Valencia's the Spanish city that has it all – proper beaches, the birthplace of paella, jaw-dropping futuristic architecture, and that laid-back Mediterranean vibe that makes you forget what day it is. It's Spain's third-largest city but feels like a secret the rest of the world hasn't cottoned on to yet.
☀️ Good to Know
☀️ Over 2,700 hours of sunshine a year – that's 300+ days of blue skies, making it one of Europe's sunniest cities
💶 Pints from around €4, meals from €12-15 – properly affordable compared to other major Spanish cities (not mentioning any names ahem... Barcelona) so you have more cocktail money!
🥘 Birthplace of paella – this is where the real deal comes from, cooked over orange wood with bomba rice from the nearby Albufera lagoon
Top reasons to visit Valencia
🏙️ City of Arts and Sciences – Santiago Calatrava's sci-fi masterpiece stretching 2km along the old riverbed, with Europe's largest aquarium (from €34)
🏖️ City beaches that actually deliver – golden sand at Malvarrosa and Las Arenas, just 20 minutes from the old town
🍊 Mercado Central – one of Europe's largest and most beautiful fresh markets, in a stunning Art Nouveau building
🏛️ A historic old town that’s alive and UNESCO verified – Gothic gems, markets, street life, the works.
🌿 Turia Gardens – 9km of parkland running through the city where a river used to be, perfect for cycling, running, or just lazing about
🏨 What are the top hotels in Valencia?
Valencia's hotel scene splits cleanly between historic old-town boutiques, modern high-rises near the City of Arts and Sciences, and beachfront resorts on Malvarrosa. See all Valencia City hotels or browse our picks below...
💑 Couples
Hospes Palau de la Mar is the boutique five-star couples standout, set in a restored 19th-century palace in the upmarket Eixample quarter. Indoor freshwater pool, swanky spa centre, properly polished service. The romantic-getaway pick of the city.
INNSiDE by Melia Valencia Oceanic is the contemporary four-star option with a rooftop poolside bar, sauna and solarium. Strong reviews and a more modern aesthetic than the old-town boutiques, better fit for couples wanting design-led over historic.
Soho Boutique Turia is the smaller boutique alternative right next to the Turia Gardens, stylish design, fantastic central location, walking distance to the bars and restaurants of El Carmen. Lower review volume but very strong recent ratings.
✨ Luxury
Las Arenas Balneario Resort is the headline five-star, beachfront on Malvarrosa with the highest review volume of any Valencia hotel. Spa heritage going back over a century, three pools, multiple restaurants. The polished beach-and-city base, especially good if you want both within walking distance.
Sh Valencia Palace is the central-Valencia five-star, walking distance to the old town, polished facilities and strong reviews across thousands of stays. The traditional city-luxury option.
Sercotel Sorolla Palace is the upper-mid-range alternative in the Eixample quarter, four-star with strong family-friendly facilities, plenty of space and a more practical feel than the historic boutiques.
👨👩👧👦 Families
Rooms Ciencias is the City of Arts and Sciences family pick, literally next to the Oceanogràfic and Science Museum, three-star value with strong recent reviews, bar-restaurant open till 1am for parents wanting an after-bedtime drink.
Eurostars Gran Valencia is the upper-end family pick, four-star, bigger rooms, family-friendly facilities and an easy metro hop to the historic centre.
Senator Parque Central Hotel is the practical four-star family option near the central station, big rooms and strong review volume across thousands of family stays.
💰 Value
Ilunion Valencia 3 is the headline value pick, three-star with poolside snack bar, game room and properly affordable pricing for budget-conscious city breaks.
Port Feria Valencia is the four-star value option with cutting-edge design and a location close to the City of Arts and Sciences.
Benetusser is the rock-bottom-budget option in Valencia's southern Benetusser district, cheaper than central hotels with a quick metro into the centre. Best for travellers prioritising price over location.
🛏️ Where to Stay on your Valencia Holidays
Within the city, four neighbourhoods cover the different holiday characters.
💑 Best for Couples
🏛️ El Carmen (Old Town) is the romantic couples base, cobbled streets, boutique hotels in restored palaces, candlelit tapas bars on every corner, walking distance to the cathedral and Mercado Central. The most atmospheric Valencia, properly photogenic at golden hour.
✨ Best for Luxury
🥂 Eixample / Pla del Real is the upmarket residential quarter just east of the old town, walking distance to the City of Arts and Sciences, with the city's polished five-star hotels and the modernist architecture along Calle Colón. The polished base if luxury matters more than location-of-the-old-town.
👨👩👧👦 Best for Families
🌳 Near the City of Arts and Sciences is the family flagship, the Oceanogràfic aquarium and Science Museum a short walk away, plenty of family-friendly hotels with pools, and the Turia Gardens running right past the door for cycling. Less atmospheric than the old town but more practical for kids.
