Plan trips like this one. Open by request.Request access
Photo: Boris Dzhingarov, CC BY 2.0
Destinations / Spain

Valencia

Valencia (Valencia)

Futuristic architecture, paella and city beaches

foodbeachesarchitecturefamilies
Plan your trip to ValenciaSee the top 10
825,000Population
1.6 millionMetro area
Spanish, ValencianLanguage
EURCurrency
4 daysIdeal stay
$150-250Typical day

Valencia is Spain's third city, mixing a medieval old town with the white City of Arts and Sciences and a long sandy beach. It is the birthplace of paella. The old riverbed is now a huge green park.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. The City of Arts and Sciences is a futuristic complex of white buildings by Santiago Calatrava set in pools in the old riverbed. It holds a science museum, planetarium, opera house and aquarium.

    Half a dayTime needed
    about $8-57Cost
    recommendedBook ahead

    Grounds are free; 2026 tickets start at 7.20 EUR, Oceanografic from 41.80 EUR, combos from 31 EUR.

    Tip. Walk the outside for free; buy combined tickets if visiting several venues.
    Official siteSee on the map

  2. Valencia Cathedral mixes Romanesque, Gothic and baroque styles and holds a chalice venerated as the Holy Grail. Its Miguelete bell tower offers views over the old town.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $10-12Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry.

    Tip. Climb the tower in the morning before the heat.
    See on the map

  3. The Central Market is a modernist iron and glass hall with hundreds of stalls of fresh produce. It is one of the largest in Europe.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Go in the morning; it closes in the afternoon and on Sundays.
    Official siteSee on the map

  4. The Turia Gardens are a long park built in the old riverbed after a flood diverted the river. Cyclists and runners use its paths.

    2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Rent a bike and ride from the old town to the City of Arts and Sciences.
    See on the map

  5. La Lonja is a Gothic silk exchange with twisted columns, a UNESCO site. It shows the city's past wealth.

    45 minutesTime needed
    about $2-3Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry.

    Tip. Allow 30 minutes; entry is cheap.
    See on the map

  6. Malvarrosa is a wide sandy beach with a promenade and paella restaurants. It is reached by tram.

    Half a dayTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Eat paella at lunch, the traditional time.
    See on the map

  7. Albufera is a freshwater lagoon south of the city, surrounded by rice fields. It is the birthplace of paella.

    Half a dayTime needed
    about $5-10Cost
    noBook ahead

    Boat.

    Tip. Take a boat at sunset; about 30 minutes by bus.
    See on the map

  8. The Oceanografic is the largest aquarium in Europe, with marine life from all oceans. It is part of the City of Arts and Sciences.

    3 hoursTime needed
    about $48-57Cost
    recommendedBook ahead

    2026 general admission from 41.80 EUR; combos with the science museum from 49.80 EUR.

    Tip. Book online and allow half a day.
    Official siteSee on the map

  9. The Torres de Serranos are a medieval city gate. You can climb them.

    30 minutesTime needed
    about $2-3Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry.

    Tip. Good views over the gardens.
    See on the map

  10. Bioparc is a zoo designed without visible barriers, recreating African habitats. It is in the Turia Gardens.

    3 hoursTime needed
    about $25-30Cost
    recommendedBook ahead

    Entry.

    Tip. Book online.
    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access
Make it yours

Turn Valencia into your plan

Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.

Plan day by dayAdd any place here to a day of your trip, with times and costs.
Bookings from emailForward flight and hotel confirmations. They land in your trip.
Weather for your datesForecast and usual weather for your exact days, in your units.
Share with your peopleInvite family or friends, split costs, keep one plan.
Request access
Hodolog is open by request for now. Each request is reviewed.
Short on time?

Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Valencia in three days

Add the beach and Albufera.

  1. Valencia Cathedral and Miguelete1 hour · about $10-12
  2. Central Market1 hour · Free
  3. Turia Gardens2 hours · Free
  4. City of Arts and SciencesHalf a day · about $8-57
  5. La Lonja de la Seda45 minutes · about $2-3
  6. Malvarrosa BeachHalf a day · Free
  7. Albufera Natural ParkHalf a day · about $5-10
  8. Oceanografic3 hours · about $48-57
  9. Torres de Serranos30 minutes · about $2-3
  10. Bioparc3 hours · about $25-30
Beyond the city

Day trips

Xativa

Castle town.

