9 Best Things to Do in Valencia: Old Town, Beaches & Food
The best things to do in Valencia include visiting the cathedral, choosing a tower viewpoint, exploring La Lonja and Mercado Central, and tasting paella. Add Cabanyal or Patacona for beach time and choose specific attractions at the City of Arts and Sciences. Keep the old town, coast and modern complex in separate itinerary blocks.
Choose a food experience, then the interiors you want
Cook rather than only order: the linked paella class describes a chef-led cooking session and a meal. The market visit is included only in morning sessions Monday–Saturday; evening and Sunday sessions omit it. Confirm ingredients, dietary needs and your meeting point.
Compare paella-class sessions and market inclusion
Attraction tickets: cathedral cultural admission, Miguelete climb, aquarium, science museum and Hemisfèric screenings are different purchases. Choose your actual interiors before buying combinations, and avoid another market tour if your class already covers the visit you want.
Written by Valentina from Valentina’s Destinations
Valencia is a port city with an old-town walking circuit, Mediterranean beaches and a modern cultural complex beyond the historic center.
The original contributor’s viewpoints, food ideas, and architecture descriptions are retained below with practical corrections. A first visit works better with two or three activity areas than with nine stops rushed into one day.
Valencia at a glance
- Time: editorial starting point: two full days; add time for several paid interiors or a long beach visit.
- Walking: group old-town sights; beach and modern-complex transport need their own plan.
- Market: Monday–Saturday mornings, not a Sunday or evening shopping plan.
- Stairs: Miguelete and Serranos require separate suitability checks.
- Booking: check product scope, date and inclusions instead of assuming one city pass covers everything.
Quick picks by interest
- Visit Valencia Cathedral and the Holy Chalice
- View the city from the Serranos Towers
- Climb El Miguelete / Micalet
- Choose a city beach: Cabanyal or Patacona
- Visit La Lonja de la Seda
- Eat paella or learn to cook it
- Visit Mercado Central during trading hours
- Choose attractions at the City of Arts and Sciences
1. Visit Valencia Cathedral and the Holy Chalice
Even if you’re not religious, you’ve probably heard about the ‘Holy Grail.’ The Holy Grail is a chalice, or cup, that Jesus reportedly drank from at the Last Supper.
It’s a Christian relic that has entered popular culture in big ways. In the 1989 movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Jones quests to find the Holy Grail.
You can do as Jones did and go on your own quest to find the legendary Holy Grail. It’s reported to reside at the Valencia Cathedral.
The Valencia Cathedral is one of the cultural places in Valencia to visit in the old town. Construction began in the 13th century, and its chapels and artworks reflect later periods too.
Its facade is an architectural hodge-podge of various styles, including Romanesque, Baroque, and Gothic elements.
Inside the Valencia Cathedral, you’ll find the Holy Chalice Chapel. The chalice is venerated as the Holy Grail in Christian tradition; that identification should not be presented as a universally established historical fact.
The stone cup and its later supporting elements have different histories. Ask about the object’s components rather than assigning one date or inscription to the entire chalice.
Practical information
- Location: Valencia Cathedral, old town.
- Admission / cost: Official cultural-visit general tariff €12, including cathedral museum/audio guide; eligibility rates differ. Tower separate.
- Hours / access: Published October cultural hours: Mon–Fri 10:30 am–6:30 pm, Sat until 5:30 pm, Sun 2–5:30 pm. Last admission one hour before close; worship/season can change access.
- Time needed: Editorial estimate: 45–90 minutes, plus tower time if selected.
- Booking / transport: Respect services. Holy Chalice tradition is not presented as conclusive historical identification.
2. View the city from the Serranos Towers
The most romantic view of Valencia is one from above. If you can climb above the city, you’ll be rewarded with an array of colorful rooftops.
The Serranos Towers are one of the remaining gates of Valencia’s medieval city wall. Climbing them gives a view over the old town and former riverbed; confirm current entry and daylight access.
The Christian Wall was built in the 14th Century in the Valencian Gothic style. The gates were defensive structures and entrances into the city.
The towers are among the surviving structures of the medieval defenses. Their exact naming story is not necessary to plan a visit.
Visit while the towers are open and there is sufficient daylight. The upper views are part of the appeal, but a sunset arrival may be too late for the visitor window.
