Valencia Travel Guide 2026: Paella, Turia & City of Arts

A set of white futuristic buildings by Valencia-born architect Santiago Calatrava (and Félix Candela for the aquarium), built between 1998 and 2009 in the old riverbed. It includes the Hemisfèric (an IMAX shaped like an eye), the Science Museum, the Palau de les Arts opera house and the Oceanogràfic, the largest aquarium in Europe.

Price: walking around is free; Oceanogràfic about €35–45; Science Museum about €9; combined tickets available · Time needed: half a day · Tip: visit at night when the buildings are lit and reflected in the water.

The 9 km park in the old riverbed, with running and cycling paths, fountains, sports fields and the giant Gulliver playground, where children climb on a huge figure of Gulliver.

Price: free · Tip: rent a Valenbisi or a bike and ride from the old town to the City of Arts and Sciences.

A Gothic trading hall built between 1482 and 1548, with twisted columns that rise like palm trees. It became a UNESCO site in 1996. Look for the funny and rude gargoyles on the outside.

Price: about €2; free on Sundays · Time needed: 30 minutes.

One of the largest food markets in Europe, in a stunning modernist building from 1928 with a glass dome and colourful tiles. More than 900 stalls.

Price: free · Hours: mornings, closed Sunday · Tip: have breakfast at the bar inside.

The cathedral mixes Romanesque, Gothic and baroque. A chapel holds a stone cup that the church considers the Holy Grail, the cup Jesus used at the Last Supper. Climb the Miguelete bell tower (207 steps) for the best view of the old town.

Price: cathedral about €9 with audio guide; Miguelete a few euros.

The old town's most bohemian neighbourhood, full of street art, bars and the remains of the medieval walls, including the Torres de Serranos (1392) and Torres de Quart, which still show cannonball marks from the Napoleonic wars.

Price: towers a few euros, free on Sundays.

Wide sandy city beaches with a long promenade and paella restaurants. Reachable by tram.

Price: free.

A freshwater lagoon south of the city surrounded by rice fields, where the rice for paella grows. Take a traditional boat at sunset, then eat paella in the village of El Palmar, where it is said to have been born.

Price: boat about €5–10 · Getting there: bus about 30 minutes · Tip: real paella valenciana has chicken, rabbit and beans, not seafood.

From 15 to 19 March, the city fills with giant satirical sculptures (fallas), fireworks and daily firecracker shows (mascletà). On the last night they are all burned. UNESCO Intangible Heritage since 2016.

Tip: book accommodation months ahead.