What to do in Valencia? 16 things you should not miss
Are you planning to visit the city and still unsure what to do in Valencia? Check out these 16 must-do things
INDEX:
What to do in Valencia? 16 things you should not miss
1. Enter the city through the Serranos Towers
2. To take pictures of Plaza de la Virgen’s fountain
3. Be amazed by the Basilica De Nuestra Señora De Los Desamparados
4. Visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria and go up to the Miguelete
5. Eating a fartón with a fresh horchata at Horchatería de Santa Catalina
6. Counting the steps of Santa Catalina’s Tower
7. Visiting the Marqués of Dos Aguas Palace
8. Walking around the Town Hall Square
9. Travel back in time inside the North Station
10. Enjoy the gastronomy of Valencia in the Central Market
11. Wonder with the columns of Lonja de la Seda
12. Visiting the City of Arts and Sciences
13. Learning about marine wildlife at the Oceanogràfic
14. Spending the day at Malvarrosa Beach
15. Eating one paella in one of the best restaurants in Valencia
Valencia is one of the most important cities in Spain. It is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, making it one of the most dynamic cities in the country. Gastronomy, culture, history, nature? Whatever your tourist interests are, Valencia will satisfy them. Although it is the cradle of paella, it is much more than this delicious dish. Still don’t know what to do in Valencia? Take note because these are the 16 plans that you can’t miss!
So what to do in Valencia at first? Enter through its front door!
Besides defending the city against possible sieges and attacks, among its many uses, it was a prison for nobles and knights. That was the reason why they survived the dismantling of the walls. After many reforms and restorations, they are today a museum and can be visited. You can even go to the top of the towers to contemplate the city.
Now you know. You can’t leave Valencia without passing through its walls!
To take pictures of Plaza de la Virgen’s fountain
In addition, in the center of the Plaza de la Virgen, you will find an imposing fountain with a bronze sculpture reproducing the Turia River. Its representation style is evocative of how Romans imagined their god Neptune. That is not surprising since the origin of the square dates back to the forum of Roman times.
Visiting it is to contemplate one of the most historical places in the city. For this reason, if someone asks me what to do in Valencia, I will ask that this is one of the most important things.
Be amazed by the Basilica De Nuestra Señora De Los Desamparados
Although from the outside, it may not be particularly striking. Don’t be fooled! Its interior is an artistic treasure worth visiting. Once inside, you will admire its rich decoration: statues, marble, and paintings. But, in my opinion, the most remarkable are the frescoes of its dome, which are full of symbolism and intend to exalt the Celestial Glory. It has so many details that you could spend hours contemplating it!
If you are still unsure what to do in Valencia, this is one of the must-see places. It’s worth it!
Enter the Cathedral of Santa Maria and go up the Miguelete. Indispensable things to do in Valencia
The interior contains some marvels like the Holy Chalice, supposedly the one used by Jesus Christ during the Last Supper. Also worth seeing are the Renaissance frescoes of the High Altar, rediscovered just a few years ago, depicting 12 angels playing musical instruments. Therefore, entering the cathedral is a must on this list of things to do in Valencia.
Finally, you can not miss the opportunity to visit the Miguelete, the cathedral’s bell tower. It is a 70 meters high tower with a spiral staircase of more than 200 steps. If you love panoramic views, it is a fantastic option to admire the city from a privileged point.
Eat a fartón with a fresh horchata at Horchatería Santa Catalina
On the one hand, we are talking about one of the oldest horchaterias in the city. Though it is so old that nobody knows the exact year of its foundation, we have evidence that it has two centuries of history. With such a long experience, it is not surprising that it is considered one of the best horchaterias in Valencia.
On the other hand, its decoration transforms it into a unique place since visiting it is like traveling back in time. Inside you will find a combination of modernist and bohemian elements. But if there is something that stands out is its ceramics of Manises, a type of traditional Valencian tile. All this gives it a particular atmosphere!
Whether to try typical Valencian products such as horchata or fartóns or to admire its decoration, Horchatería Santa Catalina is a place you cannot miss!
Counting the steps of the Santa Catalina Tower
In addition, a peculiar event in the history of its construction paralyzed it for a long time. The architect did not build a staircase inside the tower claiming that the contract did not include it. For this reason, its winding staircase is much more modern than the rest of the building. You learn something new every day, don’t you?
However, if you are not satisfied just observing it from the street, you can also go up to marvel at the view of the city. Inside you will have to face more than a hundred steps, but everyone who walks up says it’s worth it. So, if you are passionate about panoramic views, going up the Santa Catalina Tower is something to do in Valencia! I bet you will love it!
