Valencia
Why come: Valencia is Spain’s third largest city, with a very beautiful historic centre, a former riverbed made 9km long! The city is a very attractive centre with a 9 km long historic centre, the Turia Park, the magnificent futuristic cultural and architectural complex Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciènces and kilometres of sandy beach.
When to travel: Valencia has a pleasant Mediterranean climate, so the best time to travel is in spring or autumn, although winters are mild and sunny. I recommend avoiding July and August, when it is hot and humid and the city is quite crowded with tourists. Read more.
Note: Valencia’s old town and centre are built a little further from the beach than other Mediterranean cities, and the distance from the beach to the city is about 5 kilometres.
Similar Destionations: Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga.
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Most Interesting Areas in Valencia
Ciutat Vella: Literally “the old town” which is full of historic architecture, great restaurants and nice cafes or just stroll down the narrow streets. The most famous district of the old town is El Carmen.
When: you want to see a beautiful, old town
El Cabanyal: Lots of old, colourful houses, a long sandy beach,and in general a very special atmosphere where locals, especially in summer, sit on their chairs in the small streets with their families or friends. Lots of small museums and galleries and several cosy restaurants and bars.
When: You want to go to the beach or see Art Nouveau houses
Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (Eng: City of Arts and Science): Stunning, futuristic buildings, including concert halls, museums and a cinema. Situated at the end of the Turia Park by the sea. If you can’t see anything else in Valencia, visit here!
When: you only have a little time
Ruzafa: Known for its nightlife and restaurants, as well as its fashion. You’ll also find plenty of cultural events here.
When: you wanna see local nightlife or just feel the vibes
How to move around in Valencia
Walking: in the city centre and the old town, this is by far the best way to walk. It is worth noting that when the green light is flashing, it is best to wait, as in Valencia drivers do not always wait for their own green lights.
Taxi: there are plenty of taxis in the city, they are cheap and you can usually catch a free taxi on the street (green light on the roof) within a minute. The Free Now button works well.
Public transport: Valencia has a good public transport network, although some bus routes are quite slow. A 10-trip ticket costs only €5.6, but you need to buy a rechargeable card, e.g. at a metro station. You can buy loose tickets at stations or on buses and from 02/23 you can even pay for them with a card!
By bike: There are over 156km of cycle paths in Valencia. Most of them are perfectly isolated from cars and walkers, and as the city has few altitude differences it is a city made for exploring by bike. Valencia has many bike hire shops which you are sure to come across as you walk around the city.
