone masonry between 1441 and 1460 by Pere Compte and Francesc Baldomar, the most curious thing about it are the remains of the impacts of the cannon shots that the French troops fired against the door during the War of Independence.
12. Round Square
One of the most original places to see in Valencia is the Plaza Redonda , which as it suggests is… a round square hehe. It is surrounded by the rear facades of the surrounding buildings. Strange, strange but with its own touch, eh.
If you have time or fancy a drink, we recommend trying the bravas or calamari at El León Bar.
13. North Station
If you arrive in Valencia by train, you're in luck: the Estación del Norte is amazing! It was built in 1917 and is one of the best modernist buildings in the city. If you like architecture, we recommend you visit it even if you arrive by bus, car, plane, spaceship... you'll see that it's worth it.
14. Malvarrosa Beach
One VERY good thing about Valencia is that here you can alternate cultural tourism with the beach! And one of the best is the Malvarrosa beach. So yes: another thing to do in Valencia is to go and sunbathe on Malvarrosa Beach , where there are also a few beach bars where you can eat paella or some tapas. Coming here is a great plan, even if you are travelling with your family: the children will be delighted to exchange the “urban jungle” for sand and sea water.
It's a good life around here, huh 😉
15. Street art route in the Barrio del Carmen, one of the best things to do in Valencia
Do you like street art ? Then visit the Carmen neighbourhood , the most colourful and artistic in the city. You can do it on your own, or with this free tour . It is without a doubt one of our favourite areas and getting lost in its streets seems to us to be one of the best things to see in Valencia. Every time we go we stop by here and every time there is a new work of art 🙂
16. Modernism Route
Yes, Barcelona is the queen of modernism , but did you know that Valencia has little to envy of the city? This artistic and architectural movement that flourished at the end of the 19th century also left its mark here. Some of its most famous modernist buildings are:
- North Station,
- Central Market,
- Colon Market ,
- Olympia Theatre
- and several houses spread throughout the city, such as the Ernesto Ferrer House, the Tarín House or the Punto de Gancho House .
Modernism in Valencia, as in other parts of Europe and Spain, sought to break away from traditional forms and embrace creativity and innovation in architectural and artistic design. If you take a look at the facades, you'll see lots of modernist details. You've got a new challenge!
17. Ruzafa neighborhood
Another great thing to do in Valencia is to explore the Ruzafa neighbourhood , which is now the city's neighbourhood, which mixes the essence of tradition with a hipster and bohemian atmosphere. Ruzafa is full of shops and places where you can go for brunch or have a coffee or a beer with friends. The facades that decorate the streets are colourful, with ornate, well-kept balconies full of plants.
Also visit the Ruzafa Market , it's very nice and is already a mecca for food lovers. This is our favorite neighborhood in Valencia :)<aw
18. Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia
Is it raining? It's rare, since the sun almost always shines in Valencia, but hey... there's no shortage of plans for rainy days: you can lock yourself away in the Museum of Fine Arts and admire works of art by Joaquin Sorolla, among others.
Admission is free. More information about the collection and the visit here.
19. Excursion to the Albufera
If you have time on your trip to Valencia, a good idea is to take a trip to the Albufera , a natural park where you can enjoy the best sunset in the Valencian Community. This lagoon is located about 10 km south of Valencia and once there we recommend you take a boat trip like this one (very cheap: from €5!). Or if you prefer a more complete excursion to learn as much as possible, we recommend this tour of the Albufera with a guide and a boat trip .
And why not go on an excursion along the Valencian coast on your own ? It's as easy as renting a boat with or without a skipper (from €150) and setting off on an adventure. It's a great idea to do in Valencia.
20. Gastronomic markets in Valencia
Are you a foodie traveler who loves visiting city markets? Then you have to go to the Mercado de Colón , a spectacular building, built between 1914 and 1916 by Francisco Mora Berenguer. Inside there are gourmet shops, a super cute flower shop, breweries, bars and even horchaterías. The Mercado Central is another essential stop if you like this style, and the building is also very cool.
A promise is a promise: here are 20 great plans for places to see and things to do in the Valencian Community . I can't wait to take a road trip there! I think that's all... nah, no way!
This concludes our tour of Valencia , a unique city full of history, culture, beauty and paellas – yum! From the majesty of the City of Arts and Sciences to the tradition of the Lonja de la Seda and the vitality of Ruzafa, we had a great time. We hope you enjoy your visit to Valencia as much as we did and that these places to visit inspire you to explore this wonderful city even more!
There are certainly many more things to see and do in Valencia . Can you help us expand the list?
