Valencia, Spain’s sunlit third city, is where Roman roots, Moorish traces, and bold contemporary architecture meet the Mediterranean. Its Old Town unfolds around Gothic treasures like La Lonja de la Seda (Silk Exchange, a UNESCO World Heritage Site), while the Turia Gardens—a former riverbed—now ribbon nine kilometers through the city.

Beyond its storied past, Valencia dazzles with Santiago Calatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences, pristine urban beaches, and a culinary scene guided by rice, seafood, and citrus. This is the birthplace of paella; here, fields of rice and the Albufera lagoon supply the flavors that built a world-famous dish.

Practical notes: Valencia is extremely walkable and bike-friendly, with frequent trams, buses, and metro lines. The Valencia Tourist Card often pays for itself via unlimited transit and discounts at major sights. Spring and fall are ideal; in March, the Fallas festival ignites the city with fireworks, art, and street life.

Valencia

Welcome to a city that balances futuristic design with lived-in neighborhoods full of markets, bodegas, and street art. From the shimmering Oceanogràfic to sunset boat rides in Albufera, this itinerary helps you taste, see, and feel the best of Valencia in a week.

• Top sights: City of Arts and Sciences, Oceanogràfic, La Lonja de la Seda, Valencia Cathedral (home to a revered Holy Grail), Turia Gardens, Torres de Serranos, Malvarrosa & Patacona beaches.
• Neighborhoods to explore: El Carmen’s medieval lanes, creative Ruzafa, and the seaside Cabanyal with its tile-fronted houses.
• Don’t miss: Paella in its birthplace, horchata with fartons, and a golden-hour boat ride across the Albufera lagoon.

Getting to Valencia (VLC):

• Flights within Europe: compare and book on Omio. Typical nonstop times: Madrid (1h), Barcelona (1h), Paris (2h), London (2h30).
• Long-haul from outside Europe: search multi-city options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com, then connect to VLC via Omio.
• High-speed train: Madrid–Valencia ~1h50 on Renfe/Avlo; Barcelona–Valencia ~3h on EUROMED. Check schedules and prices on Omio Trains (often €20–€70 depending on date).
• Buses across Spain and Europe are frequent and budget-friendly via Omio Buses.
• Airport to center: Metro lines 3 or 5 (~25 minutes to Xàtiva or Colón, ~€4–5); taxi ~20–25 minutes, typically €20–€25.

Where to stay: Search cross-budget stays on Hotels.com or browse apartments on VRBO.

• Hotel Las Arenas Balneario Resort (Beachfront classic with spa and balconies steps from Malvarrosa.)
• Hostal Venecia (Excellent-value rooms on Plaza del Ayuntamiento—walk to Old Town and Central Market.)
• Hotel Primus Valencia (Modern option by the City of Arts and Sciences; easy for Oceanogràfic and Turia Gardens.)

Day 1 — Arrival, Old Town stroll, and tapas in a monument

Afternoon (arrival): Check into your hotel and stretch your legs in the Turia Gardens under palm and citrus trees. For a sweet welcome, try horchata and warm fartons at the 200-year-old Horchatería Santa Catalina near the Cathedral—classic Valencia in a cup.

Evening: Ease into the city with the Valencia Old Town Tour with Wine & Tapas in an 11th-Century Historic Monument. You’ll explore Roman, Moorish, Gothic, and Baroque layers before an intimate tasting in a heritage venue—an unforgettable first night.

Night: If you’ve still got energy, slip into Café de las Horas for a Valencian Agua de Valencia (sparkling wine–orange cocktail) under blue-and-gold Baroque flourishes. For a light bite, tiny Tasca Ángel is loved for expertly grilled sardines and local clòtxina mussels when in season.

Day 2 — City of Arts and Sciences, Turia bike ride, and seafood by fire

Morning: Start in Ruzafa at Bluebell Coffee Roasters for specialty brews and a seasonal toast. Rent bikes and follow the Turia Gardens path to the City of Arts and Sciences; step inside the Hemisfèric or the interactive Science Museum if you love hands-on exhibits.

Afternoon: Visit Oceanogràfic, Europe’s largest aquarium—don’t miss the ethereal Arctic and Mediterranean habitats. Lunch at Mercado de Colón: try Habitual for vegetable-forward Mediterranean plates or Ma Khin Café for Southeast Asian flavors with Valencian produce.

Evening: Seafood dinner at Llisa Negra, where wood-fire and embers meet pristine fish and rice; or book El Poblet for a refined tasting menu from chef Quique Dacosta’s team. Cap the night with live jazz at the intimate Jimmy Glass Jazz Bar in Ruzafa.

Day 3 — Central Market and a hands-on paella masterclass

Morning: Espresso at Retrogusto Coffeemates, then stroll to Mercado Central—one of Europe’s grandest food markets—for mountain hams, citrus, saffron, and glistening seafood. Meet your chef for a market-to-pan class.

Afternoon: Learn, cook, and feast on the dish Valencia gave the world with the Paella Cooking Class, Wine Tasting & Central Market in Valencia. You’ll master sofregit, rice to broth ratios, and the coveted socarrat crust.

Evening: Wander El Carmen’s lantern-lit lanes to the Silk Exchange’s gargoyles and the Cathedral’s Holy Grail chapel. For a classic tavern experience, head to La Pilareta for clòtxina mussels (in season) and patatas bravas, or book a table at Casa Montaña in Cabanyal for aged vermouth, salted tuna, and croquettes.

Day 4 — Albufera rice fields, lagoon boat, and sunset dunes

Morning: Today is about Valencia’s green heart: rice paddies, reedbeds, and birds. Join The Original Albufera Tour: Barraca, Boat & Local Expert Guide for a naturalist’s view of the lagoon and its traditional farmhouses (barracas).

Afternoon: Lunch in El Palmar—the village synonymous with paella. Seek out a wood-fired Valencian paella (rabbit, chicken, garrofó beans) or an all-seafood arroz a banda depending on mood. Walk the El Saler dunes afterward for sea breezes and fragrant pines.

Evening: Back in town, try Restaurante Navarro near Plaza del Ayuntamiento for traditional rice dishes and local fish. Nightcap at Plaza del Negrito, a relaxed square where locals gather with vermouth and laughter.

Day 5 — Beach day: Malvarrosa, Patacona, and Cabanyal flavor

Morning: Breakfast beachside at La Más Bonita (Patacona) for thick toast, house cakes, and ocean views. Walk or cycle the promenade to Malvarrosa Beach; swim, sun, and watch fishermen mend nets near the marina.

Afternoon: Lunch at Casa Carmela, famous for paellas finished over orange-wood fires, or La Pepica—an institution since 1898 beloved for seafood rice and beach views. Explore Cabanyal’s mosaic-tiled façades and pop into the Maritime Museum or the Rice Museum to understand the city’s seafaring and rice heritage.

Evening: Settle into Bodega Anyora, a soulful tavern with canned seafood delicacies, salted anchovies, and seasonal plates. Continue to La Fábrica de Hielo, a cultural hangar hosting music and local craft beers—a perfect salty-air evening.

Day 6 — Underground river adventure and wild-west Turia

Morning: Journey north to Europe’s longest navigable underground river with the San Jose Caves Guided Tour from Valencia. Drift by boat through caverns at a constant 20°C, marveling at stalactites carved by time.

Afternoon: Back in the city, head to the western end of the Turia Gardens for Bioparc Valencia, an immersive zoo where barriers are subtly hidden and habitats flow. Coffee and cake pick-me-up at Dulce de Leche Boutique back in Ruzafa.

Evening: Dine at Vuelve Carolina for modern tapas—think playful textures, citrus notes, and top-notch local produce. For a classic, Bar Ricardo does outstanding patatas bravas, sepia (cuttlefish), and montaditos; it’s beloved by locals for good reason.

Day 7 — Ceramics, shopping, and a farewell feast

Morning: Visit the National Museum of Ceramics in the sumptuously carved Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas to trace centuries of Valencian craft. Espresso at Federal-style spots exist, but stick with local: try Bluebell again or Bloom Specialty Coffee near Colón.

Afternoon: Lunch at Central Bar by Ricard Camarena inside the Central Market—order the signature bocadillo, seasonal salads, and a glass of Turia Märzen beer. Stroll for last-minute gifts along Calle Colón and within Ruzafa’s indie boutiques; keep an eye out for colorful mosaic tiles, a Valencian hallmark.

Evening: Make your final dinner count: reserve El Poblet for a celebratory tasting menu, or return to Llisa Negra for flame-kissed seafood and a paella to share. Toast the week atop Ateneo’s rooftop near Plaza del Ayuntamiento as the city glows gold.

Practical tips for your week

• Transit: The metro, tram, and buses are frequent; tap in/out with contactless payment or use a Valencia Tourist Card for unlimited rides and museum discounts.
• Biking: The Turia Gardens is a safe, scenic spine running past most sights; many hotels arrange rentals or point you to reputable shops.
• Dining: For paella, lunch is traditional; order in advance, and budget 30–40 minutes for proper rice. In summer, try seasonal clòtxina mussels (smaller, intensely flavorful).
• Day-trip alternatives: If caves aren’t your style, consider Peñíscola’s hilltop castle on the coast or the turquoise pools of Montanejos. Browse options on Omio Trains and Omio Buses.

Bonus activity ideas (if you have extra time)

• Architectural deep-dive of San Nicolás Church (“the Sistine Chapel of Valencia”) and modernist gems with a curated walk through El Carmen.
• Sunset sail along the coast or a gentle tuk-tuk circuit to cover more ground with minimal walking.

Alternative Viator choices if you prefer:

• Valencia: Art & Architecture Guided Tour with Monuments Tickets
• Valencian Paella Cooking Class, Tapas & Sangria — Evening

For accommodations across budget ranges in Valencia, compare on Hotels.com or find apartments with kitchens on VRBO. For getting to or around Europe, check Omio Flights, Omio Trains, and Omio Buses; for long-haul flights, compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Recap: In seven days, you’ve wandered medieval guildhalls, biked a gardened river, cooked paella, sailed through reeds on the Albufera, and drifted by torchlight in an underground river. Valencia is generous like that: big-city culture, beach-town ease, and the taste of orange blossom in the air.

Come back for Fallas, or for a winter sun escape—either way, the rice fields and sea will be waiting.