2 days in Valencia: your guide to the perfect itinerary
Spain’s third-largest city Valencia, is a perfect destination for a short break, full of fantastic attractions and sights.
There’s so much to see if you have 2 days in Valencia.
You can amble along ancient streets and through grand plazas in the compact and enchanting old town. And you can explore some of Spain’s most cutting-edge museums and futuristic designs, including Europe’s largest aquarium.
Valencia also has miles of beautiful beaches covered in golden sand beside the Mediterranean Sea, and fabulous restaurants where you can eat authentic paella, Valencia’s most famous culinary export. The city also has many green spaces, including a botanical garden and a Royal garden.
Read on to discover the best things to do when you have 2 days in Valencia.
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Where is Valencia?
Valencia lies on the Mediterranean coast in eastern Spain, facing the Balearic islands. It is located to the southwest of Barcelona and to the east of Madrid, the capital (the latter is less than two hours away by train).
The city has its own international airport, less than 10 kilometres away. This is connected to the city centre by two of Valencia’s metro lines. The journey time is around 20 minutes (for more information on how to get into the city, scroll to the end of this post).
If you plan to spend several days in Valencia, you may want to consider purchasing the Valencia Tourist Card before you start your travel to the centre as this will cover this.
The Valencia Tourist Card
The card gives you free unlimited public transport during your stay (including to and from the airport), free admission to some of the city’s museums, and special discounts on other tourist attractions.
If you want to pack in a lot, this might be the best way to do it. Depending on how long you are staying, there are 24, 48 or 72-hour options.
Best things to do during 2 days in Valencia
Below are the top things to do in this fascinating Spanish city and the best attractions and sights to visit during your two days in Valencia.
It’s a large city so we’d recommend that on day one you focus on the old town, parks and gardens. On the second day, you can visit the attractions to the east of the historic centre, including the beaches and museums.
We’ve included a suggested itinerary for 2 days in Valencia further down.
Getting around Valencia
Valencia has an excellent transport system, including buses, trams, and the metro, so it’s easy to get around.
There’s also a hop-on hop-off bus if you prefer the convenience this brings.
But while it is easy to get around, you’ll find Valencia is quite spread out. Because of this, if you’re only on a short trip, it’s worth planning out what you want to do by area to maximise your time.
This is particularly the case for some of the attractions, such as Europe’s largest aquarium, which will require you to invest time getting to it and then exploring inside.
We’ve outlined the main attractions here for your Valencia city break. This will give you a flavour of the diverse range of attractions this beautiful city has to offer.
Two days in Valencia: day 1
Wander around the Turia Gardens area
Arguably, one of Valencia’s most unique attractions is the Turia Gardens (Jardin del Turia). This huge green space measures 9 kilometres long, and follows the path of the dried-out River Turia snaking around the northern fringes of Valenica’s historic centre.
It stretches from the west (where you’ll find the Bioparc) eastwards towards the Mediterranean Sea. There are gardens, paths, and cycle routes, which have been designed in different sections.
It’s worth visiting this area if you can. If you’re staying, as we did, just outside the old town, you might be able to wander through some of the Turia Gardens en route to sightseeing in the centre.
Attractions
Depending on where you are in the gardens, there are quite few attractions you should consider seeing that are nearby. They include the botanical garden (Jardin Botanico) and the Parque Gulliver.
The latter is one for the kids. Named after Jonathan Swift’s famous novel Gulliver’s Travels, it is a creatively designed playground that allows children to climb over Lemuel Gulliver’s body.
There are also other popular attractions located around the eastern end of the Turia Gardens.
Most notably there’s the City of Arts and Sciences. This includes a futuristic-looking opera house, an aquarium, and an eye-catching tropical garden with open-air gallery covered by curved arches.
However, we would advise you hold off visiting the popular attractions located here during your 2 days in Valencia for the day you visit the coast (day 2 in our suggested itinerary).
Visit the Royal Gardens and the Museo de Bella Artes
The Royal Gardens (Jardines del Real) and the Museum of Fine Arts (Museo de Bella Artes) are adjacent to part of the Turia Gardens. These are just north of the historic centre and a short walk to the sights in the old town.
The Royal Gardens is another scenic part of the city to wander around. It’s big enough to spend some time taking a stroll, but not so large that you can’t squeeze a visit in when you visit the nearby art museum.
There are neat lawns and gardens here, palm trees and statues dotted around, a small ornamental lake, an ornate aviary, and, at one end, a large fountain.
