Valencia Itinerary: The Perfect 2-3 Day Travel Guide
- Hannah Nietfeld
- Jun 29
- 11 min read
Valencia is often overlooked when planning a trip to Spain, but after visiting, I can't understand why. This vibrant coastal city has it all, rich history, beautiful architecture, sprawling green spaces, incredible food, the best horchata you'll ever try, the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, and miles of Mediterranean coastline. It perfectly blends old-world charm with modern innovation, making it the city in Spain that has it all. If you're visiting for the first time, two to three days is the perfect amount of time to experience Valencia's highlights. In this guide, I'll show you exactly how I'd spend them.
My Time in Valencia
I visited Valencia for a quick 2-day trip in early May while I was studying abroad in Madrid. What made this trip so memorable was it was my first time traveling alone! I traveled a Sunday to Monday, having the day off of school in Madrid because Spain celebrates Labor Day on May 1st, which fell on a Monday. I had already booked my trip to Amsterdam from Thursday to Saturday, leaving all of Sunday and Monday for another quick trip.
I am so grateful I went to Valencia, being able to see another city of the country I was living in, and for the waterfall effect that trip has had on my travel adventures. That 2 day trip gave me the confidence to solo my Southern Spain 10 day trip, which gave me the confidence to solo my 3 month SE Asia backpacking trip. Plus, having sharpened my Spanish the past four months, I tried to exclusively speak the langauge, taking tours in Spanish, asking questions and conversing with others in the language. That also helped encourage me to travel alone, knowing the language well enough to get by and always feeling so safe in Spanish cities.
Valencia at a Glance
Best time to visit: Valencia is honestly great year-round, but March and April are something special. Las Fallas runs March 15 to 19 and is one of the most extraordinary festivals in Spain, a full week of fireworks, music, and enormous sculptural monuments that are built to be burned on the final night. If you can time your trip around it, do it. September and October are also wonderful for warm weather and thinner crowds, with great beach conditions. July and August are hot and packed.
Recommended trip length: 2 to 3 days in Valencia is the perfect amount of time to experience the city's highlights without feeling rushed. You'll have time to explore the historic Old Town, visit the City of Arts and Sciences, stroll through the Turia Gardens, relax at the beach, and enjoy authentic paella and horchata. If you have a third day, consider visiting nearby Albufera Natural Park or spending more time along the waterfront.
Getting there: Valencia Joaquín Sorolla train station connects directly to Madrid (just 1.5 hours on the AVE high-speed train, which is what I took and it was so slick), Barcelona (3 hours), and other major Spanish cities. Valencia Airport (VLC) also has direct European connections if you are flying in.
Getting around: The old town is very walkable and honestly such a pleasure to explore on foot. The City of Arts and Sciences and the beaches are easily reached by metro, tram, or bus from the city center.
2-3 Day Valencia Itinerary
Day 1 — Old Town, Cathedral, Mercado Central, Turia Gardens, Horchata
Start your first morning in the historic center. Valencia's old town is compact, walkable, and absolutely packed with beautiful things to see. The best area begins around Plaza de la Virgen and the Cathedral.
Valencia Cathedral
Valencia Cathedral is one of the city's most important landmarks and is definitely worth adding to your itinerary. Built in the 13th century on the site of a Roman temple and later a Moorish mosque, the cathedral reflects Valencia's long and fascinating history. Inside, you'll find what is believed by many to be the Holy Grail, making it a popular stop for both history buffs and religious pilgrims. Before you leave, climb the 207 steps to El Micalet, the cathedral's bell tower, for some of the best views over Valencia's Old Town.
Plaza de la Virgen
Located just outside the cathedral, Plaza de la Virgen is one of the oldest and most beautiful squares in Valencia. Surrounded by historic buildings, outdoor cafés, and the impressive Turia Fountain, it's a great place to slow down and take in the atmosphere. Whether you're stopping for a coffee or snapping photos, this square is one of the highlights of the Old Town. I recommend visiting in the morning or evening when it's a little quieter.
Mercado Central
Mercado Central is one of the largest and most beautiful food markets in Europe, and it's a must-visit while you're in Valencia. Open since 1928, the market is home to over 1,200 stalls selling fresh produce, seafood, local cheeses, spices, olives, and plenty of traditional Valencian foods. Even if you aren't planning to buy anything, the building itself is beautiful and worth seeing. Pick up some fruit, snacks, eat your lunch, or grab a cup of horchata while here. This was where I had my first cup of horchata and my mind was absolutely blown away by this near perfect drink Try to visit before noon when the market is at its busiest and all of the stalls are open.
