City map

Quick view

Top 10 sights

Spain
General Information

Nightlife

Restaurants

Calendar of events

Hotels
We recommend, you book at

Weather & best time to visit

22:00 UTC

Phone calls & Internet

Shopping in Valencia

Find rental car

Travel etiquette
How to fit in

Health

Visa & Immigration

Share city guide with friends

Valencia – a brief overview
A torrent of investment has seen parts of Valencia radically transformed over the last decade. The modern art museum, IVAM, was reimagined by Japanese design team SANAA, the harbour has been revamped, and the mind-blowing Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences) by Valencia-born architect Santiago Calatrava has become a stunning landmark. But long before this modern renaissance, Spain’s third city was a destination rich in art and history.
Founded in antiquity, Valencia was ruled by the Romans and Moors, before becoming a key Mediterranean port town in the 15th century. Apart from the gorgeous historic centre, there are pleasant beaches, the Albufera nature reserve to the south, and the legendary Las Fallas effify-burning festival in March.
Flight and accommodation
Best price search


Top 10 sights in Valencia

Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències
46013 Valencia
Spain
Tel: +34 902 100 031
Show on map
Opening times:
Daily 1000-2100 (Jul-Aug)
Daily 1000-1900 (mid-Apr to Jun, Sep to mid-Oct and Christmas holidays)
Mon-Thu 1000-1800 (mid-Oct to mid-Apr)
Fri-Sun 1000-1900 (mid-Oct to mid-Apr)
The jaw-dropping ‘city of arts and sciences’ looks like a giant metal whale, but apart from housing Europe’s biggest aquarium, it houses a science museum, planetarium and a vast IMAX screen.
Institut Valencià d’Art Modern
46210 Valencia
Spain
Tel: +34 96 386 3000
Show on map
Opening times:
Tue-Sun 1000-1900
IVAM hosts exhibitions from around the world and a fascinating permanent collection of contemporary art, while in the basement are remains of the city’s medieval ramparts.
Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia
46010 Valencia
Spain
Tel: +34 96 387 0300
Show on map
Opening times:
Mon 1100-1700
Tue-Sun 1000-1900
One of Spain’s most unmissable museums, Bellas Artes is situated in a historic 17th-century building that has been sensitively restored and contains works by Goya and Velázquez.
Museo Nacional de Cerámica
46002 Valencia
Spain
Tel: +34 96 351 6392
Show on map
Opening times:
Tue-Sat 1000-1400 and 1600-2000
Sun 1000-1400
Celebrating the ceramics history of the Valencia region and beyond, the 18th-century palace that hosts the museum is compelling in itself, with its striking marble-sculpted entrance.
Museo Fallero
46004 Valencia
Spain
Tel: +34 96 352 5478
Show on map
Opening times:
Tue-Sat 1000-1900 (mid-Mar to mid-Oct)
Tue-Sat 1000-1800 (mid-Oct to mid-Mar)
Sun 1000-1500
The Fallas is Valencia’s landmark festival taking place every March, known for its colossal papier mâché figures of famous people, some of the best of which are collected in this novel museum.
Cathedral
46003 Valencia
Spain
Tel: +34 96 391 8127
Show on map
Opening times:
Mon-Sat 1000-1830 (mid-Mar to Oct)
Sun 1400-1830 (mid-Mar to Oct)
Mon-Sat 1000-1730 (Nov to mid-Mar)
Christianity reached Spain by the fourth century and its mighty cathedral has the honour of holding what is claimed to be the Holy Grail, as well as two Goyas, and a breathtaking melange of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
El Patriarca: Real Colegio del Corpus Christi
46003 Valencia
Spain
Tel: +34 96 351 4176
Show on map
Opening times:
Mon-Sat 1000-1300 and 1630-1930 (Sep-Jul)
Mon-Sat 1000-1300 (Aug)
Dating back to the 16th century, when it was founded by San Juan de Ribera, this seminary is the most stunning example of Valencia’s Renaissance architecture. It includes a museum with work by the likes of Ribalta and El Greco.
Church of San Nicolás
46001 Valencia
Spain
Tel: +34 96 391 3317
Show on map
Opening times:
Mon 0730-2000
Tue-Sat 1030-1800
Sun 1030-1300
Valencia’s oldest church melds Gothic and baroque design, with a glorious altar lavished in gold decoration. It dates back to the 13th century and claims Pope Callixtus III as one of its former rectors.
Lonja de la Seda
46001 Valencia
Spain
Tel: +34 96 208 4153
Show on map
Opening times:
Mon-Sat 0930-1900
Sun 0930-1500
The Lonja’s name means ‘the silk exchange’, and as a remnant of Valencia’s golden age in the 15th century, is one of the most spectacular Gothic buildings in Spain.
Estació del Nord
46007 Valencia
Spain
Tel: +34 902 320 320
Show on map
Opening times:
Mon-Sat 0345-2355
Sun 0600-2355
If arriving by train into Valencia, be sure to stop for a few minutes to admire this grand Moderniste station, designed by Demetrio Ribes Mano in 1917.
Flight and accommodation
Country Information
Country overview
Spain is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. Endless beaches, brilliant sunshine and azure waters draw beach lovers to the Mediterranean coast, and the Balearic and Canary Islands. But visitors also flock to see the historical architecture of cities, such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Leon, Seville and Segovia.
If you want to experience the real Spain, don’t go to bed too early. In these parts, people stroll the city squares and dine out late into the night.
Geography
Spain accounts for roughly four-fifths of the Iberian Peninsula, with Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar occupying the remainder. In the northeast, the Pyrenees form a natural frontier to France. The state territory also encompasses the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera) located southeast of Barcelona, in the Mediterranean, and the Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa. Ceuta, Chafarinas, Melilla and Ladu are tiny Spanish exclaves in North Africa, relics of the former Spanish Empire.
