10 ESSENTIAL PLACES TO VISIT IN VALENCIA

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There are many places to visit in Valencia, a city in which centuries-old traditions coexist in harmony with new trends.
Getting lost in the streets and squares of the old town, seeing the magnificent modernist buildings, walking through gardens and parks, climbing high towers, visiting old churches or reaching the futuristic City of Arts, are just some of the many things to do in Valencia.
In addition, if you add to all this a delicious gastronomy of tapas, fish and seafood, in which the stars are the Valencian paella and the horchata with fartons, this city becomes a perfect option to enjoy the most during a weekend .

Based on the experience of our last trip to Valencia for 3 days, we have made this list of 10 essential places to see in Valencia. We start!

1. Square of the Virgin

The Plaza de la Virgen, located on an ancient Roman forum, is the most emblematic square and one of our places to visit in Valencia favorites.
With an impressive center, where the enormous Fountain of Turia predominates, which pays tribute to the Valencian river, it is surrounded by three important buildings: the Cathedral of Santa Maria, the Palace of the Generalitat and the Basilica of the Virgen de los Desamparados.
In addition to seeing these buildings, we advise you to sit on one of the terraces to have a drink and enjoy the great atmosphere of the square, something that we are sure, will become one of the unforgettable moments of the trip.
An interesting way to know the history of the city is to book this free tour of Valencia Free! or this more complete one that includes tickets, both with a guide in Spanish.

Virgin Square

2. City of Arts and Sciences

The City of Arts and Sciences is a complex of avant-garde style that was not without controversy for a long time because of its high price and the problems with the structure of some of its buildings.
Despite the inconveniences, this work by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela, opened in 1998, leaves no one indifferent and has become another of the places to see in Valencia more essential
Among the important buildings that make up this complex are L'Hemisfèric, the Science Museum, the Umbracle, the Palace of the Arts, the Agora, the Bridge of l'Assut de l'Or and the Oceanographic.
We recommend arriving at the City of the Arts taking a pleasant walk through the Turia Garden, from the historic center so once you are in the complex, walk along the shore of its artificial lakes and climb the Monteolivete Bridge, to have the best perspectives .
A good option is to arrive at sunset to see the fantastic lighting of this small futuristic city and then return to the old town with bus 95 for only 1.50 euros per person.

City of Arts and Sciences

3. Central Market

Arriving early in the Central Market to be able to tour the more than 300 seats with peace of mind, is one of the best things to do in Valencia.
This market, which took 18 years to build, is one of the great jewels of Valencian modernism in the city where in addition to marveling at the architecture of the building that combines metal and glass, you can buy all kinds of high quality fresh products such as Fish, seafood, meat, fruits and sausages. Due to the quality of its products and its size, this market is considered one of the best in Europe.
Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Central Market of Valencia

4. The Church of San Nicolás

The Church of San Nicolás and San Pedro Mártir, located on the Caballeros shopping street and known as the Valencian Sistine Chapel, is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Valencia.
This church was rebuilt in the fifteenth century in Valencian Gothic style and later in the seventeenth century its interior was decorated in baroque style. His last major reform ended in 2016 and was carried out by Gianluigi Colalucci, responsible for the restoration of the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican.
For us it was one of the visits that impressed us most in Valencia, especially for the excellent fresco paintings that fill the ceiling and interior walls.
The ticket costs 7 euros and includes an audio guide that will allow you to know the history of the church and not miss any interesting details.
Visiting hours: Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Church of San Nicolás, one of the places to visit in Valencia

5. The Cathedral and the Miguelete

The Cathedral of Santa Maria de Valencia with its famous bell tower of the Micalet or Miguelete, is another of the symbolic places to see in Valencia.
Inside this Gothic-style church built in the thirteenth century is the Holy Chalice, dated from the first century, which is supposed to be the one Jesus used at the last supper. Another of the wonders of the cathedral are the Renaissance frescoes of the 15th century Main Altar and discovered 10 years ago.
To end the visit you can see works by Goya in the Cathedral Museum and climb the more than 200 steps of the Miguelete to have the best views of the city.
You can enter the Cathedral through the Plaza de la Reina, another of the most popular and busiest in the city.
Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sundays and holidays from 2pm to 6:30 pm.
Price: 8 euros entrance to the Cathedral and 2 euros entrance to the tower.