La Lonja de la Seda (Silk Exchange)
Just across from Mercado Central, La Lonja de la Seda is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Valencia's most famous historic buildings. Built in the 15th century, it was once where merchants gathered to trade silk, helping make Valencia one of the richest cities in the Mediterranean. Inside, the massive hall with its twisting stone columns is the highlight. Admission is inexpensive (around €2), and since it's right next to the market, it's an easy stop to add to your itinerary.
Horchata at Horchateria Santa Catalina
Trying authentic Valencian horchata (orxata in Valencian) is a must while you're in the city. Unlike the horchata you may have had elsewhere, Valencian horchata is made from tiger nuts, giving it a creamy, slightly nutty flavor that's unique to the region. Horchatería Santa Catalina has been serving horchata since 1836 and is one of the most famous places to try it. Be sure to order it with a fartón, a soft, sweet pastry that's made for dipping. Do not skip trying horchata in Valencia because it is insanely delicious and I haven't been able to find the drink this good anywhere else in the world. Plus, this is the most quintessentially Valencian thing you can do, and the perfect reason to cool down from the afternoon sun.
Turia Gardens
One of my favorite parts of Valencia is Turia Gardens, a nearly 6 mile park that stretches through the heart of the city. After a major flood in 1957, the river was redirected and the old riverbed was turned into this beautiful green space instead. Today, it's filled with walking paths, bike trails, gardens, fountains, and places to relax. Renting a bike is one of the best ways to explore, but it's also a great place for an afternoon walk or picnic between the Old Town and the City of Arts and Sciences.
A quick tip: As tempting as it is, don't pick the oranges from the trees around Valencia. While they may look like the sweet oranges the region is famous for, the trees lining the city's streets and parks are actually bitter orange trees planted for their beauty and fragrant blossoms. The fruit is extremely bitter and sour, more like a cross between an orange and a lemon than the juicy oranges you're probably expecting. They're primarily used to make marmalade, liqueurs, and essential oils rather than eaten fresh. If you want to try Valencia's famous sweet oranges, grab one from Mercado Central or a local grocery store instead.
To end your evening, dive into the local cuisine with a local. Check out this highly rated Valencia Old Town Tour with Wine & Tapas in 11th Century Historic Monument tour where you explore the city's Old Town, then head to an 11th-century landmark to enjoy a hearty feast of paella and tapas dishes, accompanied by fine wines. Or, try this Paella Cooking Class, Wine Tasting & Central Market in Valencia where you'll shop Mercado Central to buy your fresh ingredients and then go to the paella kitchen for a live paella course with a professional chef who will teach you all the tips and tricks.
Day 2 — City of Arts and Sciences, Beach, Paella Lunch
City of Arts and Sciences
The City of Arts and Sciences is one of those places in Valencia that genuinely makes you stop and stare. It feels almost unreal, like something from a sci-fi movie, with massive white, futuristic buildings surrounded by long reflecting pools. Designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava, it has become one of the most recognizable modern landmarks in Spain and a symbol of how Valencia blends old history with bold, modern design.
The complex is made up of a few different buildings, each worth knowing about:
El Hemisfèric – an IMAX cinema and planetarium shaped like a giant eye
Museu de les Ciències – a hands-on science museum inside a building that looks like a whale skeleton
L’Oceanogràfic – the largest aquarium in Europe, with marine life from around the world and an incredible underwater tunnel where sharks and rays swim overhead
Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía – Valencia’s opera house and performing arts center
You can walk through the entire area for free, even if you don’t go inside anything, and it’s still worth visiting just for the architecture and photos. Plan about 2 to 3 hours if you want to wander around at a relaxed pace. If you only choose one thing to go inside, make it L’Oceanogràfic — walking through the glass tunnel while marine life swims above you is unforgettable. Tickets are best booked ahead of time online at oceanografic.org, and typically cost around €30–€40 depending on the season.
Tip: This is one of the most photogenic spots in Valencia. Go in the morning for softer light and fewer crowds, or late afternoon for golden hour reflections on the water.
Authentic Paella Lunch
Valencia is the birthplace of paella, and eating it here feels completely different from anywhere else in Spain. Traditional Valencian paella is usually made with chicken, rabbit, green beans, and saffron, not seafood like most tourists expect. It’s cooked slowly over an open flame, often using orange wood, which adds a subtle smoky flavor.
A classic spot to try it is La Pepica, right along Malvarrosa Beach, which has been serving paella since 1898. Expect a slower dining experience here, fresh paella is made to order and usually takes around 45 minutes, but that’s part of the experience.
Malvarrosa and Cabanyal Beaches
Valencia’s beaches are one of the best parts of the city because they’re so easy to reach. From the city center, it’s about a 10–15 minute taxi or tram ride (~2–3 miles) to the coast.