The Museo de Bella Artes
The Museo de Bella Artes is just a stone’s throw from the Royal Gardens. Housed in an attractive 17th century domed building, this museum of fine arts is probably one of the museums you should put on your list to visit when you spend two days in Valencia: it’s apparently the country’s second largest museum of art.
Renowned for showcasing regional art, you’ll find a wealth of artworks by local artists inside, alongside an impressive collection that includes work representing the Renaissance period. Notable painters whose work you’ll find on display inside include El Greco, Francisco Goya and Diego Velazquez.
Explore the historic centre
There is a lot to pack in as you wander around Valencia’s charming old town, with its warren of ancient streets, picturesque plazas, parks, and delightful landmarks. In no particular order, you should try to fit in the following sights while looking around the city’s historic heart.
Or you could instead book a walking tour through this part of the city.
The Torres de Quart and Torres de Serranos
Dating from the 1400s and a gateway to Valencia’s historic centre, the Torres de Quart is a huge tower located on its western fringes. It is on the edge of the Barrio del Carmen, the city’s oldest district. You can climb the tower and enjoy the great views.
The Torres de Serranos dates from a slightly earlier period. It is a massive tower that is easy to spot as you approach Valencia’s historic centre from the north, especially from the main road that skirts the northern fringe of the old town.
You can also climb the Torres de Serranos to get views not only of the sights in the historic centre but also of the notable landmarks lying to the north, including the Turia Gardens.
Entrance to both towers is free with the Valencia Tourist Card.
The Barrio del Carmen
During the daytime on one of your two days in Valencia, you can walk through this district’s concentration of narrow streets and soak in the atmosphere, stopping off for a drink and a snack in one of its cafés.
While here, make sure you take in some of the historical sights of interest. These include the Parroquia de San Nicolas, a beautiful gothic-style church decorated inside with some incredibly stunning frescoes.
You can also find the remains of the old city walls (Portal de la Valldigna) and the Torres de Quart and Torres de Serranos here.
If you want somewhere to hang out at night, the Barrio del Carmen has some great bars, clubs, and restaurants.
The Plaza de La Virgen
When you wander into Valenica’s old town, there are a handful of plazas that you’ll be tempted to stop off in for a drink and rest your feet. The Plaza de la Virgen sits right at the top of the list. It was one of our favourites.
Framed on one side by Valencia Cathedral and the Basilica de la Virgen de los Desamparados, the sweeping square features an eye-catching fountain that is particularly stunning at night when it is lit up.
You’ll see quite a few outdoor bars scattered around the square’s edges.
When we visited, we sat in one close to the fountain while sipping some local beer. It was a great place to relax after walking for miles and exploring the city centre sights.
Valencia Cathedral
Valencia Cathedral, or, to give the building its full name, the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady of Valencia, is one of the city’s top tourist attractions to be visited (discounts are included with the Valencia Tourist Card).
It is rumoured to house the genuine Holy Grail, the cup that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper. This object of religious significance can be found in one of 24 chapels inside the cathedral.
You should spend some time exploring this magnificent religious landmark while you’re in Valencia. The entrance is on Plaza de la Reina, which is a short walk from Plaza de la Virgen.
Aside from the alleged Holy Grail, you’ll find many other attractions inside that are worth seeing. These include the incredible frescoes decorating the ceiling and the High Altarpiece.
There is also a cathedral museum containing art. If the weather permits, you may also want to pay to ascend the belfry’s more than 200 steps to the top of the El Miguelete tower for superb views over the historic centre.
Mercado Central
This is one of Europe’s largest covered markets, and from the outside the Mercado Central is a rather arresting structure. It sports an early 20th century Modernista architectural design that showcases, among other things, stained-glass windows, ceramics, and a fabulous iron dome.
This becomes more apparent when you walk inside the cavernous building and look up at the dome’s intricate design and the light that is cast down from its stained-glass windows.
Very much a locals’ market, you’ll find a stunning selection of fresh produce – everything from fish and seafood, meat, and fruit and vegetables – on display.
Should you fancy stopping for something to eat and drink, there is a central bar where you can grab a snack or something more substantial. This would be a good option for lunch if you don’t have much time.
La Lonja de la Seda
The entrance to Valencia’s former silk exchange is a few minutes’ walk from Plaza Del Mercado. This is a few metres from the central indoor market.
