Valencia Attractions: Guide to the Main Tourist Attractions in Valencia City, Spain
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This page will offer a run down to the top attractions in Valencia with short descriptions: Valencia cathedral, the Bioparc, Valencia City of Art and Sciences, the beaches and marina of Valencia and the city's shops. You will also find links to detailed pages for each attraction with information on location, contact details, ticketing information (where relevant) and what to expect.
Valencia Cathedral
Valencia Cathedral is the beating heart of the old town - El Carmen. It sits at the centre of Valencia's small and rambling historic streets. It is a large building that stuns from both the outside and the interior. It is possible to visit the cathedral and use an audio guide to learn about the history of the building as you make your way around it.
For details of the Cathedral, including information on the entrance prices, location and history of the building, see our Guide to Valencia Cathedral.
Valencia City of Art and Sciences
Valencia's City of Art and Sciences is one the most popular attractions in Valencia. It is a futuristic cultural world that spans over five buildings and covers 350,000 square metres. You may simply want to head to the City of Art and Sciences and take a wander amongst the stunning buildings designed by local architect Santiago Calatrava. Alternatively you may want to make a trip to one of its individual attractions - see below for more details.
For a photo tour of the area, see our Photo route around Valencia City of Art and Sciences.
Within the City of Art and Sciences, two of the most popular attractions are the aquarium and the science museum. See below for further details.
Valencia Science Museum
The science museum in Valencia is called Principe Felipe Science Museum. It sits at the heart of the City of Art and Sciences and offers interactive exhibitions that are educational and entertaining for all ages. You will find permanent exhibitions alongside temporary shows that cover everything from Einstein's theories to Marvel comics. The building itself is one of the most iconic in the City of Art and Sciences, with a structure like a gigantic skeleton.
For a guide to the science museum, with information on opening times, how to get there, ticket details and advice on what to expect, see our Guide to the Principe Felipe Science Museum.
Beaches of Valencia
Valencia is a city that hosts its own beach, plus it links to a total of eight beaches that stretch along the coastline of the district of Valencia. The beaches along this coastline are characterised by golden sands and calm waters. Valencia's most central beach is called El Cabanyal (or Las Arenas). It is a city beach that offers some peace and relaxation a mere twenty minutes from the hustle bustle of the city centre. Along this stretch of beach you will also find a promenade for taking strolls and a wide selection of seafood restaurants, where you can enjoy some of the daily catches.
For a guide to the beaches in the Valencia area, see our Guide to the Beaches of Valencia. You will find details on the location of each beach, plus details on what facilities each beach has to offer and at what times of the year these facilities are available. Here you will also find a link to a more detailed page about El Cabanyal beach with information on how to get there from the city centre.
If you would like to get a better idea of what the beaches of Valencia look like, take a look at our Photo Route of El Cabanyal Beach.
Valencia's marina
Valencia played host to the 2007 America's Cup. This means that the marina area of Valencia is all newly renovated, with modern buildings and facilities. If you are interested in boats and general nautical activities, have a stroll and watch the boats and yachts. It is also an area where you can find out more about getting involved with watersports activities during your trip.
For details about the marina in Valencia, plus links to detailed pages with contacts for watersports companies in the area, see our Guide to Valencia Marina.
Shopping in Valencia
Many visitors to Valencia come for one thing and one thing only - shopping! The city centre of Valencia is awash with shops, boutiques and department stores to suit all tastes and budgets. Whether you are looking for clothes, presents, shoes or simply supermarkets, you will find an abundance of what you need in Valencia. There are shopping malls both inside the city centre and further out of town that offer both typically Spanish and international shops.
For a guide to going clothes shopping in Valencia, see our Guide to Valencia Clothes Shops.
There are things to do in Valencia whether you are a keen historian, culture vulture, animal lover or a shopaholic. Before your trip have a look at the different attractions that are on offer and have a think about how much time you'd like to spend at each one. If you have an idea about what is there, you will be better able to plan your trip and make the most of your time in this gem of a city.