Valencia (València in Catalan/Valencian) is a charming old city and the capital of theValencian Community. With just over 830,000 inhabitants in 2023, it isSpain’s third-largest city and, after Barcelona, the most significant cultural centre along the Spanish Mediterranean coast. It is the capital of the autonomous Valencian Community, and is known for tourism and cuisine. In March visitors flock to the city for the annual UNESCO-listed Falles celebration, but the city is worth visiting at other times of year for its paella, ultramodern architecture, and good beaches.
The Spanish nameValencia is pronounced [baˈlenθja] (bahl-EHN-thyah), while the Valencian pronunciation ofValència is [vaˈlensia] (vahl-EHN-see-ah).
Valentia Edetanorum was established as a Roman colony in the second century BCE. In the early 8th century CE the Moors invaded, andBalansiyya became the capital of the Muslim Taifa of Valencia, thriving as a trading centre for paper, silk, ceramics, glass, and silver. With a brief interlude of Christian control in the 11th century under El Cid, the city remained in Muslim hands until the Christian Reconquista led by King Jaime I of Aragon in 1238, and was incorporated as a kingdom under the Crown of Aragon.
Valencia experienced its golden age in the 15th century, with a growing population and flowering of Valencian culture and the arts. Significant monuments from this period include the cathedral’sMicalet, the UNESCO-listedLlotja de la Seda, and theTorres de Serrano (Serrano Tower). During this period it became one of the most influential cities of the Mediterranean, and helped to fund Christopher Columbus's first voyages to the Americas.
In 1609 the Spanish government ordered the expulsion of all Jews and Moriscos from the kingdom to north Africa. Muslim descendants made up about a third of the population of Valencia and the surrounding region, and their forced removal brought about a major economic downturn, and in some nearby communities, economic collapse. It was more than a century before the city began to recover.
In the 20th century, Valencia was the capital of Republican Spain from 1936 to 1939, and during the Spanish Civil War sustained heavy bombardment by Franco’s forces, both by air and sea. Franco retaliated for Valencia’s Republican past with cultural and ideological repression, and forbade the use of the Valencian language. In 1957 the Túria River overflowed its banks leading to catastrophic flooding of the old city centre with more than 80 dead. The river was consequently diverted to the south of the city, but it was not until the return of democracy that the original abandoned riverbed was finally converted into a park – now one of the city’s most outstanding features.
In the 21st century Valencia has continued to evolve. In 2007 and 2010 the city hosted theAmerica’s Cup, and from 2008 to 2012 hosted theFormula One European Grand Prix. Architecturally, too, the city has changed, most notably with the construction of theCiutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences) by internationally-renowned Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava. The 2015 election of a new leftist coalition city council, after decades of control by the conservativePartido Popular (PP), brought renewed focus on expanding and improving existing infrastructure, including adding three new metro lines and expanding the city’s already extensive bicycle path network. This ongoing transformation has turned a once little-considered medium city into a meatier and more interesting destination.
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Valencia's official languages areValencian, which is considered a dialect of Catalan by many linguists, andSpanish. Even though it is similar to the Catalan spoken in Catalonia, Valencians are very particular about their language being referred to as "Valencian", and often find it offensive when people refer to it as "Catalan". In the capital of Valencia, which is the third largest city in Spain, not many people speak Valencian, nor are they offended if addressed in Spanish. However, outside the capital, Valencian is often preferred. As inBarcelona with Catalan, it helps to be sensitive to this language dynamic. However, the linguistic issue is not as controversial as in Barcelona and most people in Valencia speak Spanish as their first and often their only language. Road directional signs are generally bilingual in Spanish and Valencian.
The English-speaking skills of the locals can be hit or miss. Most people under 50 speak some English and some quite a bit, but most would prefer being addressed at first in Spanish or Valencian. French is also spoken or understood by some.
