3 Day Valencia Itinerary: Your Guide to Food, Sites, and Beaches

Valencia, Spain's third largest city, is often overlooked by those heading north to Barcelona or south to Seville. But, with over 300 days of sunshine a year, great beaches, one of Europe’s longest parks, and some of Spain’s finest food, it would be a mistake to miss out on everything Valencia has to offer.

3 days in Valencia is a great amount of time to explore the main tourist attractions, eat in some local restaurants, and even pop to the beach if you want. It's also an excellent city to visit when traveling through Spain and Portugal; I've detailed my experiences in this Spain & Portugal itinerary.

Of course, the more time you spend in this amazing city, the more you’ll be able to explore, but 3 days is a great taster – especially if you follow my guide that covers the best bits!

Getting to and Around Valencia

Valencia is on Spain’s eastern coast, about 3.5 hours drive from Barcelona. It’s directly opposite Mallorca (and sometimes, on a very clear day, you can see the island from the city!) and is surrounded by impressive mountains and coastline.

By Train

Valencia is well connected to other cities in Spain and it’s easy and affordable to arrive in the city by train. You’ll either arrive in Estación Joaquin Sorolla or Estación del Nord, both of which are located very centrally and it's easy to get around to other parts of the city.

By Plane

Valencia also has an international airport (VLC), with daily flights to many cities all around Europe. Some of the cheaper airlines fly there regularly and you can often find great bargains, especially flights to Mallorca for as little as €20!

Getting Around Valencia

Personally, I wouldn’t recommend driving around Valencia. The city has its own rules with plenty of roundabouts with no lanes, and if you’re not used to it, it can be pretty stressful.

Parking is also a nightmare within the city and you won’t need the car once you’re exploring. 

Where to Stay in Valencia

If you're deciding where to stay in Valencia, you'll find a variety of neighborhoods, here are my top 3 ones:

• Ciutat Vella/Old Town: Perfect for first-time visitors seeking history and cultural immersion, with narrow medieval streets, iconic landmarks like the Valencia Cathedral and Plaza de la Virgen, and charming cafes and tapas bars.
• El Cabanyal & La Malvarrosa Beaches: Ideal for beach lovers, the beach areas of El Cabanyal and La Malvarrosa offer picturesque seaside views, bustling promenades, and plenty of seafood restaurants.
• Ruzafa: Known for its bohemian and trendy atmosphere, featuring artistic flair, eclectic shops, hip cafes, and a lively nightlife scene, making it a favorite among the younger crowd and creative types.

Best Hotels in Valencia

Best Luxury Hotel: MYR Palacio Vallier
Best Mid-Range Hotel: One Shot Palacio Reina Victoria 04
Best Budget Hotel: The Little Corner B&B

Languages in Valencia

Of course, everyone in Valencia speaks Spanish but many people also speak Valencian. It’s pretty similar to Catalan and has influences from French and Italian.

To anyone who doesn’t speak Spanish well, they sound really similar (in fact, I only found out recently that a friend of mine at university was always speaking Valencian to her family, not Spanish)!

While you won’t need to speak any Valencian, you’ll see it written all around the city. For example, València rather than Valencia, Mercat rather than Mercado (market), and Ciutat rather than Ciudad (city).

You’ll be able to get by speaking English in the more touristy city center but don’t expect to speak English and be understood in local restaurants or bars. Most city maps, signposts to tourist spots, and tourist information are available in English.

3-Day Valencia Itinerary: The Best Places to Visit, Eat, and Enjoy!

Valencia is an incredible city and one that can be fully explored in 3 days.

It’s split into various areas, including the Old Town, the City of Arts and Sciences, Russafa, the city center, and the Marina and el Cabañal/Malvarrosa. This itinerary is going to take you through them all!

Valencia Itinerary Day 1: The Old Town, Central Market, and A Little Door for Cats

Valencia’s Old Town is one of the most beautiful areas and a must for anyone visiting the city. It's home to Valencia’s original city gates and towers (that date back to the 14th century) as well as lots of great cafes, bars, shops, and restaurants.

Day 1 in Valencia: Morning

Let’s start your trip in Valencia in one of my favorite places in the city – Mercado Central de Valencia or Central Market. I think it’s one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and it’s well worth walking around the outside to get a view from every angle. Also, make sure you look up to see the bright green parrot on the top of the roof! 

Inside is just as spectacular – full of buzzing fruit stalls with fresh produce, rice stands, takeaway meals, and an amazing seafood counter.

If you’re hungry, line up to be seated at Central Bar. It’s a great bar in the middle of the market that serves delicious local dishes, sandwiches, and an array of drinks. It’s the perfect place for breakfast or almuerzo – but it does get busy, so be prepared to wait.

Did You Know: What’s So Important About Almuerzo in Valencia?

Eating in Spain is very different from other countries, if you didn’t know that before, you soon will!

Not only do many Spaniards eat much later than other countries, but they also have an extra “mini meal”: almuerzo. Breakfast isn’t a big thing in Valencia and it’s really common for people to go for an almuerzo at around 11.00 am.

This usually consists of a toast with tomato, cheese, or ham, a coffee, and often a beer too! It’s very common for bars to be full with people waiting to be served and some are as cheap as US$ 3.

Of course, in Winter, almuerzos are also served with fresh orange juice, after all, Valencia is the home of oranges!

Day 1 in Valencia: Mid-Morning

When you’ve finished marveling at the market, head across the road to La Lonja de la Seda, a beautiful gothic building that was once the hub of silk trade in Valencia. The silk exchange buildings themselves are very impressive and there’s also a wonderfully calm courtyard full of orange and lemon trees which is worth enjoying. In fact, it's so impressive it's a UNESCO World Heritage site.

From there, make your way to El Carmen, one of my favorite barrios (neighborhoods) in Valencia. It’s a beautiful area to get lost in and admire the stunning streets and imagine what Valencia used to be like hundreds of years ago. If you like graffiti, you can also go on a street art tour of El Carmen – it has some of the best art in the city. 

And whatever you do whilst in this neighborhood, be sure to visit the Cat House! Close to the Torres de Serranos, this adorable little door offers stray cats a safe place to go and is only about a foot high.

Day 1 in Valencia: Lunch

Hungry? You can’t go to Valencia without trying paella and one of my favorite places is close to the little Cat House – Restaurant Mattilda. They serve all kinds of paellas with different specials and many delicious tapas to choose from too. Make sure you try the sardine salad if it's on the menu and the croquettes!

Okay, so while we’re on the topic, let’s talk paella. No, it’s not made with chorizo and no, you may not order a paella for one. It’s never eaten for dinner (not by a Valencian anyway) and can be many different flavors. The most common paella in restaurants is seafood paella but this is not actually the original paella from Valencia. 

The original paella contains chicken, rabbit, large white beans, green beans, and rosemary (and is just as delicious). It’s less common but also possible to find veggie paella which is a great alternative for vegetarians.

Many Spaniards eat paella directly from the pan, but it’s also possible to have it served individually.

Day 1 in Valencia: Afternoon/Evening

From Restaurant Mattilda, you can go to the Torres de Serranos. This impressive tower was originally part of the wall circling the old town of Valencia.

You can pay around US$ 2 and climb up the many steps of the tower for an incredible view of the river park and the city rooftops. 

One of the best things about El Carmen neighborhood is all the amazing restaurants there are. From sandwich bars and pizzerias to numerous tapas bars, there’s always amazing food to eat. A personal favorite is BoBo Bar Valencia.

Valencia Itinerary Day 2: Turia River Park and the City of Arts and Sciences

Start your second day in Valencia at the Plaza de Ayuntamiento (City Hall Square). This is one of the largest and most important squares in Valencia and shows off some of the city’s most impressive architecture. There are lots of cafes in the area to choose from for breakfast or an almuerzo and it’s a great place to people watch too. 

From here head up to Plaza de la Reina, making sure you stop off at Plaza Redonda on your way. As the name suggests, this is a beautiful square that’s actually round! It was once a trading place (which you can definitely feel) and it’s now full of cute little shops and boutiques and is a great opportunity to buy a souvenir or two.

Plaza de la Reina is another very important square in Valencia and is a must for anyone visiting the city. It's right next to Plaza de la Virgen so you can wander over there too. It's the square in front of the Valencian Cathedral which is a stunning and very impressive Gothic-style cathedral that was built on the site of a Roman temple. It’s worth going inside, although it is sometimes closed to visitors if there’s an important service going on.

If you’re feeling fit, I suggest you climb the 207 steps up the Miguelete Cathedral Tower. In my opinion, it’s one of the best views of the entire city and is well worth the climb. Just be aware it's an active bell-ringing tower and can get very loud at the top!

Day 2 in Valencia: Lunch

After all that climbing, you’re probably going to need some food and one of the best horchaterias is nearby, it is called Horchateria el Collado.

Horchata is a milk-like drink made from dried local beans that’s usually served with a farton, a kind of sweet bread that’s perfect for dunking. They serve plenty more sweet treats including chocolate con churros too!

Day 2 in Valencia: Afternoon/Evening

You can’t go to Valencia without going for a walk along the Turia Park. The gardens used to be a river but when the river flooded in 1957 and destroyed many buildings in the city, local authorities decided to divert the river and make it into gardens instead.

This beautiful park really is the heart of Valencia and it's full of people relaxing, going for a walk, or doing exercise. If you fancy, it's also a great place to go on a bike tour.

Walk right the way along to The City of Arts and Sciences (La Ciudad de las Artes y Ciencias), a collection of incredible buildings and water features that have become one of the symbols of Valencia.

There’s a science museum – you'll spot the building, it is shaped like the spine of a fish – a 3D cinema, an opera house, and Europe’s biggest aquarium!

