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Valencia
Spain

Things to do in Valencia

683 attractions · Spain

Photo: Jcca76, CC BY-SA 4.0

Valencian Community, Spain · 39.467, -0.375

About Valencia

Valencia is a Mediterranean hub defined by its repurposing of the Turia riverbed into a nine-kilometer linear park, the Jardín del Turia. The city anchors its identity in a fusion of Gothic architecture, such as the La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia, and ambitious futuristic design found at the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. Visitors can transition from medieval defensive structures like the Torres de Serranos to coastal recreation at Platja del Cabanyal. As the regional capital, it serves as the definitive global center for paella culture and traditional horchata production.

Good to know

  1. 1

    Valencia holds the title of World Design Capital (2022) and was named the European Green Capital in 2024.

  2. 2

    The city is home to the Tribunal de las Aguas, the oldest functioning judicial body in Europe, which has met every Thursday for over a millennium to settle irrigation disputes.

  3. 3

    Valencia's central market, Mercat Central, is one of the largest in Europe and utilizes 8,000 square meters of space under a modernist iron-and-glass dome.

  4. 4

    The Holy Grail, recognized by the Vatican as authentic, is housed in a dedicated chapel within the Valencia Cathedral.

Plan your visit to Valencia

Best time to visit

April to June or September to October, when the Mediterranean climate is mild and avoids the intense humidity and heat of peak summer.

How many days

3-4 days to explore both the historic center and the coastal regions.

Getting around

The city is highly walkable, supplemented by an extensive metro and tram network and an extensive flat-terrain cycling infrastructure.

Where to stay

Stay in El Carmen for proximity to medieval landmarks or the Eixample district for refined 19th-century architecture and shopping.

Budget

Mid-range; generally more affordable than Madrid or Barcelona for dining and accommodation.

Top things to do in Valencia

The 683 most popular places in Valencia.

Filtered by
  1. 1 Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias
    Museums Icon

    Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias

    The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is an expansive cultural and architectural complex located in the former riverbed...

  2. 2 Oceanogràfic València
    Zoos Very popular

    Oceanogràfic València

    Oceanogràfic València is the largest aquarium in Europe, housing over 45,000 animals representing 500 different species....

  3. 3 Bioparc Valencia
    Zoos Very popular

    Bioparc Valencia

    Bioparc Valencia is a zoo designed around the concept of 'zoo-immersion,' which hides physical barriers to create the il...

  4. 4 Torres de Serranos
    Historical places Very popular

    Torres de Serranos

    Torres de Serranos is one of twelve gates that formed part of the ancient Christian city wall of Valencia, constructed b...

  5. 5 Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe
    Museums Very popular

    Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe

    The Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe is a massive interactive science museum located within Valencia's Ciudad de la...

  6. 6 Jardín del Turia
    Parks Very popular

    Jardín del Turia

    Jardín del Turia is a 9-kilometer-long urban park constructed in the former riverbed of the Turia River, which was diver...

  7. 7 Mercado de Colón
    Places of interest Very popular

    Mercado de Colón

    Mercado de Colón is a former public market building in Valencia, converted into a high-end gastronomic and lifestyle hub...

  8. 8 Valencia Cathedral
    Temples Very popular

    Valencia Cathedral

    Valencia Cathedral is a 13th-century religious landmark built on the site of a former Roman temple and a subsequent Visi...

  9. 9 Mestalla Stadium
    Venues Very popular

    Mestalla Stadium

    Mestalla Stadium is the historic home ground of Valencia CF, serving as one of the oldest active stadiums in Spanish pro...

  10. 10 La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia
    Historical places Very popular

    La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia

    La Lonja de la Seda is a masterpiece of Valencian Gothic civil architecture constructed between 1482 and 1533. It served...

  11. 11 Gulliver park
    Playgrounds Very popular

    Gulliver park

    Gulliver Park is a monumental play structure in Valencia based on Jonathan Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels,' where children...

  12. 12 Jardines del Real / Viveros
    Parks Very popular

    Jardines del Real / Viveros

    Jardines del Real, locally known as Viveros, is a historic garden located on the site of the former Royal Palace of Vale...

  13. 13 Quart Towers
    Historical places Very popular

    Quart Towers

    The Quart Towers are a surviving segment of the 15th-century medieval defensive walls that once encircled Valencia. Cons...

  14. 14 Iglesia Parroquial de San Nicolás de Bari y San Pedro Mártir
    Temples Very popular

    Iglesia Parroquial de San Nicolás de Bari y San Pedro Mártir

    Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari y San Pedro Mártir features nearly 2,000 square meters of high-baroque frescoes covering...

  15. 15 Platja del Cabanyal
    Beaches and ponds Popular

    Platja del Cabanyal

    Platja del Cabanyal is a wide, urban beach stretching along the Mediterranean coast of Valencia, connected directly to t...

  16. 16 Palacio de Las Artes Reina Sofía
    Places of interest Popular

    Palacio de Las Artes Reina Sofía

    Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía is a world-class opera house and cultural center located within the City of Arts and Scien...

  17. 17 Cabecera Park
    Parks Popular

    Cabecera Park

    Parque de Cabecera marks the westernmost tip of the Turia Gardens, a vast green belt created in the diverted bed of the...

  18. 18 Platja de la Malvarrosa
    Places of interest Popular

    Platja de la Malvarrosa

    Platja de la Malvarrosa is Valencia’s primary urban beach, spanning approximately 1,800 meters in length and 60 meters i...

  19. 19 La Fabrica de Hielo
    Places of interest Popular

    La Fabrica de Hielo

    La Fabrica de Hielo is a repurposed former ice factory turned multi-disciplinary cultural center located in Valencia’s m...

  20. 20 Museo Nacional de Cerámica y Artes Suntuarias "González Martí
    Museums Popular

    Museo Nacional de Cerámica y Artes Suntuarias "González Martí

    The Museo Nacional de Cerámica y Artes Suntuarias González Martí is housed in the Palace of the Marquis of Dos Aguas, a...

  21. 21 Teatro Olympia
    Venues Popular

    Teatro Olympia

    Teatre Olympia is a historic performing arts venue located in the heart of Valencia, originally inaugurated in 1915. The...

  22. 22 Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia
    Museums Popular

    Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia

    The Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia is the second-largest art gallery in Spain, housed in the former Colegio Seminario...

  23. 23 CCCC (Centro del Carmen de Cultura Contemporánea)
    Places of interest Popular

    CCCC (Centro del Carmen de Cultura Contemporánea)

    The Centro del Carmen de Cultura Contemporánea (CCCC) operates within the former Royal Monastery of Our Lady of Carmen,...

  24. 24 Mercado Municipal del Cabañal
    Places of interest Popular

    Mercado Municipal del Cabañal

    Mercado Municipal del Cabañal is a neighborhood market located in the historic maritime district of Valencia, housed in...

  25. 25 Jardín Botánico
    Parks Popular

    Jardín Botánico

    Founded in 1802 and managed by the University of Valencia, this 4-hectare garden serves as both a scientific research ce...

  26. 26 Parque Central
    Parks Popular

    Parque Central

    Parque Central is a major urban regeneration project in Valencia designed by landscape architect Kathryn Gustafson, buil...

  27. 27 El Micalet
    Historical places Popular

    El Micalet

    El Micalet is the detached octagonal bell tower of the Valencia Cathedral, constructed between 1381 and 1429. It stands...

  28. 28 Estadio Ciudad de Valencia
    Venues Popular

    Estadio Ciudad de Valencia

    Estadio Ciudad de Valencia is the primary home stadium for Levante UD, located in the Rascanya district of Valencia. Fol...

  29. 29 Puerta del Mar
    Historical places Popular

    Puerta del Mar

    Puerta del Mar is a monumental stone gate located at the edge of the historic center of Valencia, serving as a commemora...

  30. 30 Jardines de Monforte
    Parks Popular

    Jardines de Monforte

    Jardines de Monforte is a neoclassical garden in Valencia, designated as a Historic-Artistic Garden in 1941. The site fe...

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Frequently asked

How many attractions are there in Valencia?

Aventuro lists 683 curated attractions in and around Valencia, sorted by popularity.

What's the top attraction in Valencia?

Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is the most popular place to visit in Valencia right now.

What kind of attractions does Valencia have?

The largest category is temples, with 207 places to explore.

Which other cities are worth visiting nearby?

Travellers also explore Madrid, Barcelona, Seville.