Things to do in Valencia

Valencia is much more than paella and the beach. A very important city for centuries, it offers many interesting attractions and one of Spain´s most important festivals. In this guide with the best things to do in Valencia we provide you will the best ideas, especially if it is your first time visiting the city.

Maybe you are up for an adventure and you want to experience Valencia like a local, or maybe are you traveling with Family. Our local experts have put togther a series of vacation ideas to help you tailor the perfect trip for YOU.

You can also have a look at our Valencia visitors guide or at our Valencia tourist map.

Enjoy planning your trip to Valencia!

Recommended things to do in Valencia

Turia Gardens

The Turia Gardens are located within the Ciudad de las Arters y de las Ciencias complex. These spectacular gardens are crisscrossed by more than a dozen bridges that will take you over a river that’s no longer there.

The Turia Gardens are one of the country’s largest urban parks. The garden was developed a catastrophic flood in 1957, when the Turia river overflowed, destroying a large part of urban Valencia. The Turia river was then diverted over the course of the mid-to-late 1960s.

The gardens feature local plant varieties including orange and palm trees. The park’s facilities also include cafes, soccer fields, children’s play areas, rugby pitches, fountains, baseball diamonds, running tracks, skate parks, and miniature golf courses.

Church of San Nicolás

The Parish Church-Museum of San Nicolás and San Pedro Mártir de Valencia is a beautiful church located between Calle Caballeros 35 and Plaza de San Nicolás in the historic center of Valencia, specifically between the neighborhoods of La Seu, El Carme and El Mercat.

It is one of the best examples of the mix between a Gothic structure from the 15th century with a spectacular Baroque decoration from the 17th century.

After its restoration in 2016 it is popularly known as the Valencian Sistine Chapel. It has its usual hours of worship and also a schedule for tourist or cultural visits.

Plaza del Ayuntamiento

This is the main square of the city of Valencia. This large city square is where you will find the ayuntamiento or town hall. This building has a tourist information office if you need any info on the city while you are visiting.

The square is surrounded by a variety of different attractive buildings and it is a good meeting point from which to start you exploration of the city.

This square is also the epicenter of the famous Fallas celebration that takes place every year in March.

Palacio del Marques de Dos Aguas

The Palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas is located in the historic center of Valencia.

Where this urban palatial estate now sits, it is rumored that there was once a Roman burial ground from the 1st to 3rd centuries AD, due to the findings in one of its patios on September 9, 1743.

The building that can be visited today is destined to house the González Martí National Museum of Ceramics.

Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia

The fine Arts Museum of Valencia is a must if you a fan of art. The museum houses works of famous Spanish painters of the caliber of Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco. The museum also features a wide collection of medieval art.

The museum has 2,000 paintings and statues, some dating back to the 14th century. The building itself is also quite interesting. It was once the home of the Seminary College of Saint Pius V, which dates back to the 17th century.

Things to do in Valencia

Things to do in Valencia

Recommended things to do in Valencia

Turia Gardens

Church of San Nicolás

Plaza del Ayuntamiento

Palacio del Marques de Dos Aguas

Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia

Restaurants you can Enjoy in Valencia