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Valencia has been a booming destination in recent months . However, for many travellers it is a short stop on a route either through Spain or the Mediterranean. For this reason, we have prepared a brief route of Valencia in one day .
The city of Valencia is the perfect city for all types of visits: from a short one (its small size makes it possible to enjoy the most emblematic sites in one day) to a longer stay to fully savour each of its attractions.
On this one-day route through Valencia, our goal is to enjoy the city by combining gastronomy and iconic buildings with nature and the historic center .
Staying at Sea You Apartamentos Port Saplaya is the ideal option for visiting Valencia as it will allow you to combine urban tourism with the relaxation of having a base on the beach, and also in a place as magical as Port Saplaya .
What to see in Valencia in one day
In this short guide we have designed a route to discover Valencia in one day. This way, you can make the most of your visit to Valencia whether you are passing through or just want to spend a day of your summer holidays in Port Saplaya.
Start your day with a good Valencian breakfast that will fill you with energy for the rest of the day . It is a sandwich with all kinds of ingredients accompanied by a salad, peanuts, olives or something similar, a drink (some people start the day strong and opt for a beer) and a coffee (ideally the one known as cremaet ).
There are many places where you can enjoy it: from more typical places in each neighborhood to others with a more gourmet style. The importance that Valencians give to this is such that there are even profiles on Instagram dedicated to recommending bars for lunch.
Once we have the energy to the max, it is the perfect time to discover the historic centre of Valencia . We recommend starting the Valencia in one day route at the Valencia Cathedral . You cannot leave without going up to the Micalet (the tower of the cathedral) and enjoying the views of the entire city. Of course, to get there you have to climb 207 steps, but it will be worth it.
As you go down, you can continue discovering the El Carmen neighbourhood, passing through Plaza de la Virgen and walking down Calle Caballeros (where you will find everything from the headquarters of the Generalitat to all kinds of historic buildings such as theatres and palaces). Getting lost in the narrow streets of this neighbourhood and discovering buildings or even street art is a must on any visit to Valencia.
On this walk, you will come across the Central Market and the Silk Exchange (declared a World Heritage Site) in another of the city's most iconic squares. You can enter the Central Market, one of the largest in Europe, to enjoy the local bustle and take the opportunity to buy fresh produce.
The visit to the historic centre ends at the Torres de Serrano, ancient gates of the walled city that are preserved in very good condition and are the site of iconic events of the Valencian fallas such as the cridà.
From here we recommend you head to the emblematic City of Arts and Sciences. You can get there by bus or taxi or by taking a walk or bike through the Turia Garden , the urban park that occupies the space where the Turia River flowed.
Once you are in the City of Arts, take a stroll around the complex. You can also visit the spaces that interest you, although most of them will take you a while and we recommend dedicating a full day to them (especially the Oceanogràfic).
When you feel hunger coming on again, it's time to enjoy the Valencian delicacy par excellence: paella . It's sure to be excellent in almost every restaurant in the city where you order it. You can deviate a little from the route to enjoy it near the sea (in Patacona) or even in El Palmar, a town near La Albufera that's typically populated by fishermen and farmers.
Depending on where you decide to eat, you can either visit La Albufera and enjoy the sunset there or return to the central area to discover the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, the Estación del Norte (and its modernist architecture) and take a walk through the shopping area. At the end of Calle de Colón and Don Juan de Austria is the Mercado de Colón , an old market converted into a gastronomic centre where you can have an aperitif and even dine in one of its restaurants such as those of the well-known chef Ricard Camarena.
Practical tips Valencia in a day
Finally, we would like to highlight some practical tips for this one-day route through Valencia:
- One of the best ways to get around Valencia is by bike, as there are bike lanes all over the city, by public transport or on foot. There are many bike rental places and also some public bikes (Valenbisi).
- Valencia has a pleasant climate all year round, but temperatures can be high in summer. Bring water and sun protection if you visit the city from May to October.
Extra Recommendations
This itinerary is designed so you can see the highlights of Valencia in a single day, but if you have more time, we recommend spending at least two days to explore more calmly .
On this “extra” day you can take advantage of the opportunity to visit the interior of historic buildings, museums (both the most famous ones and more curious ones such as the L'Íber Museum ) and natural parks in the city of Valencia.