Valencia
The city of Valencia is known as one of the hottest and most exhilarating destinations in Spain. It is trendy, fashionable and an ideal place to visit for a holiday or just a city break – whether you are seeking a culture, beach or urban fix, there’s always something here for curious travelers. Valencia is packed with history and culture and is located along the Mediterranean Sea. Further inland, natural beauty abounds with a mountain range towering over the coastline.
Location
Valencia, Spain’s third biggest city, is located along the East Coast ( Costa Levante) of the Iberian Peninsula. It is the closest city in the peninsula to the Balearic Islands, you can easily get a ferry to the islands of Ibiza, Mallorca and Formentera from Valencia. Next to Valencia, you can find Alicante and Benidorm – other famous beach cities that get extremely crowded in summer. With such a prime location and close proximity to Madrid (3hours by car), Valencia makes a a popular travel destination for both Spaniards and international tourists.
How to get to Valencia
Visitors outside Europe come to Valencia via Madrid as the Madrid Barajas International Airport (MAD) is the main gateway to the country. Valencia is easily connected to Madrid via domestic flights, bus or train. Valencia is served by Valencia Airport (airport code: VLC), which is located at 9 km from the city center. There are buses connecting the airport to the city center. The flight time between Madrid and Valencia is 1 hour. The following companies offer non-stop flights: Air Europa and Iberia. Each carrier offers at least 4 flights per day.
Trains to Valencia are easily available and affordable. Valencia can be reached from Madrid (3.5hours), Barcelona (3hrs15mins), Alicante (1hr) and Seville (2hrs50mins). Buses in Spain represent one of the best ways to travel in the country and Valencia is well connected to all the major Spanish cities. Many European countries offer bus connections via Madrid as well.
More information on
>>Getting from Madrid to Valencia (and return)
What do see and do
City of Arts and Sciences
Travelers coming from different parts of Europe come to witness the City of Arts and Sciences and a few of the things you can visit include the biggest aquarium on the whole continent, the IMAX laser cinema, the Palau de les Artes and the Plau de la Musica. City of Arts and Sciences is located in the stunning Turia Gardens, a very attractive part of the city of Valencia.
Tour the Old District
A tour to Valencia will never be complete without visiting the historic district. You can visit the Cathedral and El Miguelet and have a glimpse at the Holy Grails. Make sure to check out the bars and cafes in this area as well. Don’t forget though to visit Barrio del Carmen, situated in the northern part of the Historic Quarter, as it is deemed as the most fashionable and famous spots to go in the evening.
Nightlife in Valencia
The nightlife in this city starts late and is known as one of the Europe’s finest. There are incredible options of bars, clubs, discos, theaters and restaurants. The best places to seek out Valencia’s pumping nightlife are located in its old quarters, near the Cathedral, where some of the best bars are located.
Theaters
The city of Valencia is filled with arts and culture so you can check out at least one of the countless theaters of Valencia. The newly opened Palau de les Artes is a good option to check out if you are staying in Valencia for only couple of days.
Shopping
You’ll definitely love this! Valencia is home to so many fashionable shops and famous stores such as El Corte Ingles, Mango and Zara, all providing excellent fashions at reasonable prices. You will truly experience the cliché “shop ‘till you dop” in this lovely city.
Festivals
If you are fortunate to visit Valencia during any festival then there will truly be something special waiting for you. Valencia’s festivals are exciting, extravagant, fun and should never be missed. Some of the most famous include La Tomatina and Las Fallas.
Beaches
One of the great things about visiting this beautiful Spanish city is that it is actually located right next to the Mediterranean Sea. Literally, there are miles and miles of white beaches in Valencia that are waiting for your visit.
Museums
Valencia serves as a home to many beautiful museums, varying from arts, to natural sciences museum and everything else in between.
Where to stay
There are a variety of places to stay, varying in price range and style, all around Valencia. Depending on which area you are interested in visiting, you can then decide on a good location for your hotel. For culture vultures keen on spending more time in its old centre, then getting a hotel in the old town would be your best bet. If you’d like to spend more time exploring the modern side of Valencia, then a hotel near the Ciutat de las Artes y Ciencias would be highly recommended. For travelers who like a bargain, there are many inexpensive Valencia hostels that provide comfortable rooms, a great location, and a beautiful view of the Cathedral for both families and groups of friends. There are also cheap hotels in Valencia and short-term-apartments that have prices ranging down to €37 a night.