Free walking tours in Valencia and what to see

Must-sees

Valencia’s old town revolves around the Plaza de la Virgen and the cathedral, which keeps a chalice that tradition identifies as the Holy Grail. From the Micalet, its bell tower, you can see the whole city. Very close are the Silk Exchange (La Lonja), Gothic and a World Heritage Site, and the Central Market, full of fresh produce.

The old bed of the Turia river is now a park several kilometres long that crosses the city on foot or by bike. At its end is Calatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences, with the Oceanogràfic and the science museum. The Carmen district has street art and nightlife. On the coast are Malvarrosa beach and the Cabanyal, an old fishermen’s quarter with tiled façades.

Free tours and guided visits

The old town free tour lasts about two hours. It passes the cathedral, the Plaza de la Virgen, the Silk Exchange, the Central Market and the Torres de Serranos, and explains the Grail, the Water Tribunal and the Fallas. There are also routes through the Carmen district and its street art. You tip what you like at the end.

Among the paid visits, the most common is the trip to the Albufera, with a boat ride on the lagoon and a rice dish in El Palmar. A guided visit to the Silk Exchange or the cathedral is also worth it. Outside Valencia, Sagunto, with its castle and Roman theatre, and Xàtiva make good day trips.

How long to spend

Two days are enough for the essentials. Day one, the old town with a free tour, the Central Market and the Carmen district. Day two, a walk through the Turia gardens to the City of Arts and Sciences and an afternoon at the beach. A third day lets you go to the Albufera, watch the sunset over the lagoon and eat paella where it was born.

Where to stay

Ciutat Vella, which includes the Carmen and the area around the cathedral, is the most practical base for walking almost everywhere. Ruzafa, south of the centre, has lots of restaurants and a young crowd, and is close to the Estació del Nord. If you’re after the beach, look in Malvarrosa or the Cabanyal, linked to the centre by tram and bus.