Spain · Region
Valencia
Valencia pairs a UNESCO-listed medieval old town with the swooping white futurism of the City of Arts and Sciences, all wrapped around the dry Turia riverbed turned nine-kilometre park. It's a city where paella was born, the beach is a tram-ride away, and Mediterranean light seems to make every plaza glow.
Top attractions
attraction Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias: Valencia Travel Guide
The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is Valencia's futuristic museum-and-park complex at the eastern end of the drained Turia riverbed, built by architects Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela.
attraction La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia: Travel Guide
La Lonja de la Seda, Valencia's UNESCO-listed former silk exchange, sits in Ciutat Vella at C/ de la Llotja, 2, right across from the Mercado Central.
attraction Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe: Valencia Travel Guide
The Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe is the striking ribbed-glass-and-concrete science museum anchoring Valencia's Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias — plan on 2–3 hours to cover its three levels of hands-on exhibits. 4.4★ (57,652 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
attraction Torres de Serranos: Valencia Travel Guide (4.6★)
Torres de Serranos is a 14th-century Gothic gate-tower guarding the old entrance to Valencia's medieval city, and it's worth an hour to climb the spiral stairs for the rooftop panorama over the Turia riverbed gardens and the old town's tiled domes. 4.6★ (50,473 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
Hidden gems
hidden gem Central Market of Valencia: Travel Guide (4.7★)
The Central Market of Valencia (Mercado Central) sits in Ciutat Vella on C/ de Palafox, across from the Lonja de la Seda, and it's open 7:30am–3pm Monday through Saturday, closed Sundays. 4.7★ (96,922 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
hidden gem El Micalet: Valencia Travel Guide (4.7★)
El Micalet is the Gothic octagonal bell tower of Valencia Cathedral, standing on Plaça de la Reina in the Ciutat Vella old town, and you can climb its spiral staircase of roughly 207 steps for a full view over the city's rooftops. 4.7★ (7,814 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
Festivals & events
event Medio Maratón Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich (Valencia Half Marathon): Dates, Tickets & Venue (Valencia)
Medio Maratón Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich (Valencia Half Marathon) in Valencia, Spain — October 25, 2026. What it is, when and where, and how to plan around it.
event MotoGP Valencia (Motul Grand Prix of the Valencian Community): Dates, Tickets & Venue (Valencia)
MotoGP Valencia (Motul Grand Prix of the Valencian Community) closes the 2026 MotoGP World Championship at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, near Cheste, on November 27-29, 2026.
event Valencia Marathon (Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Marathon): Dates, Tickets & Venue (Valencia)
The Valencia Marathon (Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Marathon) runs on Sunday, December 6, 2026, starting and finishing at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain.
Top-rated things to do in Valencia
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Where to stay in Valencia
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Plan your trip to Valencia
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Frequently asked questions about Valencia
How do I get to Valencia?
Most travellers fly into Valencia Airport (VLC), about 8km west of the centre in Manises, and take the Metrovalencia (Line 3 or 5) into the city in ~20 minutes. From elsewhere in Spain, AVE high-speed trains from Madrid arrive at the Joaquín Sorolla station, an easy ~10-minute walk (or short metro/bus hop) to the historic centre.
How many days should I spend in Valencia?
Plan on ~3-4 days to cover the old town, the City of Arts and Sciences, and a beach afternoon, or add a day or two for day trips along the coast.
What is Valencia known for?
Valencia pairs a UNESCO-listed medieval old town with the swooping white futurism of the City of Arts and Sciences, all wrapped around the dry Turia riverbed turned nine-kilometre park. It's a city where paella was born, the beach is a tram-ride away, and Mediterranean light seems to make every plaza glow.