I have written many articles about visiting Valencia. From things to do in Valencia to where to stay, the best restaurants, and much more.
Valencia has been my home for a few years now and I love sharing tips to make your trip to Valencia the best it can be.
So, to make it easier for you, this is an overview of all the articles I have written about visiting Valencia.
Whether you’ve already started planning your trip or are just wondering if Valencia is worth visiting, I hope these articles will answer all your questions.
Visiting Valencia: Everything You Need to Know for a Perfect Trip
1. The Best Things to Do in Valencia
When you’re planning to visit Valencia, you probably want to know what the highlights of the city are.
And maybe a few hidden gems too.
In this article I give you a very practical list of things to do in Valencia. From sights to see to what to eat.
Valencia really is a beautiful city with a lot to offer. And, even better, many of the things I list to see and do are free!
2. Things to Do With Kids in Valencia
Are you visiting Valencia with kids?
Then you’ll be happy to hear that there actually is a lot to do in the city to keep your kids entertained.
From museums focusing on kids to one of the most unique playgrounds you’ve ever seen…
3. Eco-Friendly Things to Do in Valencia
Valencia has changed a lot in recent years and has become a lot more eco-friendly. So much so that it was named the European Green Capital of 2024.
In this article I share a wide range of activities, places to visit, restaurants to try, etc., all with a more sustainable focus.
4. Where to Stay in Valencia: the Best Neighborhoods & Hotels
Valencia isn’t the biggest city you will ever visit, but it’s definitely big enough to have very distinct neighborhoods with different vibes and different pros and cons.
What the best place to stay is for you depends on your preferences.
In this article I share the best neighborhoods and hotels to stay in, depending on what you want to see and do in the city.
5. How to Use the Metro & Save Money
Figuring out public transport when visiting a new city can be a pain.
Valencia only has a few metro lines so figuring out which one to take isn’t too difficult. Deciding which ticket to get gets a little more complicated though, especially if you don’t want to pay more than you have to.
In this article I explain how to use the metro when visiting Valencia, and specifically how to use the TuiN and SUMA cards, which can make using the metro cheaper and more convenient.
6. The Best Tapas Restaurants in Valencia
You can’t come to Spain without trying some tapas, right?
Valencia has a wide range of tapas places and some are definitely better than others.
If you’re visiting Valencia for the first time you’ll quickly end up in the touristy bars and restaurants that often charge too much for low quality, inauthentic food.
Therefore I wrote this article to help you find the better tapas bars around the city.
7. The Best Rooftop Bars in Valencia
It might just be me, but I love going to rooftop bars when exploring a new city.
It’s both a nice break from sightseeing and a great way to get a view of the city.
Valencia has a number of nice rooftop bars and I have been to all of them many times.
In this article I list all of the rooftop bars and their pros and cons.
8. The Best Paella Restaurants in Valencia
Did you know that Valencia is the birthplace of paella?
So when you visit Valencia you definitely have to try some paella!
But the same as with tapas restaurants, many tourists visiting Valencia end up at restaurants that serve low quality paella and cater just to tourists.
Spoiler alert: most of the best paella restaurants are not in the city center or close to any of the must-visit sights.
So, you might have to factor in some extra time to get to these restaurants, but if you like authentic experiences I promise it’s worth it!
9. Taking a Paella Cooking Class in Valencia
Looking for something special to do when you visit Valencia?
Then I can highly recommend taking a paella cooking class!
It takes you to the local market to buy fresh ingredients and teaches you everything there is to know about this traditional dish.
Note: apart from the traditional paella you can also choose to cook a vegetarian or a seafood paella.
10. The Best Restaurants for Authentic Chinese Food in Valencia
Ok, tapas and paella are great, but after a few days of that, you might want to try something else.
And, Valencia has its own Chinatown with some great restaurants that are well worth checking out!
11. Camping Around Valencia
Although there are no campgrounds in the city itself, there are actually great options to go camping in the area.
Camping is very popular along the Spanish coast, especially as a summer vacation.
But not all campgrounds offer the same quality and facilities, which is why I wrote this article.
The article includes information about where to camp, rules & regulations, and a list of recommended campgrounds.
12. The Best Day Trips From Valencia
I’d say a complete Valencia travel guide should include some information about the surrounding area too.
Valencia is a great city to visit in itself. But if you have the time these day trips will give you a much more diverse experience.
From castles worth visiting to hikes, wineries, beaches, and more.
13. Celebrating Las Fallas in Valencia
If you happen to visit Valencia in March you have to check out this festival!
Las Fallas is truly unique… It starts with fireworks and giant street parties and ends with the burning of impressive statues that took a year to build.
