Top 10 Things to Do in Valencia
Who better to get your travel tips from than a person who lived like a local in Valencia for two months?
Probably an actual local. But you don’t have that so…
Hi. I’m Nelma! I got the opportunity to intern in Valencia, Spain from September to November 2022. Living in Valencia for that long allowed me to really live like a local. I took public transport, rode a bike, or walked to work every day, met up with friends for siesta, enjoyed the beach after work, and partied like an animal 5 out of 7 days a week. I ate the best paella and drank the best cortados. I went to local street markets, thrifted, and of course appreciated the amazing architecture everywhere I looked. I fell in a deep, soul encompassing, life changing love with that city and encourage everyone to add it to their travel bucket lists.
Okay let’s move on, before I start ugly crying.
Get lost in El Carmen
The best way to experience any new place is to get lost in it. Walk around and explore. You never know what you may find.
El Carmen, or the Old Town, has numerous historic sites to see and food to try. I linked the original gothic-style tower entrance into the city as your starting point :)
Top Sites:
Torres de Serranos (The original entrance to the city, built in the 14th century 1392)
El Micalet Tower and The Valencia Cathedral (761 years old, opened doors in 1262)
General Admission:
Tower: 2.50 €
Placa de la Verge (The Heart of the city; Turia Fountain)
Best Food:
Fresh smoothies, juice, fruit, cheese, and sandwiches at Mercado Central (The Central Market of Valencia)
Gelato at Gelateria Llinares in Placa de la Reina
Churros and horchata at Horchateria de Santa Catalina
2. Visit the City of Arts and Sciences & L’Oceanogràfic
Valencia is also known for the City of Arts and Sciences which is one of the largest scientific and cultural complexes in Europe. Designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela, the futuristic looking complexes include the Hemisfèric and the Oceanogràfic, which is the largest aquarium in Europe.
General Admission:
City of Arts and Sciences: 6,70 €
Hemisfèric: 6,70 €
L'Oceanogràfic: 26,50 €
3. Bike through Turia Park
Before the gorgeous park became what it is today, it used to be a river. After a massive flood in 1957, the water was diverted south and a huge strip of land was left separating the north and south of the city. Now, you’ll find people having picnics, biking, running, skating, and walking through the park which is filled with palm trees, fountains, and ponds.
I would recommend packing a sandwich from the Central Market for lunch. I enjoyed mine half way through the trail under an orange tree near the City of Arts and Sciences.
4. Have a Beach Day
Valencia is the best of MULTIPLE worlds. You have the Old Town, full of amazing architecture and history, the city district, with shopping and businesses, and my personal favorite, the beach!
To top it off, temperatures are in the 70s well into the beginning of November. We love a subtropical Mediterranean climate.
The coast is lined with amazing beaches, but my personal favorite and go to was Playa de Malvarosa. There, you can find volleyball and acai bowls at Beach Bol, a cute little shack right on the beach. After your beach day, you can walk over to Mercabanyal where you’ll find a variety of food trucks in an indoor/outdoor food court. My favorite was Little Thai and the crazily strong sangria at the bar to the left of the establishment.
Other Beaches:
5. Watch a Soccer Game
I lived 2 minutes away from Mestalla Stadium and passed by it to go to work every day, so I knew I couldn’t leave without watching FC Valencia play. I ended up getting really good seats for about 100 euros and watched them play against Barcelona. My family was crying and throwing up because I don’t even watch soccer like that.
6. Party at the Best Spots
Since Valencia is basically a huge college town, it only makes sense that the night life is wild. Bars and clubs are filled with both locals and international students screaming along to Pepas and getting down to La Romana until 6 am on weekends.
R&B Dance Clubs:
Mix:
Deseo 54 (Gay Club)
Piccadilly Downtown Club (Silent Disco Nights with Headphones)
Techno:
7. Go Shopping
Not only can you find several flea markets scattered throughout the city, but you can hit up Reborn Vintage for vintage thrifts. If you aren't cool and you don’t like the thrift, you can always visit Calle Colón- Valencia’s busiest shopping street. Here you’ll find stores like Zara, H&M, Lush, Desigual, Lacoste, and many more.
When you’re done with shopping or need a little break, you can visit any of the hundreds of restaurants and cafes on and near Calle Colón.
8. La Pollería.
Honestly, it’s super self explanatory.
“Polla” is slang for penis. Add -ería to the end of it and boom you got a penis waffle shop.
But if you need more info, La Pollería opened up in 2019 and has been a success ever since. You get to choose which human genital you want, along with the sauce topping which is an indicator of the genital’s race. Your flavor options are Nutella, strawberry, or white chocolate. It’s fun because the workers know how uncomfortable it is and make it even worse by keeping a super stright and serious face on while asking you if you’d like a penis or a vagina.
A must if you’re in Valencia, but they also have locations in Madrid and Barcelona.
Here’s a perfect example of the experience: Skip to 13:16
9. Eat Paella and Seafood
If you leave Valencia without eating paella……. SIDE EYE!
Paella comes from Valencia! La Albufera to be exact. In this region, the dish is served in a round cast iron pan and is filled with rice, saffron, chicken, butter beans, and rabbit meat. The first place listed below is in La Albufera and is the most authentic and traditional paella you’ll get in Valencia, so I highly recommend visiting.
And please don’t miss out on the seafood. Valencia sits right on the coast of the beautiful Mediterranean sea and receives an influx of fresh seafood daily.
Restaurants:
10. Botellón at Beach
Botellón translates to “big bottle”. In Spain, the activity is basically a pregame, but usually somewhere outside like a park or the beach. Botellón usually starts around 11 and lasts until 2 am, after which everyone moves on to bars, clubs, and discos.
Imagine being at the beach with your friends, sitting on blankets on the sand, listening to the waves crash on the shore, distant music getting started at clubs, and already having a great night while wondering how it’s possible that it’ll get even better?
Botellón on La Malvarrosa on my last night in Spain was a core memory for me. It was blissful, grounding, and made me immensely grateful for the people I met and the beautiful memories I made during my time abroad. It was euphoric.
No matter what you decide to do in Valencia, just know that:
1. I am extremely jealous of you
2. Your travels are what you make of them
3. That city’s magic will enchant you, so be open and receptive to its beautiful energy
4. I will be down to be your in person travel guide, so please don’t hesitate to ask me to come with
