Things to Do in Valencia: 17 Must-See Attractions

What Do You Absolutely Have to See in Valencia?

Valencia is really easy to get around. You can explore the entire old town on foot in a single day. Particularly beautiful is the northern old-town neighborhood of El Carmen, where you’ll find many of the best restaurants and cafés in Valencia, as well as small shops and plenty of street art.

We also loved the neighborhood of Ruzafa with its colorful facades and many hip bars, restaurants, and shops. You could call it Valencia’s hipster neighborhood. Ruzafa borders the old town directly to the southwest.

Also worth exploring is the Jardín del Turia — a 9-kilometer-long green belt that winds through the city in a former riverbed. From the old town, a roughly 20-minute walk through this very park brings you to the ultra-modern and equally impressive Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències.

If you only want to see the top highlights in Valencia, two to three days are enough. But it’s well worth staying longer, as there’s still so much more to see and experience.

Absolute must-sees in Valencia:

• The old town
• Valencia Cathedral
• Mercat Central
• Jardín del Turia
• Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències
• Street art in El Carmen
• The trendy neighborhood of Ruzafa

Historic Valencia: Sights in the Old Town

Valencia’s old town is a sight in itself. Every square and every little alley is simply worth seeing, and we’d recommend just letting yourself wander.

That said, there are a few standouts we especially want you to check out.

Valencia Cathedral and El Micalet

Valencia Cathedral is one of the most striking buildings in the old town and, for us, not to be missed. Unlike, say, the Cathedral of Seville, Valencia’s cathedral isn’t particularly large.

Still, it’s seriously impressive from the outside, and a visit inside is absolutely worthwhile — because there’s a real highlight waiting for you in there: the Holy Grail!

Well, not entirely certain, since nobody really knows for sure what the Holy Grail actually is. There are various theories about that.

What’s relatively certain, though, is that the chalice on display in Valencia Cathedral was used by Jesus himself at the Last Supper. That’s already quite a remarkable thing to see.

It’s also well worth climbing the bell tower El Micalet. It’s quite a workout, but you’ll be rewarded with a stunning panorama over Valencia’s old town.

Mercat Central

You absolutely cannot miss the grand market hall on your visit to Valencia. This Art Nouveau market hall opened in 1928 and is truly a gem.

Inside you’ll find over 300 vendor stalls selling fresh fish, meat, fruit, vegetables, and many other treats. Locals do most of their shopping here, but the lively market scene is fascinating for visitors too.

The market hall is open daily except Sundays from 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM. We recommend not going right before closing time, as many stalls are already packing up by then.

Lonja de la Seda

The Silk Exchange, Lonja de la Seda, is one of Valencia’s most important attractions and the city’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The 15th-century building is well worth seeing both from the outside and, especially, from the inside.

Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas

The Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas immediately catches your eye. You rarely see this much ornamentation and flourish on a single building — which is why the palace is considered one of the most important Baroque structures in all of Spain.

Inside you’ll find the National Museum of Ceramics.

Torres de Serranos

The Torres de Serranos date back to the 14th century and were once the gateways in the city wall surrounding the old town. Nothing remains of the wall, but the imposing towers still stand to this day.

You can climb all the way to the top and look out over the old town. The view is lovely, though not quite as impressive as from the bell tower El Micalet.

Estación del Norte

A train station as a tourist attraction? Sounds odd, but it really is one here. Valencia’s train station is a genuine beauty.

The facade in particular, and the Art Nouveau ticket hall, are truly lovely and definitely worth a quick visit.

Hipster Valencia: Alternative Highlights

Valencia isn’t just historically and classically beautiful. It also has its hip corners, which we actually enjoyed even more than the classic sights.

Street Art in El Carmen

El Carmen is part of Valencia’s old town. But this neighborhood in the northern part of the historic center is anything but old-fashioned. In its narrow lanes you’ll find lots of independent shops and boutiques, plus many great restaurants, cafés, and bars.

What really stands out is the abundance of street art. Around every corner, a new piece appears. We especially loved the combination of historic architecture and modern murals.

Ruzafa

Ruzafa is Valencia’s trendy hipster neighborhood, bordering the old quarter directly to the south.

