Suggestions for Valencia, please

[BIWI]

We have 4 days there, week after next. Any 'must dos/sees'?

2 of us, late 60s (but fit and well and still very mobile!).

Albufera National Park
the Silk Museum

if you ask AI it will plan your itinerary for you and suggest restaurants near your hotel.

there is a 72hr tourist pass for the buses.

Mercado central - buy lovely food and eat it - if you go to the Turia Gardens (reclaimed from a river running around the city) that’s a good place to visit too.

Walk up the Miguelete tower for lovely views. Silk market v beautiful inside.

Agua de Valencia to drink in Bar Saint Jaime

Bus out to the museum of arts and sciences - spectacular modern buildings with moat. Also while you’re out there you could pop into the weird Museo Fallero de Valencia, where they keep one Fallas sculpture from each year for decades and decades. Great posters too.

Horchata in Horchateria de Santa Catalina. Churros too.

Wander around the old streets between the Torres de Serranos and the central market area - cafes, food, admire the funky graffiti.

You can take a day trip out of town to visit the hot springs area and go to mountain village - we did that once and it was great.

Eat lots of food and enjoy!

Turia gardens a must. You can walk from the beautiful historic centre through them to the futuristic arts and sciences buildings.
El Corté Inglese is a great department store.

Do you enjoy contemporary art? This is worth a visit if you do
https://www.cahh.es/

Thank you!

Some really great ideas here, for which many thanks.

@Rocknrollstar do you have to pay cash on the bus, or will they take cards?

We rented e-scooters and spent the afternoon scooting up and down the Turia gardens which was great fun. The market is great. Cathedral. Aquarium. Cocktails at Atenea Skybar. Bus to beach for Paella.

Buy a 10 ticket travel strip at the airport (tourist information at the airport we’re very helpful). 2 people can travel on the same 10 ticket card - so 5 journeys each.
We found the paella disappointing at the expensive restaurant - should have eaten it at the central market!

If you get a SUMA10 card from any train/metro station that will get you (and anyone else you tap for) on the bus or metro/train for up to ten journeys. (Each tap is one journey), then you just top it up like an Oyster card when it runs out.

The aquarium is stunning and Valencia has to have the most beautiful railway station in the World

The Aquarium is absolutely brilliant if it's your kind of thing. Also loved the Lonja de last sedes (check out the v mad/quite rude carvings on the outside) and the Tribunal de las Aguas.

If you are childish (I am) you may appreciate the local doughnuts, called Fartons. We had an amazing meal at Llisa Negra.

Also lovely but very slow: https://restaurantemaremar.com/en/

Thank you all - looks like we should have booked for a fortnight!!!

We did the circular bus tour first which gave a good overview of the city.

Highlight was the Cathederal (including ‘the’ Holy Grail) From memory about 10 euros entry with the best audio tour we’ve ever used. The Silk Exchange is beautiful and the nearby Central market is in a stunning Art Nouveau structure and a must visit.
National Museum of Ceramics is in a lovely building and very interesting. There are lots of lovely buildings and churches just as you wander the streets. The beach is huge with some nice bars and restaurants along the front. The aquarium is good but really busy at times.

It is a fabulous city with so much to see. We had three days but more would have been better.

Have a great time!

We walked right through the Turia gardens all the way to the Museum of arts and sciences. It’s quite a long walk but worth it. The cathedral, the silk market, mercado central, we also took an uber out to the beach but wouldn’t necessarily recommend - the city itself is much nicer.

I agree with the pp that the cathedral audio tour was fab - and I don’t usually bother with them. There are so many things that you’d miss without it.

All of the above. Eat one night in Rustafa very cool area with coloured buildings. Feels quite South American. Tapas in a restaurant at the beach is also nice there’s an old fashioned blue restaurant famous for paella.

Agree - the beach is quite nice but it’s in no way a “must see”. I wouldn’t bother if you only have 4 days.
The bus is also v easy out to the museum of arts and sciences if you want to save your legs for the other walking around. And outrageously cheap too!