Spain · Valencian Community

Valencia travel guide

Paella's home town, with a park where a river used to be

L'Oceanogràfic, Valencia. Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

2h 15mflight from London

VLCnearest main airport

26° in Julwarmest month

8° in Jancoolest month

Spain's third city is a great mix of everything: a medieval old town, a beach you can cycle to, and some of the most futuristic architecture in Europe. And it's where paella comes from.

When the river flooded in 1957, the city moved it and turned the old riverbed into a 9km park that runs right through the centre.

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Top things to do in Valencia

1
City of Arts and Sciences
White, ribbed buildings housing a science museum, an opera house and Europe's biggest aquarium.
2
Turia Gardens
Cycle the old riverbed from the old town to the City of Arts and Sciences.
3
Mercado Central
One of Europe's oldest food markets, under a stained-glass dome.
4
The old town
The cathedral (said to hold the Holy Grail), the silk exchange and the Miguelete bell tower.
5
Paella at Malvarrosa
Head to the beach for a proper Valencian paella, made with chicken and rabbit, at lunchtime.
6
Albufera lagoon
Rice fields and a boat trip at sunset, 30 minutes south of the city.

Tours and tickets in Valencia

Where to stay in Valencia

Ciutat Vella
The old town: walkable and full of atmosphere.
Ruzafa
Trendy, with lots of cafés, bars and restaurants.
Cabanyal and the beach
Old fishermen's houses and the seafront, a tram ride from the centre.

Find a hotel in Valencia

Best time to visit Valencia

Best value: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. April to June and September to October. March brings the Fallas festival, with huge crowds and fireworks.

Best valueBusy and pricierQuietAverage temperature in Valencia, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 2h 15m from London to VLC, and flights from most UK airports.

The metro links the airport to the centre in about 25 minutes. Valenbisi bikes and the Turia park make cycling easy.

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Day trips from Valencia

Albufera
Rice paddies, a freshwater lagoon and the village of El Palmar, where paella was born.
Xàtiva
A hilltop castle with huge views, under an hour by train.
Peñíscola
A castle on a rocky headland above the sea, a scenic drive north.

Good to know

Real Valencian paella is a lunch dish. Locals think ordering it for dinner is very touristy.
During Las Fallas (15 to 19 March) the city is loud day and night, and hotels cost far more.
Valencia has a tourist tax per person per night, added to your hotel bill.

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