Valencia is the perfect destination for your next city break. Whether you want to enjoy the sun on the beach, make some cultural discoveries or eat delicious food, you will find it all there. Let me share with you our own experience in the city!

OUR ITINERARY

• DAY 1: Oceanografic Valencia + Science Museum
• DAY 2: L’Albufera + L’Umbracle + Boat ride at the City of Arts and Sciences + Hèmisferic
• DAY 3: Walk to the town center through the Turia Garden + Valencia Town center + Beaches of Valencia

DAY 1: A DAY AT THE CITY OF ARTS & SCIENCES

If I had to pick a place that I particularly enjoyed in Valencia, it would be the City of Arts and Sciences. Apart from the nice vibes of this cultural complex located in a luxurious park, its futuristic architecture is something I had not seen anywhere else in Spain. Furthermore, there is so much to do in the complex, that we spent half our trip to Valencia just visiting it.

Morning at the Oceanographic of Valencia

Entrances to the Oceanographic will cost you 37,1 € per person. The Oceanographic of Valencia could be described as a huge aquarium in the center of Valencia. However, this description wouldn’t really do it justice. Indeed, it has both an indoor and an outdoor part, an aviary, dolphins shows, and much more! I particularly loved watching the dance of a couple of belugas swimming together in the arctic section. I found it very beautiful.

Afternoon at the Science Museum

After our lunch at the Oceanographic, we walked a little further in the City of Arts & Sciences complex to reach the Museum of Sciences. This museum is famous in Spain for being among the most interactive ones in the country. In other words, not only will you learn a lot during your visit but you will also have lots of fun. Entrances to the museum cost 9€ per person.

In the museum, you will find a part on space travel where you will be able to learn about the effects of space travel on the human body amongst many other interesting facts. There is also a part on sound and instruments with fun experiments to try. You will encounter as well a permanent exhibit on the human body with many little games to understand the concepts exposed. Finally, when we went, there was also an exhibit on viruses and their transmission. I loved how fun was the exhibit despite the not-so-exciting topic. Among the games in that exhibition, you had a claw machine where you could grab different viruses (in the form of plush animals) to learn more about them. There was also a screen which asked you to pretend to dance in a nightclub or to shout in a football stadium and which showed you how many people in the nightclub or in the stadium you are likely to have contaminated by doing that if you were sick. Isn’t that such a fun way to teach kids about viral transmission!

DAY 2: AN EXCURSION AND MORE FUN AT THE CITY OF ARTS & SCIENCES

On our 2nd day in Valencia, we wanted to discover the more natural side of the region and thus headed to the Albufera.

A nice walk in the National Park of Albufera

To access the Albufera, it is as easy as taking a public bus near the City of Arts & Sciences. The Albufera National Park is above all known for its wetlands and for its rice fields. It’s these rice fields that explain how paellas became such a typical dish of Valencia. What is called the “Alfufera” itself is the main lake of the national park. Near it, you will find different trails that you can take to explore further the national park. There’s the botanic trail, the historical trail, the landscape trail,… Some of them are quite short so you can easily combine various during your visit. Overall, the Albufera is a nice place to come walk in nature, not far from the city. You also have there a lovely beach, more natural than the ones you will find in the city itself.

Following our visit of the City of Art & Sciences

After this visit of the Albufera Natural Park, we headed back to town to eat. Then, we decided to explore all the parts of the City of Art & Sciences complex that we had not been to yet. We first went to visit L’Umbracle. It is basically a pretty garden under large archs. Next to it, also below the archs, there is a nightclub if you are more of a party animal.

Next the Umbracle, you will find a large artificial shallow pool where you can rent and ride little boats, kayaks or water bikes. We decided to test the experience which costs 2,5 € for 10 minutes of rental. It was quite fun and I would recommend it. However, I would advise to take more time than 10 minutes so you really have time to learn how to maneuver correctly the boat and then to enjoy.

Still full of emotions from the boat ride, we then headed to the neighbouring Hèmisferic. The Hèmisferic is an IMAX cinema with a concave screen housed inside a curious building in the shape of an eye. The building itself looks super futuristic and actually reminded me more of a flying saucer. Inside the Hèmisferic, you will mostly find projections of documentary films. Each person during the projection has their own headphones to listen to the film in the language of their choice. One fun fact is that the headphones are of a curious shape and we actually really felt like aliens with those on. We chose to watch a documentary on sea life and it was really beautiful. Movies projected in the IMAX dome last around 40 mins and tickets will cost you 8,7€ per adult and 6,7€ per child.

DAY 3: DISCOVERING VALENCIA’S TOWN CENTER AND BEACHES

As you can see, there is so much to do around the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia that, after two days, we still had not gone to the town center. We thus dedicated the 3rd day of our city trip to getting to know more parts of the town of Valencia.

A lovely promenade to the Town Center

One of my favorite part of Valencia has been the Turia Gardens. This 9-km long park basically allows you to go from one point of the city to the other by only walking through a park and without ever having to be on a street next to car traffic. This park starts at the City of Arts & Sciences and goes all the way to the Parque de Cabecera, at the North-Western edge of the historical town center. At the start of your promenade, next to the Palau de les Arts, you will find a lovely rose garden. Then, during your walk you will pass, pretty fountains, lush green spaces and some bridges. Enjoy this walk up to the Puente de la Trinidad (Trinity Bridge) to arrive to the town center.

What to do in Valencia town center?

• Try horchata de chufa with fartons: Horchata is a typical fresh drink from the Valencian region made from a root called “chufa”. Its aspect could best be compared to milk. It is usually taken with fartons, a type of local pastry. I would argue that the best place to try it in Valencia is at Horchateria Santa Catalina – https://maps.app.goo.gl/N4rAETPcTBe3KFwC9 Not only is it a place making delicious horchata and fartons but the local, traditionally decorated with ceramic tiles, is also beautiful to see. Also make sure to check the nearby Plaza de Santa Catalina. When we went, an artisanal market was taking place there!
• Visit the Mercado Central: If you’re interested in visiting a very big Spanish traditional market, this is the place for you.
• Check out the Mercado de Colon: This smaller market is mostly occupied by small cafés and restaurants. It is also much more peaceful than the big Mercado Central. Have a look and maybe stay to have a drink or lunch there.

… and simply explore! The best way to know a city is often to wander in its streets without a clear end destination.

Ending the day at the beach

Despite the cloudy and very windy weather on this last afternoon in Valencia, we headed to the coast to see Valencia’s beaches. We reached the beach by taking a public bus from Valencia’s town center. We then walked all the way down the Playa de la Malvarrosa up to the Marina de Valencia. The beaches in Valencia are basically long strands of sand. They are not the most natural and scenic beaches I have ever seen. However, if you live in a city far from the sea, you will enjoy being able to be on the beach there for a few hours.

WHERE TO STAY IN VALENCIA?

As you have seen, the prettiest and most special place in Valencia is without doubt the City of Arts and Sciences complex. I would thus recommend to take a hotel near it. We stayed at the Hotel Primus Valencia – https://maps.app.goo.gl/u7cxd7SQzr1Xjg859 – for about 93 euros per night. I would highly recommend this 4* hotel which has a relaxing garden outside, a great outdoor pool and a bar if you want to celebrate your holidays with a drink. Furthermore, this hotel is also conveniently located near the Aqua Commercial center – https://maps.app.goo.gl/X9UJKVUuUFaHhA8y9 – where you will find many chain restaurants. Although not very Spanish, I absolutely love the ramen chain called Udon, present in many locations all over Spain, which you will also find this commercial center.