Tourist Attractions in Valencia

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Valencia

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Valencia

Once upon a time, the Moors nicknamed Valencia “the blessed land”. Centuries later, the feel of the city hasn’t changed a bit, although Valencia has since become a modern, dynamic metropolis. Over two thousand years of history, a huge cultural code has been accumulated here.

Valencia was founded by the Romans in the first century. Since then it has been a province of a powerful empire, a part of the Moorish state and an independent Christian principality until it became part of the united Spanish kingdom.

In the city limits of Valencia there are several beaches awarded “blue flag”, where you can spend a wonderful holiday, it is also the birthplace of the famous fire festival “Las Fallas”, which attracts thousands of tourists every year. And the delicious Valencian paella is probably tasted by all visitors to the city.

Top-20 Tourist Attractions in Valencia

Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias

 4.7/5

128277 reviews

A modern entertainment complex, a real architectural pride of the whole of Spain. The futuristic ensemble created by Santiago Calatrava contrasts strongly with the historical city quarters. It houses an exhibition gallery, a museum-city of sciences, a planetarium (which includes a cinema and a laser show theatre), an opera house and an oceanarium. The complex has been open to the public since 1998 and has been completed over the following years.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Serranos Towers (Valencia)

 4.6/5

41350 reviews

Ancient city gates that have survived since the 14th century. They were intended for the defence of the city and to repel enemy attacks. Over the centuries, the gatehouse towers have served as a prison for nobles and as a repository for museum exhibits during wars (the collections of the Prado Museum were evacuated here to protect them from possible bombing raids). Nowadays, the Serranos have a symbolic function.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Quart Towers

 4.6/5

15248 reviews

The second (after the Serranos Gate) surviving ancient gate guarding the entrance to Valencia. It is the entrance to the old city centre. It is built in the Neapolitan style of limestone and stone and resembles a medieval Italian fort. Several centuries ago, the towers of the gate housed a women’s prison. In 1931, the structure was given the status of a historical monument.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Valencia City Hall

 4.4/5

712 reviews

The square is located in the historic part of Valencia. It is the centre of the city’s important public events. The square is home to several landmarks: the central post office, the Commercial Assembly and the Municipality (City Hall). The last building deserves special attention. It is a picturesque palace from the late 18th century, decorated with baroque bas-reliefs, figurative arches and balconies.

Open time

Monday: 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Plaza de la Reina

 4.6/5

29111 reviews

The Queen Square is one of the most crowded and lively in Valencia. Several major streets converge here. It was named after Queen Maria, the wife of the ruler Alfonso XII. The square is decorated with flower beds, alleys and cosy cafes. On the north side is the cathedral with a high bell tower. From the Plaza de la Reina, the kilometres of all Valencian roads begin.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Valencia Cathedral

 4.6/5

23065 reviews

Cathedral in honour of St Mary, the main Christian church in Valencia. It was built before the Moors came to the Iberian Peninsula. Under Arab rule, it was converted into a mosque. In the XIII century the cathedral became a Christian abode again with the blessing of the Bishop of Valencia. The building is built in the so-called “Mediterranean Gothic” style. One of the most important Christian relics, the Holy Grail, rests here.

Open time

Basílica de la Mare de Déu dels Desemparats

 4.8/5

4160 reviews

The church is located next to St Mary’s Cathedral and is connected to it by a gallery. This seemingly inconspicuous church plays an important role for the locals, as it is here that the image of the patron saint of the city, St Mary the Protector, is kept. The statue is considered to be miraculous and people have turned to it in times of calamity, war, epidemics and other troubles that have befallen Valencia.

Open time

Monday: 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 9:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 9:00 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 9:00 PM
Sunday: 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 9:00 PM

Església de Sant Joan de l'Hospital

 4.7/5

2238 reviews

The temple is dedicated to two biblical characters, John the Evangelist and John the Baptist. The building was built in the XIII century on the site of a destroyed Arab mosque after the expulsion of the Moors. In the XIV and XVI centuries, the church suffered two severe fires, after which the building was rebuilt. The final shape that has survived to this day is an 18th century structure with an ornate Baroque façade.

Open time

Monday: 6:45 – 7:45 AM, 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM
Tuesday: 6:45 – 7:45 AM, 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 6:45 – 7:45 AM, 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 6:45 – 7:45 AM, 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM
Friday: 6:45 – 7:45 AM, 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM

Church of Santa Caterina

 4.6/5

1219 reviews

A temple near Valencia Cathedral dedicated to the Christian martyr Catalina. According to legend, Catalina suffered for her faith and wisdom. By order of Emperor Maximilian, she was skinned alive. The cult of St Catalina spread quite quickly across Europe. A Valencian temple in her honour was built under Jaime I on the site of a demolished Arab mosque.

