- Valencia holds the title of World Design Capital (2022) and was named the European Green Capital in 2024.
- 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.
- 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.
- The Holy Grail, recognized by the Vatican as authentic, is housed in a dedicated chapel within the Valencia Cathedral.
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.
Highlights of Valencia
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Museums
Explore world-class science and arts facilities housed in futuristic, iconic architecture.
Zoos
Visit the largest aquarium in Europe, featuring a specialized underwater tunnel system.
Zoos
Observe animals in immersive, barrier-free habitats designed to mimic their natural ecosystems.
Historical places
Climb these massive 14th-century gothic gates for panoramic views of the city center.
Parks
Walk, cycle, or jog through a repurposed riverbed that spans the entire width of the city.
Temples
View the ornate chapel housing the chalice traditionally associated with the Holy Grail.
Historical places
Tour this UNESCO World Heritage site featuring dramatic twisting stone columns in the main hall.
Temples
Admire the extensive 15th-century frescoes covering the vaulted ceilings of this vibrant church.
Top things to do in Valencia
The 685 highest-rated places in Valencia, ranked by travellers.
1
Museums
The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is an expansive cultural and architectural complex located in the former riverbed...
2
Zoos
Oceanogràfic València is the largest aquarium in Europe, housing over 45,000 animals representing 500 different species....
3
Zoos
Bioparc Valencia is a zoo designed around the concept of 'zoo-immersion,' which hides physical barriers to create the il...
4
Historical places
Torres de Serranos is one of twelve gates that formed part of the ancient Christian city wall of Valencia, constructed b...
5
Parks
Jardín del Turia is a 9-kilometer-long urban park constructed in the former riverbed of the Turia River, which was diver...
6
Temples
Valencia Cathedral is a 13th-century religious landmark built on the site of a former Roman temple and a subsequent Visi...
7
Historical places
La Lonja de la Seda is a masterpiece of Valencian Gothic civil architecture constructed between 1482 and 1533. It served...
8
Parks
Jardines del Real, locally known as Viveros, is a historic garden located on the site of the former Royal Palace of Vale...
9
Historical places
The Quart Towers are a surviving segment of the 15th-century medieval defensive walls that once encircled Valencia. Cons...
10
Temples
Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari y San Pedro Mártir features nearly 2,000 square meters of high-baroque frescoes covering...
11
Beaches and ponds
Platja del Cabanyal is a wide, urban beach stretching along the Mediterranean coast of Valencia, connected directly to t...
12
Parks
Parque de Cabecera marks the westernmost tip of the Turia Gardens, a vast green belt created in the diverted bed of the...
13
Venues
Teatre Olympia is a historic performing arts venue located in the heart of Valencia, originally inaugurated in 1915. The...
14
Parks
Founded in 1802 and managed by the University of Valencia, this 4-hectare garden serves as both a scientific research ce...
15
Parks
Parque Central is a major urban regeneration project in Valencia designed by landscape architect Kathryn Gustafson, buil...
16
Museums
The Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia is the second-largest art gallery in Spain, housed in the former Colegio Seminario...
17
Historical places
El Micalet is the detached octagonal bell tower of the Valencia Cathedral, constructed between 1381 and 1429. It stands...
18
Venues
Estadio Ciudad de Valencia is the primary home stadium for Levante UD, located in the Rascanya district of Valencia. Fol...
19
Historical places
Puerta del Mar is a monumental stone gate located at the edge of the historic center of Valencia, serving as a commemora...
20
Parks
Jardines de Monforte is a neoclassical garden in Valencia, designated as a Historic-Artistic Garden in 1941. The site fe...
21
Temples
The Real Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados is the primary shrine dedicated to the patron saint of Valencia,...
22
Museums
The Museo Fallero houses the 'ninots indultats' (pardoned figures) saved from the flames during the annual Fallas festiv...
23
Parks
Parque de Benicalap is an 80,000-square-meter urban park in northwest Valencia that integrates recreational sports facil...
24
Places of interest
Tinglado 2 is a historic early 20th-century industrial warehouse located in Valencia’s Marina Real, repurposed as an ope...
25
Parks
Parc de la Canaleta is a prominent recreational green space in Mislata, situated on the western border of Valencia. The...
26
Venues
The Palau de la Música de València is a prominent cultural venue located within the historic Turia riverbed park. Design...
27
Places of interest
Puente de las Flores- Alcaldesa Rita Barberá is a bridge in Valencia, Spain, uniquely characterized by its permanent dis...
28
Venues
Teatro Talia is a historic mid-sized theater located in the heart of Valencia's Ciutat Vella district. It serves as one...
29
Parks
El Parterre, officially known as Plaça d'Alfons el Magnànim, is a historic garden square in the heart of Valencia establ...
30
Parks
Parque del Oeste serves as a major recreational hub in western Valencia, characterized by extensive swimming facilities...
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Valencia on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Valencia
April to June or September to October, when the Mediterranean climate is mild and avoids the intense humidity and heat of peak summer.
3-4 days to explore both the historic center and the coastal regions.
The city is highly walkable, supplemented by an extensive metro and tram network and an extensive flat-terrain cycling infrastructure.
Stay in El Carmen for proximity to medieval landmarks or the Eixample district for refined 19th-century architecture and shopping.
Mid-range; generally more affordable than Madrid or Barcelona for dining and accommodation.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 685 curated attractions in and around Valencia, ranked by traveller ratings.
Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is the highest-rated place to visit in Valencia right now.
The largest category is temples, with 233 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Madrid, Vigo, Barcelona.
Explore more of Spain
Other cities ranked by number of curated places.
