Viewpoints~£2
Serranos Towers
Ciutat Vella
A 14th-century Gothic city gate whose upper level gives a wide view of the old town.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Photographers
Tuesday–Sunday; closed Mondays
Valencia
Futuristic architecture, paella’s birthplace and a sunny city beach.
Plan your Valencia trip
- Flight + Hotel PackageRecommended Best option if you want the trip arranged together. View Packages Packages
- Hotels Prefer to book accommodation separately? View Hotels Hotels
- Flights Already have accommodation? View Flights Flights
- Things To Do Tours, attractions and experiences. View Activities Activities
Overview
Why go to Valencia
Valencia pairs a medieval old town with the gleaming City of Arts and Sciences, a huge riverbed park and a wide city beach. It is flatter, cheaper and easier to cycle than most Spanish cities, and paella was born on its doorstep.
- Where
- Valencian Community, Spain
- Recommended stay
- 3–4 nights
- Best time to go
- March–June and September–October; Las Fallas fills the city with fireworks in mid-March.
- Approx. daily budget
- £55–110 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
What does Valencia cost?
Full cost guide- Budget traveller£50–70a day
- Mid-range traveller£100–145a day
- Luxury traveller£200+a day
Approximate per person per day, including a share of a twin room, and excluding flights. Not live prices.
Things To Do
See all 28 Top picks in Valencia
Family~£35
Oceanogràfic
City of Arts and Sciences
Europe’s largest aquarium, with a walk-through underwater tunnel, dolphins and a huge shark tank.
- Suggested time: 4 hrs
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Families
Daily; hours vary by season
Must See~£22
City of Arts and Sciences
Ciutat de les Arts
A gleaming complex of white futuristic buildings holding an aquarium, science museum and opera house.
- Suggested time: 4 hrs
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Families · Culture lovers
Daily, roughly 10:00–19:00 (longer in summer)
Must See~£9
Valencia Cathedral and El Miguelete
Ciutat Vella
A cathedral of many styles with a climbable bell tower and views across the old town rooftops.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Photographers
Most days, roughly 10:00–18:30; limited hours Sundays
Hidden Gems
See all 9 Beyond the checklist
Hidden GemsFree
Ruzafa Neighbourhood
Ruzafa
A creative, walkable district of indie cafés, galleries and small bars, popular with locals for brunch and late nights.
- Suggested time: 2h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Nightlife fans · Food lovers
Open-air; venues busiest at weekends
Hidden Gems~£2
Quart Towers
Ciutat Vella
A twin-towered medieval gate still pocked with cannonball marks from the Napoleonic wars.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers · Photographers
Tuesday–Sunday; closed Mondays
Hidden Gems~£3
González Martí National Ceramics Museum
Ciutat Vella
A stunning baroque palace with an alabaster façade, filled with centuries of Valencian tiles and ceramics.
- Suggested time: 1h 15m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Tuesday–Saturday, plus Sunday mornings
Hidden Gems~£3
Valencia Botanical Garden
Turia
A calm, historic university garden with glasshouses, a ficus avenue and a Mediterranean collection.
- Suggested time: 1h 15m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples · Outdoor lovers
Daily; hours vary by season
Hotels
All 3 hotels Best-value hotels in Valencia
Well reviewed and fairly priced for what you get: not simply the cheapest.
Best ValueBest Mid-Range Hotel
Example listingHotel Turia Garden
Turia, Valencia
Excellent valueValue score 83 out of 100
Rated 8.5/10, about 14% below typical 4★ prices in Valencia, with a pool.
From £90 per night · check current availability
Best Location
Example listingCasa Naranja Boutique
Ciutat Vella, Valencia
Excellent valueValue score 81 out of 100
Rated 8.9/10, priced in line with similar 4★ hotels in Valencia, in a central location.
From £105 per night · check current availability
Best Budget Choice
Example listingMalvarrosa Beach Hotel
Malvarrosa, Valencia
Good valueValue score 63 out of 100
Rated 8.3/10, priced in line with similar 3★ hotels in Valencia, right by the beach.
From £70 per night · check current availability
Food & Restaurants
See all 9 Where to eat
Casa Montaña
A historic tavern in the port area, open since 1836, famous for its wine and preserved-seafood tapas.
Known for: Anchovies, tinned tuna belly, wine by the glass
About £14–30 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Horchatería Daniel
A well-known horchatería in Alboraya, the home of horchata, where you drink the chilled tiger-nut drink with fartons.
Known for: Horchata and fartons
Under about £14 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Families
Horchatería Santa Catalina
A beautiful tiled horchatería on Plaza Santa Catalina, open since 1836.
Known for: Horchata, chocolate and churros
Under about £14 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Families
Central Bar
A casual tapas bar by chef Ricard Camarena in the Mercado Central, built around market produce.
Known for: Market-driven tapas
About £14–30 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
A suggested Valencia itinerary
3 nights Couple
Valencia · Highlights
Valencia in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Valencia picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · City of Arts and Sciences, Oceanogràfic, Mercado de Colón, El Carmen Old Quarter Bars
- Day 2 · Albufera Natural Park Sunset Boat, Serranos Towers
- Day 3 · Turia Gardens, Valencia Botanical Garden, Alboraya Horchata Trip, Valencia Cathedral and El Miguelete
Plan Valencia your way
Tell us your dates, who’s travelling and what you enjoy. We’ll build a first draft you can edit.