Metro Valencia lines 3 and 5 go directly to the town centre and link the airport to the main train station, Estación del Norte (beside the Xàtiva metro stop), running every 8 minutes and taking about 21 minutes. A one-way ticket to the city centre costs €3.90, plus an additional €1 for the cardboard ticket with rechargeable chip; tickets can be purchased at a manned service counter (English spoken) and at vending machines which do accept credit cards. Don't get confused: the paper tickets with magnetic strips are recharchable. There are no trains between the hours of midnight and 05:30.
Fernanbus[dead link] operates bus line150[dead link], with buses departing every 15 minutes and terminating at39.46976-0.388632Àngel Guimerá, 48, with a full schedule and route map online. Tickets cost €1.50 and the journey takes about 30-40 minutes.
Ataxi stand is just outside the arrivals hall. A ride from the airport to Carrer de la Pau, in the heart of the historic city centre approximately 11 km away, costs around €20-23 with an additional 'airport supplement' of around €5 (Jan 2015). The tariffs are on display in the taxi in Valencian, Spanish and English but are difficult to see. The same journey back from Carrer de la Pau to the airport is half the price!
Book a taxi by calling a radio taxi company or book online atBookTaxiValencia.
The main train station is39.46611-0.377453València - Estació del Nord (Valencia - Estación del Norte / Valencia - North Station), which is in the city centre, next to Plaza de Toros and near the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento). The main building is a well-preserved modernist structure dating from 1917, and had been declared a National Historical Building. This station is only used by suburban, commuter, regional and mid-distance trains. Facilities include a tourist information office, storage lockers, several cafés and a car rental office. The access toMetro València underground stationXàtiva 3 5 9 is just in front of the main entrance of the train station. Being an important hub for the public transport network of the city, the location is served by several bus lines which allow connection to any district or neighbourhood of Valencia.
Long-distance and high-speed (TGV, Euromed) trains arrive at39.45901-0.381294València - Joaquim Sorolla (Valencia - Joaquín Sorolla) train station, 800 m from the Nord station. Facilities at this station include storage lockers, a café and car rental office. A free shuttle bus connects the station to València - Estació del Nord with a departure every 10 minutes. This station is served by Metro València lines fromJesús 1 2 7 .
The national train company isrenfe. Tickets can be booked online on their website, where significant discounts ('Web' and 'Estrella' fares) are available for early bookings. Valencia is connected withMadrid by AVE high-speed trains, that run over the Madrid–Levante high-speed rail line. There are now low cost operatorsouigo ,iryo[dead link] &avlo (now bookable from the main renfe website) which operate trains to Madrid. The journey takes approximately 1 hour 35 minutes. Other major cities, such asBarcelona, are also connected with Valencia. The journey from Barcelona takes approximately 3 hours.
All rail stations are operated by the national rail infrastructure companyADIF, you can check train running times & platforms there and on their app. Remember local Cercanías trains are listed separately to longer distance ones.
39.48104-0.388275Estació d'Autobusos de València(Estación de Autobuses de Valencia / Valencia Bus Station),Avinguda de Menéndez Pidal, 11(Túria metro),☏+34 963 466 266.A dozen bus companies operate here, with arrivals from almost every big city inSpain and most cities in the Valencia region. Ticket offices are on the upper floor, as are a café and information booth.(updated Jul 2015)
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Streets in Valencia have two names, Valencian and Spanish, but most street signs are in Valencian only. Maps may list street names in Valencian or Spanish and rarely both, while addresses may be given in either language, which could create some confusion. Addresses in this guide are generally listed in Valencian.
The city has begun changing some Franco-era street names to those commemorating other figures, especially women. By late 2017, about 50 streets had been renamed, with more planned; online mapping services are largely up-to-date but printed maps will likely not be.
Aside from going to the beach and the City of Arts and Sciences, exploring the hub of the city requires no public transportation. Much of this city can be done walking, stopping for a coffee or a beer, and then walking more, all very leisurely. It's not necessary to have the mindset of mastering a complex public transportation system. However, for longer trips, see below for some pointers.
Travellers visiting for a short period may want to consider purchasing aValencia Tourist Card, a one-, two- or three-day pass which allows for unlimited travel on all metro and bus lines, including to/from the airport, over a period of 24 hours (€15), 48 hours (€20), or 72 hours (€25). The card also includes free admission to public museums and monuments, discounted admission for other tourist attractions, and additional discounts at some shops and restaurants. The card can be purchased at any tourist office, including at the airport, or purchased online for a discount and picked up on arrival at a tourist office.
For travellers not interested in the package, or staying longer than three days, the rechargeableSUMA 10 card provides a flexible means of getting around. It is valid for both metro and bus travel. This card allows for ten journeys, including transfers begun within 90 minutes of commencing your journey. The included transfers comprise unlimited transfers between metro (or tram) lines, and a single transfer to or from bus lines (i.e. between buses or to/from the metro). Cards are not personalized, and a single card can be used by multiple people (deducting multiple journeys, of course).
The SUMA 10 cards are sold in ticket offices in metro stations, and as of 2025 cost €8 (€4 until 30th June 25) for a single zone. There is an additional fee of €1 for a cardboard cart and €2 for a plastic card. The cards can be recharged at any metro ticket machine. Since 2022, this ticket replaces the previousBono transbordo andBonometro cards, so guides still referencing these are outdated.
The public transport network is divided into zones A, B, and + (seemap, ). There is a significant overlap between zones A and B. Most tourist destinations, including the beach, are located in zone A. Zone + consists solely of the airport.
The EMT (bus) website has a very helpfulroute-planner[dead link], useful for planning journeys not only by bus but also by metro, bicycle, and Valenbisi (see the bicycle section below).
TheMetro Valencia consists of nine lines (three of which are tramlines) and connects the suburbs with the city. This metro system is not extensive, but can get you to major points within the city. Maps and timetables can be downloadedhere. In 2025, the one-way fare for a single zone is €1.50. The ticket costs an additional €1 and contains a rechargeable chip.
Make sure to always keep your ticket, as you must present it when getting off as well. If you want to enter the tram, you must buy a ticket from the machine (at each tram stop), and then validate itbefore you get on.
If you use the metro a lot, you should consider getting a 10-fareSUMA 10 card (see above).
NOTE Parts of the metro were closed following the October 2024 floods, for a current map clickhere.
Standard bicycles are permitted during the workweek only on portions of the network which operate above ground. On Saturday, Sunday and holidays they are permitted throughout, while folding bicycles may be transported at any time. No bicycles are permitted at all during Fallas and the night of San Juan. Pets in carriers and guide or personal assistance dogs are also permitted.
Valencia has a Cercanías suburban rail network withfive lines radiating out from theEstació del Nord to well beyond the city. Note these trains are timetabled & ticketed separately to main line trains lookout for the
symbol. You can pay for these trains with a contactless bank card at the ticket barriers.
EMT[dead link] runs buses to virtually every part of the city, both day and night. A single ticket costs €2 (no transfers, 2025), payable to the bus driver on entry and can be paid in cash or with a bank card.
For frequent travellers, a the rechargeableBonobús card is available in kiosks and tobacco shops. It will allow you ten rides for €8.50 (as of early 2018). However, theSUMA 10, which is also valid and metro and tram lines, usually is the cheaper and more convenient option (see above). Bonobús cards can be recharged atkiosks[dead link] or online.
For travellers with smartphones, there is a very helpful official EMT app (iPhone and Android), which has a route planner and a QRT reader.
Most bus stops now have digital displays listing the arrival times for the next bus. At those stops lacking the digital display it is still easy to find out the next arrival times, by using either a QRT reader (like the one built into the EMT app), or by sending a SMS with the unique number of the bus stop to a number displayed next to the posted route plan.
