Valencia snapshot
Travel guide to Valencia - Spain's third city
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Spain’s third largest city, Valencia has both an atmospheric old town and is near to beaches. It’s also a major sailing centre, hosting the America’s Cup in 2007, and the whole port area is being improved.
Hardly surprisingly, Valencia is often described as the ‘New Barcelona’, and is now attracting the city break holiday market.
With Costa Blanca resorts nearby, many low-cost airlines fly to Valencia and huge efforts are being made to attract those visitors in to the city with, for example, ‘The City of Arts and Sciences’, featuring an opera house and performing arts centre, science museum and an IMAX cinema/planetarium.
As with many Spanish cities, do not be put off by the ghastly high rise outskirts. There is much to see, starting with the Cathedral, built from 1262 and 1426. It features the Cup of the Holy Grail and the tower offers fine views of the city.
La Lonja de la Seda, the Gothic Silk Exchange, is the city’s most beautiful old building, dating from the 15th Century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Central Market is well worth a visit, with over 1,000 stalls in a splendid brick-and-iron building.
L’Oceanografic is Europe’s largest marine park with lagoons, dolphinarium, a shark tunnel and massive aquariums. There are fine museums too with the Fine Arts Museum the largest in Spain after the Prado, and featuring modern and classical works, notably by Spanish artists.
The old town, or Centro Histórico with buildings dating to Roman and Arabic times, is surrounded by the city walls and can only be toured on foot. The alleyways of the Barrio del Carmen are becoming increasingly fashionable with shops, galleries, restaurants, bars and late-late nightlife.
The city's largest square is the Plaça de l'Ajuntament, with the town hall and many restaurants and bars. The Plaça de la Verge has the Basilica of the Virgin and the Turia fountain, and is a popular spot for locals and tourists.
The best way of getting around the town centre is by walking or by bus although the only way of getting around the central Old Town is on foot. There is a metro but it mostly serves commuter traffic. The main train station is Valencia North, served by Alaris and EuroMed services plus other connections to Spanish cities.
Valencia is linked north and south by the AP7-E15 motorway, which runs along the east coast and inland by the A3-E901 which heads west towards Madrid. Valencia International Airport is 8km from the city and is served by several budget airlines.
Make sure you include Booked.net if searching for hotels in Valencia. They list a good number of quality hotels, available at competitive prices. Also, you don't have to pay any extra fees for booking, administration or cancellation.
Every month our travel writers comb the web for city break deals to Valencia. Visit our Valencia holiday shop to browse through the latest offers.
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