Valencia captures the interest of all kinds of travelers. It is a highly versatile city where everyone can get a sense of what Mediterranean life and culture are like.
It is also a place where history, art, and modernity coexist, offering visitors a wide range of cultural and entertainment options.
Today, we come to tell you about the most emblematic points to see in Valencia, so that your group’s visit is a complete success.
Let’s go through them.
#1 Valencia Cathedral and the Miguelete
Gothic predominates in Valencia Cathedral, although other styles such as Romanesque or Baroque can also be appreciated.
Before being a cathedral, it was a mosque, and before that, a Roman temple, hence the variety.
That’s why it houses a wide and varied artistic collection such as works by Goya or Renaissance frescoes. Also, true treasures like the Holy Chalice, believed to have been used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper, and very interesting architectural elements like the Miguelete, a Gothic bell tower in Plaza de la Reina that offers the best views of the entire city of Valencia.
It is 63 meters high, octagonal, and to top it off, you have to climb 207 steps, but the panoramic views compensate for the effort.
#2 Santa Catalina Tower
Santa Catalina is one of the oldest churches in the city, and its masterpiece is its bell tower, an icon to see in Valencia.
It is hexagonal in shape and adorned with tiles, frescoes, and stuccoes, considered one of the most original Baroque towers in Spanish architecture.
#3 The Central Market and Round Square
The Central Market of Valencia is a modernist building that you must see in Valencia, no matter what.
It stands out for its dome of more than 30 meters and the use of materials such as iron, glass, or ceramics, revolutionary at that time —1928—.
It is the largest fresh produce market in Europe for retail sale and also one of the main attractions of the city of Valencia due to its architecture.
There are more than 200 stalls selling fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and also crafts, plants, and various gifts.
There are also many options for eating in its bars and restaurants, including one with a Michelin star.
And if when you leave there’s still a craving to buy something else or see more stalls, very close by —just a 3-minute walk— is the Round Square. It is an indoor plaza with a fountain from which drinking water was channeled in the 19th century in Valencia. Nowadays, it is full of craft shops, souvenirs, and dining establishments.
#4 Silk Exchange, UNESCO World heritage site
Right in front of the Central Market is this marvel from the 15th century for carrying out commercial transactions of silk, wheat, and barley.
It consists of three parts —the Trading Hall, the Tower, and the Consulate of the Sea— and a garden —the Orange Tree Courtyard—.
It is one of the places to see in Valencia that blends architecture, history, and economic power.
From the Silk Exchange, commercial exchanges were made, commercial transactions were administered and regulated, disputes between merchants were resolved, and debtors were even imprisoned.
A place to visit in Valencia simply essential; it is no wonder that it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
#5 The Generalitat Palace
It is the current seat of the Valencian government, in Valencian Gothic style, although Renaissance-style extensions were made later.
It contains numerous works of art by Valencian artists from all times. Architecturally speaking, it’s essential to see in Valencia; its courtyard and the Nova Room of the Tower stand out.
It was built in 1421 to serve as the city’s political center and has persisted as such ever since, although it was also used as an archive and prison.
#6 The City of Arts and Sciences
A futuristic complex designed by Santiago Calatrava. It consists of several buildings, each with a different aesthetic but maintaining the same style.
The Palace of Arts Reina Sofía, the Hemisfèric, the Museum of Sciences Prince Felipe, and the Oceanographic, which, if they surprise from the outside, are even more impressive inside.
In addition to museum visits, the largest aquarium in Europe, the planetarium, or the IMAX cinema, it offers many activities, performances, and entertainment for all ages.
#7 Albufera
Albufera is an important natural park to see in Valencia and also one of the most prominent wetlands in the country for its rich biodiversity and ecological role.
It has 21,000 hectares dedicated to the protection of many species of water birds and other forms of wildlife, although if it’s famous for something, it’s for being a rice producer, a staple on Valencian tables and the main ingredient of paella.
And beware, because Albufera of Valencia has much more to offer: birdwatching, hiking, or the possibility of enjoying the best paella in Valencia, for example.
And the best part: the lake. Albufera has one of 3,000 hectares! From which you can witness wonderful sunsets aboard a boat after navigating through canals and rice fields.
The boats, all guided and with a capacity of about 30 people each, depart from the pier, from whose docks you can also appreciate sunsets tinted in red and orange.
Here ends the list of the best places to see in Valencia
As a summary of the places to see in Valencia, it has been good, right?
Now comes the difficult part.
Creating an itinerary to know those places, managing transportation, buying tickets, and the most complicated of all, getting each and every one of the group members to leave Valencia with the feeling of really knowing it.
Too much.
Well, delegate that to us and forget about it!
We offer fully customizable guided tours that adapt completely to the preferences of the group, in any language and from the starting point they choose.
Take a look at our most popular tours like the guided tour of the historic center of Valencia, the guided tour of the City of Arts and Sciences, or the guided tour of the Albufera, and you know, customize to your liking.