Visit the Marqués of Dos Aguas Palace, the most beautiful one to see in Valencia
Today, you can visit the building because it houses the National Museum of Ceramics. And it doesn’t matter very much whether you are a lover of this type of art. Contemplating the splendid interior of the Marqués of Dos Aguas Palace is well worth it! Once inside, you will find shiny blue floors, walls perfectly upholstered with fabrics, or halls still sporting their original decoration. There is also a collection of 18th-century carriages.
Visiting this building is like traveling back in time! For all these reasons, we consider visiting the Marqués of Dos Aguas Palace one of the most important things to do in Valencia.
Walking around Town Hall Square is something you have to do in Valencia
In addition, in the center of the square, you will find a large circular fountain and landscaped areas. This part of the city is one of the most emblematic places of the Fallas because the famous Mascletá is performed there. In addition, numerous flower kiosks in this square provide a touch of color to the ambiance.
Town Hall Square is one of our favorite places to stroll around at night!
Travel back in time inside the North Station
In addition, due to the intense bombing that the city suffered during the Spanish Civil War, it has an air raid shelter that is open to visitors today.
More things to do in Valencia being a foodie? Enjoy the gastronomy at the Central Market!
Although many people visit it to admire its architecture, many more do it to enjoy Valencian gastronomy. Thanks to its 300 stands, it is considered the most important European market for fresh foods. In addition to buying meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables, you will find gourmet stores, international products, and stalls specializing in wines, beers, and canned food.
And as if all this were not enough, the Central Market of Valencia has managed to reinvent itself. In recent years small stands offering food have started to appear, so it is not unusual to meet friends to have some tapas at the market. For all these reasons, more and more people know it as “The Cathedral of the Senses.” So, if you are a true foodie, a visit to the Central Market is one of the things you have to do in Valencia.
Wonder with the columns of Lonja de la Seda
Inside you will find several differentiated spaces. On the one hand, we were amazed by the garden called Patio de los Naranjos, as it is a quiet place where you will find several sculptural details, trees, flowers, and a central fountain that will help you relax while you take a break. On the other hand, the column room is a monumental space about 17 meters high with helical columns that hold a series of domes. All this makes Lonja de la Seda one of the most Instagrammable places to see in Valencia.
Visiting the City of Arts and Sciences
If you think all this exudes glamour, wait until you see all these buildings at night! Why? Because when the lights are on, the reflections on the water create an optical illusion like no other – we’re sure you’ll love it!
Learning about marine wildlife at the Oceanogràfic
As you have read in the previous section, Oceanogràfic is an open-air marine park where different habitats of the world are represented in an area of around 110,000 m2. That makes it the largest aquarium in Europe and one of the biggest in the world. Dive in it and discover the oceans’ secrets as you walk under sharks in the longest underwater tunnel on the continent.
As if that wasn’t enough, Oceanogràfic offers shows where the animals are the stars, different food outlets, souvenir shops, and even an underwater restaurant. As you can imagine, it’s a visit that the whole family will enjoy. So, this is one of the very best things to do in Valencia, without a doubt.
Don’t you know what to do in Valencia? Spend the day at Malvarrosa Beach!
It doesn’t matter if you want to enjoy a swim, a stroll, or eat an ice cream looking at the sea. Visiting Malvarrosa Beach is one of the things you must do in Valencia!
Eating a paella in one of Valencia’s best restaurants
Although there are many restaurants where you can try excellent paellas in Valencia, if you search on Google, the most prominent ones will surely be La Alquería del Pou and Casa Carmela. And no surprise! We have been lucky enough to try both, and now, we understand why both have the best ratings in the city. So, if eating a Valencian paella is on your list of things to do in Valencia, you should consider these two restaurants.
Get away from the city at La Albufera
This National Park offers many activities: biking or hiking trails, boat rides, wildlife observation points, etc. Even guided tours are available on tourist buses. There are also numerous villages in the surrounding area where you can go to enjoy the local gastronomy. There is something for everyone! It is undoubtedly one of the best places to relax and disconnect from the city.
As you can see, the list of things to see and do in Valencia is very long. But it could be much longer! Although its historical center is not too big, this city has a lot to offer: nature, history, architecture, nightlife, cultural tourism, gastronomy, etc. In this list, we just numbered the things we considered the most relevant to do in valencia. But if you know the city like the back of your hand, maybe you could suggest many more. What else would you recommend us to do in Valencia? Write it in the comments. We are eager to hear your ideas!
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