A group of people standing around a fountain in a city

Valencia

Valencia is a Spanish city where you can walk a Gothic old town, eat paella near the sea and stroll a park built in a former riverbed.

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Valencia is Spain's third-largest city, on the Mediterranean coast in the east of the country. Its old town holds the cathedral and La Lonja de la Seda, a late Gothic silk exchange with a trading hall that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Santiago Calatrava, sits at the edge of the center. Paella has its roots in this region, and the rice for it grows in the Albufera wetlands to the south.

The Turia gardens follow the riverbed the city diverted after a 1957 flood, and they run about 9 km through the city. Valencia suits first-time visitors who want good food, a city center they can walk and beaches within reach. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons. Las Fallas, in March, fills the streets with fireworks and large papier-mâché monuments. Two to three days cover the old town and the gardens, and a longer stay adds the beaches and the Albufera.

Valencia in five

Book the Oceanogràfic and science museum onlineThe City of Arts and Sciences has several paid venues; the esplanade is free. The aquarium lists adult tickets at about €36 to €43 depending on the date, so pick a date and slot and keep the rest of the day for the Turia gardens.Valencia in 3 days
Take metro line 3 or 5 from the airportBoth lines run from Aeroport to the center in roughly 25–30 minutes, so a taxi rarely pays. The ticket carries an airport supplement, so buy it at the machines before the platform.
Eat paella at lunch, not dinnerValencians treat paella as a lunch dish. Ask for paella valenciana, with chicken, rabbit and green beans, and treat a seafood rice on the menu as a different dish.
Book early if Las Fallas is your tripLas Fallas runs 15–19 March, with a mascletà daily from 1 March, street closures and the burning of the sculptures on the final night. Rooms in the old town and Ruzafa go first.Where to stay in Valencia
Pair it with Barcelona only if you have a weekMadrid, Valencia and the coast make an easier loop by train than Barcelona and Valencia in a weekend. Decide which city gets your nights first.Valencia or Barcelona

Things to do in Valencia

See all attractions in Valencia

Park · ValenciaGulliver parkGo early to avoid busier periods and sun-heated slides.

Garden · ValenciaJardín BotánicoChoose a sunny day, and bring a hat or sunscreen because shade is limited in some areas.

Museum · ValenciaArt Modern Institute Museum of ValenciaAllow time to reflect on the themes explored in the exhibitions.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to ValenciaPut the places you like in Valencia on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Valencia (VLC), about 25–30 min by metro lines 3 and 5
Getting there: High-speed train from Madrid in about 1 hr 40 min to 2 hours; Barcelona about 3 hours
Getting around: Walking, metro, tram and bikes; the Turia gardens link most sights
Best base: Ciutat Vella or Ruzafa; Cabanyal for the beach
Time needed: 3 days; 4 with the Albufera

Weather by month

Rainy days
Festival

Best
Good

JanuaryClear4 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Mild, quiet
FebruaryClear4 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Mild, almond blossom
MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low9°Las Fallas
AprilPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Warm, easy
MayClear5 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Warm, beach
JuneClear4 rainy daysHigh29°Low19°Hot, Sant Joan
JulyClear2 rainy daysHigh32°Low22°Hot, humid
AugustClear4 rainy daysHigh32°Low22°Hot, Tomatina nearby
SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Warm sea
OctoberClear6 rainy daysHigh25°Low16°Mild, quieter
NovemberClear5 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Mild, cool
DecemberClear5 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Mild, lights

Average daily high and low in Valencia, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Sep Festivity of ‘la Mare de Déu de la Salut’ of Algemesí

Right now in Valencia

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 18°
Humidity: 69%
Wind: 9 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Valencia Region

09:46 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today21°14°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue18°14°33%Tuesday: Fog. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 33%.
Wed16°10°20%Wednesday: Rain. High 16°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 20%.
Thu20°12°30%Thursday: Rain. High 20°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 30%.
Fri20°9°4%Friday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 4%.
Sat22°11°15%Saturday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 15%.
Sun21°16°18%Sunday: Rain. High 21°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 18%.

Updated 09:32 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Valencia

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Every year

SepFestivity of ‘la Mare de Déu de la Salut’ of AlgemesíValencia

Day trips by train

Albufera lagoonabout 30 min by bus or carRice fields, a freshwater lagoon and sunset boats; El Palmar is the paella village.
Cuencaabout 1 hour by high-speed trainA cliff-top old town with hanging houses, best as a long day or a night.Read the guide
Alicanteabout 2 hours by trainBeaches and a castle hill, a simple way to add the Costa Blanca.Read the guide

Before you go to Valencia

Hotels in old town or RuzafaWalkable bases near the metroCheck availability

Oceanogràfic and museum ticketsTimed entry skips the ticket queueBook timed entry

eSIM for ValenciaMetro apps and maps on landingRead the guide

Insurance for ValenciaTheft and delay cover in crowdsRead the guide

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Rules for Valencia, checked

Central Market: open Monday to Saturday, 7:30 to 15:00, closed Sundays. Lonja de la Seda: €2, free on Sundays and public holidays.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Oceanogràfic: adult tickets €35.90 to €43.05 depending on the date; hours vary by season and the ticket office closes an hour before closing.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source

All Valencia guides

Head to headValencia or Barcelona: which city fits your trip?Checked Oct 1, 2026

ItineraryValencia in 3 days: old town, Turia gardens and the seaChecked Oct 1, 2026

Where to stayWhere to stay in Valencia: five bases, from the old town to the beachChecked Oct 1, 2026

Plan around Valencia

Cuenca travel guide

Hanging houses an hour from Valencia by fast train

Read the guide Trains in Spain

Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo compared for Madrid and the coast

Read the guide All of Spain

Cities, trains, islands and entry rules for a Spain trip

Read the guide

Valencia FAQ

How many days do you need in Valencia?

Three days cover the old town, the City of Arts and Sciences, the Turia gardens and a beach afternoon. Two works if you skip the paid venues. Add a fourth day for the Albufera or Cuenca.

Is Valencia worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you want a big Spanish city with a beach, a cheap metro and few steep hills. It is less crowded than Barcelona, and most sights sit within a short bike ride of each other.

Is Valencia good for a beach holiday?

The city beaches, Malvarrosa and Las Arenas, are wide and easy by tram or bus, and good for a half day. For coves and clear water, go south to the Costa Blanca or north-east of the Albufera.

Where should I stay in Valencia?

Ciutat Vella for sights on foot, Ruzafa for restaurants and bars, Cabanyal for the beach. The metro makes every base workable, so choose by evenings rather than sights.

When is the best time to visit Valencia?

April, May, June, September and October are warm without the July and August heat. March is the Las Fallas month: spectacular, loud and the most expensive time for rooms.