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Valencia city breaks are all about sun, paella and great culture.
Alternative city break
Valencia is a great city break destination, combining golden beaches, world-famous paella and striking architecture all in one place. And, it takes less than three hours to fly there from the UK. If you’re watching your budget, this place can be an especially good option. Valencia holidays are usually less expensive than visiting some of the bigger Spanish cities, like Barcelona.
Life on Valencia’s Mediterranean coast
Valencia’s Mediterranean coastline gets sunshine for much of the year, offering a great balance between a relaxed seaside lifestyle and the vibrant energy of a city. The city has a rich cultural history to explore and miles of golden beaches. With its warm climate, water sports are another part of the fabric of life here. Then, Valencia nightlife typically starts with a tapas meal, followed by bar-hopping and there are plenty of late-night club options.
The best things to see and eat
In terms of what to eat here, the original paella Valenciana is the region’s signature dish, which usually includes rabbit, chicken and local beans, and many restaurants near the beach still cook it over open flames. To wash it down, try horchata, made by crushing tiger nuts with sugar and water. You can also enjoy a leisurely brunch of esmorzaret. It starts with a picaeta (appetiser), followed by bocadillos (sandwiches) served with caña draught beer or local red wine, followed by a coffee with cinnamon, sugar, rum and lemon peel. For things to do, sightseeing highlights in Valencia include Turia Garden Park – one of Spain’s largest urban parks – where you can rent a bike and explore. Or, see the city’s famous Medieval gates, Torres de Quart and Torres de Serrano.
Best places to stay in Valencia
Here are the top places to base yourself on a holiday to Valencia.
Ciutat Vella
A great place to stay for easy access to the city centre, close to some of the most historic tourist attractions. It offers accessible and luxury accommodation. (Old Town & El Carmen)
Ruzafa
Stay in Ruzafa for indie boutiques and artisanal cafes that create a vibrant foodie area. It’s one of the edgier neighbourhoods in Valencia and is popular with younger travellers.
El Cabanyal Malvarrosa
To spend your Valencia holidays relaxing on the beach and soaking up the sunshine, these coastal spots are your best options for a seaside getaway with the relaxed feel of a historic fishing village.
Why we love Valencia
Here are some top tips from our team
Expert recommendation
“I’d definitely recommend having a wander around the colourful stalls at Mercado de Ruzafa. It’s where the locals go for seafood, cured meats and fresh produce from the nearby L’Horta region. One stall that really stood out was Insectum – if you’re up for trying something different, they serve things like flowers and stick insects. Bit unusual, but definitely an experience.” – Hannah Stratton
Non-touristy activities
The 19th-century Jardin de Ayora park doesn’t usually have many tourists, so it’s an ideal place to relax and recharge. There are shaded benches and wrought iron fountains where locals come to read and play chess. Or hang out in the Old Town, far away from the tourist hot spots, with cosy neighbourhood pubs and lively student bars.
Free things to do
The Museo de Bellas Artes is one of Spain’s top fine arts museums, containing works by Goya – and it’s free to enter. Casa de los Gatos is also free to visit – a miniature three-storey villa that reaches up to your knees, created for the neighbourhood’s stray cats. Or, another great free option is IVAM (Institut Valencià d’Art Modern), which offers free admission on Sundays and Wednesday afternoons.
Valencia FAQs
The best time to visit Valencia, for the perfect balance of warm sunny days and fewer crowds, is in spring (March to May) or autumn (September and October). Temperatures average from 18°C to 25°C in these seasons. Or, it gets even hotter during peak summer in July and August, but prices can go up, sightseeing is a little less comfortable and places are a lot busier, as it’s the school holidays.
A direct flight to Valencia from the UK takes around 2 hours and 20 minutes from London, and about 3 hours from Edinburgh.
Valencia holidays offer very good value for money. Public transport is very affordable and you can save on restaurant meals by opting for the lunchtime menu of the day.
You can enjoy a good break, sample the food and see the city’s major landmarks in just a long weekend – three to four days should be enough. But, if you want to block out a couple of beach days or take some day trips out of the city, you can take a week or even longer.
When you click through to book your holiday, we’ll supply the exact travel requirements for your chosen destination through our partner, Passolution. In the meantime, check the FCDO for the most up-to-date information on entry requirements and health and safety information.