What to Do in Valencia (2026): Hidden Gems, Food, Culture & the Perfect Girls Trip
Valencia is calm, clean, relaxing, liberated and rejuvenating. Full of warm air and sunshine (if you go in the right season haha). Think paella, horchata, palm trees, pretty streets, bikes, sea air and zero stress. Girls trip perfection. Grab yourself a glass of white wine and Paella and then you've got yourself the most perfecto trip!
For years I have been travelling to Spain. My brother moved there in 1991 and I explored Barcelona when I was pregnant with my daughter. But never once had I stepped foot in Valencia, or even the Valencian region of southeastern Spain. Valencia is a gorgeous Mediterranean city on the east coast of Spain. Its also a hot spot for the Spanish. So after much research, it was time to jet off on a girls only Spanish holiday with my daughter.
So if you are here looking for a girly holiday fun of culture, food, fun and sunshine, then listen up! Here you will find exactly what I recommend to do in Valencia based on my very own experience.
Summary
- Valencia is a calm, sunny and walkable Spanish city, perfect for a relaxed girls getaway or first-time city break
- Explore the historic Old Town (Ciutat Vella), including Plaza de la Virgen, Plaza de la Reina and Valencia Cathedral
- Discover hidden gems like La Estrecha House, La Rotonda, the House of Cats and local street art
- Eat your way through Valencia with authentic paella, tapas, horchata and market food at Mercado Central
- Cycle through Turia Park, a unique green space running through the city, perfect for slow sightseeing
- Visit the iconic City of Arts and Sciences for futuristic architecture, museums and cultural spaces
- Enjoy beach time at Malvarrosa Beach, with seaside walks, restaurants and relaxed Mediterranean vibes
- Take in art, history and culture at museums, medieval towers and San Nicolás Church
- Finish your trip with atmospheric dining and live jazz at Volterra Manhattan
- Valencia offers great value, feels safe, and balances culture, food and relaxation beautifully
Top Tip: For Those Flying From Manchester
If you are from the Manchester area, or plan to fly from Manchester airport here’s a tip we have been doing for over 10 years!
We always park in to JetParks 3, instead of the airport parking, it has been our go-to airport parking for over a decade and its never let us down. It’s one of the cheapest and easiest to reach.
So if you are from around the Manchester area or plan to flight from Manchester airport we recommend you park here – just don’t steal my spot.
Also remember to book airport parking as early as possible, as prices shoot up the closer you get to your holiday. And always take a photo of your nearest bus stop so you know where to return to (not the car next to you)…
Valencia’s Historic Quarter
Plaça de la Verge & Plaza de la Reina
If you love glossy, marble floors, then you will love Valencia, especially Plaça de la Verge. Plaça de la Verge is located in the Ciutat Vella district of Valencia. Within the former medieval walls, here you will find churches, incredible restaurants and the back of Valencia’s cathedral. It’s one of those squares where you lose track of time. Perfect for slow lunches, people-watching and long girl-talk moments.
On our first night in Valencia we choose one of the many restaurants on the Plaça de la Verge square for our first true taste of Valencia: a traditional Paella, paired perfectly with a glass of crisp Spanish wine. As well as Paella, many Valencia restaurants serve Spanish tapas. But don’t worry you do have the option to have a McDonalds if you need to!
Plaça de la Verge, also home to the beautiful Turia Fountain, is a perfect place for some instagrammable worthy photos!
The atmosphere throughout Valencia and certainly the historical quarter was relaxed, welcoming and safe. The sunlit Plaza de la Reina (Queen’s Square) is just a minutes walk from Plaça de la Verge. This Plazza immediately became our landmark. Here you will find the entrance to the cathedral and many, many ice cream shops as well as souvenir shops.
Valencia’s cathedral is home to the holy grail but many, many places claim this, so perhaps this is best taken with a punch of salt. If you want to visit the cathedral expect an entry fee which includes an audio guide in your preferred language.
