Valencia

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Forecourt of Museo de Bellas Artes(National Museum of Beautiful Arts), Central.

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Overview

Spain’s third-largest city is a magnificent place, content for Madrid and Barcelona to grab the headlines while it gets on with being a wonderfully liveable city with thriving cultural, eating and nightlife scenes. Never afraid to innovate, Valencia diverted its flood-prone river to the outskirts and converted the former riverbed into a glorious green ribbon of park winding right through the city. On it are the strikingly futuristic buildings of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, designed by local boy Santiago Calatrava. Other brilliant contemporary buildings grace the city, which also has a fistful of fabulous Modernista buildings, great museums, a long stretch of beach and a large, characterful old quarter. Valencia, surrounded by its huerta, a fertile zone of market gardens, is famous as the home of rice dishes such as paella, but its buzzy dining scene offers plenty more besides; it's a superb spot for eating.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Catedral de Valencia

Valencia

Valencia’s cathedral was built over a mosque after the 1238 reconquest. Its low, wide, brick-vaulted triple nave is mostly Gothic, with neoclassical side…

Back entrance to Iglesia de San Nicolas.

Iglesia de San Nicolás

Valencia

Recently reopened to the public after a magnificent restoration, this single-naved church down a passageway is a striking sight. Over the original Gothic…

Museo del Patriarca

Valencia

This seminary was founded in the late 16th century by San Juan de Ribera, a towering Counter-Reformation figure who wielded enormous spiritual and…

La Lonja

Valencia

This splendid building, a Unesco World Heritage Site, was originally Valencia’s silk and commodity exchange, built in the late 15th century when the city…

Museo de Bellas Artes

Valencia

Bright and spacious, this gallery ranks among Spain’s best. Highlights include a collection of magnificent late-medieval altarpieces, and works by several…

Mercado Central

Valencia

Valencia’s vast Modernista covered market, constructed in 1928, is a swirl of smells, movement and colour. Spectacular seafood counters display…

The Jardí del Túria (Túria gardens), a public park with cycle ways, footpaths, sports facilities as well as the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences in the background.

Jardines del Turia

Valencia

Stretching the length of Río Turia’s former course, this 9km-long lung of green is a fabulous mix of playing fields, cycling, jogging and walking paths,…

Museo Nacional de Cerámica

Valencia

Inside a striking palace, this ceramics museum celebrates an important local industry. Downstairs (which also features a decadent hand-painted 1753…

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Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

This exciting Spanish city promises memorable flavors, lush parks, a cool art scene and much more.

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Best Time to Visit

Time your visit to Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city, just right with this seasonal guide.

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Transportation

Read on for a full report on the best ways to get around this Spanish vibrant city.

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Free Things to Do

Visiting Valencia on a budget? These 8 free things to do will help you enjoy the city without breaking the bank.

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Best Neighborhoods

Whether you’re after Modernista edifices, terrific museums, Spain’s best rice dishes or medieval cathedrals, our neighborhood guide highlights the best that…

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Day Trips

From the hot springs at Montanejos to the seafood in Dénia, here are the best day trips from Valencia.

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Plan with a local