Open time

Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia

 4.6/5

6682 reviews

A 17th century building that used to house a school for the clergy. It houses outstanding collections of famous Spanish artists, including El Greco, Velázquez and Goya. Separate expositions are dedicated to representatives of the Valencian art school – Nicolas Falco, Rodrigo de Oson and others. The museum also boasts paintings by famous Italian and Dutch masters.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas

 0/5

The palace is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. The building is adorned with an intricate and sumptuous baroque façade, a true work of art. The interior is also lavishly decorated. The palace houses a ceramics museum with several thousand exhibits. Here you can find unique ceramics dating back to the 16th century. There are also jewellery collections, furniture and furnishings.

Palau de la Generalitat Valenciana

 4.6/5

307 reviews

The seat of government of the Autonomous Region of Valencia, open to tourists at certain times. The palace was begun in the 15th century by the Council of Deputies. The northern facade of the building faces the Plaza de Manises, on the opposite side there is a cosy and picturesque garden. The Generalidad underwent extensive reconstruction in the middle of the 20th century and has retained almost its original appearance.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia

 4.6/5

23601 reviews

An architectural complex consisting of several buildings from the 15th and 16th centuries. It is an outstanding creation of Spanish architects. In the Middle Ages, silk was traded on the territory of the complex. The ensemble includes a tower, an orange courtyard, a meeting hall and the main columned hall, where trade transactions were directly carried out. In this hall, the rules of trade are carved in Latin on the colourful marble floor.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Valencia Station North

 4.4/5

9914 reviews

The city’s main railway station, where trains from Madrid arrive. The building was built in the early 20th century in the style of “Southern Art Nouveau” with some pretentiousness and pomp. The interiors are originally decorated with tiles, tiles, mosaics, coloured stained glass and images of fruit. The architect Demetrio Ribes worked on the project. Perhaps he was trying to capture the image of a flowering garden in stone.

Open time

Plaça de Bous de València

 4.3/5

19410 reviews

Large circular amphitheatre for bullfighting. It is located next to the Northern Railway Station. It was designed in the 19th century by Sebastian Monleon. Diameter of the arena is 52 metres, capacity – up to 16 thousand spectators. The best bullfighters perform here, and about 25 fights are held annually. Inside there is a bullfighting museum, where you can learn about the history and peculiarities of this national show.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Mercado Central de Valencia

 4.7/5

82394 reviews

A large food market where produce from all over the region is brought together. The best farms from the Autonomous Region of Valencia are represented here. There are dozens of varieties of cheese and jamon, sweets, fish, seafood, nuts and ingredients for making paella. The market is always lively and noisy. The building itself, where the stalls are located, is a picturesque structure with coloured stained glass windows and wrought iron bars.

Open time

Monday: 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Saturday: 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

Mercat de Colón

 4.4/5

38303 reviews

An Art Nouveau marketplace named in honour of the great discoverer, but not related to him. Here you can not only buy fresh produce or souvenirs, but also eat or sample the countless and varied tapas. On holidays, the market is transformed into a concert arena with various performances.

Open time

Monday: 7:30 AM – 2:00 AM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 2:00 AM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 2:00 AM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 2:00 AM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 3:00 AM
Saturday: 7:30 AM – 3:00 AM
Sunday: 7:30 AM – 2:00 AM

Instal·lacions dels Jardins del Túria

 4.6/5

38548 reviews

A huge park complex in the former bed of the Turia River that runs through the entire city. It consists of several zones, including the Royal Gardens, the City of Arts and Sciences and the Botanical Gardens. In the middle of the 20th century, after another major flood, the authorities decided to change the course of the Turia River and organise a green park zone in the resulting place (at first it was planned to build a road). This is how the modern Gardens came into being.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Bioparc Valencia

 4.6/5

44686 reviews

A progressive urban zoo where the animals are provided with the most natural and comfortable conditions. It was opened to the public in 2008. There are no fenced cages and cages in the biopark, so the animals can move freely around the large area. Visitors are forbidden to feed and touch the zoo inhabitants. The territory is divided into several zones with animals from different continents.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Parc Natural de l'Albufera

 4.6/5

94 reviews

A lake on the outskirts of Valencia and the marshy areas around it, which locals call “the little sea”. It is home to a large number of waterfowl. They nest here in flocks and are not afraid of people at all. Several Red Book species can be found in the Albufera Park. The best way to see the natural beauty of the area is to take a boat trip.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM