How to spend a long weekend in vibrant Valencia

With some 300 warm days each year, Spain’s third-largest city Valencia is a popular area for visitors, yet it stays happily uncrowded, making it ideal for a weekend city break. Nearly equidistant from its larger siblings Madrid and Barcelona, this lovely city on Spain’s southeastern coast stands out– anticipate Blue Flag beaches, distinct areas, aromatic orange groves and loads of heritage.

Identified for its breadth of natural areas, from Albufera Natural Park to the Jardí del Túria (Turia Gardens) that snake along its previous riverbed, Valencia is happy to promote its dedication to enhancing the environment. As the city commemorates being the European Green Capital in 2024, include a vacation in Valencia to your New Year travel order of business.

What to do

Valencia boasts 3 UNESCO listings for Intangible Cultural Heritage, consisting of La carnival de las Fallas — a famous celebration that amazes the city’s streets each March with celebrations, pyrotechnics and extra-large sculptures called ninotsDeveloped from products like plaster and papier mâché, ninots hold true masterpieces. If you can’t make it to Valencia throughout Fallas, make certain to check out one (or both) of the museums committed to the occasion– Museo Fallero and Museo del Gremio de Artistas Falleros

Declaring a location on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list is the weekly Tribunal de Las Aguasin which 8 robe-clad farmers assemble outside the Door of the Apostles in the Plaza de la Virgen to go over how water must be dispersed in La Huerta (a farming location around Valencia kept in mind for its centuries-old Arabic watering system). While you’re at the cathedral, take a peek at the agate chalice within– declared to be the Holy Grail — and climb up 207 actions up to the Miguelete tower to experience Spain’s manual bell soundingyet another UNESCO treasure.

With gardens aplenty– from Parque Central to flower-filled Monforte and Turia, Valencia’s cherished green lung– plus 120,000 sq metres of pedestrianised locations like Plaza de la Reina, this perfectly green city is ripe for roaming. Those who choose biking will value around 120 miles of bike paths consisting of the brand-new Anillo Verde Metropolitano (Metropolitan Green Ring), a 35-mile circular passage that links the surrounding farmland with the coast, taking in characterful towns and sanctuaries like Albufera.

Checking out among Valencia’s Blue Flag beaches is a perfect method to benefit from the sufficient sunlight, too. Cabanyal and Malvarrosa are both within strolling range of the centre.

What to see

Art and style are amongst Valencia’s leading draws– with over 60 cultural areas, along with architectural icons like the art nouveau Estación del Norte (North Station), it make good sense that the city was called World Design Capital 2022Tourist attractions vary from the Museo Nacional de Cerámica y Artes Suntuarias “González Martí”showing ceramics and other ornamental arts in a baroque palace, to designer Santiago Calatrava’s futuristic Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences) and street art trips around the old-town district of El Carmen. Another must-see is La Lonja de la Seda (the Silk Exchange), an extravagant gothic-style UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Where to consume

Valencia has lots of welcoming bars and dining establishments, specifically in vibrant locations like Ensanche, where individuals typically dine al fresco amongst the sophisticated pastel structures. In a city-region well known for gastronomy, there are particular locations you need to make a beeline for– not least Albufera, the birth place of paella, where dining establishments provide this hearty rice meal (generally with bunny and chicken, not seafood) inside thatched-roof anglers’s homes. Later on, cycle through large rice paddies or take a boat trip on among the nation’s greatest lakes.

Amazing grocery store are another cooking foundation. Do not miss out on the brand-new Mercado de la Imprentainside a previous printers, or Mercado de Colóna nationwide monolith with echoes of Gaudí– the designer and designer best understood for his deal with La Sagrada Família in Barcelona. Here you’ll discover a branch of Horchatería Danielwhich specialises in Valencian horchata, a sweet beverage made from ground tiger nuts that’s typically delighted in with long spongy buns called fartons

For local meals with scenic vistas, trip supplier Sea Saffron‘s uncommon dining experiences consist of tapas and white wine on Valencia’s greatest roof, ignoring La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias.

Where to remain

A range of store lodging is readily available throughout Valencia’s bewitching old town, Ciutat Vella. Based in a 19th-century estate, the first-class Hotel Palacio Vallier is a lovely base– see the remains of a third-century Roman perfumery found throughout its restoration, savour sweeping views from the roof balcony and sip mixed drinks in a bar influenced by revered Valencian ceramic brand name, Lladró.

For an elegant self-catering alternative that’s closer to the beach, attempt Apartamentos Barracartrun by the household that runs the popular Casa Montaña pub. The flats lie in El Cabanyal, an old fishing district that maintains an earthy appeal in spite of increasing gentrification, where wacky little museums (consisting of one devoted to rice) sit amongst vibrant, tiled exteriors. It’s a brief walk to the beach and a 30-minute bus trip to Valencia’s city centre.