Valencia has it all. Splendid medieval buildings, spectacular modern attractions,
great mediterranean beaches and world famous paella. I've first visited Valencia for our
honeymoon and I've been coming back ever since. And as a tour guide I can't wait to show you
the best things to do in Valencia, Spain. The top of the Serranos Towers is a great starting
point. From this 33 meters or 108 feet tall medieval towers you will get an unobstructed
view of the entire city. As for centuries, Valencia was surrounded by the city walls,
the only way in and out was through the city gates. And these pentagon shaped towers were
built in the late 1300s to protect one of the busiest and most important city gates. But the
gates were much more than just an entrance. They were ornamented and also used as a triumphal arch
for festive and solemn occasions. Later, the tower served as a prison and as a hiding place for works
of art during the Spanish civil war. When the city walls were demolished, the gates with the
towers were preserved as one of the landmarks of Valencia. In front of the Serranos towers is an
empty riverbed with one of the largest urban parks in Spain. Riverbed used to be occupied
by the river Turia, but after a catastrophic flood in 1957, it has been rerouted and now
flows south of the city. Old riverbed was turned into a picturesque sunken park that has become
one of the most popular spots for the citizens. An 8 km or 5 mile long ribbon of greenery snakes
along the historical center and passes by the city's main museums and monuments on both banks,
connected by many bridges. There are numerous footpaths, leisure and sports areas and a unique
Gulliver park for kids. Large-scale Gulliver lying on the floor is full of ramps, stairs and slides.
The old city gates between Serranos Towers lead to the historic city center and it's buzzing old town
district of El Carmen. Entire historic city center is a display of Valencia's two thousand years of
history with traces of previous Roman, Visigoth and Arab civilizations. In the El Carmen
neighborhood you can see an Arab portal, leading to the ancient Moorish quarter. Portal was built
into the ancient muslim walls that at the time surrounded the city. To the west the neighborhood
ends with another impressive city gate, Torres the Quart. El Carmen is famous for having
many restaurants, popular tapas bars and vivid nightlife as this is one of the hotspots for young
people. Neighborhood also has one of the city's best museums and art galleries. Here you can also
come across an interesting little spots like House of cats, built by a local artist as a shelter
for street cats. You should also take a look at a small church of st. Nicholas erected in the 1200s
right after Christians reconquered Valencia from the Muslims. It is regarded as Valencia's Sistine
Chapel as its fresco paintings from the 1600s show scenes of the life of Saint Nicholas and
Saint Peter Martyr. One of the largest historic city centres in Europe is made for wandering.
Beautiful historical buildings and old churches line beautiful streets and surround charming
squares. And this one has been the heart of the city since the ancient times. Picturesque square
is dominated by the back of the Cathedral and all around are cafes and bars where you can relax and
soak up the atmosphere. There is also a fountain dedicated to the diverted city river, the most
important source of freshwater. The river is the reason for the existence of the oldest judicial
institution in Europe called The Water Tribunal. For more than 1,000 years, the tribunal has been
making decisions in Valencian language regarding the disputes about water. Public session takes
place every Thursday at noon at the beautiful Door of the Apostles. The cathedral's entrance
is decorated with carvings of the twelve apostles, but this was originally the main entrance to the
Moorish mosque that was replaced by the cathedral. But the main entrance to the cathedral is from
Plaza de la Reina. Spacious and lively square is blessed with a gorgeous backdrop and is one
of the city's hotspots. It is lined with cafes and restaurants where you can sit down and embrace the
atmosphere. Besides the cathedral's bell tower, the other side of the square is dominated by a
beautiful Baroque bell tower of Santa Catalina church. Both bell towers can be visited. When
wandering the streets of Valencia, you will come across other striking historical buildings like
impressive 15th century Gothic palace, used as a headquarters of the Valencian government,
the beautiful Rococo nobility palace Marquis de Dos Aguas now used as a National Ceramics
Museum and La Nau, the former building of the old university. The best way to discover
the old town is to take a guided tour and I'll put my favorite ones in the description below.