During the day you can shop in one of the many small boutiques, grab a coffee, or simply admire the pretty buildings.

In the evening, Ruzafa gets livelier as the numerous restaurants and bars open their doors.

Also worth a visit is the Mercado de Ruzafa — the neighborhood’s own market hall. It has an even less touristy vibe than the well-known Mercat Central.

Mercado de Tapineria

The Mercado de Tapineria is actually not a real market. It’s made up of two small squares and a few side streets that form a kind of creative hub in the heart of the old town.

There are a few restaurants and cafés, as well as small shops and pop-up stores focused on design and fashion. In the evenings, concerts and other events often take place on the two squares.

A detour is definitely worth it.

Modern Valencia: A Contrast to the Old Town

Jardín del Turia

Running right through the middle of Valencia is a 9-kilometer-long green strip. It’s really cool, and the story behind it is fascinating too — the Jardín del Turia runs along a former riverbed.

Up until the 1960s, the Río Turia flowed through Valencia. In 1957, a devastating flood damaged thousands of buildings and killed 81 people. The decision was made to redirect the river. A highway was originally planned for the old riverbed, but thankfully those plans were never carried out.

In the 1980s, the former riverbed was finally transformed into a green space that is now one of the most important things to do in Valencia. A walk through the Río Turia is an absolute must when you visit.

Anyone traveling to Valencia with kids won’t be able to skip it anyway — there are so many great attractions for little ones in and around the Jardín del Turia.

At the southern end you’ll also find the futuristic Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, one of Valencia’s most iconic points of interest.

Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències

At the southern end of the Jardín del Turia lies the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències.

Being there feels a little like being on the set of a science fiction film. The contrast between the modern and futuristic structures and the historic old town really couldn’t be greater.

Even if the ultra-modern architecture seems a little alien at first glance, we really loved it. A stroll through the complex is definitely worthwhile, and visiting the individual attractions can be a lot of fun too.

Here’s what you’ll find at the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències:

• L’Oceanogràfic: The largest aquarium in Europe
• L’Hemisfèric: 3D cinema and planetarium
• Museu de les Ciències: Science museum, especially great for kids
• L’Umbracle: Photogenic green space
• Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía: Valencia’s opera house
• L`Agora: Event venue for concerts and events

L’Oceanogràfic deserves special mention — it’s the largest aquarium in Europe. You can buy tickets online and skip the lines.

Get tickets for the aquarium

Maritime Valencia: Highlights by the Water

One of Valencia’s biggest draws is its location right on the Mediterranean. In Valencia, you can perfectly combine a city trip with a beach vacation, or simply take a sightseeing day by the sea.

Valencia Harbor

The harbor is located in the southeastern part of the city. The container port is one of the largest in Europe, but for tourists, it’s the non-industrial part that’s most interesting.

Surrounding the futuristic America’s Cup Building is a harbor promenade that’s perfect for a stroll. You can admire the many yachts — some of them are truly outrageously large.

If you’d like to take a boat ride yourself, that’s absolutely an option. Catamaran tours are available and are well worth it.

Book a catamaran boat trip

Beaches in Valencia

One of the great advantages of Valencia as a travel destination is its location right on the sea. From the old town, it’s a short bus ride and you’re standing on a miles-long sandy beach. That’s pretty great.

Of course, these aren’t Caribbean dream beaches lined with palm trees — they’re typical city beaches. But hey, it’s the sea!

Hidden Valencia: The Offbeat Sights

To wrap things up, here are a few under-the-radar spots in Valencia that not every visitor has on their list.

The Cat House

As you walk through the El Carmen neighborhood, keep your eyes open and occasionally look down. You might just spot the cat house on your stroll.

The little house is set into a wall and makes for a charming photo opportunity. We didn’t actually see any cats, but we loved it all the same.

If you’d rather not hunt for it, we won’t keep you in suspense. You’ll find the cat house at Carrer del Museu 11.

The (not quite) narrowest house in Europe

It seems Valencia has a thing for small houses, because here you’ll also find what is supposedly the narrowest house in Europe: a mere 107 cm wide, but five stories tall.

