Things To Do In Valencia

Location: Middle Eastern coastline of Spain

Language: Valenciano, Spanish

Best Time to Visit: Spring

Time Zone: GMT+1

Main Attractions: Plaza del Mercado, Old Quarter, City of Arts and Sciences, Jeronime monastery, Fine Arts Museum

Valencia is the third largest city of Spain and lies equidistant to the country’s two major decision-taking centers, Madrid and Barcelona. This city derives its name from the Latin word “Valentia”, which means strength and valor. Globally known for its La Fellas festival and a rice dish called Paella which most Spaniards consider to be their national dish, Valencia is an intriguing concoction of the past and future where ancient buildings co-exist with modern architectural projects. Tourists are allured by its cultural wealth, natural reserves, varied fiestas and rich gastronomy. This article provides you with a bunch of places you can visit while in Valencia.

 

 

The fantabulous buildings in the City of Arts and Sciences are worth paying a visit. Located in the scenic Turia Gardens, tourists from all across the globe flock to this place every year. This city was designed by renowned Valencian architect, engineer and sculptor named Santiago Calatrava. L'Hemisferic or “The Eye” is one of the most beautiful buildings located in the midst of a huge rectangular pond filled with ocean blue water and was opened to the public in the year 1998. There is a cinema hall, planetarium as well as a laserium within the premises of this building.

 

The Valencia aquarium comprises of six buildings and is the largest aquarium of marine life in entire Europe. The city’s opera house or Palau de les Arts boasts of being designed by the most modern technology and has open air theatres for hosting theatrical plays, operas and various other concerts. The science museum, opened in the year 2000, is spread across three floors. This museum symbolizes how learning can be a fun process. The hard-core scientific principles are illustrated in an easily understandable manner, making this place is a must-visit. 

 

If you want to get a feel of the city’s Moorish past, stroll across the Old Quarter. This area is lined with an array of museums, churches, and vibrant cafes and restaurants. The imposing Valencia Cathedral with its eclectic blend of gothic, Romanesque and Baroque forms of architectural styles is a must-see. It is said to be located exactly where the Holy Grail was supposed to be. You can also leisurely saunter down the winding streets and buy souvenirs. Another place worth visiting in order is Barrio del Carmen, or el Carme. It is the best place to experience the night life in Valencia. There are a plethora of popular restaurants, bars, clubs and open-air terraces which you can visit and grab a bite or enjoy a drink. The bars and clubs play live music all night of genres ranging from jazz to hip-hop.

 

Valencia has around 40 museums to its name. If you happen to be a culture-seeker, you have the opportunity to explore anything, right from modern artwork to pure history. If you wish to get an overview of the history of art in Spain, visit the Valencia Fine Arts Museum. It contains an interesting exhibition of works done by artists belonging to the Valencia impressionist school of art. The Valencia Museum of History has an extensive display of the history of Spain and Valencia, in particular. It covers a time span of 2000 years and exhibits the Roman, Muslim and the most recent history of Valencia.

 

Situated right next to the crystal blue Mediterranean Sea, the white sandy stretches of Valencia draw tourists who swim and laze around the beaches or drink in the shacks. The Malvarrosa beach is famous for its water sports, while the golden sandy Pineda Beach has an area of dune vegetation. The El Saler beach boasts of an internally acclaimed high quality beach. And if you prefer an isolated, away-from-the-crowd nudist beach, head for La Devesa on the outskirts of Valencia.