There is so much to see and do in Valencia, that you could take a lifetime to experience it all. A great place to start is at the heart of the city, the fountain in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. In fact, this whole plaza is one of the most grand in all of Europe. You can spend hours just looking at all of the amazing buildings that encircle the plaza. At the far end is the grand mercado, a sure bet to visit, and at the other the train station north. Although the train station is under construction, it and the Plaza de Toros next to it are very worth a visit too.

As you’ll soon realize as your scroll down the page, Valencia is so chock full of stuff to do, to see, and to eat and drink, that it’s hard to get it all in during even a month, much less a lifetime.

A historic building illuminated with green lights at dusk, featuring a clock tower and ornate architectural details.
City square with palm trees, historic buildings, a fountain, and people walking.
People walking and cycling in a busy city square with tall, ornate buildings and blue sky, featuring a person in a bear costume in the foreground.
A large circular fountain with multiple water jets in a city square, surrounded by historic buildings, palm trees, and a partly cloudy sky.
Nighttime cityscape featuring the futuristic structures of the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain, with illuminated buildings and a dark sky.
A modern architectural structure with a blue sky, with a water feature in the foreground containing potted evergreen trees.

It all began with an idea. And several years later the Center of Arts and Sciences is one of the most amazing pieces of architecture in the world! It is so large and varied in its scope that it is impossible to put into words, except for maybe breathtaking and spectacular! From the science center with its amazing cutting edge video theatre to the open air arboretum and the center of arts, there is nothing like it.

You can easily access it by riding your bike or walking down the miles long green space that makes Valencia the top green city of the EU and constantly voted the most walkable city in the world. Just make sure to click here to get tickets to one of the many venues this incredible example of modern architecture has to offer. Oh, and at night the walkway up top becomes a rocking nightclub! Jeez!

It may sound strange, but Europe and especially Spain has some of the most beautiful and iconic train stations in the world. Not only that, but they are functional too, taking you quickly and securely to almost any city you want to go. The train station north in the center of Valencia is one such station, a must see, not only for its design and beauty, but also its location right next to the Plaza de Toros and at the top of the cities main town square. (more on that below)

In the travel section, you can read about all the ins and out of train travel in Spain, the good and the bad, and the not so bad. But for sightseeing, just check it out and perhaps have a cafe like all the locals do.

People sitting on colorful chairs and walking near a historic building with a carousel in front, under a partly cloudy sky.
People crossing a street with historic buildings, a crane, and blue sky in the background.
Group of people riding bicycles along a waterfront promenade with a fountain, palm trees, and a white pavilion in the background on a sunny day.
A giant dragon sculpture in a park, surrounded by trees and a walkway, with nearby roads visible in the background.
A park with a winding stream, palm trees, flowering bushes, and a paved walkway, with buildings visible in the background under a blue sky.

Speaking of the miles long green space, toward the middle is an area called Turia Gardens between the Ángel Custodio and Reino bridges. It’s big, I mean really big and weird with slides, steps and all sorts of cool things for kids big and small, young and old, to enjoy and marvel at. It is a gigantic replica of Gulliver from the book Gulliver’s Travels, for those old enough to remember. Spend a moment or an hour on your trip down the Green Space. You’ll never forget it…

Interior of a baroque church with ornate decorations, gold accents, and religious paintings, featuring large arches, chandeliers, and a small altar in the center.

Although I am not a particularly religious person, I do believe in a higher spirit as well as doing the right thing, just like Batman. No matter what your faith or beliefs, a visit to some of the most amazing and beautiful churches in the world is in order when you are in Valencia. The one shown is San Nicolas and is called the Sistine Chapel of Spain, and for good reason. You can spend hours just staring at the walls and ceiling, and then go visit a good chiropractor. With too many incredible churches to detail, just go to this webpage and check them all out.

BTW, you probably have figured out that Spain is as Catholic as the Pope. And although it’s no longer a Spanish Inquisition type of faith, it’s still going strong. Just saying…

Historical building with ornate architectural details, including decorative window frames and sculptures, on a city street with pedestrians and trees.
Luxurious hotel lobby with ornate gold and white decor, chandeliers, marble floors, and vintage-style seating arrangements.

The Museo Nacionla de Ceramica y Artes is one of our favorite buildings not only in Valencia but in all of Europe. Contrary to its name, the outside and inside are simply breathtaking. Situated on the tony edge of old town in the Extramurs neighborhood, this building is a must visit. The opening hours are a bit short, Tuesday thru Saturday between 10:00 and 14:00, and between 16:00 and 20:00. Sundays and public holidays between 10:00 and 14:00. You have to buy your 3 euro tickets at the front door. Right there is a great outside bar hosted by an upscale hotel that overlooks it all. Awesome in everyway.

In the Valencia old town as a beacon to fun and food stands the Mercado Central. It only has one amazing, awesome restaurant (read that section) but is worth just strolling through to check out the architecture, food booths and sample where you see fit. And drink too. It can get really busy and is only open until early afternoon, but it is a worthwhile event, even if like my wife there’s no chance of getting anything to take home to cook for dinner!