The house is easy to miss. You’ll find it at Plaza Lope de Vega 8 in the old town.

Despite what you’ll read everywhere: it’s not actually the narrowest house in Europe. In Bregenz, Austria, there’s a house that is a mere 57 cm wide. The Valencia house doesn’t come close.

Plaza Redonda

Valencia has plenty of beautiful squares, and listing them all would go beyond the scope of this guide. But there’s one we want to highlight.

The Plaza Redonda is a perfectly circular square. Inside you’ll find restaurants and various stalls selling souvenirs and handicrafts. Definitely a very special spot!

Mestalla Stadium

Last but not least, a real highlight for soccer fans: the Mestalla stadium, home of FC Valencia! A stadium as a tourist attraction? Totally justified here — the Mestalla is one of the most beautiful and spectacular stadiums in Europe.

The stands are extremely steep, turning the 55,000-seat stadium into a true cauldron of atmosphere. If you’re lucky, FC Valencia will have a home game while you’re in town. Don’t miss it.

Tickets are available for nearly all games and are pretty easy to get — either at the FC Valencia fan shop in the city center or on the FC Valencia website.

We’d also highly recommend a stadium tour. You can even walk on the hallowed turf, explore the tunnels, and check out the trophies — experiencing the stadium from a completely different perspective.

Book the Mestalla stadium tour

Culinary Highlights in Valencia

Not a classic sight, but one of our personal favorites in Valencia: the food.

Valencia is the birthplace of paella. If you visit Valencia and don’t try paella, that’s on you. You won’t find a better one anywhere else.

Also very typical of the Valencia region is horchata, a sweetened tiger nut milk. It tastes pretty good and refreshing, though we actually liked it even more in Alicante.

You can get it at street stalls and in many cafés. One of the most well-known spots to drink horchata is the Orxateria Santa Catalina in the old town. The place is also seriously worth seeing for its colorful tiled interior.

And when you visit a bar in the evening, you should definitely try Agua de Valencia — a cocktail made from cava, vodka, gin, and orange juice. You can get it all over the city. But for the most authentic experience, drink it at Café Madrid in the old town, where the cocktail was invented in 1959.

City Tours in Valencia

Valencia is generally very easy to explore on your own. Sometimes, though, it’s great to be guided to the most beautiful spots by a local insider who can share some background along the way.

Here are some Valencia city tours we recommend:
Bike tour through Valencia: On this three-hour tour, you’ll see the most important sights by bicycle — the perfect way to get around Valencia.

Private tour through Valencia: On this tour you’ll be either on your own or with a small group, giving you the chance to help shape the itinerary.

Old town tour with wine and tapas: The sightseeing is followed by a well-deserved reward of tapas and wine. If that’s not a selling point!

Valencia tour by tuk-tuk: A truly unique way to explore the city — the tour even takes you all the way to the harbor and the beach.

Getting Around Valencia: Bus, Metro, Bike

Most of Valencia’s attractions can be easily explored on foot. The city is relatively compact, as is the old town. Even from the old town to the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències is only about 25 minutes on foot, through the beautiful Jardín del Turia.

Valencia is also very bike-friendly, with numerous rental stations throughout the city.

That said, for some routes it’s quite handy to use Valencia’s well-developed public transit system. There are several metro lines and many bus routes.

Valencia Tourist Card

If you want to keep things simple, we recommend the Valencia Tourist Card. The card is available with a validity of 24 hours (€15), 48 hours (€20), or 72 hours (€25). You can buy the Valencia Tourist Card online here.

With the card, you can use all buses and metro lines in Valencia, including the metro to the airport. You also get free admission to all state-run museums, plus many discounts at attractions, restaurants, and shops.

Our Hotel Tips for Valencia

We recommend staying in Valencia for at least two to three nights. To make sure you’re well taken care of at night, here are our best hotel picks for Valencia:

Our Verdict on Things to Do in Valencia

Those were our personal highlights and favorite spots in Valencia. We loved the city and had a great time wandering through its streets and neighborhoods.

Valencia isn’t the kind of city where you have to tick off one highlight after another, yet it’s absolutely worth visiting — for us, a perfect destination for a city break in Europe.