I spent two days in Valencia in late September, staying three nights at Hostal Antigua Morellana in the heart of the old city, and it completely won me over. Whilst Barcelona and Madrid grab the headlines, Valencia offers something different: fewer crowds, lower prices and a compelling mix of 2,000-year-old history and bold modern architecture.
Here’s what makes Valencia worth visiting, plus everything you need to know to plan your trip.
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Quick Planning Guide
Best time to visit: March to June or September to October. Skip July and August unless you enjoy crowds and scorching heat. If you can, visit during the Las Fallas festival (1-19 March) for one of Spain’s most spectacular celebrations.
How long to spend: Minimum two days to see the highlights, three to four days if you want to explore properly and hit the beach.
Getting from the airport: Metro lines 3 and 5 run directly to the city centre (30-45 minutes). Buy tickets from machines at the airport.
Where to stay: Base yourself in the old city. I stayed at Hostal Antigua Morellana and highly recommend it for location, helpful owners and excellent value.
Reasons to Visit Valencia
1. Over 2,000 years of history
Valencia’s history reads like a Who’s Who of European powers.
The Romans founded the city in 138 BC. Vandals invaded, then Visigoths. The Moors took control in the 8th century and renamed it Balansiya. In 1238, King James I of Aragon reclaimed it, sending 50,000 Moors fleeing and restoring the city’s original name.
The 15th century marked Valencia’s golden age. Arts and culture flourished, and the city built many of its most important landmarks: the Micalet bell tower, the Silk Exchange and the Serranos Towers.
2. A cathedral that took 750 years to build
Valencia’s majestic Cathedral–Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady of Valencia encapsulates the city’s history.
This has been a place of worship for over 2,000 years. The Romans built a temple here. The Visigoths built a cathedral. The Moors converted it to a mosque. Then the Christians built the cathedral you see today.
Construction lasted 750 years, which explains why the building mixes Gothic, Romanesque, Renaissance and Baroque styles.
The Palau Gate features a gentle Romanesque arch decorated with intricate ornaments. The Gothic Apostles’ Door, facing Plaça de la Verge, features limestone sculptures of six apostles on delicately carved columns.
The 18th-century Baroque Iron Gate, with its flamboyant sculptures, wouldn’t look out of place in Italy.
Inside, the cathedral houses a 1st-century chalice with Arabic inscriptions that many believe is the Holy Grail. It sits in a peaceful chapel with an exquisite alabaster altar. Several popes have used this chalice, including Pope Benedict XVI.
Opening hours: Valencia Cathedral is open daily. It is not open to visitors on Sunday mornings.
Admission fee applies. This includes an audioguide.
Address: Plaza de la Almoina, s / n, 46003 Valencia
3. Spain’s answer to the Sistine Chapel
The Church of San Nicolás and San Pedro Mártir is one of Valencia’s finest buildings. Its richly frescoed ceiling has earned it comparisons to the Sistine Chapel.
As one of the city’s first parish churches, it deserves more than a quick look.
Opening hours: The Church of San Nicolás is open year-round. Opening hours vary by day and season. It is not open to visitors on Mondays.
Admission fee applies. This includes an audioguide.
Address: Caballeros 35; 46001 – València
4. A UNESCO World Heritage trading hall
La Lonja de la Seda (Silk Exchange) earned UNESCO status as an outstanding example of civic Gothic architecture. Built between 1482 and 1533, this group of buildings served as the centre of commerce, primarily silk trading.
The magnificent Trading Hall reflects Valencia’s power and wealth during the 15th and 16th centuries. Eight spiral columns open up like palm trees against a ceiling originally painted with stars to represent trading paradise.
Opening hours: La Lonja de la Seda is open year-round from 10 am to 7 pm; Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm.
Admission fee: The ticket price is modest. Free entry on Sundays and public holidays.
Address: Lonja, 2 – 46001 – València
5. Medieval gates with stellar views
The Serranos Towers formed the main entrance to Valencia from the north. Built as a fortress in the late 14th century, these towers formed part of the city’s defensive walls.
The walls are long gone, but two gates survive: Torres de Serranos and Torres de Quart to the west. Climb to the top for excellent views over the medieval city and the Jardines del Turia below.
Opening hours: Open daily. Check times here.
Admission fee: The ticket price is modest. Free entry on Sundays and public holidays.
Address: Pl. Dels Furs, s / n. 46001 Valencia
6. The river that became a garden
The River Turia once flowed through central Valencia. After a catastrophic flood in 1957 killed dozens, the city diverted the river to the outskirts and converted the former riverbed into a 9km park.
Today, the Turia Gardens is one of Spain’s largest urban parks and a favourite with locals. Eighteen bridges cross the green space, connecting different parts of the city.