This Gothic building, which is justifiably designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, was built in the 15th and 16th centuries. It comprises a handful of beautiful rooms around a courtyard decorated with orange trees (Patio de los Naranjos).
The main draw here is the incredible Hall of Commerce (Sala de Contratacion). It was here that the city’s banking took place in the 15th century.
When you enter this cavernous room, it’s difficult to know where to first look.
The marble floor is absolutely stunning, but perhaps even more eye-catching are the eight beautifully crafted spiral columns that twist up to a dramatic rib vaulted ceiling.
You have to pay to enter La Lonja de la Seda. However, the cost is minimal, and it is worth it to see the unique architectural features.
Entrance to La Lonja de la Seda is free with the Valencia Tourist Card.
Plaza del Ayuntamiento
As public spaces go, this massive square is arguably the most visually impressive in Valencia’s historic centre. It is to the south of the old town.
Named after the elegantly designed City Hall that gives the square its name, you’ll see quite a few grand (often neo-classical) buildings lining its sides, and a grand fountain.
Most significant among the lovely buildings here is probably the spectacular main post office (Edificio de Correos).
It is perhaps the most majestic landmark in the plaza. Its stunning architecture includes a telegraph tower that is impossible to miss, plus a huge dome at one corner. Pop inside and have a look at this building’s interior.
Mercado de Colon
From the outside, this building’s imposing façade looks like it was once a former train station. However, it turns out that it has always been a market, and a massive restoration project brought the site back into use in the early 2000s.
Like its counterpart, the Mercardo Central, this popular food market, a short 10-minute walk from the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, was built in a Modernista design. A mixture of brick and wrought iron, this light, spacious structure has a high roof and two levels.
The food market is downstairs, and on the ground floor, you’ll find a mix of cafes and tapas bars. We grabbed a small tapas selection before exploring the surrounding area, south of the historic centre.
Try Valencia’s amazing food and drink
While you are visiting Valencia, you should try out some of the food and drinks the city is renowned for.
You can do this yourself, stopping off at the plethora of great bars and restaurants around Valencia. There are also food tours you can book that will take you around the city and provide you with some local food and drink to sample.
Paella
Top of the list on the food front is paella. Valencia is the birthplace of this signature dish and Valencians produce quite a few varieties that you’ll see on the menu dotted around the city’s tapas bars and local restaurants.
One of the best places to eat this local delicacy is at one of the seafront restaurants at Valencia’s beaches. So if you’re following our itinerary, maybe have this for lunch on day two. If not, there are plenty of places in the centre that offer this.
Valencian Horchata
While in the old town, if you fancy trying the local Horchata drink, stop off at Horchateria de Santa Catalina, not far from Plaza de la Reina.
This small, charming café is adorned with eye-catching tiles and a good place to stop off for a break. You can order an ice-cold horchata and fartons, long thin pieces of pastry.
Valencian Horchata is a drink made from tigernuts and is said to be highly nutritious. We tried it at the Horchateria. It has a quite unique taste, and I honestly don’t know whether I liked it or not. But given its reputed health benefits, you might want to make your own mind up about it!
Agua de Valencia
Another drink to try – if you consume alcohol – is Agua de Valencia. This is a delightful mix of orange juice from the local fruit, cava, gin, and vodka. You’ll see it on the menu in lots of places.
We tried this bright orange concoction in the Café de Las Horas in the old town. This memorable bar is beautifully decorated, with chandeliers, velvet curtains, and a well-stocked bar. They serve the drink in different size jugs, as well as individual glasses. It’s quite tempting to drink your way through as many as you can!
If you fancy trying Agua de Valencia, I’d recommend this bar. It’s clearly a popular spot – we weren’t the only ones enjoying our time there. But there are also other places to sample it dotted around the centre.
Two days in Valencia: day 2
If you’ve explored the historic city centre on your first day, we’d recommend visiting the attractions on the eastern side of the city and the coast on your second day.
Be wowed by the architecture at the City of Arts and Sciences
Designed by Valencia-born architect Santiago Calatrava, this gargantuan complex (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias) is almost like a ‘new city’. It is located along the route of the Turia Gardens heading towards the sea.
It is, without doubt, the centre-piece attraction in this part of the city. As the name implies, the ‘city’ is made up of different constituent parts that reflect both the arts and sciences and it is a showpiece for modern architecture.
Attractions
In the case of some of the attractions, you can merely walk around them and admire the structures before walking on. For others, such as the Oceanografic (featuring Europe’s largest aquarium alongside other attractions), you’ll want to invest some serious time wandering around inside.
The collection of futuristic buildings that makes up the City of Arts and Sciences also includes a cutting-edge opera house and performing arts centre (Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia).
There’s a planetarium, a 3D IMAX cinema shaped like a human eye (Hemisferic), and an interactive science museum. This is designed in the shape of a whale skeleton (Museu de las Ciencias Principe Felipe).
Two other notable sights in this complex are the Umbracle, which includes a pedestrian walkway that runs underneath giant curved arches (and is also home to a tropical garden and open-air gallery) and a massive suspension bridge. The bridge crosses over the Turia Gardens (Pont de l’Assut de l’Or).
Entry to the City of Arts and Sciences
You’ll have to pay to enter some of the attractions above, so check the individual web pages for admission fees and opening hours.
If you plan to spend more than two days in Valencia, you can purchase combined tickets to the buildings. Depending on the ticket you book, this can include what is arguably the central attraction in the ‘city’, the Oceanografic (see below).
And if you have a Valencia Tourist Card, there is a 10% discount.
See the amazing creatures in The Oceanografic
When we visited Valencia, this was the one attraction that we did not want to miss out on.
We didn’t pre-book our tickets, but we’d advise you to do this as it can take time to get to the front of the queue.
The entry price is more than worth it when you come face-to-face with the diverse range of sea life and creatures on display here.
Inside the aquarium
When you enter the huge complex, you are given a map. This provides information on the individual attractions and sections inside and that house creatures such as crocodiles, flamingos, penguins, sealions, and even beluga whales.
But the Oceanografic is not only Europe’s largest aquarium, it also houses various animals, representing the world’s different habitats, from the frozen Arctic and Antarctic to temperate and tropical climate zones.
There’s so much here and it’s so big (it covers 110,000 metres in total) that the entire complex is a bit like a cross between an aquarium and a small zoo.
The highlight though has to be the tunnel walkway, where you are almost entirely surrounded by water. You’ll see everything from stingrays, sharks, turtles, and tropical fish gliding over and next to you.
Individual tanks are nearby and contain bright, multi-coloured tropical fish and jellyfish that flicker in the dark. These are particularly engrossing and fascinating: you could spend hours marvelling at them.
One piece of advice: if you want to go into the tunnel walkway and are not interested in seeing the dolphin show, try to time your visit when the latter is on. We found the show drew a large number of visitors away and it became less crowded inside the aquarium.
Dining
Should you fancy dining surrounded by aquatic life, you can book to eat at the exclusive Submarino restaurant and watch the sea creatures peer at you while you tuck into your lunch.
If that is too pricey for you and you just want a snack or a less formal environment to dine in, other food outlets are scattered around the complex.
Go to the beach!
Not far from the marina is the start of Valencia’s long stretch of golden sand lined with palm trees.
Starting nearest the marina, you have Playa de las Arenas. This is perhaps the most popular beach with tourists due, in part, to the fabulous range of seafood restaurants, bars, and cafes that stretch along its beachside promenade.
We stopped here to try Valencia’s most famous export, paella, at La Pepica and were not disappointed.
If you’re interested in eating here, it’s worth booking in advance to avoid the long queues of diners: it’s a popular place! Aside from the excellent food, it’s a really atmospheric and buzzy dining setting.
From Playa de las Arenas, the beaches north merge into one another, starting with Playa de la Malvarrosa and then Playa de la Patacona. One of the top dining experiences at Playa de la Malvarrosa is Casa Carmela, another fabulous restaurant to try authentic paella, among many other things.
If you have time and it’s a warm, sunny day, you may also want to spend time walking along the beach promenade to find somewhere quieter to enjoy the sea.
Wander around the Poblats Maritims area
If you have time en route to the beach and want to do a bit more walking, you could stop briefly in the maritime district of Poblats Maritims. This is located near Valencia’s seafront, just north of the marina.
It’s a great place to explore on foot: you can admire the attractive period houses covered in tiles that reflect the fishing community’s seafaring past.
A 2 day Valencia itinerary
Below is a suggested itinerary for your two days in Valencia.