Spain is a mountainous country. The Pyrenees extend for 400 kilometers from the Basque Country in the northwest to the Mediterranean. Some peaks rise more than 3000 meters above sea level; the highest elevation here is the Pico de Aneto at 3404 meters above sea level. The country’s interior consists of a vast plateau, the Meseta, which is intersected by a number of mountain ranges.
In the north and northwest, the Meseta is bordered by the Cantabrian Mountains and the Iberian Mountains, and in the South by the Sierra Morena, beyond which lies the Guadalquivir Valley. Galicia’s mountainous landscape runs along the jagged Atlantic coast. The extreme south is also mountainous; the Sierra Nevada southeast of Granada belongs to the Betic Cordilleras, which run parallel to the Mediterranean and include the highest mountain on the Spanish mainland, the Mulhacén (3481 meters above sea level). The highest elevation on Spanish territory is the Pico del Teide (3718 meters above sea level) on Tenerife.
Spain has just under 5000 kilometers of coastline. The Mediterranean coast extends from the French border to the Rock of Gibraltar. The Strait of Gibraltar connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean and divides Spain from North Africa.
General Information
Key facts
Population: 46.33 million (2017)
Capital: Madrid.
Language
The official language is Spanish (Castellano, Castilian). In the Autonomous Communities of the Basque region, Galicia, Catalonia, Valencia, Navarra and the Balearic Islands, the relevant regional languages are also used as second official languages according to the Statutes of Autonomy. In tourist areas, English and German are commonly spoken foreign languages.
Electricity
220 V, 50 Hz (sometimes 110/125 V in older buildings in smaller places)
Currency
1 euro = 100 cents
Currency sign/abbreviation: €, EUR (ISO code). Banknotes are available in the values 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, coins, in the nominal values 1 and 2 euros, as well as 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.
Public holidays
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2019 – December 2020 period. Please note
Please note
a) Several regional public holidays also exist.
b) It is usual for public holidays which fall on a Sunday to be substituted by work-free days on subsequent weekdays.
* not in all parts of the country
2019
Año Nuevo (New Year’s): 1 January 2019
Epifanía (Epiphany): 6 January 2019
Día de San José (St. Joseph’s Day): 19 March 2019*
Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday): 18 April 2019*
Viernes Santo (Good Friday): 19 April 2019
Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday): 21 April 2019
Día del Trabajo (Labor Day): 1 May 2019
Asunción de la Virgen (Assumption Day): 15 August 2019
Fiesta Nacional de España (Spanish National Day): 12 October 2019
Fiesta de Todos los Santos (All Saints’ Day): 1 November 2019
Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day): 6 December 2019
La Inmaculada (Feast of the Immaculate Conception): 8 and 9 December 2019
Navidad (Christmas): 25 December 2019
2020
Año Nuevo (New Year’s): 1 January 2020
Epifanía (Epiphany): 6 January 2020
Día de San José (St. Joseph’s Day): 19 March 2020*
Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday): 9 April 2020*
Viernes Santo (Good Friday): 10 April 2020
Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday): 12 April 2020
Día del Trabajo (Labor Day): 1 May 2020
Asunción de la Virgen (Assumption Day): 15 August 2020
Fiesta Nacional de España (Spanish National Day): 12 October 2020
Fiesta de Todos los Santos (All Saints’ Day): 1 and 2 November 2020*
Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day): 6 December 2020
La Inmaculada (Feast of the Immaculate Conception): 8 December 2020
Navidad (Christmas): 25 December 2020
Information subject to error.
Flight and accommodation
Nightlife in Valencia
Calle Caballeros near the cathedral features several popular bars and clubs based out of old restored buildings, often with terraces, meaning that the party fills the street.
As with much of Spain, the night starts late in Valencia, so be sure to eat well in one of the countless tapas bars first.
Café Infanta
46001 Valencia
Spain
Show on map
This legendary bar in the historic centre offers superb cocktails and tapas in a glitzy setting.
Radio City
46001 Valencia
Spain
Show on map
With eclectic live music, flamenco shows and a lively crowd, Radio City is an unmissable nightspot.
Tasca Angel
46001 Valencia
Spain
Show on map
Apart from serving the best tapas in town at the stand-up bar, this is the buzziest drinker in town.
El Laboratorio
46003 Valencia
Spain
Show on map
Right by the cathedral, this welcoming little bar boasts stunning cocktails and a cosmopolitan crowd.
Café de la Seu
46003 Valencia
Spain
Show on map
Head here for laid-back drinks in a classic but cheerful setting with high ceilings and contemporary art.
Flight and accommodation
Restaurants in Valencia
Valencia is known throughout Spain for its distinct cooking inspired by seafood from the nearby coast, and there are many fantastic fish restaurants.
Be sure to explore the many tapas bars too, as wells as classic paella eateries, and a number of well-heeled gastronomic options.
Joaquin Schmidt
46009 Valencia
Spain
Show on map
Price: Expensive
This quirky little restaurant has been serving up adventurous Spanish cuisine for more than a decade.
Bodega Casa Montana
46011 Valencia
Spain
Show on map
Price: Moderate
A local stalwart since 1836, this classic tapas bar is based near the port in the old fishermen’s barrio of El Cabañal.
La Pepica
46011 Valencia
Spain
Show on map
Price: Moderate
For paella in a traditional white-tiled restaurant that counts Hemingway among its past diners, head to Pepica.
Canela
46001 Valencia
Spain
Show on map
Price: Cheap
This straightforward, fuss-free restaurant serves great traditional food, from Spanish hams to Valencian paellas.
Tanto Monta
46021 Valencia
Spain
Show on map
Price: Cheap
A lively local favourite, Tanto Monta’s large and delicious tapas are matched only by its terrific atmosphere.
Flight and accommodation
Calendar of events
Fallas de Valencia
3 – 19 March 2019
Venue: Various locations throughout Valencia, including in front of the Town Hall
As one of Spain’s most spectacular traditional festivals, Las Fallas is a massive fire festivity largely celebrated in the Valencia community. Larger-than-life figures or puppets, known asninots, are created from wood and papier mâché and paraded all over the city during the week leading to the Fallas. On the last day of the festival, these giant figures are set on fire, lighting up the city in blazing heat. The festival usually involves a whole year of preparation and the falleras put on their best traditional costumes to parade on the streets of Valencia. It is a special occasion in Valencia, so if you’re here in March, make sure you don’t miss it!
Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians)
April 2019
Website
Venue: Alcoi and Valencia
Large-scale processions and ‘battles’ of the Moors and Christians take place all over the region, with the most impressive ones found in Alcoi, 11km (7 miles) south of Valencia. It is a ritual encounter between the foes of old times: the Moors and the Christians. The battles are re-enacted in full historic costume along the streets of Alcoi. The costumes are opulent and the weapons convincing. The second day is dedicated mainly to St George, with a religious procession in the morning and a general parade in the afternoon. On the third day, all hell breaks loose as the adversaries meet in battle. Clouds of smoke fill the streets when the antique-style muskets are fired over and over again.
Fiesta de San Juan
23 – 24 June 2019
Venue: Various locations in Valencia and by the beach
The summer solstice is celebrated in full vigour in the Valencia community and this celebration is known as the Fiesta de San Juan. On the longest day of the year, the beach is dotted with bonfires and the skies are lit up with dazzling fireworks. It is said that the fires would give more strength to the sun, which loses energy after the summer solstice. The best places in the Valencia region to join in the celebrations are in Alicante, Denia, Torrevieja and Benidorm where giant figures are set on fire along the beach.
Feria de Julio
July 2019
Venue: Various venues in Valencia
Every city or town in Spain has its own annual fair. These fairs, known as ferias, are flamboyant carnivals packed full of feasting, drinking and dancing. In Valencia, the feria is spread throughout the city, with cultural activities interspersed with performing arts spectacles. The highlights of the Valencia feria are the ‘battle of the flowers’ (last Sunday of the month), the International Musical Band Competition (first fortnight), Feria de San Jaime bullfights (second and third weeks) and the zarzuela (Spanish light opera).
La Tomatina
28 August 2019
Venue: Village of Buñol, 40km (24 miles) west of Valencia
Famed as one of the craziest festivals in Spain, La Tomatina is a messy tomato fight that takes place in the town of Buñol, not far from Valencia. Thousands of participants come from all over Spain to Buñol to take part in this massive food fight. The festival begins with the palo jabón: where revellers aim to climb up a greasy pole with ajamón on top. Participants then spend a whole hour throwing tomatoes at one another; by the end of it, the whole town square is coloured red and rivers of tomato juice flow freely. Accommodation is extremely expensive during the festival, so be sure to book early.
All information subject to change. Please check the dates on the relevant event organizer’s website.
Flight and accommodation
Hotels in Valencia
Given Valencia’s formidable history, there are a number of historic buildings dating back to the early 20th century and beyond which have been converted into charming boutique hotels.
There are also a few resort lodgings based out on the coast.
Hotel Hospes Palau de la Mar
46004 Valencia
Spain
Show on map
Category: Expensive
Combining two 19th-century townhouses near the old town, the Palau is dazzlingly modern inside.
Hotel Neptuno
46011 Valencia
Spain
Show on map
Category: Moderate
With striking local art by Antonio Ripollés and a view of the revamped harbour, this is a trendy choice.
Meliá Plaza
46002 Valencia
Spain
Show on map
Category: Moderate
Ideally located in the main square, this smart hotel inhabits an early-20th-century building.
SH Inglés
46002 Valencia
Spain
Show on map
Category: Cheap
Formerly the palace of the Duke of Cardona, this handsome boutique hotel has a Mediterranean restaurant and cocktail bar.
Barceló Valencia
46023 Valencia
Spain
Show on map
Category: Cheap
This large, minimalist-style hotel overlooks the stunning Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències.
Flight and accommodation
Best time to visit
Today: Thursday, 21.02.2019 22:00 UTC