But besides having a beautiful historic city, Valencia also offers beautiful Mediterranean
city beaches. North from the city's harbor is the beginning of a miles long, wide stretch of sand.
Within minutes of the old town you can reach its most popular beaches, Las Arenas and La
Malvarrosa. First beach north from the harbor is Las Arenas, followed by La Malvarrosa, named after
a type of roses that used to grow here. Together they form a spacious and popular wide strip of
golden sands. Safe and clutter-free beaches have been awarded The Blue Flag for all the amenities,
including sports and recreation facilities. Both beaches are more than just a place to tan and
swim as they are also hosting different events. They are also lined by a wide seaside promenade,
popular for cycling, rollerblading, jogging, or walking along the promenade. Facing the
seafront are cafes and restaurants open all year round. Fine golden sand and easy access
from anywhere in the city are the main reasons for the huge popularity of these beaches.
Back to beautiful historic architecture that can also be found outside the city centre, and one of
its best examples is a library that was built as a monastery. This building from the 1500s is one
of the best examples of Valencian Renaissance. It was erected on the site of the former abby and a
muslim farmhouse before that. Behind a two-towered Renaissance facade hides a complex that includes
a church and a monastery with two cloisters. The monastery was sold in the 19th century when
it became a prison that from the 1939 held the opponents of Franco's dictatorship. In the 1960s
it was acquired by the city of Valencia and turned into a state school and later into the library.
You can enter for free and see only part of the complex during the working hours of the library,
so be sure to check the schedule before you go. You can see more of it if you attend a guided
tour, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday, but you should contact them in advance. Tours last
about 45 minutes and are available only in Spanish and Valencian. The easiest way to reach the
monastery is by tram line number 6. Back in the city center you should visit The Fallas Museum.
Here you can learn about a unique festival that takes place every March when Valencia celebrates
the arrival of spring. Fallas is one of the most popular Spanish festivals. It combines tradition
satire an art, and was recognized by Unesco as part of Intangible Heritage of Humanity. During
the festival, quirky satirical figures called Ninots are erected on the streets of Valencia.
They are made from combustible materials and are set on fire on the last day of the festival
on March 19, to welcome the Spring. Over time, citizens and professional artists were making
more and more elaborate and beautiful figures, representing social, political and cultural themes
in a satirical way. As part of the festival they were all set fire, until in 1934 the best Nino was
pardoned and saved from fire. Since then, one Nino is pardoned by a popular vote each year. Pardon
Ninots are exhibited in The Fallas Museum and the collection includes all of them since 1934.
The pardon figures represent a unique social and cultural reflection of Valencia and the World. But
in the very heart of the old town is the largest indoor food market in Europe. With its colors,
flavors, atmosphere and architecture, you simply cannot miss out on this market. This is a display
of Valencia's pride in agriculture traditions as well as its love for beautiful architecture.
Beautiful art nouveau metal and glass building blends perfectly with the historic architecture.
Its unusual roof with domes and sloping sections at different heights creates a light, spacious,
colorful, and airy interior with an impressive variety and quality of food. On hundreds of
stalls you can find farm and sea-fresh produce, cold cuts, cheese, spices, fruit, nuts and much
more. If there is a Spanish delicacy you love, you will find it here, or you should at least refresh
yourself with delicious natural fresh juice. The best idea is to visit the market in the morning as
it can get crowded, especially in the summer. Most vendors speak english and allow you to taste their
products so you should have fun exploring the stalls. Opposite to the central market is one of
the most famous non-religious Gothic buildings in Europe. It's known as The Silk Exchange, but the
building was used by all sorts of merchants from all parts of the Mediterranean. Here they met for
negotiations and closed the deals. The complex was finished in the 1500s when Valencia was one
of Europe's main centers of trade and culture. A masterpiece of Valencian Gothic architecture
is the finest monument of Valencia's golden age and part of Unesco World Heritage. Inside you can
marvel at the beautiful twisting columns of the main hall and look up at the incredible detail
of the vaulted ceilings. This was the financial center of La Lonja, where the merchants worked
out contracts, hence its name contract room. Like many grand historic buildings in Valencia, this
one also has its orange garden. It takes you to the stairs leading to the rooms of the trade court
for Spanish marine merchant tribunal. On occasion, the tribunal would imprison merchants for debts.
