Things To Do in Valencia

Old Town and the City of Arts

Valencia has two centers. The old town holds the cathedral, which claims the Holy Grail in a side chapel, the silk exchange and the Central Market, and the cathedral tour with fast-track entry covers it in under two hours. Three kilometers down the dry riverbed park is Calatrava's City of Arts and Sciences, where the Oceanogràfic, the largest aquarium in Europe, is the top ticket. The two-hour tuk-tuk tour links the old town, the beaches and the City of Arts without walking.

Paella Where It Was Invented

Paella is from Valencia, and the real version is rabbit and chicken, not seafood. The cooking class with a market visit and sangría workshop is the highest-rated food experience in the city. The tapas and drinks evening tour is the alternative for travelers who would rather eat than cook.

Albufera, Caves and Peñíscola

The Albufera lagoon, the rice-growing wetland south of the city, is best seen from a boat at sunset, and the tour includes the ride and a stop in El Palmar. North of Valencia, the Caves of San José hide Europe's longest navigable underground river, and the walled town of Peñíscola, a Game of Thrones location, makes a full-day trip along the coast.

Practical Notes

Valencia is pleasant year-round and the Fallas festival in mid-March fills the city with fireworks and crowds. The metro connects the airport, and the old town, the beach and the City of Arts are all reachable by bike lanes. Most tours offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.