sunny
temperature
7°C
wind speed
3.125 mph7 days forecast
Saturday
23.02.2019
20°C / 5°C
Sunday
24.02.2019
15°C / 10°C
Monday
25.02.2019
15°C / 7°C
Tuesday
26.02.2019
20°C / 6°C
Wednesday
27.02.2019
20°C / 7°C
Thursday
28.02.2019
17°C / 11°C
Friday
01.03.2019
18°C / 11°C
Climate & best time to visit Spain
The Spanish climate varies from region to region, spanning moderate in the north to Mediterranean in the south, and even subtropical on the Canary Islands.
The best times to visit Spain are generally in the spring and the fall, when temperatures are agreeable. In most parts of the country, it is very hot at the height of summer, but sea breezes on the coast keep it bearable; the interior is best avoided in July and August. The climate on the Atlantic coast and in all of Galicia is pleasant even in summer. In winter, you can enjoy winter sports in the Pyrenean Mountains or agreeably warm days on the south and southeast coast, as well as on the Canary Islands.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
absolute max | absolute min | Ø absolute min | Ø absolute min | relative humidity | Ø precipitation | days with deposit > 1mm | sunshine duration | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | 26 °C | -6 °C | 15 °C | 7 °C | 63 % | 32 mm | 5.2 | 4.9 h |
Feb | 29 °C | -7 °C | 16 °C | 7 °C | 61 % | 30 mm | 3.8 | 5.8 h |
Mar | 33 °C | -1 °C | 18 °C | 8 °C | 60 % | 34 mm | 4.6 | 6.1 h |
Apr | 35 °C | 2 °C | 19 °C | 10 °C | 62 % | 40 mm | 4.7 | 7.1 h |
May | 34 °C | 5 °C | 22 °C | 13 °C | 64 % | 33 mm | 4.7 | 8.2 h |
Jun | 37 °C | 9 °C | 26 °C | 17 °C | 66 % | 23 mm | 3 | 8.7 h |
Jul | 41 °C | 10 °C | 28 °C | 20 °C | 67 % | 9 mm | 0.9 | 9.8 h |
Aug | 40 °C | 12 °C | 29 °C | 20 °C | 69 % | 21 mm | 1.9 | 9.0 h |
Sep | 37 °C | 7 °C | 27 °C | 18 °C | 68 % | 47 mm | 4.5 | 7.6 h |
Oct | 34 °C | 3 °C | 23 °C | 14 °C | 67 % | 94 mm | 5.7 | 6.3 h |
Nov | 32 °C | 0 °C | 19 °C | 10 °C | 66 % | 57 mm | 4.7 | 5.0 h |
Dec | 25 °C | -2 °C | 16 °C | 7 °C | 64 % | 45 mm | 5.2 | 4.8 h |
year | 41 °C | -7 °C | 21 °C | 13 °C | 65 % | 464 mm | 48.9 | 7.0 h |
Flight and accommodation
Phone calls & Internet
Telephone
Country code: +34
Mobile telephony and Internet
Since June 2017, EU citizens traveling within the EU, and also in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein have been able to use their cell phones and surf the Net without incurring any extra charges: In other words, customers pay the same price for phone calls, text messages and data volume as they do at home. Restrictions do apply to the constant use of SIM cards abroad, however, and caps may be set on data packages. For full details, contact your mobile telephony provider in your country. Travelers using a SIM card from a non-EU state do not benefit from the new arrangement.
Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all passwords, credit card details and banking TANs entered. Use of a VPN app or security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended.
Flight and accommodation
Shopping in Valencia
Key Areas
The main shopping district in Valencia is centred around Calle Poeta Querol and Calle Colón, with high-street brands and international names such as Louis Vuitton and Alex Vidal. Try Barrio del Carmen for a more eclectic variety of shops, many of them independent.
Markets
The Mercado Central is one of the biggest of its kind in Europe, with fresh local produce on sale including fish, vegetables and breads from more than a thousand stalls. Even if you’re not looking to pick up any food, the modernist building is worth a look with its stained glass and wrought iron structure. The market in the stunning Plaza Rodonda (Calle San Vicente Martir) on Sundays is a good place to pick up souvenirs.
