(16) Best things to do in Valencia

By Roberto – (Updated Jul 2023)

⏱10 min

Valencia… It’s hard to summarise all the things I know about the city because I’ve lived here for more than 30 years but believe me when I say there are many things to do in this city! In this post we bring you the best things to do in Valencia.

Valencia is the 3rd biggest city in Spain, it has more than 210 sunny days per year and it’s the place where the original Paella was born. Valencia has many advantages as a medium size city and also it’s close to the coast. The city has decent history and a variety of fresh local food. That’s why Valencia and Comunidad Valenciana are a really good option to consider when traveling to Spain.

We are going to work hard on this post to list all the best things to do in Valencia and show you the very best plans of the city. Welcome!

1 – Eat the original Paella Valenciana 🥘

Trying the authentic paella Valenciana is absolutely must while visiting Valencia. The origin of the paella was quite simple. Valencian farmers around the XV-XVI centuries created an easy plate with local and abundant ingredients. The REAL ingredientes are: rice, chicken, rabbit, tomato, green beans, garrofó (white bean), olive oil, saffron, rosemary, paprika, salt and water. There are other optional ingredients like garlic or snail, but nothing else.

We do have other recipes with shrimp and calamari for example, but that’s “arroz a banda” or another type of rice, but not paella! When I see some “paellas” abroad with chorizo or peas… I want to cry.

So, the best places in the world to eat a good paella are of course in Valencia. More specifically around the area of the Albufera. Soon we will have a dedicated post with the best restaurants and cuisines of Valencia. 👌

2 – Ride a bike to discover Turia Garden Park (Rio Túria)

One of the things we like to share with our friends when they visit us, is to rent some bikes to ride them along the Turia Garden Park. This is the longest urban park in Spain and it separates the city in two parts: north and south. The park is more than 10 kilometres of trees, gardens, fountains, and different paths or lanes to walk.

The park has different areas for families and kids, to practice sports, bike lanes and even a 5K running lane. It connects Cabecera Park from the West, to the City of Arts and Sciences to the East. Exploring the river is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Valencia, and more on a good sunny day.

If you want to know more about Turia Park (like why we call it Rio – River), where to rent bikes or some of the best itineraries, check our next post soon with all the info about this Rio Turia.

3 – Get lost in El Carmen neighbourhood streets

El Carmen is one of the oldest parts of Valencia, where Romans, Muslims and Visigoths lived over more than 1000 years! This area also is the most touristic because it holds some of the oldest and most important buildings in the city, like the Iglesia de San Nicolás, museums, or the Cathedral with its tower El Miguelete.

But before we talk about those, the idea is to visit this neighbourhood and get lost in it. El Carmen is nice thanks to its cultural mix but also its “underground” vibe. There are graffities and street art everywhere, posh penthouses next to abandoned buildings, cute terraces… There is a bit of everything.

My advice is to discover the different buildings exploring the area and why not, have brunch or lunch at some of the delicious restaurants over there, like the Italian San Tomasso.

4 – Go to the top of Torres de Serranos

In 1238 when the Christians reconquered Valencia (Balansiya) from the Muslims they built a big wall around the city center. Today we have few remains of those walls (there are some around El Carmen) and also we lost all the main gates of the city.

Well… all the gates except two! I’m glad the city conserves the two biggest entrances to Valencia because they give the city a wonderful medieval look. These gates are Torres de Quart and Torres de Serrano.

The good thing is that Torres de Serranos opened some years ago, and you can go all the way to the top of the towers. It’s one of the best things to do in Valencia because you get the opportunity to have great views of the river and the buildings in the city center. Also, it’s free on Sundays, Holidays and with the Valencia Tourist Card, otherwise it is just 2 €. Visit the official website for the schedule.

5 – Visit the Cathedral, Miguelete and Holy Grail

Once a Roman temple, later a mosque and finally a Catholic church, the Cathedral of Valencia is an emblematic construction. It’s next to Plaza de la Reina and makes you really feel like you’re in Europe in this square. The cathedral is mainly gothic style but also has elements from Romanesque or Baroque eras.

