Spain’s sunny third city is the birthplace of paella, with a futuristic arts complex, a medieval core and a long city beach. Here are the best things to do.
The 8 best things to do in Valencia
Calatrava’s futuristic complex — an aquarium, science museum and opera house.
The Cathedral (which claims the Holy Grail), the Micalet tower and historic plazas.
One of Europe’s great Art Nouveau food markets — go for lunch.
A 9 km park in a former riverbed — cycle or stroll the city’s green spine.
Valencia invented it — try the real thing near the Albufera lagoon.
A broad city beach with paella restaurants along the promenade.
A UNESCO Gothic silk exchange, a masterpiece of civil architecture.
Sunset boat trips on the lagoon where paella was born.
Suggested itinerary
Day 1: Old Town, Cathedral, Central Market, Turia Gardens. Day 2: City of Arts and Sciences, beach, Albufera paella at sunset.
Tips for visiting Valencia
- Eat paella at lunch (it is a midday dish) and ideally near the Albufera
- Rent a bike for the Turia Gardens — flat and scenic
- Visit in March for Las Fallas, Valencia’s wild fire festival
Skip the beachfront paella scam (and where Valencians actually eat it)
The paella restaurants lining Malvarrosa Beach are where Valencia separates tourists from their money. The tell is the giant pan on display out front and the rice that arrives in 15 minutes, neon-yellow from food colouring, topped with a couple of show-off prawns. That is not how it works. Real Valencian paella is cooked to order over wood, takes 40 minutes, and the rice is the point, not the seafood. Locals don’t eat it at the beach at all. They drive 20 minutes south to El Palmar in the L’Albufera wetlands, where the rice (and the rabbit and snails that belong in a proper paella valenciana) actually comes from.
If you want the city’s real food rhythm without a car, walk into Ruzafa (Russafa). The Mercado de Ruzafa, open since 1957, is where home cooks and chefs shop, and the surrounding streets fill with Spanish-speaking lunch crowds rather than menus-in-five-languages. Finish at Horchatería Santa Catalina in the old town for horchata de chufa and fartons. On cost: a single EMT bus ride is about €2, but grab a SUMA card (€2.20 plastic) and load the SUMA 10 multi-trip, which is roughly €8.90 for Zone 1. The airport metro tops out around €4.80, so it’s still cheaper than a taxi.
Valencia FAQ
How many days do you need in Valencia?
Two — the old town and food, plus the City of Arts and the beach.
Is Valencia worth visiting over Barcelona?
It is cheaper, less crowded and has the best paella — a great alternative.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.