Anyone been to Valencia?

[Paellasun]

DP and I (no kids) have a trip booked week after next. Has anyone been and has recommendations for things to do, restaurants, beaches and general areas to wander? Not massive fish eaters but keen to try some of the paella!

We’ll be there 5 nights so if there’s a day trip you’d recommend (public transport, no car) that would be great too!

We’ll be there for a few days of Las Fallas and not sure what to expect!

Thanks!

Valencia is great. A really easy city to walkaround. There are three main parts of interest for a tourist - the main old city, the modern city of arts and sciences and the beach.

If you want to experience an old school paella restaurant, La Riua is a good shout. Just a word of warning traditional Paella Valenciana is made with rabbit not chicken.

As well as rice dishes there are dishes made with noodles called Fideua.

The local tipple, Agua de Valencia, is lovely but lethal. It is fresh orange juice, vodka and cava.

Las Fallas is amazing but very very crowded and very very noisy - they seem to let off fireworks constantly, day and night.

If you are interested in Las Fallas there is a museum dedicated to the history, including saved examples of the papier mache figures from past parades.

The famous Montserrat monastery is near Barcelona not Valencia, too far to go from Valencia.

Yes there have been a few recommendations for this, will look into going there!

I don’t live far from Valencia
Amazing city - absolutely mental during Las Fallas 🤪
Be prepared to stay up VERY late to see the prize burning
There is a Facebook page dedicated to Las Fallas in English
NB: Agua de Valencia blows your head off 🤩🤯
Have a fab time

I lived there, a looong time ago. It's a fabulous place. If you're there after they've built the actual Fallas then go and wander round and visit them during the daytime. They get burned on 19th at night. The fireworks at night "castillos" are amazing - by far the best I've seen. Find a vantage point near Alameda/at the end of the Gran Via near Plaza Canovas to see them. Be prepared to stay up late though - they start at midnight or 1am. At midday (2pm local time) the mascleta takes place in Plaza del Ayuntamiento. This is fireworks for noise and rhythm. It is incredibly loud! Everything during Fallas intensifies and gets bigger and louder towards the 19th. It will be very crowded. Allow extra time to get everywhere from the evening onwards and be prepared to walk. During the day the local Fallas clubs parade through the city taking offerings of flowers to the square outside the cathedral and basilica. Those flowers are arranged in a huge wooden frame to form the gown and cloak on a huge madonna and child.

If you're staying centrally, take earplugs. It's noisy round the clock during Fallas. Oh and there are "verbenas" or street parties in lots of places.

I wish I was going!! An antidote to the crowds and madness of Fallas would be to take the metro to Riba Roja and walk in the Turia natural park - this is the countryside around the actual river Turia to the north west of the city centre. The park lots of people have referred to is the old riverbed that snakes around the historic centre - the river flooded the city regularly so was diverted out of the city centre.

I was thinking this - Montserrat is over 200 miles away, unless there's another one I don't know about.

More positive feedback here - It's beautiful! We went in 2019ish I think and saw the fireworks for new year 2020 and they were absolutely stunning. Obviously everything else was lovely too. Defo recommend. X

One ofy favourite cities. The science museum thing is a whole day out
The food is awesome everywhere Valencian paella is different to everywhere else in Spain

Yes! We went in August last year for a week and absolutely loved it!
NYU NYU sells good quality stainless steel jewellery - well worth popping in if you pass a store.
Try horchata - it's like milkshake made from ground nuts, served with a farton - a long bready cake.
We loved the pinchos too - tapas style snacks of toppings skewered onto bread washed down with Cava.

From those tiles, I know where you were. Horchata is an acquired taste - made from tiger nuts and often very sweet.

The Plaza Redonda near the cathedral has a cluster of traditional crafts people's workshops and there are some traditional cafes nearby. It has a reputation for being a bit rough and attracting pickpockets, but ime I've never felt unsafe there.

The horchata looks delicious, it’s definitely on my list to try!

These are great tips thank you! We will be there until 17th, so a few days during I think. Will take earplugs! It sounds great

@WeAreTheHeroes DS' favourite pinchos bar was at Plaza Redonda. We went more than once. And the same goes for Ale Hop.
No one has mentioned the art museum yet. Or the silk museum, or the silk exchange, or the holy grail.
OP you will not get bored!

You are lucky. Best time to visit.
Weather has just gone from 4degrees to 24degrees... my favourite time of year.

IMO you do not really need to plan, you[ll havea great time. It is a small and beautiful city.

My tip is to get "menu del dia" at lunchtime. It is the best value ever and not touristy.
Lunch is main meal. Dinner is tapas and drinks!

Have fun!

Ahh yes - the luchtime fireworks during Las Fallas - that was a bit of a surprise the first time I experienced them!

It's great we loved it with 2 teens. Try Mercabanyal if you go to the beach area. It's a sort of indoor marjet space with a bar and various food stalls but has a nice vibe and good tasty food.
There is a lovely long promenade behind the beach for an evenings wander with lots of bars etc.
We used the metro and then tram system to get from toen to beach and port. There is a card that covers both and you can just use that for all travel.
The town is lovely too lots of wondeful old buildings and churches and shopping too.
We went to the science park bit and aquarium but we didn't really enjoy it apart form the spectacle of the buildings, but it's worth a visit.

I didn't think this would be my thing, but I'd happily go again:

Museo Nacional de Cerámica y Artes Suntuarias "González Martí"

www.culturaydeporte.gob.es/mnceramica/home.html

Ha ha - I once walked out of the main post office just as they started, having failed to realise what time it was. I was stuck there on the steps unable to move being deafened for twenty minutes! I love it all though.

The 17th OP is the day after the fallas are put up so you'll be able to see them. The mascleta is every day from 1st March to 19th and the main fireworks are at midnight at Paseo de la Alameda on 16th; 1am on 17th. The offering of flowers starts on 17th.

Just the best city for walking/cycling/eating

I’ll look this up thank you!

This looks great thank you! I’ve heard the outside of the building is beautiful

Look up at the gargoyles too - there are a few very well endowed ones!

I lived in Valencia for a year as a student many years ago now, it has changed a lot since then 😂 but I had the time of my life, enjoy!

Also check out the mainline rail station, it has beautiful tiles.

Haha I’ll be sure to remember that