For dinner, head to Russafa, a popular neighborhood full of great bars, restaurants, bookshops, vintage clothes shops, and boutique hotels. It gets pretty full in the evenings and is a popular place for going out.

It’s worth walking down Calle de Sueca and Calle de Cuba to get a real feel for the neighborhood and the colorful architecture. Grab some tapas or a sandwich at Oli Bar and try Agua de Valencia too – a cocktail made from freshly squeezed orange juice, cava, gin, and vodka!

Valencia Itinerary Day 3: The Port and Malvarrosa

One of the main reasons why Valencia is such a popular destination is because it’s also on the beach! Start the day by heading down to the port of Valencia. Depending on where your accommodation is, you can either walk there or take the metro.

As one of Spain's busiest ports, it's a great place to watch all the tankers come in plus marvel at some of the amazing sailboats and yachts. From there, walk along the seafront towards Playa de las Arenas – one of the beaches that makes up the very long Malvarrosa beach.

The beach is lined with palm trees and cafes and most restaurants offer delicious food with views out over the Mediterranean Sea. One of my favorite spots for breakfast is Boa Beach Valencia. Their breakfasts are really fresh and well-priced and are a mix of international and Spanish cuisine.

When at the beach in Valencia, it's important not to leave any valuables with your towel when you go for a swim. The beaches can get very busy during the summer months and pickpocketing can be a problem.

Day 3 in Valencia: Lunch

For a final paella, I'd recommend Casa Carmela. As one of the best restaurants on the beach, you're sure to get an amazing Valencian paella or seafood if you'd prefer.

They'll make your traditional paella with a wood fire which makes it even more delicious. If you fancy something lighter, any of the beach bars along the front offer tapas and international food too.

Day 3 in Valencia: Afternoon/Evening

A trip to this beautiful city wouldn't be complete without an ice cream. One of the best places is right on the beach too – La Jijonenca. I'd recommend a scoop of their turron (a nougat-like flavor) or chocolate ice cream!

When you've had your fill of topping up your tan, head back to the city for your final night in Valencia. You could head back to Russafa or go to El Carmen. Bon Gust in El Carmen has a great mix of contemporary tapas and some Italian pasta dishes if you want something a little different from Valencian food.

3 Day Valencia Itinerary – Pre-Travel Tips

☀️ When’s The Best Time to Visit Valencia?

In my opinion, the best time to visit Valencia is in April/May. The city is amazing in spring and it’s warm enough to enjoy being outside without having to dash from shaded area to shaded area. The worst time to visit Valencia is August. Most Valencians leave the city for the month and head to the cooler coast. It’s really hot and humid and many local businesses close down for a few weeks.

Alternatively, Christmas is also a great time to visit as the city is full of lights, Beléns (large nativity scenes), and everywhere sells Turron, a yummy sweet made from almonds.

❓ Should You Go To Valencia for Fallas?

Fallas is unique and it really is a spectacle – but not always in a good way and not necessarily for foreigners who are trying to work out what the heck is going on. 8 years of having a Valencian partner and I’m still trying to work it out. 

It’s basically a week-long festival that runs from 13-19 of March (but honestly, it starts way earlier) and is full of fireworks, incredible art monuments, and lots of food and drink! It’s definitely not for the faint of heart, though. Consistent fireworks are going off everywhere (the Valencians are mad for them) and it can be really shocking for those not used to it. If you’re brave enough, you’ll see some of the world’s best fireworks displays – at organized events, not kids in the street – and some truly incredible art.

💸 What Are Prices Like in Valencia?

Like everywhere in Spain, prices are on the rise but Valencia is still pretty affordable, especially compared to Barcelona or Madrid. Accommodation in Valencia is diverse and on average you can pay around US$ 75 per night – but this can vary a lot, depending on the type of accommodation you go for and the neighborhood. A beer will cost you around US$ 2 and transportation around the city can cost as little as US$ 1.60.

But, in comparison to the rest of the city, eating out is relatively expensive. A good paella in a non-touristy place will cost around US$ 16 per person, depending on whether you order it with seafood or not, and you’ll be expected to order tapas first and a dessert.

📅 Is Three Days Enough to Visit Valencia?

3 days in Valencia is enough time to get a feel for the city, see the main sights, and try some of the local food. You’ll probably find, however, that you’re left wanting more – which is great, as you now have an excuse to go back. It’s also a really well-connected city and a great stop off if you’re doing a tour around Spain and some of the best beaches on the peninsular are within driving distance.

3 Day Valencia Itinerary – Final Words

Valencia is an incredible city and definitely one you should put on your list to visit. The food on offer is some of the best in the country, there are plenty of amazing sites to go and see, the weather is usually amazing, and it's even on the beach! What more could you want?

It's also well-priced, easy to get around, especially if you get the Valencia tourist card, and the people are really friendly and helpful.