Three Days in Valencia, Spain

A quick-start guide for travelers with limited time who want to hit the best of Valencia's architecture, beaches, food, and cultural spots. Perfect for first-timers or weekend visitors.

 

A seven-mile long park, a sprawling beach lined with restaurants, a museum/performing arts/aquarium complex that looks so futuristic that it has appeared in numerous sci-fi TV shows. Could this all exist in one city? Yes. And that city is Valencia, Spain.

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These fantastic features are not all Valencia has to offer however. Valencia also features the renowned Bioparc, a wide range of restaurants (some with Michelin stars), and excellent public transportation. You won’t need to worry about navigating the city’s massive roundabouts. Here’s how to get started:

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Getting Around

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Valencia has a four-part public transportation system:

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• Metro: Fast and efficient, great for getting across the city.

• Tram: Ideal for reaching some beach areas and neighborhoods.

• Bus: Covers most parts of the city and runs frequently.

• Commuter Train: Best for day trips or getting to nearby towns.

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You can buy a SUMA card that works for all of these. If you'll be using the metro to get to or from the airport, make sure to get the version that includes the airport fare. It drops you off right below Arrivals, just an escalator away.

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SUMA card options:

• 10-Trip Card: Good if you’ll only be taking a few rides here and there.

• Unlimited Day Passes: Best for heavy use over one or several days.

Alternatively, you can pay for each trip separately.

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If you want to rent a car, you'll be driving on the right side of the road. The roads in Spain are wide and in good condition, but some traffic patterns (like the huge and confusing roundabouts) may be challenging. Only you can decide what you’re comfortable with. If you do get a car and are from another country, make sure to get an international driver’s license before you travel. 

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Where to Stay

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In my experience, the top two neighborhoods would be El Cabanyal if you want proximity to the beach, or somewhere central like Ciutat Vella (the old town) or Ruzafa. Note, Ruzafa can get loud at night, so make your choice based on your own feelings about nightlife.

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For more information on neighborhoods, check out this guide from Fora Travel.

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Packing Essentials

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When traveling to Valencia, there are endless ways to spend your days, so it’s useful to plan in advance what you want to do. There are Michelin star restaurants where you’ll be expected to dress up, historic churches where you should dress respectfully, beaches where almost anything goes, and everything in between. Pay attention to the season as well. Summer is hot, but the rest of the year can fluctuate and even get pretty cold at times.

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One absolute essential is sunscreen, as Valencia typically gets 300 days of sun each year. Whether you are at the beach or the Bioparc, expect to spend a lot of time outside. The same goes for sunglasses. The sun glaring off those historic stone streets can be intense and might keep you from fully enjoying the view.

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3-Day Itinerary

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Here’s a quick overview of how to spend your three days:

• Day 1: Explore the City of Arts and Sciences, including museums, architecture, and futuristic design.

• Day 2: Shop and snack your way through Central Market, then head to the immersive Bioparc.

• Day 3: Relax at the beach and round out your trip with a bit of history or a city tour.

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Though you could easily fill more than three days in Valencia, here are the highlights if your time is limited.

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Day 1

The City of Arts and Sciences

What is the City of Arts and Sciences? Besides the coolest set of buildings I’ve ever seen, it is a cultural and architectural complex designed primarily by Santiago Calatrava. The design must have inspired countless location scouts, as it features in Andor, Westworld, and a number of other films and television shows. It consists of:

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• Oceanogràfic: Europe’s largest aquarium. It features aquatic animals from around the world, grouped by geographic region. Plus it has a number of quick service and sit-down restaurants. I would set aside around four hours for this.

• Hemisfèric: An IMAX theater built in the shape of an eye. Check showtimes as different films play at different times, and you’ll want to plan accordingly so you don’t wind up rushing something else. Most films run an hour or less.

• Museu de les Ciències: A multistory science museum. Highlights include extensive replicas of Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions, a recreation of what the Mona Lisa may have looked like the day it was painted, and the Forest of Chromosomes, a large interactive exhibit featuring giant models of all 23 human chromosome pairs. Set aside 2-3 hours here.

• Palau de les Arts: This is Valencia’s opera house and one of the flashiest buildings in the complex. It hosts concerts, opera, and other performances. Even if you don’t go inside, it’s worth walking around for the views alone.

• Umbracle: A raised walkway lined with plants and modern art, covered by white arches. It’s free to enter and makes a great spot for photos. You can also see some of the other buildings in the complex from up here.

• Àgora: A dark blue, dome-like building mostly used for events like exhibitions or sports tournaments. It’s also called the CaixaForum and sometimes hosts art shows, science exhibits, or concerts. It’s not always open to the public, but it adds to the futuristic vibe and is fun to check out while you're there.

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Day 2

Central Market and Bioparc

Almost nothing opens early in Valencia. The one exception is the Mercat Central de Valencia (Central Market), which opens bright and early at 7:30 a.m., making it the perfect way to spend a Valencian morning. Located in the historic center, the Mercat Central sits on a square that has served this purpose for several hundred years. The market includes over 300 food stalls and a Michelin star bar that is walk-up only. If the thought of this is overwhelming, consider taking a tour. Many tours are standalone, but others include a paella cooking class. Paella most likely originated in Valencia, so this is the place to try it. The stalls offer everything from spices and olive oil to raw meat and cones of ham, so come ready to shop and definitely hungry.

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After exploring the Central Market, you should be ready to stretch your legs. There’s almost no better place to do that than the Bioparc. I say almost because the city’s seven-mile long park might take the top spot. You can follow the park all the way from the city center to the Bioparc if you really want to up your step count. Alternatively, you can take a bus or metro to a stop just outside and save your steps for inside. This zoo is more akin to a wild animal park, meant to immerse you in the wilds of Africa. There’s even a section called the Island of Madagascar where you can walk among the lemurs with no barrier whatsoever. Plus, if you saved any appetite, you can dine on pizza or bocadillos while gazing out over the African savannah. The view is hard to beat.

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Day 3

Beach and Cultural Activity

I’ve structured this day with a little more freedom than the last two. If you want to spend the whole day lounging on the beach or eating tapas in one of its many bars, you can. If an hour or two is enough, you can easily fill your day elsewhere.

The primary beaches of the city of Valencia are Cabanyal, Malvarrosa, and Patacona. (Note that I said the city, because if you search, you may wind up with beaches for the whole province, of which this city is the capital.) Many beaches have facilities such as bathrooms and rinse stations. The promenade along Malvarrosa Beach is beautiful and a great way to enjoy beach vibes without the sand.

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In the afternoon, you have a number of options. You could visit the city’s numerous historical sites, including the cathedral that claims to hold the Holy Grail. You could go to the Archaeological Museum to learn about the city’s Roman ruins and history. You could join a city tour or take a paella cooking class if you haven’t already. If you want to keep enjoying the outdoors but not at the beach, you can explore more of the city park and have a picnic.

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Things to Know

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The native language of Valencia is Valencian. You will often see signs in both Valencian and Spanish (Castellano). Embarrassingly, I did not know that Spanish could be called both Español and Castellano, so I thought the latter was a third language when I saw tours offered in it at the Bioparc. You may notice this especially with street signs. Carrer is “street” in Valencian and Calle is “street” in Spanish. Whatever map app you’re using may switch one to the other when you enter addresses, so don’t worry if what you enter is “calle” but your search returns “carrer.”

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Most of us have heard of siesta, but few of us have seen it in action. Everything closes around 4 p.m. and reopens a few hours later. This is something to keep in mind when structuring your day as you may find yourself at loose ends if you are caught unprepared. The Island of Madagascar in the Bioparc even closes for a few hours each day.

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Final Tips

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Make sure to try some of Valencia’s famous foods while you’re in town. For a truly authentic experience, try paella Valenciana with chicken and rabbit. If that’s not for you, don’t worry. There are vegetable, seafood, and a variety of other paellas to try. A less obvious local specialty is the horchata (also spelled orxata). Don’t make the mistake I did of thinking this is the same as the version served in Mexico. It is very different. Made from tigernuts (a small tuber, not an actual nut), it has a rich, milky texture and a flavor that’s hard to describe. Try it with a farton, a fluffy sweet pastry made for dipping.

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Eat a menú del día. Lunch out in Valencia is hard to beat price-wise. That’s thanks to the menús del día, which often include appetizer, entrée, and dessert for 15 euros or less.

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Valencia is easily accessible by high-speed train from Madrid or Barcelona.

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Why Valencia Deserves More than 3 Days

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In this guide, I’ve just scratched the surface of what you can do with your time in Valencia. Within the city itself, there are numerous historic monuments and museums to visit. There’s street art to admire. There are flamenco shows to see. In terms of day trips, you can visit Xàtiva for hiking and views of its famous castle (also featured in Andor). You could also stop by Peñíscola for more beaches and historic sites.