The Triple Threat: La Rotonda, La Estrecha House (The Skinny House) & Horchatería de Santa Catalina
There are so many hidden gems around Valencia, it’s hard to name them all but there is one tiny area is ideal for a girls holiday wander – cute shops, photo spots and sweet treats within just a few steps of each other. Feminine trip perfection. And to make it better they’re all within a couple of yards of each other.
First explore La Rotonda next to the Plaza de la Riena, for some lovely shops in an unusual setting. Here you will find some little souvenir shops, as well as some Spanish ceramic shops and a couple of bakeries.
Next to La Rotonda you will find La Estrecha House. Loved by tourists it is only 107 centimetres wide and is now a hat shop! Look to the right of the house to find a beautiful church. If you are lucky, like us, you might even spot a wedding taking place. Turn around and on the left is the famous Horchatería de Santa Catalina, where you can find the famous sweet treat Horchata.
At first glance Horchata looks like milk but it’s actually plant-based. Made from soaked and blended ingredients like rice (horchata de arroz), almonds, or most famously tiger nuts (horchata de chufa), its sweetened with sugar and flavoured with cinnamon and vanilla.
Horchatería de Santa Catalina
Now this might be controversial, but horchata wasn’t our favourite treat ever, but it was a must try and we must admit that our serving from the famous Horchateria Santa Catalina was much better than other places we tried!
Valencia Bull Ring
In the south of the city, is the Valencia Bull ring which is located near the station. Nearby you will find some beautiful examples of architecture including Valencia’s city hall and Valencia’s museum of history.
This area isn’t as pretty as the historical quarter but it is still a lovely place to visit and if you are interested in Spanish bull rings then it is a must. Here we stumbled across a group of strangers dancing to music just outside of the train station. It was one of those moments when you realise that the world isn’t all bad and love does exist between strangers.
This was a lovely, wholesome, moment to just take in with my daughter, explore without a plan.
Top Tip
Some evenings crowds gather and dance outside the railway station with a passion and rhythm that is infectious!
Turia River Park
One really unique feature about Valencia is the park that runs through what used to be an old river. After devastating floods in 1957, the Valencia Turia river was rerouted and the riverbed transformed into Turia Park. The park stretches from the northern end of the city towards the marina and beaches in the south. The park is home to many bronze statues, the City of Arts and Sciences and nearby music venues.
One of my favourite memories of the trip was hiring a bike and cycling through the park. It felt wholesome and freeing, like stepping into a picture perfect memory. Bikes are a perfect way to explore the park, and something I don’t get to do often with my husband, so finding time to do this with my daughter felt extra special.
We paid just €6 each for two hours of bike hire. I would definitely recommend this as it was a beautiful peaceful way to see Valencia away from the hustle and bustle of the city streets. Watch out for the statues in this park and around the city, there are some lovely and quite unique ones!
Top Tip
Make sure you know basic cycle repairs before you set off, putting a chain back on can be tricky!
And watch out for the golden gargoyles underneath one of Turia’s Park bridges.
Valencia’s Iconic City of Arts and Sciences
If you want to venture further without disappearing underground on the metro or walking thousands of miles, then opt for a hop-on hop-off bus. We took the “Red Bus” rather than the Green simply because it came first !
Our first stop on the red bus, was the iconic City of Arts and Sciences, set within Turia Park. If I could capture it in a single word, it would be stunning. Futuristic architecture surrounded by pools of clear, blue water, framed by long lines of trees. There are three main buildings dedicated to arts and science here, each one as striking as the last.
The first is Valencia’s opera house, a sweeping, curved structure. Officially, it represents the mouth of a fish, but I saw a Star Trek spaceship and from another angle a futuristic giant helmet. Only later did the fish-like features reveal themselves.
Next is Hemisfèric, home to an IMAX cinema and planetarium whose elliptical roof opens and closes like an eyelid. But again, it was only from above that I could see the intended design.