💰 Best for Value
🏖️ Malvarrosa Beach is the value alternative for travellers who'll spend most days at the beach, beachfront hotels at noticeably lower prices than the centre, a 20-minute tram into the old town when you want it. Brilliant if you're treating Valencia as a beach-and-city combination rather than pure city break.
🏖️ Best Beaches
Valencia's beaches run along the eastern edge of the city and out to the surrounding coast.
🏖️ Playa Malvarrosa: the headline city beach, a wide stretch of golden sand with a kilometre-long promenade lined with seafront paella restaurants and bars. Reachable by tram in 20 minutes from the centre.
🛁 Playa de las Arenas: the southern continuation of Malvarrosa with grand spa-era buildings and a more traditional seaside feel, easy access from the city centre.
🌿 Playa El Saler: part of the Albufera Natural Park about 10km south of the city, pristine sand dunes and a much more natural, quiet escape, properly different from the city beaches. Bus from the centre or rent a bike.
🎨 Port Saplaya: sometimes called "Little Venice" for the colourful apartment blocks lining its small canals, just north of the city. Smaller and quieter than Malvarrosa, properly photogenic.
🏝️ Playa de la Patacona: the more local-feeling beach just north of Malvarrosa, a kilometre of clean sand with chiringuitos (beach bars) and noticeably fewer tourists than the main strip.
🗣️ Local Lingo
Two languages are official in Valencia: Spanish (Castilian) and Valencian (a regional variant of Catalan). You'll get a long way with English in tourist areas, but locals warm noticeably to anyone trying Spanish, and even more if you try a Valencian phrase. A handful of useful ones:
Hola, OH-la (Hola), Hello
Gracias, GRA-thee-as (Gracias), Thank you
Por favor, por fa-VOR (Por favor), Please
Una cerveza, por favor, OO-na ther-VAY-tha por fa-VOR (Una cerveza, por favor), A beer, please
Bon dia, bon DEE-a (Bon dia, Valencian), Good morning (using this earns proper local-respect points)
🧳 Travel Guide for your holidays to Valencia 2026 / 2027
👨👩👧👦 Families
🐬 Oceanogràfic at the City of Arts and Sciences: Europe's largest aquarium, with shark tunnels, beluga whales, dolphins and over 500 species across themed habitats. The full day-out family attraction.
🌳 Cycle the Turia Gardens: rent bikes or use the city's Valenbisi public-hire scheme and ride the full 9km of the old riverbed park, playgrounds and cafes along the way. Even small kids manage the full route on a tag-along.
🦁 Bioparc Valencia: the immersive open-air zoo with no visible cages, animals separated from visitors by hidden barriers, properly engaging way to see African wildlife without a 12-hour flight.
🥧 Mercado Central food tour: the modernist food market is a sensory adventure for kids, stalls selling jamón, cheeses, fruit, pastries, and lunch at one of the bar counters is properly affordable. The horchata stand at Mercado Colón nearby is the local favourite.
⛵ Albufera Natural Park boat trip: half-day excursion to the freshwater lagoon south of the city where the rice for paella is grown, traditional flat-bottomed boat trips at sunset, plus a proper lunch at one of the village restaurants in El Palmar.
💑 Couples
🌅 Sunset at the Miguelete bell tower: climb the 207-step spiral staircase of the cathedral tower for the best panoramic view of Valencia at golden hour. Worth the legs.
🍷 Tapas crawl in El Carmen: the most romantic Valencia evening, wander the cobbled streets of the old town stopping for a single dish and a glass of wine at three or four spots, the standard local way to eat. Try Tasca Ángel for tortilla, Casa Montaña in Cabanyal for jamón.
🛁 Hammam Al Ándalus, central Valencia: the traditional Arab bath experience with hot, warm and cold pools, properly atmospheric in the candlelit underground space. Couples massage packages available.
🥂 Agua de Valencia at a Plaza de la Reina café: the local cocktail invented in the 1950s as an alternative to sangria, made with cava, vodka, gin and fresh orange juice. Cervecería Madrid is the original spot.
🎼 Palau de la Música concert: the riverside concert hall hosts classical, jazz and flamenco performances throughout the year, a properly atmospheric date night, especially in summer when concerts run on the outdoor terrace.
🍴 Foodies
🥘 Casa Carmela paella on Malvarrosa Beach: the most famous traditional paella restaurant in Valencia, cooked over orange-wood fires. Book ahead, lunch only, expect to spend 2-3 hours over the meal.
🛍️ Mercado Central food market crawl: the modernist 1928 market is one of the largest fresh-food markets in Europe, wander the 1,200-plus stalls then eat at the Central Bar inside, one of Valencia's most awarded tapas counters.
🍦 Horchata and fartons in Alboraya: the traditional horchaterías in the suburb just north of the city, where the tiger nuts that make horchata are still grown. Daniel and Subies are the proper old-school spots.
🐟 Cabanyal seafood lunch: the historic fishermen's quarter behind Malvarrosa Beach is properly atmospheric, with a row of family-run seafood restaurants serving fresh-off-the-boat fish at a fraction of seafront prices.
🍇 Sample Valencia DO wines at Bodega Casa Montaña: the 1836 wine bar in Cabanyal, properly historic, exceptional Valencian wine list with knowledgeable staff happy to talk you through the regional varieties.
🏖️ Nearby Resorts
Looking for more Spain sun? These are within easy reach:
🌴 Benidorm – 140km south. Costa Blanca's party capital with massive beaches, waterparks, and non-stop nightlife
🏖️ Alicante – 170km south. Historic castle, beautiful beaches, and a more relaxed vibe than Benidorm
🏝️ Costa Brava – 350km north. Rocky coves, clear waters, and the Salvador Dalí museum in Figueres
🌅 Costa del Sol – 550km south. Marbella glamour, Málaga culture, and guaranteed sunshine
Popular Valencia hotels
More Valencia hotelsWeather in Valencia
JAN
FEB
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Summer (June-August) is peak season, 27-30°C with low humidity (the Mediterranean keeps things bearable through the hottest weeks). Sea temperature 23-26°C, perfect for swimming. July and August are the busiest tourist months but still much quieter than Barcelona.
Spring (March-May) is the gentle version, 20-25°C, the orange blossoms scenting the city in late March and April, the Las Fallas festival kicking off in March (1-19 March), and the Turia Gardens green and properly photogenic. Sea is too cool for swimming until late May, but city sightseeing is at its absolute best.
Autumn (September-November) stays warm into October at 22-26°C with the sea still swimmable until mid-October, then cools through November. September is properly strong for first-time visitors, fewer crowds, gentler heat, beach businesses still open.
Winter (December-February) is mild and sunny, 15-18°C most days, regular sunshine, very little rain. Most beach businesses scaled back but the city is in full flow, properly the under-the-radar winter city break in Europe.
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FAQs
How long does it take to fly to Valencia?
How long does it take to fly to Valencia?
It takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes to fly to Valencia from the UK.
What's the time difference between the UK and Valencia?
What's the time difference between the UK and Valencia?
Valencia is one hour ahead of the UK.
What currency do they use in Valencia?
What currency do they use in Valencia?
The official currency of Valencia is the Euro.
What language do they speak in Valencia?
What language do they speak in Valencia?
There are two official languages in Valencia. Spanish is widely spoken and Valencian is a regional language spoken in the area.
Is Valencia good for families?
Is Valencia good for families?
Brilliant for families. The City of Arts and Sciences alone can fill two days – the aquarium, science museum, and IMAX cinema are all fantastic. Add in the giant Gulliver playground in Turia Gardens, Bioparc zoo, and wide shallow beaches, and you've got a proper family destination.
What food should I try in Valencia?
What food should I try in Valencia?
Paella (obviously) – but get the proper Valencian one with chicken and rabbit, not seafood. Also try: arroz a banda (rice cooked in fish stock), fideuà (like paella but with noodles), all-i-pebre (eel stew), horchata with fartons (tiger nut drink with sweet pastries), and agua de Valencia (cava, orange juice, vodka and gin – dangerous).
Do I need to speak Spanish in Valencia?
Do I need to speak Spanish in Valencia?
English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants. Locals appreciate basic Spanish ("hola", "gracias", "la cuenta por favor") and you might hear Valenciano too – it's the regional language and appears on signs alongside Spanish.
When's the best time to visit Valencia?
When's the best time to visit Valencia?
Each season has its character, so it depends on what you want. March is Las Fallas season (1-19 March), properly atmospheric and unmissable if you can handle the crowds and the noise (firecrackers all day), but accommodation prices spike. Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are the gentler windows for first-time visitors, 20-26°C, sea swimmable in May and September, fewer crowds. Summer (June-August) is the beach-plus-city window, hot but still manageable thanks to the breeze. Winter is mild and very quiet, properly underrated for a sunny city break with no crowds.
How do I keep a Valencia holiday cheap and still brilliant?
How do I keep a Valencia holiday cheap and still brilliant?
Valencia is already noticeably cheaper than Barcelona or Madrid, but a few moves stretch the budget further.
Travel April, May, September or October for the best balance of weather and lower hotel prices.
Eat menú del día (set lunch) at neighbourhood restaurants for £10-13 a head, the same dishes that cost £20-25 at dinner.
Use the bus and metro day pass (£3.50) instead of taxis.
Hire a Valenbisi public bike for £4 a week and use it instead of public transport for short hops.
Save the seafront paella restaurants for one big lunch and eat tapas at El Carmen bars for the rest of the trip.