7. Futuristic architecture in a former river
At the far end of the Turia Gardens is the poster child of modern architecture in Valencia, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences). Local architect Santiago Calatrava designed this complex of white buildings that look like they’ve landed from another planet. Construction costs spiralled to €1 billion, four times over budget.
The complex houses Europe’s largest aquarium (Oceanogràfic), an IMAX cinema (Hemisfèric), an interactive science museum, an opera house and a gardened esplanade with indigenous plants.
Whether it’s worth the astronomical construction cost is for you to decide, but it’s certainly striking
Admission fees & opening hours: Whilst it is free to walk around the City of Arts and Sciences and to visit L’Umbracle, the Hemisfèric, Science Museum and Oceanogràfic attract an entrance fee. More information about ticket prices and opening times is here.
Address: Av. Professor López Piñero (Historiador de la Medicina), 7 46013 – Valencia
How to get to the City of Arts and Sciences: Catch the frequent bus #95 from the Serranos Gates. The journey time is around 20 minutes.
8. Two magnificent markets
Valencia has two exceptional markets, both architectural gems.
Mercado Central (Central Market) is the best-known and is the result of a countrywide architecture competition in the early 1900s. Its vast space, maximised by its sixteen-sided structure, is home to a myriad of stalls and restaurants.
But you shouldn’t miss Mercado Colon. Designed by Francisco Mora Berenguer and opened in 1912, it’s a fabulous example of Valencian Art Nouveau. If you’ve visited the Sagrada Família or any of Gaudí’s other buildings in Barcelona, many features will look familiar.
9. One of Europe’s most beautiful train stations
Even if you don’t arrive by train, visit Estación del Norte. Built between 1906 and 1917 by Valencian architect Demetrio Ribes, this Art Nouveau masterpiece features beautiful ceramic tiles and mosaics inside and out. The ticket office alone is worth the detour.
10. Street art in El Carmen Quarter
The El Carmen quarter of the old city is Valencia’s street art hub. Artists like Julieta XLF, Escif (dubbed the Spanish Banksy) and Deih have created colourful and often provocative murals throughout the neighbourhood.
11. It’s the home of paella
Valencia is the birthplace of paella. Originally a lunchtime meal for farmers and farm labourers, this rice dish has become the face of Spanish cuisine worldwide.
Most tourists don’t know that traditional Valencian paella contains no seafood. Instead, it has chicken, rabbit and beans. Valencia’s locally grown rice tastes especially good thanks to the minerals in the water.
Don’t leave without trying it.
12. Affordable, safe and sunny
Valencia offers something increasingly rare: a major European city that won’t drain your wallet.
Accommodation is plentiful and reasonably priced. Many restaurants serve menu del dia (lunch deals) from 1:30 to 4 pm, typically including a drink, bread, starter, main course and dessert or coffee for around €12-15.
The city is also one of Spain’s safest, making it a particularly good place for solo travellers. Use common sense, watch your belongings and share your itinerary with someone back home, and you should have no problems.
The climate doesn’t hurt either. With over 300 days of sunshine annually, little rain and mild winters, you’re likely to enjoy clear blue skies any time of year.
Getting Around Valencia
Most tourist areas, including the old city, are easily walkable. You’ll mainly need public transport to get to the airport and to the City of Arts and Sciences.
- Metro: Useful for airport transfers and travelling between neighbourhoods. Lines 3 and 5 will take you directly from the airport to the city centre
- Bus: Catch #95 from Serranos Gates to reach the City of Arts and Sciences.
- Hop-on-hop-off bus: Choose 24 or 48-hour tickets covering 17 stops. Book your ticket here.
- Bike rental: Popular option for exploring the city. Book a 3-hour guided bike tour here.
Guided Tours Worth Considering
I joined a two-hour walking tour during my visit, which helped me get oriented quickly. Tours are particularly useful if you are going it alone, especially as a first-time solo traveller, as they are excellent ways to meet people whilst travelling.
I use GetYourGuide to find and book activities. Their extensive selection and generous cancellation policy make planning easy.
- Valencia walking tour: Two-hour guided walk covering the main attractions mentioned in this guide. Book here.
- Old Town tour with wine and tapas: Includes exclusive access to an 11th-century monument where you’ll feast on a 10-course tapas meal with regional wines. Book here.
- Tuk-tuk tour: Fun way to see sights outside the Old Town, including Malvarrosa Beach and the City of Arts and Sciences. Book here.
Is the Valencia Tourist Card Worth it?
The Valencia Tourist Card offers free public transport plus complimentary entry or discounts at key attractions and restaurants. Valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours, prices start from €17.
Based on what I did during my visit, it wouldn’t have been worth it. But if you’re planning to visit multiple paid attractions, run the numbers. It might save you money.
My Onward Journey
I flew into Valencia, spent three nights there, then travelled by train to Tarragona and Barcelona to catch a Mediterranean cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line. Valencia makes an excellent addition to any Spain itinerary.
Happy travels!
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.