Something curious is that the Holy Grail, the chalice that Jesus (supposedly) used in the last dinner, resides inside the Cathedral and you can see it. Somehow other countries also claim they have this grail… like the history of Colombus in the Cathedral of Seville. The official info about schedules is here.

In addition to the cathedral, there is the Miguelete. The bell gothic tower of the cathedral is 50 meters high and it offers unique views of the city and nearby plazas. The access to the tower is from inside the Cathedral and you have to deal with 207 steps in a spiral staircase to reach the top.

My honest opinion is that, unless you’re a religious or architecture enthusiast you can skip the cathedral and save 9 €. The Miguelete, in contrast, is just 2 € and gives you the experience of the great views of the city and keeps you healthy!

6 – Drink Horchata or Chocolate con Churros

If somebody asks me what are the most typical food of Valencia, for sure I’d say both paella and horchata. Maybe you know the vegan drink horchata from Latinoamerica but the one here is different. Moors brought it here in the 8th century and since then, we have made it by pressing tiger nuts and sugar with water.

The most famous place (but absolutely worthy) is Santa Catalina. This never ageing horchateria looks exactly the same since I was a kid and it’s located next to the Cathedral in Plaza de la Reina. It’s decorated with tiles and ceramics and both the horchata and liquid chocolate are delicious. My advice is to order horchata mixta (half cold horchata half iced horchata) if it’s a hot day. Or go for the chocolate con churros or buñuelos in a cold or rainy day. Absolutely recommended!

7 – Take photos in the Instagrammable City of Arts and Sciences

You can see this mega complex even from the air, and the fist time you see it in person is surprising. The City of Arts and Sciences is a must in the list of things to do in Valencia. City of Arts and Sciences is a leisure complex, designed by the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava, and it has different buildings for different purposes.

• It has a 3D cinema (L’Hemisfèric)
• A really big Science Museum where “not touching is prohibited”
• The biggest aquarium in Europe (L’Oceanográfic)
• For the music enthusiasts, a building for concerts, operas or ballets (Palau de les Arts)
• A garden-terrace that is also a disco in Summer (Umbracle)
• A multipurpose space for shows or conferences (CaixaForum)

Of course you can always visit the different buildings (and they are good to go with kids), but if you are short on time or don’t want to pay any entrance fee, taking photos around the pools of the buildings is always a nice and free plan. It’s a little crowded on Sundays but there are many angles and places to take photos from.

The white tiles of the buildings contrast with the blue and clean pools where kids can rent small boats. Plus, there is grass in the Turia Park where you can lie and chill or even take a siesta with the outstanding views. For more info, visit the official site of City of Arts and Sciences with all the timetables and prices.

8 – Try the Esmorzaret or local brunch

Around the world, the Arab word almuerzo is a synonym for meal between 10 am and 12 pm, and it consists of different food depending on the country. In Spain we call almuerzo kind of a brunch (not lunch) and more specifically in Valencia, we call it Esmorzaret (because of the Valencian word).

The Esmorzaret is something else in Valencia, and compared to other regions in Spain, ours play in a superior league. Why? Because we have special places to just have Esmorzaret and some sandwiches or bocadillos are really generous or elaborate. A good Esmorzaret is made from peanuts, green olives, your drink and a bocadillo that can have Spanish omelette, pork, horse meat, sausages, tomato sauce… There are dozens of combinations.

The Esmorzaret is so important in Valencia, that there is an annual competition called Cacau D’Or, and there are interactive maps with tons of places with great bars to try the Esmorzaret. If you want to know some of my personal recommendations, they would be:

• Bar Nuevo Oslo
• Mercado Rojas Clemente (the market has a bar next to it)
• La Bernarda
• El Trocito del Medio

9 – Be amazed by the church of San Nicolás

The Church of San Nicolás de Bari has recently been restored, revealing a pictorial display on the ceiling and walls with a style like the Sistine Chapel. First built around around 1242, it was remodelled by initiative of the Borja family in the Gothic style between 1419 and 1455. Later, around 1690 the interior was recoated with Baroque decoration and fresco paintings of San Nicolás de Bari (Saint Nicholas).