Valencians are very proud of this festival and as a visitor it gives you an interesting look into an important part of their culture.
In fact, Las Fallas is such an important festival that it even made it onto UNESCO’s World Heritage List!
Things to Know Before Visiting Valencia
1. The Weather in Valencia
It can get really hot in summer, especially in August, and surprisingly cold in winter, mostly in January and February.
You might not think of Valencia as a destination where it ever gets cold, and although the temperature won’t normally ever drop below zero degrees Celcius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), most houses don’t have central heating and are poorly insulated. This makes a mildly cold day all of a sudden feel a lot more unpleasant than you expected.
In summer temperatures occasionally hit 40 degrees Celcius (104 Fahrenheit) and with many places not having air conditioning, and you probably wanting to explore parts of the city on foot or by bicycle, this heat can get quite annoying!
I’d therefore say spring and fall are the best times to visit Valencia.
2. Tipping in Valencia
Most locals leave no tip and therefore most local bars and restaurants don’t expect you to do so either.
That being said, many bars and restaurants in the more touristy parts of the city have gotten used to tourists tipping and therefore expect it more, but it is never mandatory.
Salaries in Spain are quite low, especially for hospitality staff, so tips will always be appreciated.
I’d recommend at least leaving some small change, up to 10% of the value of the bill.
Tipping taxis isn’t very common, but simply rounding up the fare is appreciated and makes a cash transaction easier for the driver.
Tipping hotel staff or hairdressers and other services is not a common thing to do in Valencia.
3. Siesta in Valencia
Although more and more shops stay open all day long, you’ll still find some smaller shops and other businesses closed for siesta, which can be anywhere between 1pm and 5pm.
Almost all bars and restaurants stay open, but several restaurants won’t serve food from around 4pm until 7 or 8pm, which, if you like an early dinner, is something to keep in mind.
4. Taxis in Valencia
Taxis are relatively inexpensive in Valencia. They are a great option to get to places that take too long by public transport, or to get home at night after the metro has stopped running.
It’s generally fairly easy to just hail a taxi on the street, but there are also two taxi apps: Cabify and Free Now.
Cabify is most similar to Uber, and Free Now is the app from the traditional Valencia taxis. Both are good and offer similar prices. I’d recommend downloading both, because I’ve had times where Cabify couldn’t find me a driver and Free Now could, and the other way around.
5. The Beach and the City are Far Apart
I love Valencia but there is one thing that’s a bit annoying: the city center and the beach are located just far enough from each other to make it feel as if you have to choose between the two.
If you are a beach person and your main reason for visiting Valencia is to enjoy time by the beach, then definitely make sure your accommodation is close to the beach.
If you are visiting Valencia as a city break, then I’d recommend staying in the city center. But just know that going to the beach might then require a bus ride, a metro ride, or both, and probably a taxi ride back if you want to stay by the beach in the evening, as metros stop running and buses become very infrequent.
Or you can of course do what more and more locals do: cycle between the city center and the beach.
6. In August Most Things Close
Shops, bars, restaurants, and government offices; many of them close for most, if not all, of August.
August is when the Valencians traditionally leave the city to spend time in their summer homes.
This combined with the August heat for me is a reason to not recommend visiting Valencia in August. But, the city does get nice and quiet in August which gives it a vibe that is different from the rest of the year.
Useful Articles About Spain
If you are visiting Valencia, you might find these articles about Spain helpful as well.
1. Things to Know Before Traveling to Spain
In this article I answer some of the most frequently asked questions about visiting Spain.
From questions about safety and prices to dos and don’ts when in Spain.
2. The Best Time to Visit Spain
Spain is a diverse country and the best time to visit depends both on where you want to go and what your reasons for visiting are.
This article explains it all.
3. Famous Spanish Food You Should Try
If you are anything like me, part of your reason for visiting Valencia, or any new place, is to try the local food.
And apart from paella and tapas there are quite a few other Spanish delicacies worth trying.
4. Christmas in Spain
Celebrating Christmas in Spain is a bit different from celebrating Christmas in most other countries.
For starters, Christmas here lasts 14 days!
So if you plan to visit Valencia around Christmas time you might want to read this article to find out more about how Christmas is celebrated here.
5. Facts About Spain
Do you want to know more about Spain and the Spanish? Then this list of facts about Spain is for you.
From useful to surprising and some shocking facts…
Have a Great Time Visiting Valencia!
Enjoy your trip to Valencia and feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions about this beautiful city.
Also Read:
- How to Find the Cheapest Flights
- Flight Delayed? This is How to Get Compensation
- What It’s Like to Live in Valencia – Interview
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