Valencia from the Miguelete

Book the best rated tours and excursions in Spanish in Valencia by travelers:
- Excursion to La Albufera
- Excursion to the San José Caves
- Excursion to Játiva
- Excursion to Sagunto
- Excursion to Morella and Peñíscola
- More excursions and tours here

6. The Round Square, one of the places to visit in Valencia

Walking through the narrowest streets of the old town until you find the original Plaza Redonda, is one of the best things to do in Valencia.
This square, formerly known as Plaza del Clot, stands out for its round shape, the four entrances located in the cardinal points and the local shops that surround it in addition to the haberdasheries that are still maintained in the central area.
In addition, near this square is the historic Santa Catalina Horchatería, perfect to try a delicious horchata accompanied by the typical fartons that will serve as a resting point on a route through Valencia.
Nor can you leave the city without trying Valencian paella, one of the most typical things to do in Spain.
Although most of the restaurants in the center have it in their menu, we try the one in Rincon 33, one of the best restaurants to eat in Valencia.

Round Square

7. Silk Market

The Lonja de la Seda de Valencia, declared a World Heritage Site, is another of the masterpieces of the Valencian civil gothic and one of the essential places to visit in Valencia.
Located a few meters from the Central Market, this building was built between 1482 and 1548 thanks to the wealth that the city had at that time and being a silk-producing center.
Among the most outstanding rooms of this building are the Columnary Hall with 24 columns of 17 meters high, the Patio de los Naranjos and the Consulate of the Sea, with an impressive gothic wooden ceiling.
A good way to visit and know the history of the fish market is to book this guided tour of the historic city center that includes the entrance.
The ticket price is 2 euros and is also included if you buy the Valencia Card.
Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Silk Exchange

8. The Serranos Towers

The Torres de Serranos is next to the Torres de Quart, the only two fortified doors that are preserved from the wall that surrounded the city in medieval times and two other places to see in Valencia.
These doors built in the mid-fifteenth century in Gothic style are very well preserved and you can climb to the top from where you get good views of the historic center and the surroundings, for only 2 euros.
La Crida, one of the most important events in the city that welcomes the famous Fallas festival, takes place from the Serranos Towers through the fallera Mayor of Valencia, the last Sunday of February
Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Torres de Serranos, one of the places to see in Valencia

Our recommended hotel in Valencia
Our recommended accommodation for visiting the city is the MD Design Hotel, a hotel located in the historic center, 5 minutes walk from the Plaza de la Virgen. In addition to its excellent location, this small hotel has a very friendly staff that will give you good advice about the city and a terrace overlooking the historic center and the Turia gardens.
For more information on the best hotels and neighborhoods you can consult this post of where to stay in Valencia.

9. Town Hall Square

The huge Town Hall Square, surrounded by large historic buildings such as the Town Hall or the Post Office building, is another of the essential places to visit in Valencia.
In the center of the square is a large circular fountain that is illuminated at night in different colors and a landscaped green space and is one of the most symbolic places during the failures, when the thunderous Mascletà is realized.
To have a good perspective of this extensive square we advise you to go up to the terrace of the Mercantile Athenaeum building.
In addition to the above, near the square is the impressive Palace of the Marquis de Dos Aguas, one of the most liked buildings in the city. This palace is included in the route of this free tour of modernist Valencia, one of the best valued by travelers visiting the city.

Town Hall Square

10. North Station

The North Station, in Valencian modernist style and opened in 1917, is our latest proposal on the list of most beautiful places to see in Valencia.
This great station by the architect Demetrio Ribesque, is the one that receives the highest passenger traffic in the Valencian Community, and stands out for a facade inspired by local agriculture.
Inside the station we recommend entering a small room, an old cafeteria, which is located to the right of the entrance and that combines the decoration in glass and ceramics.
A good option, if you have little time, is to book the tourist bus that stops in this square and in all the important points of the city.

If you like the night and want to end your visit to the city in the best way, you can approach to have a drink in the Mercado de Colón or in the trendy neighborhood of Ruzafa, full of premises and good atmosphere, which we are sure, will become in another of the places to visit in Valencia.

To organize the route through the city you can follow this guide from Valencia in one day.