We have spent three weeks in Valencia so far, some of the time together and some of the time on our own whilst Greg or I returned to UK for a few days on very inexpensive flights. As a result, we have done quite a lot of exploring and have concluded that, like Porto, this is one of those cities that is definitely worth a visit and hasn’t ever really been drawn to our attention before......so here are 10 reasons why you might consider a trip to sunny Valencia.
1. It’s a city with a great beach and inexpensive marina; so you get both a city break and a seaside break all rolled into one. The city is less than a million people so it’s a perfect size for getting around. The beach is long and wide with a great promenade with plenty of bars and restaurants. The marina is friendly and very cheap.
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| Valencia Marina |
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| Flying over the beach in Valencia |
2. The architecture is interesting. It’s a great blend of the very old in the old town with its ornate towers, domes and balconies and then there is the futuristic science park, opera house and aquarium complex that takes your breath away.
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| Science Museum |
3. There is good shopping here - all within good walking distance. There are malls and still the high streets with lots of individual and interesting independent shops.
4. The Central Market is amazing. The displays are fantastic. It’s spacious, architecturally stunning and the array of produce is mesmerising. There is also the Colon Market which is beautiful in a touristy Covent Garden kind of way but a bit expensive.
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| Central Market |
5. The welcome for cyclists. Motorists are extremely courteous to cyclists at junctions and crossings and there are miles and miles of cycle paths all around the city enabling you to get around quickly and safely. As in most big cities you can pick up City bikes from one station and leave at another. There are loads of bike hire shops as well.
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| There are cycle tracks throughout the city |
6. The green artery. In1957 the city suffered some terrible floods so decided to divert the river around the city, leaving the river bed dry. This was then planted with beautiful trees and shrubbery and the extensive land has been made into a wide range of outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy. As always, the cycle paths thread through the winding course of the former river allowing you to hop in and out of the city at different points whilst breathing lungs full of fresh air and enjoying the peace.
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| Bridges cross what was the river..... |
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| Cycle paths are all along the old river bed |
7. The restaurants are great. Valencia is the home of paella and prides itself on its own version of paella with rabbit and snails. It is delicious. We have eaten in some lovely and inexpensive restaurants. We even spotted an open-air paella making competition at the Central Market which was very exciting!
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| Competitors in the paella competion |
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| Valencian paella |
8. There are loads of bars, in fact you can't walk more than about 25m without coming across one - and the nightlife is great if you are looking for a late one ..
9. Culture. There is a great aquarium and loads of museums, churches and galleries to keep you busy if that is your interest. The cathedral dominates the old town.
10. The city puts on lots of free activities which attract lots of people. We have experienced traditional dancing, outdoor orchestra and stages with bands for free. We are particularly looking forward to the explosive Las Falles in March when we are planning to return to this absolutely fab city.
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