Valencia, Spain’s radiant Mediterranean city, fuses 2,000 years of history with cutting-edge architecture. Founded by Romans, shaped by Moors, and enriched by merchants of the Silk Road, it now glows with modern icons like the City of Arts and Sciences and a riverbed reborn as parkland. The result: a city that feels both timeless and thrillingly new.

Birthplace of paella and home to fragrant orange groves, Valencia lives through its markets, tapas bars, and alfresco cafés. Wander Gothic lanes to frescoed churches nicknamed the “Valencian Sistine Chapel,” then cycle through palm-lined Turia Gardens to the beach. Festivals burst with fireworks and artistry—none bigger than March’s Las Fallas.

Practical notes: Valencia is walkable and bike-friendly, with metro lines from the airport to the center in about 20 minutes. Trains from Madrid and Barcelona are frequent, and summers mean beach-and-late-dinner vibes. Book tables for classic paella restaurants, especially on weekends.

Valencia

Valencia charms with an Old Town of honey-colored stone, the sci‑fi curves of Santiago Calatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences, and wide sands along Malvarrosa and Patacona. It’s a city made for mornings at Mercado Central, long lunches in the sun, and golden-hour strolls by the marina.

Top highlights include La Lonja de la Seda (UNESCO‑listed Silk Exchange), the Cathedral and Miguelete bell tower, the Oceanogràfic aquarium, and boat rides among the rice fields of Albufera. Food is a headline act: think clóchinas (tiny local mussels in season), horchata with fartons, and smoky paellas fired over orange-wood.

Where to Stay

• Seaside stay with spa: Hotel Las Arenas Balneario Resort (steps from Malvarrosa Beach; elegant rooms, pools, sea views).
• Best value on the main square: Hostal Venecia (Plaza del Ayuntamiento—walk to Old Town classics).
• Modern comfort near Arts & Sciences: Hotel Primus Valencia (easy for the aquarium, shopping, and park access).
• Browse more stays: VRBO Valencia or Hotels.com Valencia.

How to Get There

• Flights: Check European and international options via Omio flights. Typical flight times: Paris 2h, London 2h30, Rome 2h, many under $50–$200 on budget carriers when booked early.
• Trains in Europe: From Madrid (1h50–2h15) and Barcelona (2h40–3h15). Compare timetables and fares (~$20–$70) on Omio trains. Buses can be cheaper; check Omio buses.
• Airport to city: Metro lines 3/5 to Xàtiva/Colón in ~20 minutes (~€5). Taxis run ~€25–€30 to the center depending on time and traffic.

Day 1: Arrival, First Tastes of Valencia

Morning: Fly or train into Valencia. If you arrive early, drop bags at your hotel and stretch your legs in Plaza del Ayuntamiento, watching locals breeze past on bikes and Vespas.

Afternoon: Ease in with coffee and a slice of carrot cake at Dulce de Leche Boutique in Ruzafa, a neighborhood of indie boutiques and street art. Wander to Mercado de Colón, a Modernista gem, to browse gourmet stalls and sip a sparkling cava beneath wrought-iron arches.

Evening: Make your first tapas stop in maritime Cabanyal. Try Casa Montaña for silky anchovies, tuna ventresca, and croquetas, or Anyora Bodega for traditional recipes and natural wines. Cap the night with a glass of “Agua de Valencia” (cava, orange, gin, vodka) at Café de las Horas, a baroque fantasy near the Cathedral.

Day 2: Old Town Icons, Cathedral to Silk Exchange

Morning: Breakfast like a local: horchata and warm fartons at Horchatería Santa Catalina, whose ceramic tiles tell stories of the city. Climb the Miguelete bell tower for views across terracotta roofs, then step into La Lonja de la Seda to admire its twisted Gothic columns.

Afternoon: Snack at Central Bar by Ricard Camarena inside Mercado Central—order the “bravas,” a fried calamari sandwich, and a copa of local wine. Stroll El Carmen’s frescoed San Nicolás Church (nicknamed the “Valencian Sistine Chapel”) and the Serranos Towers.

Evening: Join a storytelling walk that ends with a memorable dinner inside a historic monument.

Valencia Old Town Tour with Wine & Tapas in 11th Century Historic Monument

After the tour, if you want night music, head to Radio City for flamenco nights or to Jimmy Glass Jazz Bar for intimate sets and serious cocktails.

