Valencia sits on the eastern coast of Spain, 350 kilometres south of Barcelona. The city was founded by the Romans in 138 BC. Today it is Spain third-largest city with 800,000 residents. Valencia offers a blend of historic architecture and futuristic design. The City of Arts and Sciences was built between 1998 and 2005. The old town has streets dating from the 14th century. The Turia Park was created in 1986 after a river diversion. It runs 9 kilometres through the city. Valencias 300 sunny days per year make it a year-round destination. The paella dish was invented here in the 15th century. This guide covers the must-see attractions in Valencia for 2026.

City of Arts and Sciences: A 350,000-Square-Metre Cultural Complex

The City of Arts and Sciences was designed by Santiago Calatrava and Felix Candela. Construction began in 1998. The complex covers 350,000 square metres along 2 kilometres of the old Turia riverbed. It cost 1.3 billion euros to build. The complex has 6 main buildings. LHemisfere is a cinema with a 900-square-metre IMAX screen. Entry costs 11 euros. The Museu de les Ciencies has 40,000 square metres of interactive science exhibits. Entry costs 24 euros. Lumbracle is a 320-metre-long garden walkway. Entry is free. LOceanografic is the largest aquarium in Europe with 42 million litres of water and 500 species. Entry costs 33.70 euros (as of 2026). The complex receives 4 million visitors per year. The best time to visit is late afternoon when the white buildings catch the golden light. The complex is open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM in winter and 10 AM to 9 PM in summer.

Valencia Old Town: 2,000 Years of History in 1 Square Kilometre

Valencia old town covers about 1 square kilometre. The Plaza de la Virgen marks the site of the Roman forum. The Valencia Cathedral was built between 1262 and 1356. It claims to hold the Holy Grail, a 1st-century agate cup. Entry costs 8 euros. The climb to the tower, El Miguelete, has 207 steps. The Central Market opened in 1928. It is one of the largest fresh food markets in Europe with 1,200 stalls. The building covers 8,000 square metres. The Silk Exchange, La Lonja, was built between 1482 and 1548. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The trading hall has 8 spiral columns rising 17 metres. Entry costs 2 euros. The Quart Towers were built in the 15th century as part of the city walls. The walls were 4 kilometres long with 4 gates. Only 2 towers survive. The old town has 30 churches and 50 palaces.

Turia Park: A 9-Kilometre Urban Park

Turia Park was created after the Turia River was diverted in 1969 following a catastrophic flood in 1957 that killed 80 people. The riverbed was converted into a park in 1986. The park runs 9 kilometres through the city. It covers 110 hectares. It is the largest urban park in Spain. The park has 15 sports facilities including football pitches, basketball courts, and a running track. The Gulliver playground features a giant sculpture of Gulliver from Gullivers Travels. Children can climb the ropes and slides covering the 70-metre-long figure. The park has 7,000 trees including pine, palm, and orange varieties. The Parque de Cabecera at the western end has a lake with pedal boats. The park connects the City of Arts and Sciences to the BioParc zoo. Entry to the park is free. It is open 24 hours a day. The best sections to visit are between the City of Arts and Sciences and the Cabecera Park.

Malvarrosa Beach: 1.5 Kilometres of Urban Sand

Malvarrosa Beach stretches 1.5 kilometres along Valencias coastline. The sand was imported from the Sahara Desert in the 1980s. The beach is 50 metres wide at low tide. The water is shallow and calm. The beach has a Blue Flag rating for water quality. Sunbed and umbrella rental costs 15 euros per day in summer (as of 2026). The promenade behind the beach has 30 restaurants serving paella. The original paella Valenciana costs 12 to 18 euros per person. The neighbourhood of El Cabanyal was a fishing village until the 19th century. It has streets laid out in a grid pattern with 200 houses dating from the 18th century. The Maritime Museum of Valencia opened in 2017. Entry costs 5 euros. The beach is a 15-minute tram ride from the city centre. The tram runs every 10 minutes and costs 1.50 euros one way.

Would you explore Valencias futuristic City of Arts or its 2,000-year-old Old Town first? 🏖️

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