Silk Exchange is open every day and there is no entrance fee. If you are a fan of the Holy Grail
legend, then Valencia's Cathedral should be on the top of your list. One of the most famous
attractions in the city treasures a cup apparently used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper.
Catholic church replaced the former mosque after the Christian reconquest of Valencia. Over the
centuries, several changes and additions took place like its baroque main entrance,
leading to its impressive interior. Above the high altar you can admire beautiful frescoes of twelve
angels playing music. The interior highlight is of course, a chapel holding a Holy Chalice. The relic
itself is only the top portion of the chalice, a finely polished dark brown cup. The handles and
the chalice's steam were made later. Apparently, Saint Peter brought the chalice to Rome,
but during persecution of Christians in the 3rd century, the chalice was moved to Spain.
During muslim invasion of Spain in the 700s the chalice was hidden in Pyrenees and it changed
several hands until in the 1400s, it was given to the Cathedral of Valencia. Among the cathedral's
relics is also an arm of Saint Vincent Martyr, patron of the city. Entrance fee includes an
audio guide and access to museum located inside the cathedral. Cathedral's octagonal bell tower
from the 1300s is the landmark of Valencia. Originally, the bell tower was separated from
the church, but later extensions merge the two structures together. You can use a spiral
staircase to climb its 207 steps, although the view from the top is a bit obstructed.
Finally, here is the most famous modern tourist complex in Valencia built in the former riverbed.
The City of Arts and Sciences is the largest complex of its kind in Europe and includes seven
futuristic buildings that have all become symbols of the city. Hemispheric was the first building in
the City of Arts and Sciences. It was opened in 1998 and resembles a giant eye. It's roof
creates an interior with a large sphere that is used as the projection room for planetarium
and laser shows. Next to it is an interactive museum of science that resembles the skeleton
of a whale. Museum offers didactic, interactive and entertaining way everything to do with life,
science and technology where it is prohibited not to touch, not to feel and not to think. Next
majestic building is an opera house and performing arts center. Building has impressive roof and
panoramic lifts and stairways connecting platforms at different heights. Buildings are surrounded
by water. They are connected by pathways and an open structure with a walkway under the arches,
surrounded by a park of indigenous plant species that grow only in Valencia. Here
is also a multi-purpose space for promoting knowledge, science and culture called The
Agora. This immense oval shaped metal structure with a blue outer shelf is offering bright,
open and diverse space open to the public and used for different events. Old riverbed is
crossed by an impressive white cable-stayed bridge. Cables run from a huge curved pylon
that rises for 125 meters or 410 feet and is the highest point in the city.
But one of the most impressive experiences in the City of Arts and Sciences is a visit to the
largest and most modern aquarium in Europe. This place faithfully reproduces the most important
marine ecosystems from each of the planet's seas and oceans and is home to 45,000 animals from 500
different species. Gorgeous architecture and unique arrangement of the various aquariums
make the marine world more accessible to visitors than ever. Each building holds one of the aquatic
environment that include the Mediterranean, Wetlands, Tropical Seas, Oceans, The Antarctic,
The Arctic, Islands and The Red Sea. Here you'll find the longest underwater tunnel in Europe with
over 20 different species of sharks, rays and other massive fish. If you get hungry,
you can visit an underwater restaurant housed in the most iconic building of the complex with
unique roof design. Oceanographic has many spectacular animals and places, but one of
the coolest things to see is the dolphin show in the largest dolphinarium in Europe. There
are two or three shows a day, each lasting about 45 minutes. To complete your Valencia experience,
check out my favorite tours, tickets and experiences in the description below.
My name is Rok, thanks for the thumbs up and for watching and see you next time!