Valencia

Valencia Cathedral

A mixture of Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic styles. Its Santo Cáliz chapel should be mentioned, and if you climb the 207 steps of the Miguelete tower, you can take in a spectacular 360-degree view of the city.

Silk Exchange of Valencia

A jewel of Valencian civil Gothic architecture. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996 and is a must-see.

Mercado Central

One of the largest fresh produce markets in Europe with all the flavour and smell of the Mediterranean. An unmissable stop in this city, this gigantic pantry of modernist architecture contains all the fresh produce from the region's market gardens.

Marina Real and beaches

The Marina Real often has glamorous yachts moored here. Just a few metres away there are beautiful beaches, such as La Malvarrosa. A little further away is El Saler beach, which is next to the Albufera Natural Park.

Fallas

One of the most famous festivals in Spain. It takes place in March (the big day is the 19th), when the streets are filled with more than 400 cardboard monuments that will later be burnt in huge bonfires.

City of Arts and Sciences

About five kilometres from the historic city centre. You can see futuristic architecture by the famous Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava, designer of the Dubai Creek Harbour Tower. The complex includes an IMAX cinema, a science museum and Europe's largest aquarium.

The Moors conquered Valencia in 714. They arrived peacefully and lived in gracious coexistence with the former inhabitants. At first it was known as Medina al-Turab, although the name Balansiya was soon imposed, which initially designated the entire territory of this taifa integrated into Al-Andalus.

Barrio del Carmen - Portal de Valldigna

This is a neighbourhood where the remains of the Arab wall can be found. Here you will find the Portal de Valldigna, an open gateway built on top of the Muslim wall, in an old entrance to medieval Valencia, an area where noble families settled. Along its streets you will find medieval buildings, palaces, frescoes, shops and restaurants that you won't be able to resist.

Galería del Tossal

Visitors can see important remains of the Islamic wall, as well as temporary exhibitions related to cultural heritage.

Mosques in Valencia

The Great Mosque of Valencia, at 5, Carrer de Palància, is the largest mosque in the city.

Oceanogràfic, Hemisfèric and Science Museum

Located in the City of Arts and Sciences complex. You can visit the aquarium, the IMAX cinema and the Science Museum.

Climb the Miguelete tower

This is the most iconic tower in the city. A perfect excursion for the little ones.

Bioparc Valencia

A zoo where the barriers between visitors and animals seem to disappear. You will find savannah antelopes, rainforest gorillas, special bird shows and more.

Valencia's signature dish is paella, which emerged when the Arabs brought rice to the city. The best place to eat this dish is in a restaurant overlooking the sea. There is also a popular drink called horchata, which is usually accompanied by a traditional dessert, the fartón.

If you want to indulge in the finest delicacies, there are several Michelin-starred restaurants where you can enjoy Spain's much-admired haute cuisine.

No trip to Valencia would be complete without visiting the historic city centre shops or elegant districts such as Ruzafa or Eixample. You'll find heritage markets and shops selling haute couture and shoes designed and made in the region. Valencia's ceramic craftwork is also worth mentioning.

You can take a flight to Valencia Airport, located 8 km from the centre. From the airport you can use public transport or a taxi to get to the city centre. Alternatively, you can travel by train from cities such as Madrid or Barcelona to Joaquín Sorolla train station. Another option is the bus, with connections from different Spanish and European cities. If you prefer driving, you can get there by road from Barcelona on the AP-7 motorway and from Madrid on the A-3 dual carriageway.