Valencia Things To Do

The Old Town

Valencia’s Old town is the highlight of any trip: a beautiful and highly enjoyable maze of picturesque streets and charming squares lined with honey-coloured buildings, fountains and orange trees. The El Carmen neighbourhood, the most famous area, is packed with cafes and bars, bursting with character, and is particularly trendy and lively at night. Old Valencia boasts superb Baroque, Renaissance and Neoclassical architecture, the stunning Gothic Silk Exchange, an intriguing cathedral and a terrific modernist covered market.

City of Arts and Sciences

This futuristic park with its gardens and artificial lakes is well worth walking around, even if you do not pay to visit the individual attractions. Walk there via the Turia Gardens, the curious long green park that occupies the bed of Valencia’s former city river. The City of Arts and Science features an impressive planetarium, an IMAX cinema and a laserium, and its aquarium is one of the largest in Europe, with over 7,000 specimens and a vast dolphinarium. The complex is also home to an entertaining Science Museum and the impressive Paulau de les Arts concert hall.

Museums

As well as the City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia also boasts some fine museums. The beautiful Museu de Bellas Artes has an outstanding collection that includes El Greco, Goya, Van Dyck and Velasquez, and the Natural Science Museum has a fine location in Valencia’s Royal Park. The Ceramics Museum is housed in a splendid 16th century palace, and the Valencian Institute of Modern Art in Barrio del Carmen has an excellent terrace café and restaurant.

Beaches

Part of the Valencia's charm is the combination of city and beach life. The white, sandy beaches are an essential part of life in the city, and the promenades are excellent spots for shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. The nearest beaches, Las Arenas and La Malvarossa, are close to the city centre and can be reached by bus and tram.

Nightlife

Nightlife rivals other popular Spanish nightlife destinations like Madrid and Barcelona, but sees far fewer foreign tourists. The city is bursting with lively, friendly, authentic cafes, bars and restaurants, and serious partying begins after midnight so dine late, relax after dinner, try one of famous cocktails and then follow the crowds or ask for recommendations. Barrio del Carmen is buzzing at night, particularly during the summer and at weekends, with other top nightlife areas including Juan Llorens, Plaza Cánovas, the University area and the beaches of Malvarrosa and Las Arenas.