Valencia is one of the largest cities in Spain, with beautiful architecture, rich cultural and historical heritage. Many people come to Valencia for holidays, while others want to relocate to this sunny southern city and think about buying property in Spain.
The city on the Mediterranean coast boasts a rich history, so there are a lot of places of interest to both tourists and expats. Let’s take a look at the 10 most famous attractions that you should definitely visit in Valencia.
Content:
- 1. Valencia Cathedral
- 2. City of Arts and Sciences
- 3. Valencia Silk Exchange
- 4. Central Market
- 5. Bioparc
- 6. Túria Park
- 7. Church of San Nicolás
- 8. Quart Towers
- 9. Serranos Gate
- 10. Beaches and promenade
- Property in Valencia
1. Valencia Cathedral
The Cathedral is one of the most famous landmarks in the Old Town. The Gothic church was built in 1238. Visitors can climb to the top of the bell tower via an old spiral staircase and enjoy panoramic views of the central district. Near the Cathedral is a small square, where you can relax on a bench in the shade of lush trees, go shopping, or spend time in a cosy cafe.
2. City of Arts and Sciences
The City of Arts and Sciences, a futuristic architectural complex, is a popular tourist destination. It consists of 5 buildings, with walking paths and a large water pool between them. The complex features:
- The largest oceanographic park in Europe. It features miniature copies of the world’s oceans. Each of them has a certain composition of water and is inhabited by natural flora and fauna. The oceanarium also has 9 aquariums with a huge variety of fish, marine animals, and plants.
- Science Museum Príncipe Felipe, which regularly hosts interactive exhibitions and workshops.
- A complex with educational centres, a bookstore, a restaurant, and family recreation areas.
- A vantage point offering a beautiful view of all the architectural structures of the complex.
- An art promenade, where exhibitions and other cultural events are held.
- The largest IMAX cinema in the country.
- An opera house.
3. Valencia Silk Exchange
The Silk Exchange is in the middle of the Old Town. The Gothic complex consists of several buildings built between 1482 and 1533. Once the centre of silk trade, today the complex houses the Cultural Academy, which hosts various art exhibitions. The building is open to the public.
4. Central Market
A short walk from the Silk Exchange is the Central Market of Valencia. The building features the traditional Spanish style with arches, columns, and stained-glass windows. The market offers a huge range of fresh products: fruits, vegetables, seafood, meat, traditional sweets, jamón, cheeses, pastries, and much more. There are also cafes in the market, where you can order wine and tapas, which are traditional Spanish snacks.
5. Bioparc
Bioparc Valencia ranks among the top 10 parks in the world. This is a huge natural complex, where different species of animals live in an environment close to their habitat. The park regularly hosts themed events and exhibitions. There are playgrounds for children and special recreation areas in the shade of trees. Bioparc is a great place to spend a fun day with your family.
6. Túria Park
Túria Park was created on the site of a dried-up riverbed of the River Túria—that is why it has 18 old bridges. 9 km long, this is one of the city’s largest parks. It features:
- Playgrounds for children, including Gulliver Park, where children can feel very small.
- Sports courts and a football field.
- Music Palace.
- Cafes and bars where you can order traditional Valencian dishes, drinks, and snacks
- Picturesque green areas.
The park will be a great place for jogging, walking, cycling, or riding electric scooters. You do not need to have your own transport as you can rent a bike or scooter at rental points at the entrance to the park.
7. Church of San Nicolás
One of the oldest buildings in the city is the Church of San Nicolás. It was built by the Romans almost immediately after the founding of Valencia. The architecture of the church combines Gothic and Baroque styles. Of particular interest to visitors to the ancient place of worship is its interior decoration with stucco, arches, and magnificent colourful biblical scenes on the ceiling.
8. Quart Towers
On the outskirts of the Old Town, you can see a historical landmark, the Quart Towers, built between 1441 and 1460. In the Middle Ages, the defensive towers were part of the fortress wall, surrounding the city. Today, at the top of the towers, there is a vantage point, which offers a beautiful view of the Old Town and Túria Park.
9. Serranos Gate
Located in Plaza de los Fueros, the Serranos Gate is a landmark of world importance and a well-preserved example of medieval architecture. This is one of the largest gates in Europe, made in the Gothic style. It was built between 1392 and 1398.
Previously, battlements ran between the Quart Towers and the Serranos Gate. The towers are made of limestone and decorated with Gothic reliefs. For many years, the gate was the main entrance to the city, and was also used for ceremonial events. In addition, the massive structure, together with the stone wall, served to protect the city from enemy invasion.
Nowadays, the gate towers are used for various events. Visitors can climb up to the vantage point at the top of the gate to admire the view of the city centre and the River Túria.
10. Beaches and promenade
Valencia is home to one of the largest Spanish seaports, and to the north of it, there are 3 public beaches: Playa de las Arenas, Playa de la Malvarrosa, and Playa de la Patacona. The total length of the coast is about 4 km, and the width is 60 m. The sand on the beaches is light and fine. Due to the gentle entry into the water, they are suitable for swimming with children. A promenade stretches along the coast, flanked by palm trees, flowering shrubs, sculptures, and fountains. Near the beaches, there are excellent restaurants and cafes, where you can order drinks, desserts, and traditional dishes.
Property in Valencia
Valencia is a warm Mediterranean city that amazingly combines old Gothic buildings with the latest architectural structures, excellent infrastructure, numerous parks, and a modern public transport system. All these, along with a friendly population, vibrant annual festivals, traditional flamenco shows, and cultural events, make Valencia one of the most popular places in Spain to reside.
Many tourists, having once visited Valencia, set their heart on buying real estate and moving here in order to enjoy sunny weather, warm sea, magnificent architecture, and delicious Spanish cuisine.
Today, there are many apartments, houses, villas, and townhouses for sale in Valencia. Here you can find both budget-friendly options and high-end housing. For example, you can buy an apartment in Spain for €150,000. You can browse real estate listings in Valencia in the catalogue of our website. Advanced search filters allow you to choose the right property and compare prices for different types of apartments and houses in Spain.