Valencia sits on Spain’s east coast, where the Turia River once ran into the Mediterranean. It is a city of contrasts. White futuristic buildings stand near Gothic towers. Narrow lanes open into busy squares. Markets overflow with sound and colour. Beaches stretch out flat and golden. The air often carries the smell of oranges. Valencia moves at its own rhythm, calm in some corners and loud in others. Visitors find history, festivals, food, and open space. Here are fifteen things to do in Valencia that show the city’s many sides.
1. City of Arts and Sciences
The City of Arts and Sciences is spread along the old riverbed. The buildings are wide, curved and white. They look like shells and bones from a distance. The shapes are magnified by pools of water that reflect them. The Science Museum occupies multiple floors. Children can climb, push buttons and touch screens. The Hemisferic project films onto a giant dome. Oceanografic is Europe’s largest aquarium. The Oceanografic is the largest aquarium in Europe.
The open space outside is an important part of the experience. Couples take pictures by the pool, while students and joggers sit at the edge with their notebooks. The sun blinds you at midday when it hits the walls. The lights shine against the water at night. The City of Arts and Sciences is less like a building and more like a city within a city.
2. Valencia Cathedral
It is located in the Old Quarter. The walls of the cathedral are made up of heavy stones, patterned in different styles. Romanesque doors on both sides. Gothic towers, on the other hand. Baroque decoration was added later. Mix shows a long history. The nave is large and tall. The windows in the high ceilings let light into the nave. Gold shines from the altars. Candles flicker on carved stones. The air is cool and filled with the scent of dust and wax.
The cup, also known as the Holy Grail, is kept in one chapel. The relic, a simple dark stone with handles and a few holes, is surrounded by centuries of beliefs. Another part of your visit is the Miguelete Tower. The spiral staircase is narrow and worn. It is a tiring climb. The view is breathtaking. Rooftops are visible below, along with gardens that cut through the city and the ocean far away.
3. Central Market
Central Market is a place of colour, noise and smell. The building is made of iron and glass and is bright and spacious. There are hundreds of stands inside. Vendors shout out prices. Call-backs from customers are common. Crates slide across the floor. Oranges, garlic and fish on ice are all in the air. Ham is stacked in rows. Spices are piled. Fruit stacked in piles. Red and glossy tomatoes. Lemons piled up. Sweet-smelling melons, cut in half.
Locals are quick with their baskets and buy for the day. Tourists take their time, sampling cheese and drinking fresh juice. A man slices thin jamon iberico. A woman pours olive oil into tiny cups. The noise never stops. The hall is filled with voices, laughter, and footsteps. It is not just for food. Valencians live here every day.
4. Turia Gardens
Turia Gardens stretches where the river used to flow. The water was diverted after the flood, and the bed turned green. It runs through the city like a ribbon. Nine kilometres of paths are available. Families walk under trees, while cyclists zoom by. Children have fun in sculpture-shaped playgrounds. Couples rest on benches shaded by palms. Some bridges are old with carvings, and others are modern.
The gardens are a link between museums, sports fields and concert halls. Orange blossoms fill the air in spring. Shade softens the summer heat. The park is alive at night, with the lights illuminating the paths. Turia Gardens is not just a park. The Turia Gardens are the spine of the city.
5. La Lonja de la Seda
The Silk Exchange or La Lonja de la Seda shows the wealth and splendour of Valencia during its golden age. From the outside, this building looks like it’s a fortress. But inside is one of Valencia’s most beautiful rooms. The columns twist up like ropes to support the vaulted ceiling. The stone is cool and smooth. The space is vast and calm. The light is bright and colourful. Orange trees are planted in a courtyard. The stone walls are softened by their shade and fragrance. Merchants used to gather here for silk trading and sign contracts that would shape fortunes. La Lonja retains that importance. It is a reminder that trade, money and power made Valencia an important city centuries ago.
6. Plaza de la Virgen
The old town is home to the Plaza de la Virgen. On one side, the cathedral is located. Nearby, the pink and curvy Basilica of the Virgin is visible. The Palace of the Generalitat is a tall, formal building. A fountain in the middle pours water out of statues of men with jars. Steps and voices are mixed with the sound. Cafés have spread tables all over the square. The square changes as people sit with their coffee or wine. Lamps glow yellow at night against stone walls. The crowds are in all directions. It is a place where people live and work.
7. Torres de Serranos
Torres de Serranos mark the edge of the old city. Two stone towers once guarded this gate. They are large and heavy with rough walls. It takes a lot of effort to climb them. The steps are steep and wind inside the towers. The rooftops of Valencia are wide at the top. Turia Gardens are below. The Mediterranean shimmers beyond them. Originally, the towers were prisons. The towers also welcomed royals through their gates. They are now a part of history and a reminder of walls long gone.