Malvarrosa Beach is wide, sandy, and lined with restaurants and beach bars, making it perfect for a relaxed afternoon. Just next door, the Cabanyal neighborhood has a completely different feel, with colorful tiled houses and a more local, old fishing village atmosphere that shows a different side of Valencia.
This is the perfect place to slow down after a busy day of sightseeing, grab a drink by the water, and just enjoy the Mediterranean.
Day 3 (Optional) — Albufera Natural Park or Barrio del Carmen
Albufera Natural Park
About 9 miles (15 km) south of Valencia, Albufera is a peaceful freshwater lagoon surrounded by rice fields, and it’s one of the most important natural areas near the city. This is actually where Valencian paella originated, since the surrounding fields grow the rice used in the dish.
One of the best things to do here is take a small boat ride on the lagoon, especially at sunset. The water turns golden, the sky reflects across the surface, and the rice fields stretch out in every direction, it feels completely different from the city. Albufera is also a protected bird reserve, so you’ll likely see herons and other wildlife as you go. To book a boat tour, check out this tour: The Original Albufera Tour: Barraca, Boat Ride & Local Guide which will pick you up from Valencia and take you on the boat during the morning or for sunset.
If you want to eat paella in its most authentic form, head to the nearby village of El Palmar, where small local restaurants still cook it over open wood fires. You can get here by bus from central Valencia, or it’s about a 20–30 minute drive (~12–18 miles round trip depending on route).
Barrio del Carmen
If you prefer to stay in the city on your third day, spend time exploring Barrio del Carmen, Valencia’s oldest and most creative neighborhood. Tucked inside the historic Old Town, it has a very different feel from the more polished squares nearby, with narrow medieval streets, colorful street art, and hidden bars and cafés around every corner. It’s also home to IVAM (Institut Valencià d’Art Modern), one of Spain’s leading contemporary art museums, which makes it a great stop if you want a mix of culture and creativity. This is the kind of neighborhood where you don’t really need a plan, just wander, stop when something catches your eye, and take in a different side of Valencia.
Where to Stay in Valencia
The best area to stay is the Old Town (Ciutat Vella) for maximum atmosphere and walkability. El Carmen within the old town gives a more bohemian, artsy feel.
Budget: Home Youth Hostel and Colo Colo The Smart Hostel Valencia are both well-reviewed social hostels with great locations.
Mid-range: MYR Marqués House and Hotel Vincci Palace are centrally located and consistently well-reviewed.
Splurge: Las Arenas Balneario Resort sits directly on the Malvarrosa beachfront and is one of the most beautiful beach hotels in Spain. If you are going to treat yourself once, this is the place.
The Horchata Guide
Horchata is one of Valencia’s most iconic drinks and something you will see everywhere once you arrive. It is a cold, creamy drink made from tiger nuts (chufa), water, and sugar, and it is usually served ice-cold. There is also a slightly frozen version called horchata granizada, which is especially refreshing in the summer. It is naturally dairy-free and vegan, and tastes slightly sweet, nutty, and very unique. It is always served with fartons, long soft pastries made specifically for dipping, which is the traditional way to enjoy it.
Some of the best places to try horchata in the city include Horchatería Santa Catalina near the Central Market (open since 1836), Horchatería El Siglo near the Cathedral, and the horchaterias in Alboraya, the small village just north of Valencia where chufa is actually grown.
If you have time, it is worth taking a quick trip to Alboraya, it is only about a 15-minute metro ride from the city center, because the horchata there is made with freshly grown tiger nuts and tastes noticeably fresher and more authentic. If you find yourself loving horchata by your second day in Valencia, this detour is absolutely worth it.
Practical Tips for Valencia
Las Fallas: If you are visiting between March 15–19, you will catch one of Spain’s most unforgettable festivals. The entire city turns into a celebration, with daily fireworks at 2pm during the mascletà and huge papier-mâché sculptures displayed across the city before being burned on the final night. It is loud, crowded, and completely unforgettable. If you are planning to visit during this time, book accommodation months in advance because the city fills up fast.
Horchata: Do not skip it while you are in Valencia. Horchatería Santa Catalina is the most famous spot, but honestly, any traditional horchatería in the city will give you a great version. It is one of those simple local experiences that really makes the city feel special.
Getting around: Avoid driving in the old town. Valencia is very walkable and the metro and tram system is easy to use, affordable, and connects all the major areas, including the beach and City of Arts and Sciences.
Common mistake to avoid: Trying to do the Old Town and the City of Arts and Sciences in the same half day. They are farther apart than they seem, and both deserve time on their own. Plan at least a half day for each so you can actually enjoy them without rushing.
And that is my Valencia itinerary, one of my favorite cities in Spain and a place I would go back to in a heartbeat. If you are planning a trip, do not skip it. You will not regret adding it to your itinerary.
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