Valencia Essentials

Valencia Essentials

Currency Euro Flight Time UK 2 Hour 25 mins Time Zone GMT = +1 hour Language Spanish Voltage 220 V (European two-pin plugs) 


Tourist Attractions

The best way to get the most out of sightseeing in Valencia is with the bright orange double decker Bus Turistic. This is a hop-on-hop-off service, and tickets are valid for 24 hours. The cathedral at Plaza de la Reina is one of Valencia's most endearing landmarks, and is well worth a visit. Inside there are the spectacular chapels of the Holy Grail and the Borgas and artwork by Goya.

Food & Drink

Valencia has its own unique variation on Paella, which can be found in most cafes and restaurants. Comprising chicken, seafood, rabbit and vegetables, it makes a filling lunchtime meal. Longaniza sausages, black pudding and chorizo are essential ingredients in many traditional dishes, usually sauteed along with potatoes, garlic and winter vegetables to make a variety of hearty dishes. The versatility of rice can be seen on menus in Valencia restaurants, enhancing a wide range of tapas, main meals and desserts.

Opening Hours

Opening hours for shopping are usually from 10am - 8pm between Monday and Saturday, with a midday lunch and siesta break from 1.30pm and 4pm. Large stores and shopping centres generally operate throughout the day, with a select few remaining open until 10pm. Almost all shops are closed on Sundays.

Tipping & Etiquette

The common practice in restaurants is to leave a tip of around 10 - 15% for a satisfactory meal. In expensive eateries however, there may be an automatic value added tax included on bills, which is often mistaken for a service charge. For taxi journeys, a gratuity of approximately 5% is sufficient, and each piece of baggage is often subject to an extra charge.

Spanish Phrases For Tourists

Hello Buenos días I don't speak Spanish No hablo Español Goodbye Adiós Excuse me Excusez moi Good Evening Buenas tardes Where is...? Dónde está...? Yes Sí Airport aeropuerto No No Currency exchange cambio Please Por favor Beer la cerveza Thank you Gracias The bill, please La cuenta, por favor

Valencia Useful Numbers


• Calling the UK from Valencia – 0044 + area code minus zero + number
• Police – 112
• Ambulance – 112
• Fire – 112

Disabled Access

Thanks to recent investment and thoughtful planning, all of Valencia's beaches are now freely accessible to the disabled, with ramps and walkways down to the sand, and even sea wheelchairs for hire. There are also many shaded rest areas designated for the disabled, and adapted changing rooms. The entire bus fleet in Valencia is now accessible to wheelchairs, and almost all underground metro lines have followed suit.

Spanish Embassies


• Spain Embassy - 39 Chesham Place, London SW1X 8SB Telephone: 020 7235 5555 


Weather

Valencia enjoys some of the best weather in Spain, with warm dry summers, mild winters and plenty of delightful Spanish sunshine. Being influenced by the Mediterranean, the city is more comfortable than other cities such as Malaga and Seville, as the heat is less intense thanks to the coastal breezes. Summers see stable weather all through the season, with highs of 30C in July, and at least 9 hours of sunshine, whilst the winters enjoy 6 hours of sun, and pleasant temperatures of 15C.