The original contributor also recommended the Atmosphere rooftop for views toward City Hall. Its current operation and booking arrangements were not independently confirmed; choose a verified rooftop reservation rather than relying on that old recommendation.
Practical information
- Location: Serranos Towers at the northern old-town edge.
- Admission / cost: Current entry tariff not independently confirmed; do not rely on old “few euros.”
- Hours / access: Daylight and safe-weather access; current schedule needs confirmation.
- Time needed: Editorial estimate: 30–45 minutes for a tower visit.
- Booking / transport: Assess stairs and exposed platforms. Atmosphere rooftop remains an unverified older reference.
3. Climb El Miguelete / Micalet
The Micalet, also called El Miguelete, is the cathedral’s Gothic bell tower. Climb the spiral staircase for rooftop views if the steps and confined stairway suit you; it is not a step-free viewpoint.
The bell tower is connected to the Valencia Cathedral. So, be sure to visit it while you are stopping to see the Holy Grail. The Tower of Micalet is one of the most recognizable structures in the Valencia skyline, and it has become a symbol for the city.
The cathedral’s historic bells are part of the tower’s identity. A normal visitor climb does not promise access to the bell chamber or a live ringing demonstration.
Ask about any special bell-related visit or program separately from the standard tower admission.
Practical information
- Location: Cathedral bell tower; a separate climb.
- Admission / cost: Official general tariff €3; reduced categories have conditions. Not assumed part of cathedral cultural ticket.
- Hours / access: Official page publishes daily 10 am–6:45 pm, last admission 30 minutes before closing. Reconfirm date.
- Time needed: Editorial estimate: 30–45 minutes, allowing stairs and waiting.
- Booking / transport: Confined spiral stairs, no step-free summit. Check suitability and current access.
4. Choose a city beach: Cabanyal or Patacona
Valencia’s city beaches offer sand, sea views and a break from the old town. Water temperature, wind and swimming conditions vary with the season and day.
Make time for a beach if it suits your interests and the weather, including a promenade walk outside the swimming season.
You can walk to some of the nearest beaches to the city center, but it will be more comfortable to take a bus or taxi. Alternatively, you can ride a bike to the beach. The best beaches near the city center are Cabanyal Beach and Patacona Beach.
Patacona Beach has really instagrammable changing rooms. Cabanyal Beach has a gorgeous palm-lined boardwalk and volleyball courts. There are great restaurants nearby where you can stop for brunch or a cocktail.
Lounge chairs and other rentals depend on the operator and season; confirm prices rather than using the original “few euros” estimate. Bring a towel and sun protection.
Practical information
- Location: Cabanyal coastal area; Patacona is a separate northern beach.
- Admission / cost: Beach time separate from transport, parking, food and seasonal rentals.
- Hours / access: Choose by weather and current lifeguard/flag instructions, not assumed warm water.
- Time needed: Editorial estimate: one to three hours plus transfer.
- Booking / transport: Beach transfer is separate from old-town walking; check return service, sea and rentals.
5. Visit La Lonja de la Seda
La Lonja de la Seda, the Silk Exchange, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its Valencian Gothic trading hall is known for twisted columns; it is not a “Concert Hall.”
In the 15th and 16th centuries, merchants negotiated contracts here. The complex reflects Valencia’s commercial history and maritime institutions.
The building’s name is rooted in the significance of the Silk trade. Being a port city, Valencia was one of the important places where Eastern merchants brought silk from China. The silk sold here would be distributed all across Europe.
Be sure to check out the orange garden.
Practical information
- Location: Silk Exchange, beside the Central Market area.
- Admission / cost: Current visitor tariff not directly confirmed; confirm eligibility and any free-day conditions.
- Hours / access: Current direct visitor page unavailable; confirm opening before planning an interior visit.
- Time needed: Editorial estimate: 30–60 minutes.
- Booking / transport: Combine with nearby market if timings fit; the tower and church are not included automatically.
6. Eat paella or learn to cook it
While you can get tapas across Spain, Valencia is a place to explore paella. Rice cooks in a wide, shallow pan, and a well-made version may have socarrat, the toasted layer at the base. It is not defined by a cast-iron pan.
Valencia is thought to be the birthplace of paella. Its climate is perfect for growing rice. Peasants essentially cooked rice in a wide pan with whatever vegetables they could find –and these are paella’s humble beginnings.
Traditional paella valenciana commonly uses chicken, rabbit, green beans and garrofó beans. Seafood rice is another choice, not the same traditional recipe. Ask about ingredients and allergens; turmeric is not a defining ingredient of paella valenciana.
Restaurant Levante, La Pepica and Casa Roberto were named in the original guide. La Pepica’s own current site publishes its menu; confirm the exact location, rice choices, minimum order and reservation. Current details for the other two were not established in this update.
Practical information
- Location: Your reserved restaurant or the selected cooking-class meeting point.
- Admission / cost: Restaurant bill or class price; confirm minimum rice portions, allergies, drinks and full total.
- Hours / access: Class market visit only morning Mon–Sat; evening and Sunday sessions exclude market.
- Time needed: Meal: editorial estimate 1–2 hours. Class lists 3–3.5 hours depending on market inclusion.
- Booking / transport: Choose class or restaurant meal; avoid a second overlapping market tour. Confirm English instruction and dietary alternatives.
7. Visit Mercado Central during trading hours
The Central Market of Valencia is the best place to get groceries, lunch, or shop for regional delicacies. You’ll find artisanal meats, cheeses, and wine. Also, freshly caught seafood and farm-grown veggies. It’s a great place to shop for snacks or souvenirs.
The Central Market’s current building was completed in 1928, with Valencian modernist architecture. It continues to function as a food market, rather than only a monument.
Plan a morning visit during trading hours. A food-tour or cooking-class market visit can overlap with an independent visit, so check the selected program before allocating another morning.
Practical information
- Location: Plaça Ciutat de Bruges, central Valencia.
- Admission / cost: Food purchases according to stall; tour/class visits are separately booked.
- Hours / access: Official market publishes Mon–Sat 7:30 am–3 pm. Confirm holidays.
- Time needed: Editorial estimate: 45–90 minutes, unless included in your class.
- Booking / transport: Visit before closing, bring reusable bags, ask permission before photographing vendors.
8. Walk through City Hall Square
City Hall Square is one of the most beautiful squares in Valencia (second only to the Plaza of the Virgin). If you are visiting during the day, you may decide to visit the Valencia City Hall building.
City Hall’s façade and clock tower are landmarks on the square. Visitor access to interior rooms has its own schedule and restrictions; a walk through the plaza does not include archives or every room.
The square now includes a substantial pedestrian area, with restricted vehicle circulation around part of its perimeter. The old “last Sunday of each month” description is outdated. There is a fountain, with shops and restaurants nearby.
Practical information
- Location: Plaça de l’Ajuntament, central Valencia.
- Admission / cost: Public-space walk separate from any interior guided program.
- Hours / access: Pedestrian area with some restricted perimeter traffic; events can alter access.
- Time needed: Editorial estimate: 15–30 minutes for square, more for an authorized interior visit.
- Booking / transport: Do not assume archives and all City Hall rooms are open; cross designated traffic routes carefully.
9. Choose attractions at the City of Arts and Sciences
The City of Arts and Sciences is the most famous tourist attraction in Valencia. It’s a sprawling museum campus with a modern, ultra-futuristic aesthetic. You may recognize it in scenes from HBO’s Westworld Season 3.
Oceanogràfic is the aquarium, while Museu de les Ciències is a separate science attraction. The landscaped pools and architecture are part of the complex’s appeal; current kayak rentals were not confirmed and should not be assumed.
Hemisfèric offers large-format audiovisual screenings. The complex also includes landscaped public areas and the Palau de les Arts performance venue. Choose what you want to enter: an exterior walk is different from an aquarium, museum, film or performance ticket.
Practical information
- Location: Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències complex; separate building entrances.
- Admission / cost: Individual tickets and selected combinations differ. Official prices vary by date/option. Avoid duplicate aquarium admission.
- Hours / access: Use actual building calendar; Hemisfèric ticket is for one scheduled film, not an open-ended venue visit.
- Time needed: Editorial estimate: exterior walk 45–90 minutes; chosen interiors can take a half-day or more.
- Booking / transport: An exterior architecture walk needs a different plan from aquarium/museum/film. Confirm ticket overlap, dates and accessibility.
Oceanogràfic
Location: aquarium entrance at the complex. Admission/hours: use the selected date’s official calendar; ticket office closes one hour before the aquarium. Time: editorial half-day planning estimate. Booking: check whether a combination already includes entry, parking and any extras.
Museu de les Ciències
Location: science museum, separate from the aquarium. Admission/hours: selected ticket and date calendar. Time: editorial two to three hours by exhibition interest. Booking: confirm workshops and any combination coverage.
Hemisfèric
Location: screening building at the complex. Admission/hours: one film at your selected session. Time: program duration plus early arrival. Booking: confirm film, age suitability, audio language and arrival requirement.
A realistic two-day itinerary
- Day 1: Mercado Central during morning opening, La Lonja, cathedral and one chosen viewpoint. Leave time for lunch and City Hall Square. If you choose the morning cooking class, replace the independent market/lunch block instead of adding a second full meal tour.
- Day 2: choose the City of Arts and Sciences exterior and one or two specific interiors, or a beach-led day. Combining a full aquarium visit, a film, museum and long beach afternoon is likely to feel rushed.
Where to stay and how to get around
Choose an old-town or central base for the historic walking circuit, or a coastal base for more beach time. Confirm the actual address and transport connections. Air and rail arrivals require different station/airport transfers; check current schedules instead of relying on the original universal 15-minute airport ride or fixed Madrid/Barcelona train times.
Weather and practical packing
Plan outdoor walks around heat, wind and the date’s forecast. Spring or early fall can suit a city visit, but holidays and events affect crowds; no fixed Fahrenheit range is used here. Bring comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, water and a beach towel if needed. Ask about step-free interior access separately from broad claims that the city is walkable.
Valencia travel FAQs
How many days do you need in Valencia?
Two full days are an editorial starting point for the old town and a selected modern-complex or beach visit. Add time for multiple paid interiors or a cooking class. A full aquarium visit, museum, film and long beach afternoon should not be assumed to fit comfortably in one day.
Does cathedral admission include Miguelete?
The cathedral publishes a cultural-visit tariff and a separate tower tariff. Do not assume a cultural ticket grants the climb. Choose the visit you want and confirm current access; the tower’s confined stairs require a different suitability decision from the cathedral interior.
Is the Holy Chalice definitely the Holy Grail?
The Holy Chalice is venerated as the Holy Grail in Christian tradition. That belief is part of the cathedral’s cultural and religious significance, but it should not be presented as a universally established historical identification. The stone cup and later mounting also have different histories.
When should you visit Mercado Central?
The market publishes Monday–Saturday opening from 7:30 am to 3 pm; check holidays. Plan a morning food-market visit rather than an evening or Sunday shopping stop. If your cooking class includes the market, another overlapping tour may not be necessary.
Does every paella-class session include the market?
No. The linked class includes Mercado Central only on Monday–Saturday morning sessions. Evening and Sunday sessions omit the market and have a different duration. Select by your preferred experience and confirm ingredients, language, dietary alternatives and the actual meeting point.
Is seafood paella the same as paella valenciana?
They are different rice choices. Traditional paella valenciana commonly uses chicken, rabbit and beans, while seafood versions use marine ingredients. Ask for the exact recipe and minimum portions; a restaurant or class should clarify alternatives and allergies before you reserve.
Is the City of Arts and Sciences one ticket?
No single-entry assumption should be made. Oceanogràfic, Museu de les Ciències and Hemisfèric have individual or selected combination tickets, and performance events differ again. An exterior architecture walk is a separate plan. Confirm dates, film selection and aquarium overlap before paying.
Can you walk from the old town to the beaches?
Plan the coast as a separate transport and time decision rather than a short old-town stop. A bus, taxi or suitable bicycle route may suit your trip better than a long walk. Confirm current connections, road conditions and the return journey.
Should you book both tower viewpoints?
Serranos and Miguelete are different climbs, but a short visit may only need one. Choose by the view, location, steps and current opening. A sunset plan must fit the actual daylight and admission window; do not assume every tower stays open until sunset.
- About the Author
- More info
Tim Kroeger is the founder and editor of Universal Traveller, covering luxury stays and active travel. Based in Bangkok, he draws on 15+ years of travel across 112+ countries, from reviewing luxury hotels to bikepacking through Southeast Asia. He also writes about luxury wellness and longevity travel at tim-kroeger.com, where he developed the Restorative Index.