8. Malvarrosa Beach
Malvarrosa Beach is flat and long. The golden sand is wide and long, allowing for a large crowd to enjoy the beach without feeling crowded. The Mediterranean waves are low and even. Behind the beach, there is a promenade. The path is lined with palm trees. The restaurants face the sea, and the aroma of paella and saffron is strong. Families stroll slowly, and kids dig in the sand. The evenings are glowing in summer. The sky is orange and pink. The sound of the waves is constant and soft. People remain on the sand well into the night. Malvarrosa, where Valencia meets the calm and open sea, is located.
9. Oceanographic
Oceanografic is Europe’s largest aquarium. The Oceanografic is a part of the City of Arts and Sciences, but it stands on its own. Glass tunnels allow visitors to see sharks and rays from below. Dolphins leap in pools during shows. Penguins gather on icy stones. Tropical fish are a riot of vibrant colours. You can experience everything from Arctic chill to coral reef heat all in one trip. Water sounds follow everywhere. The light bends in the tanks. It is blue and moving. Children point at the fish that flash past as they press their faces against the glass. Oceanografic is much more than just an aquarium. The Oceanografic is the ocean broken up and gathered under one roof.
10. Fallas Museum
Valencia burns every March. Las Fallas fills the city with sculptures as tall as houses. They are bright, funny, sharp, and strange. Most burn in flames at the end, but one figure is saved each year. The Fallas Museum holds these survivors. Decades of figures line the rooms. Some mock politics. Others exaggerate daily life. Many are playful, colourful, and bold. Walking through the museum is like walking through the history of Valencia’s fire. Each piece shows the city’s humour, anger, or fantasy. The festival may last a week, but the museum keeps it alive year-round.
11. Bioparc Valencia
Bioparc looks different from a normal zoo. Barriers are hidden. Rocks, water, and trees divide spaces instead of cages. Visitors walk paths through habitats. Giraffes stand tall on open plains. Lions sleep in the heat. Hippos move through water, only their eyes showing. Birds fly free overhead, calling through the trees. The design makes the visitor feel close. No bars, no fences in view. Just a space where animals move as they would in the wild. Bioparc blends nature and city, creating something in between.
12. El Carmen District
El Carmen is old and young. The narrow medieval streets twist between the walls. Murals cover entire buildings. Graffiti is found on shutters and doorways. The district is quiet during the day. Cafés open slowly. Tourists use maps to navigate. Cats sleep in doorways. At night, El Carmen comes alive. The bars open, the music spills out into the streets, and voices are raised. The crowds fill the alleys and streets until dawn. The district is a mix of rawness, life and restlessness.
13. Albufera Natural Park
Albufera is a lagoon south of the city, surrounded by fields of rice. Water and reeds fill the air. Birds are constantly calling, filling the silence with sound. Boats slowly move across the lake. The water reflects the sky. The surface of the water glows gold and orange at sunset. The view is calm and wide. Paella, Valencia’s most popular dish, is made from the rice fields surrounding Albufera. It is obvious that food and land are linked. Albufera is a natural area of Valencia that is close to the city but away from its noise.
14. Plaza del Ayuntamiento
Plaza del Ayuntamiento is large and busy. City Hall is on one side and the Post Office, with its ornately shaped tower, on the other. A fountain sprays in the middle. In bright colours, flowers surround it. Around the edge, traffic moves quickly, with buses stopping, cars honking, and people crossing. Noise is constant. During Las Fallas, the square becomes the centre of firecrackers and fireworks. During normal days, it’s less dramatic, but still alive.
15. Ruzafa District
Valencia’s creative district is Ruzafa. Bright colours like yellow, pink, and red paint the walls, while small shops, cafés, and galleries line the streets. The market is open in the morning with fresh fruit, vegetables and fish. In the afternoon, people are sitting on terraces drinking coffee. The area changes at night. The area transforms at night. Bars are lit up, music is played, and people fill the streets.
The air is filled with the smell of spices and fried sardines. Open doors blend conversations with the sounds of guitars. Ruzafa is young, restless and artistic. She shows another side to Valencia.
Useful Tips for Valencia
1. Rent a Valenbisi bike to explore the city — it’s the local way to get around.
2. Visit the Central Market early to beat the crowds and grab fresh snacks.
3. Skip the paella at dinner — locals eat it at lunch when it’s freshly made.
4. Walk or bike the Turia Gardens — it’s a 9km green oasis through the city.
5. Try horchata with fartons in Alboraya — it’s where the good stuff comes from.
6. Don’t miss the sunset at La Albufera — take a boat ride if you can.
7. Sundays are quiet — plan ahead since many shops and restaurants close.
8. Get a Valencia Tourist Card for free transport and discounts on attractions.
9. Bring cash for smaller cafes and market stalls — not everywhere takes cards.
10. If you’re here during Las Fallas (March), expect fireworks… all day and night.
Conclusion
Valencia is not just one thing, but many. Old stone towers and modern white buildings coexist. Daily life is shown in the markets, beaches, and plazas. Festivals are a celebration of fire and music. Parks and gardens provide a tranquil space.
The fifteen things to do in Valencia that make up the whole picture are only a part. You can get the rest by walking slowly and tasting, hearing, and feeling orange blossoms and light in the air.
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