There are so many reasons why everyone should visit Valencia at least once in their lifetime. Here are a few to get you inspired to visit this surprising Spanish city.
Valencia is the kind of city that, once you visit, you will want to go back over and over again.
The third largest in Spain, it is a city with multiple personalities. This is reflected through its architecture, the diverse neighborhoods, and a geographical location that combines the Mediterranean coast and the mountains as a background.
There are so many things to do in Valencia! But if this is not enough to convince you, here are a few or the many reasons you need to visit Valencia this year.
Table of Contents
- 1 8 Reasons to Visit Valencia
- 1.1 It is the World Design Capital 2022
- 1.2 It will take you on a journey through history
- 1.3 The architecture is truly stunning
- 1.4 It’s the birthplace of paella and a foodie’s dream
- 1.5 It has one of the largest urban parks in Spain
- 1.6 It is Europe’s Capital for Smart Tourism 2022
- 1.7 It’s been named the healthiest city in the world
- 1.8 It celebrates one of the biggest festivals in Spain
8 Reasons to Visit Valencia
It is the World Design Capital 2022
From traditional crafts such as silk and ceramics, to the futuristic design of the City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia tries to connect design with the Mediterranean way of life.
Throughout 2022, Valencia is displaying the work of designers, architects and design professionals as part of its World Design Capital nomination.
So if you are interested in how design improves people’s lives, this year is the time to visit Valencia and discover how the city has become an international design reference.
All you have to do is explore the many restaurants, cafes and businesses that have made design part of their offering, and you will see how important innovative forms and ideas are in the Valencian way of life. Here’s the Valencia Design map to help you plan your journey through it all.
It will take you on a journey through history
Valencia has over 2,000 years of history. It was founded by the Romans in 138 B.C. and you can still see evidence of the different cultures that have made Valencia their home through the ages.
You can appreciate the Roman ruins in Plaza de La Almoina, the remaining medieval city gates like Torres de Serrano and Torres de Quart, and visit the Silk Exchange, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was at the center of the Golden Age of Valencia in the 16th Century.
Don’t miss the Water Tribunal (Tribunal de las Aguas) every Thursday, a court and justice system founded in the year 1000 during the time of Arabic Spain. It has been recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, but sadly a lot of people overlook it. Don’t be one of them!
Explore more of Valencia
Take a historical walking tour
or
Do it yourself with a 24h, 48h or 72h Valencia Tourist Card
The architecture is truly stunning
One of the things that surprises visitors about Valencia is the amount of Modernist architectural gems. Some people compare it to Barcelona’s modernist style, and, in fact, you will find here buildings designed by students of Gaudí, like the Mercado de Colón.
But Valencian Modernism has a character and personality of its own, where the use of stained glass and ceramics tell us about the local traditions and legends. You can learn more on a Modernist Tour of Valencia.
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The Cabanyal neighborhood is an old maritime village and the fishermen’s quarter, where you can appreciate an eclectic Modernist style characterized by colorful tiled façades.
Fast forward 100 years, and the architecture in the city takes you in a different direction.
The City of Arts and Sciences by Calatrava has become one of the most iconic landmarks in Valencia. Calatrava’s use of geometry, light and color give you the impression that you have been transported to a futuristic world.
It’s the birthplace of paella and a foodie’s dream
Not everyone knows that Valencian paella is the true original paella, and that Valencia is, in fact, the birthplace of this internationally renowned dish.
Located 12 miles south of the city, the Albufera National Park is a freshwater lagoon and the rice growing region where paella first originated. And there is no better place in the world to try this iconic dish. You could even try and make your own at a paella workshop!
The land around the city, known as the Huerta de Valencia (Orchard of Valencia), is irrigated by acequias, a watering system that dates back to Muslim Spain. It is here where local produce such as oranges, tiger nuts and rice is grown.
Trying agua de Valencia, horchata de chufa (tiger nut milk), and, of course, paella while in the city is a must!
But it goes beyond this. Valencia is the perfect city to explore through food.
The Valencian gastronomic scene is committed to food sustainability and focuses on using seasonal and local products grown in local smallholdings. Fresh Mediterranean fish also features heavily on the menu.
The quality of the local products, and the forward thinking vision of local chefs, has resulted in three of the city restaurants being awarded Michelin stars recently, in addition to the existing Michelin stars being maintained.
Visit the Mercado Central to buy the freshest local produce. If you don’t want to do the cooking yourself, restaurants such as La Maritima in Veles e Vents offer delicious seafood-based dishes made with freshly landed fish. And the views over the sea are just stunning!
It has one of the largest urban parks in Spain
Valencia has one of the largest green spaces in Spain, the Turia Gardens. It occupies the old Turia river bed and runs through the city over 9 kms like a green snake.
As a result from the 1957 flood, the course of the river was diverted outside the city, leaving a dry river bed for many decades. After years of work, born out of a tragedy, this open space is now one of the best spots in Valencia.
The Turia Gardens is true testament to the innovative character of this ingenious city, and one of the great reasons to visit Valencia.
Locals come here to hang out, exercise and enjoy the landscaped gardens, the City of Arts and Sciences and, those with children, Gulliver Park, a playground in the shape of a sleeping giant Gulliver.
The park is crossed by 18 bridges and it has a great network of cycle lanes, which means that one of the best ways to explore the Turia Gardens is on a bike tour.
It is Europe’s Capital for Smart Tourism 2022
Valencia has been chosen as the European Capital of Smart Tourism in 2022 for its advances and achievements in sustainability, accessibility, digitalisation, cultural heritage, and creativity.
It is thanks to projects such as the reduction of carbon and water footprints, the development of a complete Tourism Intelligence System, along with the promotion of its cultural heritage, that Valencia has been made an example of a Smart City.
This is also reinforced by the efforts to increase the space given over to pedestrians and the elimination of barriers.
Major urban spaces such as Plaza del Ayuntamiento and Plaza de la Reina have been and are being transformed into accessible pedestrian zones for everyone to enjoy safely and freely.
It’s been named the healthiest city in the world
According to Money.co.uk, Valencia is the healthiest city in the world to live in.
Factors such as obesity levels, life expectancy, pollution levels, health care, safety, crime rates and hours of sunlight, contribute to a consistently healthy lifestyle. And this is reflected in the lifestyle in Valencia.
300 days of sunshine a year, a Mediterranean diet, being by the beach and the mountains, and access to green spaces such as the Turia Gardens are a big part of Valencian life.
This is also why Valencia has been nominated as European Smart City 2022, and projects resulting from this nomination such as the carbon footprint or water footprint measurement certification, allow a healthier lifestyle as well as a more sustainable tourism to be enjoyed.
It celebrates one of the biggest festivals in Spain
Valencians don’t do things by halves, and their annual Fallas festival is proof of that.
Every March, the city becomes an open air gallery where giant paper mache statues are displayed for a few days before getting burnt. Yes, you read that right. Before getting burnt.
Las Fallas celebrates the arrival of spring and it combines tradition with satire and art. Pyrotechnics are at the center of the celebrations, through fireworks displays and constant firecrackers going off 24 hours a day.
It’s a festival like no other and it should be experienced by everyone at least once!
Learn more about Las Fallas
Everything you need to know about Las Fallas Festival
So there you have it. This is why you should visit Valencia, city of paella, innovative arts, and larger-than-life festivals, and why it should be on everyone’s travel list.
Will you be visiting Valencia this year? Let me know in the comments!
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Disclosure: This post has been created as a partnership with Visit Valencia. As always, all views are my own.