The third building is the Museu de les Ciències. Inspired by a whale skeleton its home to the Legacy of Science exhibition, and the interactive Chromosome Forest, which unpacks the sequencing of human DNA. Temporary exhibitions rotate throughout the year, and for just €3.50 more you can join a guided tours.
Overlooking these buildings is L’Umbracle, a botanical walkway. Lined with palm trees and climbing plants it transforms into part of Valencia’s vibrant clubbing scene at night. This whole area is very beautiful and peaceful and is a definite must visit for anyone going to Valencia.
Malvarrosa Beach
And just like every good girls holiday, there has to be a beach moment, provided there is a beach!
Leaving the City of Arts & Science behind we headed towards the marina and Malvarrosa Beach for a gentle seaside stroll. Visiting the beach after the science park makes a lot of sense in terms of location – so I would recommend you do it this way.
If you love a beach day, I would highly recommend adding Valencias beach to your itinerary. It’s a beautiful beach with stalls lining the front and a selection of restaurants to choose from. We had lunch at La Taperina and yes we ordered paella again.
Back on the “Red Bus” we passed Valencia’s Mestalla football stadium, the Iberian Lady, an immense sculpture made from 22,000 cobalt-blue ceramic tiles by Spanish artist Manolo Valdés and Bioparc, a 100,000 m² safari park. Our bus tickets cost 24 euros for 48 hours and saved our feet…
History, Art and Culture
If you are a history enthusiast this is a must!
Valencia, was once encircled by medieval walls, but today only a few sections remain. Built as defensive gates in the late Gothic style the Torres de Quart and the Torres De Serrano still stand. You can see evidence of cannon fire from 1808, when Valencia helped resist Napoleon’s troops during the War of Independence on the Torres De Quart. If you are so inclined you can climb the towers for just €2. And yes the views from the top are well worth the effort of the 172 steps……
San Nicolás Church
If you spend a lot of time researching destinations on TikTok you may have heard of San Nicolás Church’s Immersive Light Show. The show is only 15 minutes long, but it’s a clever projection that highlights the church’s frescoed ceiling with soft music. Tickets cost around €10–15 which is a bit expensive for the length of the show but if you have time and money to spend I would absolutely recommend this show.
Top Tip
We sat at the front of the church which in hindsight was a mistake, sit at the back that way you will see the whole display without constantly having to twist around.
Mercado Central Food Market, Culture & More Art !
Unless this is the first article about Valencia you are reading you have probably seen many people recommend the Mercado central food market which could be considered the heart of Valencia. Mercado Central is foodie heaven – olives, fresh fruit, cute souvenirs and temptation at every turn. Bring a tote bag… or three. You will go home with snacks and things you don’t technically need but absolutely adore.
This is a lovely building with hundreds of stalls inside selling everything food related. On Sunday mornings, a small market sets up just outside the Mercado Central. Colourful ceramic stalls and handmade jewellery tables make it well worth a browse. Needless to say, we didn’t leave empty-handed.
The CCCC & House of Cats
One of the many museums in Valencia is the CCCC ( Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporania ) a contempory art museum. Even better it was free on the day of our visit! This is a lovely museum with some interesting exhibitions and as the heat outside was very oppressive we were very glad of the cool respite that this building offered.
This museum was filled with familiar street art, from bold murals to the now unmistakable work of David de Limón. If you visit Valencia, you’ll spot his playful characters everywhere, and trust me, they’ll quickly become part of the city’s charm.
Top Tip
There are a number of museums in Valencia which are free on certain days in the week but you do have to book in advance.
Walking towards the Torres ‘re Quart from the CCCC we passed the house of cats. Created in memory of the few cats who managed to escape when mediaeval warrior El Cid conquered Valencia in 1094. The Castillian knight declared cats bad luck and ordered them to be massacred. All bar four died, but their memory lives on in the city’s tiny ‘cat mansion’. Whether the story is true or just folklore is unclear, but the sentiment remains: today, this little cat mansion stands as a whimsical tribute to the city’s feline residents – past and present.
