How to spend a long weekend in vibrant Valencia

With some 300 sunny days annually, Spain’s third-largest city Valencia is a popular spot for visitors, yet it remains pleasantly uncrowded, making it perfect for a weekend city break. Almost equidistant from its bigger sisters Madrid and Barcelona, this charming city on Spain’s southeastern coast is striking — expect Blue Flag beaches, distinctive neighbourhoods, fragrant orange groves and heaps of heritage.

Recognised for its breadth of natural spaces, from Albufera Natural Park to the Jardí del Túria (Turia Gardens) that snake along its former riverbed, Valencia is proud to promote its commitment to improving the environment. As the city celebrates being the European Green Capital in 2024, add a long weekend in Valencia to your New Year travel to-do list.

What to do

Valencia boasts three UNESCO listings for Intangible Cultural Heritage, including La fiesta de las Fallas — a legendary festival that electrifies the city’s streets each March with parties, pyrotechnics and oversized sculptures called ninots. Created from materials like plaster and papier mâché, ninots are true works of art. If you can’t make it to Valencia during Fallas, make sure to visit one (or both) of the museums dedicated to the event — Museo Fallero and Museo del Gremio de Artistas Falleros.

Also claiming a place on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list is the weekly Tribunal de Las Aguas, in which eight robe-clad farmers convene outside the Door of the Apostles in the Plaza de la Virgen to discuss how water should be distributed in La Huerta (a farming area around Valencia noted for its centuries-old Arabic irrigation system). While you’re at the cathedral, take a peek at the agate chalice inside — claimed to be the Holy Grail — and climb 207 steps up to the Miguelete tower to experience Spain’s manual bell ringing, yet another UNESCO treasure.

With gardens aplenty — from Parque Central to flower-filled Monforte and Turia, Valencia’s beloved green lung — plus 120,000sq metres of pedestrianised areas like Plaza de la Reina, this abundantly green city is ripe for wandering. Those who prefer cycling will appreciate around 120 miles of bike routes including the new Anillo Verde Metropolitano (Metropolitan Green Ring), a 35-mile circular corridor that connects the surrounding farmland with the coast, taking in characterful towns and oases like Albufera.

Visiting one of Valencia’s Blue Flag beaches is an ideal way to take advantage of the ample sunshine, too. Cabanyal and Malvarrosa are both within walking distance of the centre.

What to see

Art and design are among Valencia’s top draws — with over 60 cultural spaces, alongside architectural icons like the art nouveau Estación del Norte (North Station), it make sense that the city was named World Design Capital 2022. Attractions range from the Museo Nacional de Cerámica y Artes Suntuarias “González Martí”, displaying ceramics and other decorative arts in a baroque palace, to architect Santiago Calatrava’s futuristic Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences) and street art tours around the old-town district of El Carmen. Another must-see is La Lonja de la Seda (the Silk Exchange), a lavish gothic-style UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Where to eat

Valencia is full of inviting bars and restaurants, especially in lively areas like Ensanche, where people often dine al fresco among the elegant pastel buildings. In a city-region famed for gastronomy, there are certain places you should make a beeline for — not least Albufera, the birthplace of paella, where restaurants serve up this hearty rice dish (typically with rabbit and chicken, not seafood) inside thatched-roof fishermen’s houses. Afterwards, cycle through vast rice paddies or take a boat ride on one of the country’s biggest lakes.

Spectacular food markets are another culinary cornerstone. Don’t miss the new Mercado de la Imprenta, inside a former printers, or Mercado de Colón, a national monument with echoes of Gaudí — the architect and designer best known for his work on La Sagrada Família in Barcelona. Here you’ll find a branch of Horchatería Daniel, which specialises in Valencian horchata, a sweet drink made from ground tiger nuts that’s traditionally enjoyed with long spongy buns called fartons.

For regional dishes with panoramic vistas, tour provider Sea Saffron’s unusual dining experiences include tapas and wine on Valencia’s highest rooftop, overlooking La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias.

Where to stay

A variety of boutique accommodation is available throughout Valencia’s enchanting old town, Ciutat Vella. Based in a 19th-century mansion, the five-star Hotel Palacio Vallier is a beautiful base — see the remains of a third-century Roman perfumery discovered during its renovation, savour sweeping views from the rooftop terrace and sip cocktails in a bar inspired by revered Valencian ceramic brand, Lladró.

For a stylish self-catering option that’s closer to the beach, try Apartamentos Barracart, run by the family that operates the popular Casa Montaña tavern. The flats are located in El Cabanyal, an old fishing district that retains an earthy charm despite increasing gentrification, where quirky little museums (including one dedicated to rice) sit among vivid, tiled facades. It’s a short stroll to the beach and a 30-minute bus ride to Valencia’s city centre.