Introduction
Valencia presents a wonderful combination of a cultural and a modern backdrop for a city break. The city provides the best of both worlds, a charming old city, and a modern behemouth of architecture and science on the outskirts of the city. And for those with the inclination towards the beach, you've got that available too.
Pricing
Out of the few Spanish cities I've been to, I would say Valencia was a bit more pricey. Probably en-par with Barcelona for example, though it's expected of a major hub such as Barcelona. This trip was split between two people so with flights and accommodation plus the usual food / excursions, I spent about £400 for a 3 night trip. Probably doesn't sound that expensive, but given there wasn't too much paid sightseeing done on this trip, it could easily rack up.
Accommodation
Because this was a joint trip with a friend, the hotel choice is maybe not one I would have gone for myself. The requirements were to find a decent looking hotel, that had a rooftop pool to be enjoyed in the sunshine. Location wise, we didn't realise the distance to the old town area, but there was a metro station a couple of minutes walk away from the hotel which was extremely clean, cheap and easy to access. And unlike public transport in the UK, it was always on time! We went with a room that had two beds, the downside being that the 'extra bed' was a sofa bed that seemed to try and close up on itself which was rather hilarious for me trying to get into it. For the price, the hotel was good. The rooftop pool isn't much more than a small dipping space and sheltered so if it's not very warm outside, the water may feel a bit chilly for some. The bonus however, is the extremely cheap bar as it par for the course in European cities!
From some research, a few alternative options I've found since (but not tested myself yet) are:
Mon Suites Cathedral - looks like a good option for a small group or family to go to as they are self contained apartments, some with the option of a private terrace. Location wise, it's right next to the cathedral so much more at the heart of the old town
The Valentia Corretgería - a bit more on the pricey side but the rooms look wonderful, has excellent reviews and again, very well located near the cathedral
Airbnb options - Valencia, as a major city, has a huge selection of affordable airbnb options. Here's just one, located closer to the beach and the City of Arts & Science. If you need any help hunting, just fill in our contact form and we can support you with some research.
Sightseeing / Experiences
As mentioned above, Valencia offers something for everyone. Though this wasn't a particularly sightseeing filled trip, here's a few recommendations for you to explore. I'm sure we'll be back to the city again to add more to this guide. Spain is one country that I could repeatedly visit and roam its' cities.
City of Arts & Sciences - a magnificent architectural & structural gem, set around a beautiful park. An inviting space, where you could easily spend a day. We only went inside the Science museum but as you can see from the picture, there's plenty to explore and something for all ages. There's a myriad of activities as well including some form of boating on the water around the museums and bicycles that you can rent to whiz around the mini city. There are three distinct areas, the Museum of Science, The Hemisphere and the Aquarium (largest in Europe). A combined ticket will cost you €38 / £32 which saves you about £4-£5. Individual tickets can also be purchased.
Valencia Cathedral - intricate gold baroque covered much of the cathedral walls and ceilings with ornate sculptures across the whole cathedral. If you have time, book on to take a tour up the Miguelete Tower for a birds eye view of the city. Entrance to the cathedral costs €5 / £4.20 and the tower is an additional €2.5 / £2.10.
Museo Taurino - a bullfighting museum within a bullring which is still active. Unfortunately, this was closed when we visited but as long as there is no event planned you can buy pretty cheap tickets (starting from €2 / £1.70). The structure, just from the outside, is impressive so I would imagine worth a visit inside.
General Meandering - as with most European cities, Valencia is wonderful to just wander around, grab a coffee & pastry for a break, and people watch. Be it by the beach where there are a wide selection of restaurants to grab food or just a pitcher of sangria, or through the old town centre marvelling at the beautiful buildings, you will easily fill the time. You can check out the Central Market (Mecardo Central) which is Europe's largest fresh food market, or even the Silk Exchange which is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Food
A wide selection of cuisines are available in Valencia, given the nature of the large bustling city. Did you know, Paella was invented in Valencia? So make sure you check out some authentic rabbit Paella which is the speciality.
San Tommaso - a few minutes walk from the cathedral, you'll find this delightful restaurant, serving some of the best pizza (yes, we're in spain!) that I've ever had. Extremely affordable, with. awide range menu to please all
Voltereta - a Mediterranean / Asian fusion which actually worked really well. I had delicious prawn gyoza, a salmon main with a mango salsa that was so refreshing but the best part of the meal was the theatrical tiramisu in a steaming coffee pot. The tiramisu itself was light, fluffy and creamy. I dream about this tiramisu.
DDL Boutique - a lovely cafe, serving delicious desserts, pastries and drinks where you can happily spend a few hours people watching as they walk by
Paella - there are a huge number of options for Paella in Valencia, and the place we ended up may not be the best option but it was conveniently located by the beach and the atmosphere was nice. La Paz is one of many restaurants along the beach, but our service was good and I enjoyed my seafood Paella with a big jug of sangria!
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