Valencia
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At a glance
- Country
- Spain
- Region
- Valencian Community
- Population
- 800,000
- Best time to go
- March to June, September to October
- Main airport
- Valencia (VLC)
- Coordinates
- 39.47°N, 0.38°W
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Overview
Valencia is Spain's third city, a sunny Mediterranean port with a medieval old town, a long sandy beach and some of the most daring modern architecture in Europe. After floods in the 1950s, the river Turia was diverted and its old bed became a nine-kilometre park.
This is the home of paella, and the rice fields of the Albufera lagoon lie just south of the city. Come for a relaxed mix of culture, food and beach.
Things to see
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Photo: Choinowski, CC BY-SA 4.0 City of Arts and Sciences
Santiago Calatrava's gleaming white complex holds a science museum, an opera house and Europe's largest aquarium.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Fernando Pascullo, CC BY-SA 4.0 Valencia Cathedral
A mix of Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque styles; climb the Miguelete bell tower for views over the old town.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 Central Market
A soaring Modernista market hall filled with stalls of seafood, ham, fruit and spices.
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Photo: Felivet, Public domain La Lonja de la Seda
The old silk exchange, a UNESCO-listed Gothic hall with spiralling columns like palm trees.
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Photo: Kent Wang, CC BY-SA 2.0 Turia Gardens
A green ribbon of paths, orange trees and sports fields winding through the city in the old riverbed.
Things to do
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Photo: Lydia Manzanares Borreguero, CC BY-SA 4.0 Paella in the Albufera
Take a boat on the lagoon and eat paella valenciana in the village of El Palmar, where it is a local passion.
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Photo: Photocapy, CC BY-SA 2.0 Horchata and fartons
Try this chilled tiger nut drink with long sugary pastries for dunking, a Valencian afternoon ritual.
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Photo: Francesc Fort, CC BY-SA 4.0 Las Fallas
In March, the city fills with giant satirical sculptures that are burned on the final night amid fireworks.
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Photo: Manuel Martín Vicente from Spain, CC BY 2.0 Malvarrosa beach
A wide city beach lined with seafood restaurants, a short tram ride from the centre.
Where to stay
Ciutat Vella
The historic centre, walkable to the cathedral, markets and tapas bars.
Hotels in Ciutat VellaRuzafa
Lively and creative, with independent cafés, restaurants and nightlife.
Hotels in RuzafaEl Cabanyal
An old fishermen's quarter by the beach, with tiled houses and a relaxed pace.
Hotels in El Cabanyal
Getting around
Walk or cycle the centre and the Turia Gardens, and use the metro and tram for the port and beaches.
Metro lines 3 and 5 run from the airport to the city centre in about 20 minutes, and high-speed trains from Madrid take around two hours.
When to go
Spring and autumn are warm without the summer crowds. July and August are hot and humid, March brings Las Fallas, and winters are mild and often sunny.
Plan your trip to Valencia
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.