Shopping Centres
The most central of Valencia’s malls is the suitably named Nuevo Centro (Avenida Pío XII 2), with a wide range of different shops supplying just about every need. For high-end clothing, a luxury cinema and a variety of restaurants, try the Aqua mall (Calle Menorca 19) opposite the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències.
Flight and accommodation
Traveller etiquette
Social Conventions
It is polite in Spain to shake hands in greeting. The usual courtesies should be observed. If you are invited to someone’s home, your host will appreciate a small gift. Flowers are given only on special occasions.
Clothing
Casual dress is appropriate almost everywhere, although some hotels and restaurants require men to wear a jacket and tie; evening dress is only required for particularly formal occasions. Swimwear belongs without exception on the beach.
Smoking
A smoking ban applies in all public institutions, on public transportation, in telephone booths and in rooms containing ATMs, as well as in children’s playgrounds and schoolyards. The smoking ban also applies to all bars, cafés and restaurants. Smoking areas inside bars and restaurants are no longer permitted.
Tipping
Tips are generally included in hotel and restaurant bills. It is nevertheless usual to leave a small tip for the service staff. Porters receive a small sum per item of luggage. The usual amount tipped in restaurants is between 10 and 15 percent. When the waiter brings your change, you leave some as the tip. It is considered extremely rude, however, to leave two- or five-cent pieces. When tipping your taxi driver, simply round up the fare.
Flight and accommodation
Health
Emergency telephone number: 112
Lyme disease, TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) and leishmaniosis are all diseases which are passed on by ticks and mosquitoes and also occur in Spain. Clothing that covers the skin and insect repellents provide protection.
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B occur all over Spain. A hepatitis A vaccination is generally recommended. Visitors planning an extended stay and close contact with the local population, and generally with children and young people, should also have a hepatitis B vaccination.
Measles and whooping cough occur in Spain. Before traveling to Spain, visitors should definitely check whether their vaccinations are up to date and if necessary, get a booster shot.
Epidemic outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis occur in Spain. Visitors should seek protection by getting a vaccination and avoiding large crowds. Children and young people, in particular, should be vaccinated. According to the latest recommendations, the vaccination applies as required travel vaccination for extended stays for certain groups of people (teenagers, school and university students). Visitors should consult their physician regarding the need for vaccination in the light of recommendations in the country of destination.
Flight and accommodation
Visa & Immigration
IATA Travel Centre
The IATA Travel Centre delivers accurate passport, visa and health requirement information at a glance. It is a trusted, centralized source for the latest international travel requirements. The IATA Travel Centre is the most accurate source available because it is based on a comprehensive database used by virtually every airline, and information is gathered from official sources worldwide, such as immigration and police authorities.