A busy outdoor plaza with people walking and sitting at tables, surrounded by historic buildings with detailed architectural features and a clear blue sky above.
Interior view of a bustling marketplace with a high, glass-domed ceiling supported by white metal arches, filled with shoppers and vendors.
Urban cityscape viewed from a window with brick framing, showing buildings, trees, and distant mountains under a clear blue sky.
People walking and sitting under a historic stone gate with two large arched openings, flanked by trees, with people visible through the arches and in the background.
A man standing on a stone and brick balcony overlooking a cityscape under a clear blue sky. A large flag with yellow and red stripes and a blue section with gold details is flying on a flagpole.

At the far edge of old town, there’s not only some great bars and restaurants that are very locale, but also the Torre de Quart which is the old city wall that still stands. It’s a bit of a walk, or you can drive/taxi right up to it for those so inclined. You buy the 2 euro ticket to enter, and once you find the entrance, you climb up some pretty steep stairs to get to one of the most amazing views of Valencia. Photos simply can’t do justice to the panoramic views of Valencia that you will see. You reward is a leisurely stroll back through old town. BTW, you can also bike there by going along the green space until you reach the cross road.

Thanks for the cards and letters, but I do realize I added too many pics and went over my borders for the “Fallas” festival that Valencia puts on for the first three weeks of March. Simply put, it is total madness, with street parties in tents erected in the city streets for drinking and eating parties for the local barrio groups that create the huge paper and wood Mascletas that are situated all over the city. Then on the last day they actually burn all of the Mascletas in what can only be called a pyromaniacs holiday! If you dare to go, make your reservations for everything, hotel, restaurants, viewing of the events, etc. way before hand, as the city gets packed. Lots of drunks, lots of fireworks thrown at you by hoodlums and unattended kids, and tons of fun!!! It’s like divorce, everyone should experience it at least once.

Colorful parade float with large, animated Asian-inspired characters and figures in traditional clothing, set against urban buildings under a clear blue sky.
Colorful sculpture of cartoonish characters including a chef, a person with a hammer, a large cactus, a person with glasses, and various imaginative creatures, displayed outdoors against a backdrop of buildings and leafless trees.
People dressed in traditional European costumes walking across a city street with a modern building and street signs in the background.
Colorful carnival or parade float featuring fantasy characters such as unicorns, mermaids, and other mythical creatures, with decorated buildings and festive lights in the background.
Nighttime view of historic stone church with a tall bell tower and ornate facade, surrounded by modern buildings and people walking on the street.
A busy city square with people sitting on benches, walking, and gathering. There are historic buildings, a church with a tall tower, and modern structures with palm trees lining the area. The sky is clear with a few clouds.
Interior view of a grand church or cathedral with high vaulted ceilings, ornate altar with religious artwork, and wooden pews facing the altar.

Located at the far end of the quaint Plaza de Reina is the El Micalet bell tower. For only 3 euros you can have the pleasure of walking up the 200 stairs to witness one of the best views in Valencia. The 360 degree viewpoint is well worth the effort, if not the reduction on your waistline from all the exercise. You should check to make sure that you will or more importantly will not be up top when they manually ring the church bells. It will really rock you, and not in a good way! The church is a separate admission fee but well worth it.

Nestled within the winding streets of the old town is one of our favorite plazas, the Plaza del la Virgen. Not just because it represents something that I lost long, long ago, but because the locale vibe and serenity of the beautiful Neptune fountain is awesome. Just sit on the steps of the church and chill, or better yet hit one of the many nearby restaurants for a drink, or three.

It’s important to note that all the restaurants and most of these local bars close from around 3PM until 8PM. I’m not sure why, but that’s just a Spanish thing. Pura Vida!

A lively city square with a large crowd of people, a stone fountain, palm trees, colorful flowers, historic churches, modern buildings with balconies, street lamps, and a clear blue sky with scattered clouds.
A fountain with a large statue of a bearded man and several smaller child-like figures, with water flowing from the fountain, in an urban setting surrounded by buildings and people.
Map of a city showing neighborhoods and streets near a waterfront, including areas like El Pla del Real, Carmel, and Ciudad Vella, with green parks and a port.

With so much to see and do in Valencia, this could go on forever. But it won’t… So to make things brief, and simple, I’ve included a handy map of the best areas to visit. Between the tree lined streets, beautiful old buildings and tony stores in the L’Eixample neighborhood and the more gritty Cuatre Carreres area, lies the area of Rusafa.

A super cool area for young and old filled with restaurants, nightclubs, bars and hip shops. A must see for sure. Then stroll through L’Eixample on your way to Ciutat Vella or Old Town, for those Spanish challenged like me. You’ll be blown away by the town squares and incredible buildings found everywhere, as well as the throngs of tourists. But don’t be dismayed, just keep moving and you will find hidden streets and treasures in the North and East areas making your visit well worth while! And for those who read this far, a special treat, a link to everything you may need or want in Valencia! Bienvenido to all!