The entrance fee is 10 euros including an audioguide. We think it’s a bit overpriced but the frescos are the best in town. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30 to 19:00 but check the official website for more precise information.

10 – Visit the Albufera… by boat!

Maybe you have seen a big patch of water in the map in the South of Valencia, or some photos of amazing sunsets… In any case, that big region of water is the Albufera. This natural park is an oasis of rice fields, local plants and birds, and it’s now a protected area.

The regions of La Devesa or El Saler offer a good option to ride a bike or walk near the beach. There are beaches and routes to visit in this region. The lookouts at sunset are some of the best places to take photos in Valencia.

If you’re looking for some of the best options to try real paella, check restaurants in El Palmar, El Perelló or Pinedo. These small towns still plant their own rice and produce some of the best paellas in the world.

But the must experience in the Albufera, is to discover it by boat. There are multiple options for this. in groups, for couples and at different prices. Expect to pay around 5 € per person from the main lookout, or from El Palmar. These tours are given by local people and are usually 1 hour, while they explain basic info of the Albufera.

We know this company that offers various alternatives depending on the plan. We still have to try the brunch or sunset tour, that look amazing but are also a bit pricey.

Other plans to do in Valencia

We have written in our opinion the Top 10 Things to do in Valencia. But there is more! Find below other plans to do in the city in case you have extra time.

11 – Enjoy the terraces and chill in Ruzafa

Another trendy neighbourhood is Ruzafa. Located next to the train Station and the city center, this area has grown a lot in the last decade. It offers a variety of restaurants, boutiques, and art stores. But the area is also famous for the terraces (terrazas in Spanish) where people hang out and order beers or cocktails.

Bars around Calle Cádiz or Cuba have nice terraces to chill. There are also local beer bars in case you want to try. A special place for us (that I still frequently go to) is Comic Café on Sueca St. The terraces around this bar are always busy and nice but the place is special because this is where I met Ellen our first day =)

12 – Have a rest in Mercado de Colón

Mercado de Colón is a refurbished market dating from 1914. Inside there are bars and restaurants. While there is not a proper market anymore, it offers a perfect opportunity to have a refreshing horchata or cold beer in the city center.

13 – Explore Valencia with a Free Tour

A touristic thing, but very formative (and we love them) is doing a Free Tour when you visit a new city. Valencia has several options to do a free tour. Just check online or directly ask us for a private one 😛

14 – Explore (and buy) in Mercado Central

If you have time, we suggest visiting Mercado Central next to Barrio del Carmen. Mercado Central is the biggest market in Europe for fresh food, with more than 300 stands in its interior! It is more than 100 years old and its style is gothic-modernist. It’s a must visit if you can make it. It opens everyday from 7:30 to 15:00 and remains closed on Sundays and holidays.

15 – Go shopping along the city center

With less boutiques than Madrid or Barcelona, Valencia still has some big branded stores like Zara, Massimo Dutti or some boutiques to go shopping. Around Colon Street you’ll find enough options to be busy a full evening.

16 – Have a cocktail with views in rooftop bars

We don’t have sooo many rooftop bars since buildings in Valencia tend to be short but there a a few nice terraces if you don’t mind paying the plus for the drinks. Check these:

• La Plaça Gastro Mercat (city Center near Colon Street)
• Palacio Vallier (city Center in El Carmen)
• Hotel Barceló 270º (good views of Turia Garden)
• Àtic Alameda (good views of Turia Garden)
• Sky Bar Ateneo (good views of Plaza del Ayuntamiento)

Want more? Check more plans to do around Valencia