2 days in Valencia: an itinerary
Day 1: explore the city’s historic heart and parks and gardens
– Start early with a visit to the Valencia’s Turia Gardens, the Royal Gardens, and the Museum of Fine Arts
– Head to the old town and climb the Torres de Serranos en route
– Sample some of the local Horchata drink in Horchateria de Santa Catalina
– Explore the central sights: go to the Plaza de La Virgen and visit Valencia Cathedral
– Wander through Place de la Reina and visit the Central Market
– Grab lunch in the old town, Central Market, or head to the Mercado de Colon
– Climb the Cathedral’s El Miguelete tower
– Pop into La Lonja de la Seda
– Explore Plaza del Ayuntamiento and see the grand buildings
-Visit the Café de Las Horas for an aperitif before your evening meal
Day 2: combine the attractions to the east of Valencia’s old town
– Start early with a visit to the City of Arts and Sciences; visit one of the attractions (Europe’s largest aquarium in the Oceanografic is particularly recommended)
– Head to the beach, stopping at the maritime district for a quick wander
– Dine out at one of the seaside restaurants and try the traditional Valencian paella
– Take a late afternoon stroll along the beachside promenade
– Return to the historic centre for drinks and a meal
Practical information for your two days in Valencia
Getting into Valencia
Valencia airport is less than 10 kilometres to the west of the city, and is connected to the centre by two of Valencia’s metro lines (3 and 5). The journey time into the centre is around 20 minutes.
If you are planning to spend several days in Valencia, you may want to consider purchasing the Valenica Tourist Card before you start your travel into the centre.
The card gives you free unlimited public transport during your stay (including to and from the airport). You also get free admission to some of the city’s museums, and special discounts on other tourist attractions.
Depending on how long you are staying, there are 24, 48 or 72-hour options.
You can buy the tourist card here.
If you don’t want to ride the metro to the centre, you can also take a taxi. This is slightly quicker and will drop you at your hotel door, but is obviously more expensive.
Or alternatively, you can take a bus. Bus number 150 departs roughly every 30 minutes and takes 40 minutes to get into the city centre.
For tourists arriving from another Spanish city, there is also the option of taking the train or regional buses. High-speed trains from other Spanish cities arrive at Joaquim Sorolla train station, just south of the historic centre.
You can then jump on the metro to get into the centre or take a shuttle bus.
Getting around Valencia
If your hotel is centrally located, you can walk to lots of places, especially around the old town: this is fairly compact and is best explored on foot. In fact, you may want to consider booking a walking tour of this historical area.
Valencia has an extensive public transportation system, and outside of the old town, the metro covers most of the top attractions.
You can also take buses to many of the leading sights and, in some areas of the city, the local trams. You’ll probably want to do this if you plan to visit some of the museums outside of the old town, the marina, and the beach.
Or you could book the hop-on hop-off bus. This is a convenient way of seeing the main sights in a short period of time.
Questions people ask
Below, we’ve answered some of the questions people often ask.
Is Valencia worth visiting?
Valencia is definitely a destination you should put on your list of places to visit. When you go may depend on what you want to do. For example, if you want to be there to experience the colourful Las Fallas festival celebrations, then the first half of March is when you should plan your trip.
Aside from the seafront and the national park, most of Valencia’s main attractions will not necessarily be affected by the weather. However, if you want to sit out and eat and drink, then clearly the warmer months of the year would be the best time to visit Valencia.
There is a lot to see and do for both adults and children. For nature lovers, you can do a bike tour through the Turia Gardens. There are also lots of other green spaces to wander through centrally.
If art, history, and science fascinate you, Valencia offers a fabulous selection of cultural attractions, including museums. The City of Arts and Sciences is like no other tourist sight you’ll find, and the world-leading aquarium is a must.
Like all Spanish cities, Valencia has a wonderful old town. You can walk through ancient, narrow streets and admire beautiful churches and a wonderful cathedral.
To top it off, the culinary scene in Valencia is fabulous. This is most notable when it comes to eating Spain’s most famous cuisine, paella, in the city that gave birth to the dish!
Are two days enough time to properly see Valencia?
We definitely think two days in Valencia is enough time to see the main sights and to get a real flavour of the city. As mentioned above, Valencia covers a large area, so we do think it’s beneficial to focus on different parts on separate days when you visit.
Having said this, there’s enough to keep you occupied if you want to spend more than two days in Valencia. For instance, you could invest more time in exploring the City of Arts and Sciences and the Oceanografic, both of which are large complexes.
If the weather is sunny and warm, you could stay longer at one of the city’s beaches. You can enjoy the sea air, fabulous fresh food, and relaxing atmosphere.
Two days in Valencia
I hope you have a great time in Valencia and that this guide helps you plan your time. You might also be interested in other posts I have written about destinations in Spain:
