Valencia is the third largest city in Spain and the birthplace of paella. The city is often overlooked in favor of Barcelona or Alicante, although it is home to equally striking architecture, delicious tapas, local wine and cider, green parks and wide beaches. In addition, there are far fewer tourists here than in more popular resorts, and prices are much lower.
Valencia is good to visit at any time of the year: in winter the temperature ranges between +15-20 °C, and in summer there are jumps up to +40 °C. But the streets are designed in such a way that the houses create shade, and the wide avenues are lined with trees with lush crowns. We tell you what to do in the Spanish city.
Entry rules
Russians will need a foreign passport and a Schengen visa. Now Spain is considered one of the most loyal European countries in terms of document requirements. The application fee is 80 euros for an adult (about 5,800 rubles*).
How to get there
You can fly from Moscow to Valencia with transfers in Casablanca (Royal Air Maroc), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) and Belgrade (Air Serbia). One-way tickets cost from 38,000 rubles*. It will be cheaper to get to Barcelona and take the bus to Valencia. They depart directly from the airport, a one-way ticket costs from 30 euros (about 2,400 rubles*). You will spend about four hours on the way.
Where to stay
Hotel El Siglo (rating 8.4) — small hotel in the city center with sun loungers on the roof. A night in a standard room costs from 10,500 rubles*.
Hotel Valencia Alameda 41 (rating 9.1) – stylish rooms overlooking a shady green street. Prices start from 16,000 rubles* per night.
Hotel Puerta Serranos 4 sup (rating 9.6) is a new hotel, each room has its own balcony overlooking Turia Park, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Serranos Towers. A night in a “deluxe” room costs from 26,600 rubles*.
Central Market and Silk Exchange
Valencia can be divided into an old and a new city. The first, more compact one, is best explored on foot, immersing yourself in the history of architecture. The second, futuristic and spacious, is perfect for exploring by bike.
It’s good to start your journey through the old city from the central market Mercado Central – it is open from 7:30 to 15:00 (times may vary depending on the season), Sunday is a day off. Inside there are more than 300 stalls with fruits, vegetables and berries from local fields, meat, seafood and sweets. Here you can buy literally everything – in aquariums they even sell live eels, which will be cooked before your eyes. There are also corners with tapas, paella and Spanish breakfast, and some restaurants nearby have an agreement: for a small fee they will prepare the products you bought at the market.
It’s worth going here, even if you’re not planning a snack. The building has an unusual shape: the ceiling of the market is a huge dome painted with oranges, the main fruit of Valencia.
Across the road is the ancient Silk Exchange Lonja de la Seda, the entrance ticket costs two euros (about 160 rubles*). If you came on Sunday and didn’t get to the market, don’t be upset – but on that day, entry to the exchange is free. Inside you can admire beautiful stained glass windows and stone columns in the shape of twisted palm trees.
Vicinity of Plaza de la Virgen
Two minutes from the Silk Exchange is the area El Carmen, where the oldest buildings in the city are adjacent to walls painted with colorful graffiti. The streets of El Carmen will lead you to the Valencia Cathedral. For two euros (about 160 rubles*) you can climb the El Migulete tower and admire the beautiful view of the city. The numerous blue domed roofs are worth the 207 steps. If you are interested in religion, visit the cathedral – the Holy Grail is kept there.
Behind the cathedral is the Plaza de la Virgen, one of the main squares in the city. During the day it is filled with tourists who come to see the basilica Basilica de la Virgen de los Desamparados and a statue of the patroness of Valencia inside it. After sunset, the area changes beyond recognition, with nightlife in full swing.
The second main square of Valencia is Plaza de la Reina, during the day it is surrounded by historical architecture and closed roller shutters of the first floors, painted with graffiti, and in the evening the place comes alive — all buildings are illuminated with spotlights, shops and restaurants open their doors, and street performers and musicians appear on the square itself.
Plaza Ayuntamiento
The square is located in the southern part of the old city, not far from the North Station. Unlike the other two central squares, it is surrounded by a road, which may make it seem less cozy. Not only is the Town Hall located here, but also the impressive building of the Valencia General Post Office. All holidays are held on this square, during which it becomes completely pedestrian. And in winter, a Christmas tree is erected here and the skating rink is filled, despite the warm weather.
Botanical Garden Jardin Botanico
Formerly the apothecary garden of the University of Valencia, it is now home to many animals. The botanical garden is located near the Torres de Quart gate in the western part of the city. The entrance ticket costs 2.5 euros (about 200 rubles*), and free excursions are held here on the last Sunday of every month at 11 and 12 o’clock. At the entrance you are given a booklet in English with a detailed map. Plants are arranged so that one can trace their evolution from primitive to complex forms.
Jardí del Túria Park and City Gate
The park is best explored by bicycle – its seven-kilometer-long territory circles Valencia and connects the old part of the city with the new. The Túria River used to flow here, but it often overflowed its banks and was redirected. Now a park with bridges and fountains is hidden in its bed and under the green, lush crowns of trees. In the spring you will find baobab trees blooming here, and in the summer you will admire the orange trees while the cicadas chirp.
You should start your walk through the park from the tower Torres de Cuart – this is the first city gate, which is about 600 years old. The walls retain traces of cannon shots, in which large parrots now build nests. While walking, reach the towers Torres de Serranos (this was the main gate of the city), and then see the triumphal arch Porta de la Mar. At the end of the park, a new part of the city begins.
Palace of Art and Oceanarium
The symbol of the new city is futuristic buildings Cities of Arts and Sciences. The architectural complex consists of three buildings: the Palace of Arts Palau de les Arts in the shape of a sea shell, a cinema La Hemisferic in the shape of an eyeball and a science museum Museo de las Ciencias, which resembles the skeleton of a whale. The whole thing is surrounded by a swimming pool, and from May to September you can paddle or kayak on the water.
The Palau de les Arts hosts operas, dramatic performances, concerts and exhibitions. Next to the Museo de las Ciencias, the largest aquarium in Europe was built, where the world’s ecosystems were recreated for 500 species of fish, amphibians and marine mammals. You can save on the entrance ticket if you buy a city pass for 24, 48 or 72 hours in advance at one of the tourist centers. The card costs from 15 euros (about 1,200 rubles*) and allows you to use public transport and visit many museums for free.
Bioparc Valencia
Another place where you can meet wild animals is the Valencia Bioparc. It has a large open-air area, but walking around here is comfortable even in summer, since most of the walking paths are covered with a canopy or tree crown. Inside, in addition to giraffes, lions and other inhabitants of the savannah, hippos, flamingos and lemurs live – you can even enter the area where the animals move freely.
At the entrance you are given a map of the park and a sheet with the feeding schedule of the animals – they are distributed over time so that you can see them all, so you can come at any time. But it’s better to do this no later than two hours before closing in order to have time to walk around the entire territory. There is an entertainment program for children in Biopark.
City beaches
The road to the sea through the bright area El Cabanyal. These colorful houses are more reminiscent of Cuba than Spain. Valencia has three city beaches, and two of them, Las Arenas and Malvarossa, are connected to each other. This is a long coastline with white sand and palm trees. Opposite Las Arenas beach there is a small food court Mercabanyal, where you can try street food of different cuisines: bao buns, sushi, burgers. Trams No. 4 and No. 6 and bus No. 32 go here.
A little further is the beach Platja de la Patacona. It’s not too crowded and there are great bars and cafes where you can eat delicious food. The entrance to the water on the coast of Valencia is very smooth, without cliffs, and the bottom is perfectly flat.
Behind Platja de la Patacona is the harbor Port Saplatja. It doesn’t look at all like a port in the usual way: boats and yachts are moored in the canals, among which an entire district is built. Along the banks there are tall, bright buildings, due to which the local color is created. You can get there by bicycle or by public transport. From the city center you need to take the metro to Maritim Serreria, and then take the tram to the final stop.
Wild Beach
There are three more beaches nearby: deserted city beaches Playa de Pinedo and Playa De La Devesa Del Saler and finally wild El Saler. The first two are served by buses No. 14 and No. 15. El Saler is located 11 km from Valencia, you can get there by bus No. 107 or combine it with a visit to the park Parc Natural de l’Albufera, which is very close.
Locals love El Saler for its amazing location: it is surrounded by dunes and pine groves, the shore is covered with white fine sand, and the water is clear and blue.
Parc Natural de l’Albufera
Valencia’s largest natural park lies around the lake of the same name. To get acquainted with the local flora and fauna, choose one of the established walking trails; leaving them is dangerous, because there are many marshy areas in the park. The lake is home to herons, storks and even flamingos. And in the cafe in the park you can try paella or the national dish a l’all and pebre, which is prepared from eel from the local lagoon.
In the late afternoon, take a boat and admire the sunset – locals even call the lake the mirror of the sun. Boatmen charge from three euros (about 240 rubles*) depending on their mood, time of day and number of people interested.
Parс Natural de la Serra Calderona
Serra Calderona is a mountainous area near Valencia. The natural park is accessible to tourists of all levels, as well as children and four-legged animals. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate the mountain peaks from 600 to 900 m, which offer stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and coastal plains. There are also many trails and a visitor center.
Serra Calderona has an outstanding heritage, with archaeological sites, castles, traditional farmhouses, monasteries and monastic communities. In these mountains you can see the remains of civilizations that inhabited our lands from the Paleolithic era, through the Bronze Age, Iberian culture, Roman, Arab and medieval periods.
To enjoy nature and relax, the park provides picnic areas with barbecues and grill stations. There is also a bar, toilet, public tables, drinking water area and trash cans.
To get to the park from Valencia, you need to take a bus to the city of Albalat dels Tarongers or by train to Sagunto. The journey takes about 40 minutes, one-way tickets cost from three euros (about 240 rubles*).
*Prices are current at the time of publication.