Day 3: Market-to-Table Paella and Turia Gardens

Morning: Fuel up at Bluebell Coffee in Ruzafa—flat whites and seasonal toasts are excellent. Then join a hands-on class that begins among pyramids of produce at Mercado Central and ends with your own sizzling paella.

Paella Cooking Class, Wine Tasting & Central Market in Valencia

Afternoon: Walk or cycle the Turia Gardens, a former riverbed turned 5-mile green ribbon of fountains, palms, and playgrounds. Continue to the City of Arts and Sciences; even from outside, the architecture is jaw-dropping for photos.

Evening: Dinner near the complex: book Llisa Negra for wood-fired seafood and Valencian vegetables or head back toward the center for Michelin-starred La Salita’s imaginative seasonal tasting menu. For gelato, La Romana serves velvety nocciola and pistachio until late.

Day 4: Beach Day—Malvarrosa and the Marina

Morning: Ride a bike or tram to Malvarrosa Beach for a swim and a sandy stroll. Brunch at La Más Bonita (Patacona) for smoothies, huevos rancheros, and ocean views from a chic, whitewashed terrace.

Afternoon: Visit the Oceanogràfic, Europe’s largest aquarium, or lounge under a parasol with a book and a tinto de verano. Explore the Marina de València’s waterfront promenades and photo spots.

Evening: Classic seaside paella at La Pepica (dating to 1898—Hemingway ate here) or Casa Carmela (firewood paellas; book ahead). Watch sunset from the Veles e Vents terraces, then sip a vermouth at La Fábrica de Hielo, a former ice warehouse turned cultural hangout with live music.

Day 5: Albufera Rice Fields and El Palmar Village

Morning: Coffee and a pastry at Dulce de Leche or a slow breakfast in Ruzafa’s leafy terraces. Browse local design shops before heading south to Valencia’s freshwater lagoon.

Afternoon: Glide through rice fields and reed beds on a traditional boat, watching egrets lift from the water. Learn how Albufera’s wetlands shaped Valencian cuisine and paella’s origin story.

The Original Albufera Tour: Barraca, Boat Ride & Local Guide

Evening: Dine in El Palmar village at a rustic spot known for paellas and all-i-pebre (garlicky eel stew). Back in the city, try Tasca Ángel for grilled sardines and baby squid, or La Pilareta (“Los Mejillones”) for local clóchinas when in season (roughly May–August). Nightcap in El Carmen’s cobbled lanes.

Day 6: Underground River Adventure and Nightlife

Morning: Venture north to sail the longest navigable underground river in Europe. Stalactites, cathedral-like chambers, and echoing waterways make this a surreal half-day.

San Jose Caves Guided Tour from Valencia

Afternoon: Return to the city for a siesta or a museum hour—consider the Fine Arts Museum (Sorolla works) or the González Martí National Museum of Ceramics in the Rococo Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas.

Evening: Splurge night: book Ricard Camarena Restaurant for a produce‑driven tasting menu that celebrates the Valencian pantry. For a more casual scene, Anyora Bodega’s “esgarraet” (peppered cod and roasted peppers) with a Valencian vermut is pitch-perfect. End with live jazz at Jimmy Glass.

Day 7: Last Strolls, Souvenirs, and Departure

Morning: Pick up edible souvenirs at Mercado Central—saffron, tinned seafood, marcona almonds, and orange marmalade. Step into artisan shops around Plaza Redonda for ceramics and hand-fans.

Afternoon: Lunch at El Rall for traditional rice dishes if you’ve still got room, or graze through Mercado de Colón—try Ma Khin Café for Southeast Asian flavors made with Valencian produce. Head to the airport via metro or taxi for your afternoon departure with sun on your skin and rice on your mind.

Evening: Departure day—no evening plans, but if you’re lingering, toast the trip with one last horchata near the Cathedral and a quick view back from the Miguelete steps.

Booking Pointers

• Search and compare flights and trains on Omio flights and Omio trains; buses can save money via Omio buses.
• Reserve beachside paella for lunch (the traditional time), and consider ordering “arroz del senyoret” if you prefer your seafood peeled.
• Summer afternoons get hot—plan museums or siestas then, and enjoy the city’s long twilights.

Seven days in Valencia let you savor its full spectrum: Roman walls and Gothic halls, futuristic skylines, market-to-table cooking, and sailing through reeds at sunset. You’ll leave with recipes, sand in your shoes, and a promise to return for one more pan of rice shared with friends.