37 mi · Train about 1 hour

Sagunto

Roman theater.

19 mi · Train about 30 minutes

Peniscola

Seaside town with a castle on a rock.

87 mi · Train and bus or car, about 2 hours

Albarracin

Beautiful medieval hill town in Teruel province.

124 mi · Car or tour, about 3 hours

Albufera Natural Park

Freshwater coastal lagoon surrounded by rice paddies, offering traditional wooden boat cruises and authentic village paella in El Palmar.

9 mi · EMT municipal bus line 24 or 25 from central Valencia in 35 minutes.

Xàtiva Castle

Historic twin fortress with thirty gates perched along the mountain ridge, home of the infamous Borgia family.

37 mi · Direct Renfe Cercanías commuter train C2 from Valencia in 50 minutes.

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: March to June and September to October. Warm and sunny without peak heat.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.4JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

56°F
Typical daily high
Average47°F
Rain1.2 in
About4 rainy days
Sun strength2.4 kWh/m²

Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Mar

Las Fallas

March 15 to 19

Giant figures burned in the streets with fireworks.

Mar

Semana Santa Marinera

Holy Week (March or April)

Processions in the seafront districts.

Aug

La Tomatina

Last Wednesday of August

A tomato fight in nearby Bunol, reached by train or bus.

Dec

Valencia Marathon

Early December

A popular and fast road race.

Oct

Valencia Boat Show

October

Major nautical exhibition held at La Marina de València, showcasing sailing yachts, watersports, and marine lifestyle.

Going on specific dates? A Hodolog trip shows the forecast and the usual weather for your exact days. Request access
Know before you go

At a glance

5/5
Safety

The US State Department rates Spain at Level 2 (increased caution) for terrorism and unrest; Valencia is safe; watch for pickpockets in crowded places.

5/5
Walkability

Flat and compact.

4/5
Public transport

Metro, tram and buses, paid with a card or contactless.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
123456

1. Ciutat Vella

$$$

Best for: first-timers

Old town.

2. Ruzafa

$$

Best for: foodies, nightlife

Trendy.

3. El Cabanyal

$$

Best for: beach lovers

Near the sea.

4. El Carmen

$$

Best for: couples, art lovers

Winding streets, street art and bars.

5. Malvarrosa and Cabanyal

$$

Best for: beach lovers, families

Beach days with a tram or metro link to the centre.

6. Near Joaquin Sorolla station

$

Best for: budget, rail travellers

Good transport links and lower prices.

Getting there and around

Main airportValencia Airport (VLC), 6 mi from the center
To the centerMetro lines 3 and 5 reach the center in about 25 minutes.
Around townWalk, cycle the Turia and use the metro.
Ride appsUber, Cabify, Bolt, FreeNow
Taste it

What to eat

Paella valenciana

Rice with chicken and rabbit.

Horchata

Tiger nut drink.

Agua de Valencia

Orange and cava cocktail.

Esgarraet

A salad of roasted red pepper and salt cod.

Fideua

A noodle version of paella, usually with seafood.

Good to know

PlugsType C and F, 230 V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingTipping is optional; round up or leave 5 to 10 percent for good service.
PaymentsCards and contactless work almost everywhere.
EtiquetteLunch is around 2 pm and dinner after 9 pm. Greet with buenos dias, and do not expect quick service.
  • Las Fallas in March is crowded and loud; book early.
  • Valencian and Spanish are both official.
  • Metro line 3 and 5 link the airport with the center.
  • Many shops close in the afternoon.
  • Real paella is a lunchtime dish, and restaurants that serve it at any hour or show photo menus are often tourist traps.
  • Shops close for siesta in the afternoon in smaller places and on Sundays.
  • Fallas time is noisy and books out hotels early.
  • Rent a bike for the Turia Gardens, but watch for bike lane etiquette.

A short history

Romans founded Valentia in 138 BC. Moors ruled for five centuries until James I took it in 1238. The 15th century was a golden age of silk trade. After a 1957 flood the river was diverted and its bed became the Turia Gardens.

Found your base? Add it to a trip with Hodolog.
Request access

Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Valencia