Things to do in Valencia for self travelers
Enjoy self-guided audio tours with included attraction tickets in one appTop sights in Valencia
All self-guided activities
Dive into the soul of Valencia with a ticket included for a tour around the storied Mestalla Stadium. This audio adventure will suit anyone keen on unraveling the rich tapestry of history, culture, and architectural grandeur that define Valencia. From football enthusiasts to lovers of gothic opulence, there's a discovery awaiting every curious traveler on this path through time. The journey commences at Mestalla Stadium and concludes at the Serranos Towers. Along the way, traverse the heart of the city, passing by monumental marvels such as the Central Market, the Silk Exchange's gothic splendor and National Palace of ceramic. Each landmark with its own story will pave the route. Travelers will carry with them the echoes of history and the visual feast of Valencia long after the tour. It's worth noting that while this journey includes external explorations of these cherished sites, an audio tour inside the iconic Mestalla Stadium is not part of the experience.
Dolphins and deep space – together at last! Skip the line at two of Valencia's top attractions, and enjoy a cerebral journey of science and animal magic. Wet your appetite with a visit to one of Europe's largest aquariums, then swap your snorkel for a lab coat and send your sense of wonder into orbit at the incredible Science Museum.
The Hortensia Herrero Art Centre, in the old Valeriola Palace, captures the history of the city from Roman to Christian times. It's a unique place in Valencia to explore the past. With a general entry, you can view the Hortensia Herrero Collection, tour the building, and learn its history at your own pace.
Armies of ants, indoor electrical storms, dinosaurs and more await at the Science Museum Valencia, located in the city's famous City of Arts and Sciences. Pull on a lab coat, coin a catchphrase, and get ready for a futuristic adventure of mad science (and serious fun) in sunny Valencia. Fast forward time and skip the line with this nifty smartphone ticket.
See jaw-dropping IMAX films on a 900m2 dome screen at Hemisfèric, Spain's largest theater hall. Located in the City of Arts and Sciences ("Ciudad de las artes y las ciencias") complex, you'll also get starry-eyed in the enormous domed planetarium and much more besides! Skip the line and jump right into the AV adventure.
Welcome to sunny Valencia, a treasure trove of history, art and modern architectural wonders! Your audio journey starts from the most impressive Valencian square - Plaza de Ayuntamiento. Then, through the streets teeming with life, you will walk to the Plaza del Mercado. There are two magnificent buildings, which are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site, on the square. On the way to the heart of old town Valencia - Cathedral de Valencia - you will visit the wonderful Santa Catalina Church with its beautiful and elegantly ornamental and fluid baroque bell tower. You will find out which treasures are inside the Cathedral de Valencia and learn about the Chalice of the Holy Grail. Аt the end of the route, you may choose to visit the Museum of Fine Arts and stroll to a place important for Spanish culture - the bullfighting ring.
At BIOPARC Valencia, see African landscapes and wildlife, featuring the savannah, wetlands, equatorial forest, and Madagascar. Visit Spain's recreation of Kitum Cave and see animals like lions, giraffes, rhinos, elephants, and chimpanzees. The zoo offers a detailed representation of African ecosystems, suitable for all ages, with opportunities to explore the savannah. Follow trails to spot hippos, crocodiles, and colorful fish in their habitats. See antelope, giraffes, and rhinos, watch lions, explore burrows housing anteaters, hyenas, and warthogs, and venture into forests with gorillas and leopards.
See the world through the eyes of sea creatures who call Spain's biggest aquarium home, and explore complex marine ecosystems housed behind glass at the Oceanogràfic of Valencia. Get to the dolphins, crocodiles, penguins, and sharks even faster when you book online.
If you're in Valencia, the City of Arts and Sciences is a must-see. Designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava, there's even more wonder inside these attractions than their fantastical exteriors suggest.
Belugas, dolphins, sharks and penguins are waiting to reveal the secrets of the sea at Oceanogràfic, the largest marine park in Spain. Travel through the most important marine ecosystems on Earth, from the Arctic to the Canary Islands, and feel the presence of the sharks swimming around you as you journey through the longest underwater tunnel in Europe! There's plenty of other amazing aquatic life to discover in the outdoor freshwater lake, from flamingos to frogs, and live bottlenose dolphin shows in four different pools. In the spectacular Hemisfèric building, you'll realize what a cinematic experience should be about! Experience the IMAX in 3D with your choice of screening, inside the famous City of Arts and Sciences. The building itself is quite an impressive local landmark; it's built in the shape of an eye, and reflected in a 24,000-square-meter lake.