39.47453-0.37598Valencia Bus Turistic,Plaça de la Reina, 10,☏+34 699 982 514,valenciabusturistic@valenciabusturistic.com.Daily 09:30-20:00 (office).In cooperation with the city's official tourism office Valencia Bus Turistic operates a hop-on, hop-off bus service which covers two routes: theHistoric Route, which covers most of the centre of the city (schedule availablehere), and theMaritime Route, which visits the Royal Marina, the City of Arts and Sciences, and the beaches (schedule availablehere). Each route includes a guided commentary in multiple languages, and the two routes intersect at three locations; it is permitted to combine both routes, if desired. Tickets can be purchased at any bus stop, tourist information centre, and in many hotels.24/48 hour tickets: €17/19 (adults), €10/11 (children 7-16), free (children under 7); 12% discount with theValencia Tourist Card (available at tourist information centres).(updated Jun 2017)
Valencia is essentially flat, and cycling has become a popular way for visitors to get around. The city has established a comprehensive network of dedicated bicycle paths and lanes, and the Turia river park very conveniently cuts across the city, making it possible to get from one end to the other with minimal time in traffic. Drivers are now accustomed to interacting with cyclists in traffic, although pedestrians still occasionally wander into bike paths. Riding on sidewalks without demarcated bicycle paths is not permitted, but this is generally not enforced. At night lights are required, and a helmet and reflective vest are recommended. A bicycle route map can be downloadedhere[dead link].
The city operatesValenbisi, a popular bicycle sharing program, with 275 stations distributed throughout the city. No reservation is necessary – once you have a Valenbisi card, go to the interactive station terminal, follow the instructions in Valencian, Spanish or English, and choose a bicycle. You can return the bicycle to the same or any other station with available docks.
A short-term subscription costs €13.04 and gives you access to unlimited use of the bikes for 7 days; the first half-hour of any journey is free, then €1.04 is charged for the first two additional half-hours, with €3.12 charged for every additional hour. However, if you park the bicycle in an available dock before the first half-hour is up, you can take out a new bicycle and reset the clock for no additional fees.
Weekly cards can be purchased at any station terminal with a credit card. For periods longer than one week, an annual subscription is necessary and costs €27.12, with reduced tariffs for each additional half-hour. These cards must be purchased online and are sent by mail; however it is possible to bypass this hassle and attach your Valenbisi subscription to a validBonometro,Bonobús, orBono transbordo card – see the website for details.
There are also many bicycle rental shops in town, with most charging around €10-15 a day, depending on season.
In the city, especially the centre, having a car is more of an impediment than an advantage, and visitors may well find it easier to just park it and walk.
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Things to do during Falles
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Things to be aware of
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One of Spain’s most spectacular fire festivals,Falles (Spanish:Fallas) can be best characterised as a fire-fireworks-gunpowder street party extravaganza. The festival draws up to two million visitors annually, and is listed as aUNESCO ‘intangible cultural heritage’.
Its origins date to the Middle Ages when the city’s carpenters burned piles of scraps in the streets and plazas near their workshops on 19 March, the eve of the day ofSan Josep (Spanish:San José, orSt. Joseph). In the 18th century, it became customary to fashion these piles of junk with papier mache into human figures and sculptures, calledninots (Valencian for 'dolls'), which were assembled to form largerfallas. Eventually these fallas began to take on a satirical nature.
Around 1870, Falles and Carnival were banned. In response to this, a popular movement arose to revive and preserve these traditions, resulting in a competition in 1885 for the best and most artistic falla. This prompted the development ofcasal fallers, neighbourhood associations which work year-round raising money and designing their fallas. Today there are about 400 casal fallers which each design an adult falla (falla mayor), and a smaller children’s falla (falla infantil); more than 400 of these fallas are burned on public streets every year. Many fallas reach 25-30 m in height – the best of these are in a special categorySecció Especial (Spanish:Sección Especiál) and compete for the top prize, awarded annually by the City Council.
A secondary feature of Falles are daily fireworks events, including gunpowder demonstrations (mascletàs) and large nightly fireworks displays (castillos del fuego). Along with these displays, people set off fireworks all day in the streets, beginning early in the morning and continuing throughout the day, making the city seem like a war zone and making it very difficult to catch any sleep.