The Hidden Gem of the Trip: Volaterra Manhattan
One restaurant that was always on our bucket list from the moment we landed was Volaterra Manhattan, and if you are a Jazz lover – or someone who simply likes a chill night out this could be the loveliest spot for you!
This restaurant takes you back to 1920 New York with appropriate decor, and music. It is however essential that you book in advance, otherwise you may be disappointed or eating very very late!
It’s the perfect final-night girls trip dinner: atmospheric, moody, elegant and full of personality.
Top Tip
Make sure you book for Volaterra in advance – we forgot and were very lucky to be given the only table available which was at 10pm….so we simply ordered wine and some delicious deserts and soaked up the atmosphere.
Final Verdict: Should you visit Valencia?
Valencia isn’t just a great city – it’s a girls trip destination. Walkable, pretty, full of flavour and just the right balance of activities and relaxation. Whether it’s a mother-daughter trip, a weekend away with your best friend, or your first girls holiday abroad, Valencia feels effortless and unforgettable.
Whether you’re wandering marble-lined plazas with gelato in hand, cycling through Turia Park, sipping wine by the sea, or enjoying a jazz-filled evening somewhere Valencia delivers unforgettable moments.
It’s walkable, affordable, feels safe, and full of hidden gems – making it an ideal girls’ trip destination or first-time Spanish city break. So yes: book the flight, order the paella, and let Valencia work its quiet magic on you.
Remember: travel isn’t just about seeing a city. It’s about feeling it, tasting it, and doing things that sometimes you don’t make time for and that once revisited you know you have to make time for in the future.
You won’t just visit – you’ll want to come back. Or at very least want to book another girls trip for next year!
What to Do in Valencia FAQs
Absolutely and honestly, I would say it’s one of Spain’s most underrated gems. Valencia is calm, clean, sunny and beautifully walkable, with the perfect balance of culture, food, green space and sea air. From my own experience, it’s one of those cities that makes you feel relaxed and rejuvenated rather than rushed. It’s ideal for a girls trip, mother–daughter getaway or first-time Spanish city break.
Our hotel was located just behind the historic quarter. Our room was compact but perfect for us, so if you are looking for somewhere central, easy and to the point then check out Cosy Rooms, for quite literally your own cozy room. Next door you will also find Restaurante El Infante, which is incredible for some Spanish Tapas and a drink.
It’s best known for its combination of urban life and a beach, not to mention it’s the home of Paella! You’ll find medieval landmarks like Valencia Cathedral and La Lonja de la Seda alongside futuristic icons such as the City of Arts and Sciences. Add horchata, sunshine, beaches and a slower Mediterranean pace of life, and you’ve got a city that feels both cultured and effortlessly chilled.
A three-day visit gives you the perfect taste of Valencia without feeling rushed.
Must-dos include visiting Valencia Cathedral (home of the Holy Grail), wandering Mercado Central, cycling through Turia Park, admiring the City of Arts and Sciences, and finishing with beach time at Malvarrosa. Add in hidden gems like La Estrecha House, horchata stops and an evening at Voltereta Manhattan, and you’ve got a beautifully balanced itinerary.
Yes. The Old Town (Ciutat Vella) is compact and easy to explore on foot, but I highly recommend hiring bikes to really enjoy Turia Park. The city has excellent cycle paths that take you from the historic centre all the way to the beach, making sightseeing feel slow, scenic and wonderfully stress-free.
Yes. Valencia is brilliant for easy day trips if you have extra time.
Two popular options are the Montanejos thermal springs, where you can relax, hike, kayak or raft before soaking in natural pools, and Albufera Natural Park, known for its boat rides and dreamy sunsets. Both offer a nature-filled contrast to city exploring and work perfectly as an add-on to your trip.