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About Valencia
The best tours to do in Valencia with kids are:
The must-see attractions in Valencia for a first visit are:
The best walking tours to do in Valencia are:
The best indoor tours in Valencia for rainy days are:
Insider tips for visiting Valencia
Anna S2024When I’m in Valencia, I always slip away to the quiet cloister of San Juan del Hospital, one of the most atmospheric attractions in Valencia and still missed by many visitors. I also recommend wandering the Cabanyal side streets early in the morning, when the tiled façades catch the sea light and locals are opening tiny bars for esmorzaret. For anyone wondering what to see in Valencia beyond the obvious, I love the Centro del Carmen courtyards and exhibitions, especially on warm afternoons. If you enjoy slower, culture-focused tours in Valencia, the old silk traders’ lanes around Velluters reveal a very different Valencia.
When I visit Valencia as a couple, I recommend renting bikes and riding the Turia Gardens at golden hour, then stopping with a bottle of horchata granizada near the Palau de la Música lawns. It’s one of my favorite things to do in Valencia because it feels local, unhurried, and surprisingly romantic. After that, I like walking up to the roof terraces around Ciutat Vella for sunset views over Valencia’s bell towers. If you’re deciding what to see in Valencia together, the quieter attractions in Valencia, like the Almoina archaeological site, feel more intimate than most tours in Valencia.
In my travel guide Valencia advice, I always recommend late April to early June or September, when Valencia is warm but still comfortable for long walks and outdoor meals. When I visit Valencia in May, the light in the Turia Gardens is beautiful, beaches are calm, and you can still get a table in El Cabanyal without booking far ahead. September is another favorite of mine: the sea stays warm, evenings are softer, and many of my preferred things to do in Valencia, like cycling to the rice fields near Albufera, feel far more pleasant than in August’s heavy heat.
When I visit Valencia, I usually shop in very different neighborhoods depending on what I want. For independent fashion and beautifully curated homeware, I head to Ruzafa, especially around Calle Cádiz and Literato Azorín, where Valencia feels young and creative. If I’m hunting for traditional details, I prefer the streets around La Lonja and Plaza Redonda for ceramics, espadrilles, and small textile shops. In any travel guide Valencia readers often miss Colón and Cirilo Amorós, which I like for polished Spanish brands in elegant modernist streets. For me, browsing these areas is one of the most enjoyable things to do in Valencia.
When I’m choosing where to wander in Valencia, I usually send people to three very different areas. Ciutat Vella has some of the most layered attractions in Valencia, but I prefer slipping into side lanes near La Seu and the stone courtyards behind Calle Caballeros, where the city feels quieter. In Valencia, I also love Ruzafa for gallery spaces, bakery stops, and evening energy around Mercado de Ruzafa. For a very different mood, Cabanyal shows what to see in Valencia beyond the center: painted fishermen’s houses, small taverns, and sea air. Even many tours in Valencia barely explain how distinct these neighborhoods feel.
In my travel guide Valencia advice, I usually say Valencia works best on foot plus bike, with the metro for longer hops. When I visit Valencia, I walk most of Ciutat Vella because the lanes around La Seu, the Silk Exchange, and the Central Market are too close together to justify taxis. For many of my favorite things to do in Valencia, especially the Turia Gardens and the route down to the City of Arts and Sciences, a bike is by far the easiest option. If you visit Valencia in summer, I also use the tram to reach the beach without dealing with parking or traffic.
When you visit Valencia, I always tell people to look beyond just ordering “paella” at the first terrace they see. Valencia is proud of paella valenciana, made traditionally with rabbit, chicken, and garrofó beans, but I also recommend trying arroz del senyoret by the coast and fideuà in the maritime districts. In my travel guide Valencia notes, I never skip esmorzaret: a hearty late-morning sandwich with olives, peanuts, and beer or coffee, which locals take seriously. One of my favorite things to do in Valencia is finish with horchata and fartons in Alboraya, just outside Valencia and worth the short ride.