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(updated Mar 2018)(updated Aug 2016)(updated Aug 2016)(updated Aug 2016)(updated Aug 2016)(updated Aug 2016)If you can't be in Valencia at the time of the festival, you can at least get an idea of what it's all about by visiting one or both the following museums.
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There are two city beaches, and several major beaches outside of Valencia.
39.4661-0.321712Platja del Les Arenes (Platja del Cabanyal /Playa de las Arenas), just north of the port, has a pleasant promenade with a number of traditional (and expensive) restaurants, bars, and ice cream shops. The more northern39.479-0.323513Platja de Malvarrosa begins where the promenade ends, and is the setting for volleyball tournaments, kite festivals, and windsurfing. In the summer both beaches have lifeguards and first aid stations, toilets, and snack vendors, and are very crowded especially in the afternoons. To get there, take the metro or tram to Eugenia Vines or Arenas station, or take the metro toMaritim Serreria and continue with the tram toNeptu (all on one ticket).
To the north of and immediately adjoining Malvarossa is39.4887-0.324114Platja de la Patacona (Playa de la Patacona), which, although part of the municipality of Alboraya, is easily accessible from Valencia by public transport or foot. This beach is somewhat less crowded, and is also a good place to sample horchata, as Alboraya is a major producer of chufa, a key ingredient of the drink.
The beaches south of Valencia port are all part ofAlbufera Natural Park. They are generally well-maintained and far less crowded than the urban beaches, and easily reachable by public transport.
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(updated Sep 2016)Tips on Paella
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There are many bodegas and tapas bars where you can get typical Spanish dinner for quite good prices. If you arrive early (the Spanish early) at about 20:00 they usually have special offers liketercio y tapa for about €1. To find them orient more to the parallel streets toCarrer de Doctor Manuel Candela. Later to drink something occupying the time between dinner and going out there are many bars with different kind of music present.
Turia, a toasted lager, is the best-known local beer. It was first made in 1935 but didn't go into full production until 1947, due to the Spanish Civil War.
Barrio del Carmen is a major nightlife destination in Valencia. There are numerous restaurants, bars, and dance joints, which tend to cater to a youngish crowd, in particular alongCarrer dels Cavallers (Calle Caballeros).39.47168-0.3471414Plaça del Cedre (Plaza del Cedro) is a nice area where all possibilities are given to spend a night partly to complete in less touristic ambiance than in the centre. Additionally there is typical Spanish night-life feeling on the plaza. Different kind of people enjoying the mild Mediterranean clime to sit outside talking, drinking and playing guitar often until the sunrise. Other centres of are night-life are39.46831-0.3657315Plaça de Cánovas del Castillo (more upscale), alongCarrer de Joan Llorenç (young also, less "alternative"), around the main campus of theUniversity of Valencia (for students), and increasingly in the area near the beach and port.
If you feel like dancing there are four famous pubs where especially at the weekends a lot young people can be found. The entrance is normally for free and they are almost neighbors inCarrer de Campoamor. The music is more alternative (Rock, Indie, Pop) than general in Spain but it changes depending on the DJ. So just have a look to all of them to find the one you like most. They close at half past three in the morning and if you don't want to be alone maybe the best time to arrive is between half past one and half past two.
Staying in or near Old Town means you will hardly need transport, unless you go to the beach.
As of June 2022, Valencia has 4G from MasMovil/Yoigo, and 5G from Movistar, Orange and Vodafone. Wifi is widely available in public places.
(updated Nov 2016)Valencia is quite possibly among the safest cities in Spain and Europe. As with Madrid and Barcelona, streets are filled with people at all times, even deep into the night. Valencia also has a decent police presence.
The only neighborhoods that may warrant extra precaution areCiutat Jardí,El Cabanyal, andAiora, in the east of the city. They are mostly deserted at night, but muggings are not unheard of.
The city's railway stations and certain metro stations might attract beggars and drunkards, but simply saying no will be enough.
The Falles celebrations attract thousands of people every year. Watch out for pickpockets.
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