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The city has 300 sunny days, so there is a big chance you will have at least 1 day in Valencia with sun. This city is located in eastern Spain on the Mediterranean Sea.
Impressive buildings, palm trees, green parrots, and long beaches. If this is what you are looking for Valencia is the right city. We have been to Valencia a couple of times and always had good sunny times!
We choose for you the best things to do, how to get around, and all the other information you need if you have 1 day in Valencia.
Table of Contents
HOW TO GET TO VALENCIA
Getting from the airport (VLC)
The airport is less than 10 km from Valencia and is connected by more types of public transport.
By taxi
The price is approximately 20€
The journey takes 15 minutes
By metro
The Metro lines 5 and 3 run every 15-20 minutes.
The ticket costs 4,80€.
The journey takes around 20 minutes.
By bus
The line 150 runs every 30 minutes.
The ticket costs 1,45€.
The journey takes around 40 minutes.
Tip: Here you can see all your options for hotels in Valencia
Getting to Valencia by train/bus
Coming to Valencia by train is easy from any major city in Spain. Valencia has a few train stations.
Estació del Nord is station in the city center, right next to the Plaza de Toros de Valencia. You can find here local commuter train services but also high-speed services. The trip from Madrid can be done in 3 hours, from Barcelona in less than 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Valencia Joaquín Sorolla is located 10 minutes walk from Estació del Nord. Here you can also find local services and high-speed train connections with major cities. A trip from Madrid can be done in 2 hours.
Tip: Check more details about local trains on the official website of Renfe.
When coming to Valencia by bus, you have multiple options from all major cities in Spain. The bus companies like Alsa, BlaBlaCar, Hife, and more have multiple direct routes.
The journey from Barcelona takes around 4 hours and costs 20€-30€.
From Madrid, it takes 3 hours and 30 minutes and costs 25€.
BEST TIME TO VISIT VALENCIA IN 1 DAY
Valencia has about 300 days of sunny weather a year, so it can be visited all year round. Once we visited Valencia at the end of October and we were still swimming.
It has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers. At the beginning of autumn, rains can occur. However, the sea is usually warm in the summer and you can spend 1 day in Valencia on the beach even at the end of October and the beginning of November.
1 DAY IN VALENCIA ITINERARY
Central Market of Valencia
Your 1 day in Valencia itinerary can start at the local markets, which are part of the bustling old center of Ciutat Vella. At these markets, you can buy fresh fish and seafood, vegetables and fruits, and you will find a few stands with snacks and drinks. In the markets, you will find almost 400 shops, as well as a few small eateries, that have fresh paella and tapas. The markets are located 650 m from the Àngel Guimerà metro station.
After a good coffee, it is worth taking a walk through the historical part of the city where you can find the remains of the medieval walls.
Plaza de la Reina
Plaza de la Reina is located less than 300 meters from the central market in the direction of the Gothic cathedral. It is a busy square with a fountain and benches surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and many beautiful historic buildings.
Plaza de l’Ajuntament
The square where the Las Fallas festival takes place every year and not only there. It is a festival registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016, and it symbolizes the coming spring and takes place from March 15 to 17 every year. The festival combines tradition, satire, and art in the bustling streets of the city. The square has a fountain and is surrounded by bars, restaurants, and hotels in the vicinity, as well as souvenir shops. This square is 300m away on foot from the metro station Xàtiva.
Valencia Cathedral
The Roman Catholic church was built mainly in the Valencian Gothic style and dedicated to Saint Mary. In one of the chapels of the cathedral, the alleged Holy Chalice, which is said to be the Holy Grail, is kept. The cathedral is located only 38m from Madrid Square. It is declared a cultural landmark of Valencia. Part of the cathedral is also a museum that preserves remains of architecture from the thirteenth to nineteenth centuries.
The entrance fee is €9.
Tip: Here you can see all your options for hotels in Valencia
Serranos Towers
The towers are located a 550m walk from the Valencia Cathedral. It is one of the twelve gates that were part of the ancient city wall, the towers were built in the Valencian Gothic style at the end of the 14th century. It is an important landmark of Valencia and one of the best preserved. The walls were built of solid stone because their purpose was primarily fortification. The towers are accessible to the public. Entrance to the top of the tower costs €2, and you will have a view of the old city center from there.
The Turia park
One of the largest urban parks in Spain. It is more than 7 km long, located directly behind Serranos Towers. It is suitable for long walks, sports, sitting, and picnics, there are also playgrounds and cycle paths. This park was once the bed of the Turia River, which was diverted due to floods. It is definitely worth visiting during the day as well as in the evening. It stretches from Bioparc Valencia to the Oceanogràfic aquarium.
Valencia beaches
The beaches start in the direction of the port up to the neighborhood of La Malva-rosa. You can get to the beaches from the center using a combination of metro and tram to the Marítim – Serrería stop, where the
metro ends. We love beaches in Valencia, for sure visit it during your 1 day in Valencia.
Platja de Llevant Beach is a 1.4 km walk from the metro terminal. There are more beaches next to each other such as Malvarrosa Beach, and there are 3.7 km of beaches in total, so you don’t have to worry that there won’t be a place to spread your blanket on the beach, it provides enough privacy and space for everyone. The beach is long, sandy, and wide enough, and the sea is clean and shallow with small waves, which is fun for both adults
and children. On the promenade, which runs parallel to the beach, you will find restaurants, bars, and refreshments.
The beach is definitely worth visiting in the evening, although the sun does not set over the sea instead over the city, it is a very popular place for an evening drink on the sand with the pleasant sound of the sea.
Museums in Valencia
In Valencia, you will find a lot of interesting buildings, buildings worth mentioning are mostly in the area of Turia Park, they are mainly museums that are interesting not only for their content but also for the
appearance and photogenic nature of the buildings.
City of Arts and Sciences
The Museum of Science and Art is a scientific complex designed by the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava. It is located 300m from the Museu Oceanogràfic. It is interesting with its futuristic appearance and buildings that look like they were built on the water that is everywhere around. There is also an IMAX cinema in the complex of these buildings, but the entrance fee is separate. This museum you should visit during your 1 day in Valencia, it is very different from other places.
Admission to the Museum of Science and Art is €9.
⬇️ Check out all available activities for the City of Arts museum ⬇️
González Martí National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Arts
The Palace Museum of Art is located in the city center 250m from Plaça de la Reina and contains collections of art and ceramics.
The entrance fee is €3.
Plaza de Toros de Valencia
The bullfighting arena from the 19th century with guided tours and a museum. Bullfights are still held in the arena. The museum has a permanent collection where you can see the development of bullfighting from the 19th century until today. The arena is located 71 m from the Valencia Station North railway station and the Xàtiva metro stop is also nearby.
The entrance fee is €2.
Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia
The Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia is a 600m walk through Turia Park from Serranos Towers. It contains a collection of medieval paintings and Valencian paintings.
Admission is free.
Natural Science Museum of Valencia
Natural Science Museum of Valencia, is located only 300 m from the Museum of Fine Arts. It is the work of the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava, it is unique in the geometry of the building, the structure, and the materials used.
The entrance fee is €2.
HOW TO GET AROUND VALENCIA IN ONE DAY
Valencia has 60 bus lines, 5 metro lines, and 4 tram lines. You will find connections to the city center, beach, neighborhoods, and also airport.
The best way to use public transport for 1 day in Valencia is with a Valencia Tourist Card. It offers unlimited trips for 24, 48, and 72 hours. You can use it for any kind of public transport as well as the airport metro route.
You also get discounts on some museums and other tourist attractions.
The metro tickets without the Valencia Tourist card start at 1,50€ for one zone, 2,80€ for two zones, and 4,80€ for three zones.
Tip: Read more about the Valencia Tourist Card.
WHERE TO STAY FOR 24 HOURS IN VALENCIA
The best place to stay during your 1 day in Valencia is the old city center of Ciutat Vella. It is the bustling center from where you have all the attractions within walking distance or you can easily use public transport.
We have visited Valencia several times and we always stayed a few minutes from Malvarrosa Beach, which stretches along the La Malva-rosa neighborhood. It is a quiet area with good public transport access to the city center using a combination of trams and the metro.
➡️ Check all available hotels in Cairo on Booking.com. It’s our favorite booking platform.
If you are more budget traveler you can check Hostelworld where you find cheaper options with shared facilities. ✅
Tip: Read also how to spend 1 day in Valletta on the beautiful island of Malta.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is one day enough in Valencia?
From our experience, it can be said that in Valencia you can easily spend a week without getting bored. However, if you don’t have that much time to visit and reserve time for nearby attractions, you can still enjoy your 1 day in Valencia. There’s always the option to go back and discover more.
Is Valencia a walkable city?
Yes, Valencia is a walkable city. Many of its attractions can be visited in a relatively short time, whether you are the beach type or you are attracted by museums and getting to know Valencia’s historical and modern architecture.
What is worth seeing in Valencia?
Valencia is known for its history and the historical center where you can find architectural gems, the Central Market, many tourists come to Valencia during the Las Fallas festival, which takes place in March (15-19.3) and is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Is Valencia a cheap city?
Compared to other larger and better-known cities in Spain, Valencia is cheaper in terms of food, and public transport, and visits to some museums and attractions are cheaper here than in other larger cities of the country.
Does Valencia get snow?
Winter in Valencia is mild both during the day and at night, which is why snow is very rare here. In winter, average temperatures are 10°C – 15°C (50°F to 59°F). The last time it snowed in Valencia was in 1983.
OUR FAVORITE TRAVEL RESOURCES
Accommodation: We use Booking.com where we always find great deals for hotels.
For hostels, we use Hostelworld where we find cheaper options and meet new people.
Rental cars: To rent your car with free cancellation check out Discover Cars.
Ferries: For cheap ferry tickets worldwide we use Direct Ferries.
All travel options in one place: Omio.com we use for easy travel planning where we can find trains, buses, ferries, and more.
Tours and other activities: Wherever we go we look at GetYouGuide to find the best tours and many other activities around the world!
Travel insurance: Never travel without travel insurance! Ekta works all over the world and has 10 years of experience in the industry. It is your right choice!
Reviews: Before we travel somewhere we always look at Tripadvisor, where we always find a summary of restaurants, places to visit, or hotels with current ratings and photos from people who have visited this place recently.
Luggage storage: Radical storage is such a helpful Luggage storage network! When we have a late check-in or an early check-out we don’t need to carry our luggage with us, we just simply put it in the Radical storage which operates in over 70 countries!
E-sim card: The best way how avoid all the stress of searching for local SIM cards or wifi signals and save time after you arrive in your new country is to get Airalo e-sim. Download and install a digital data pack from 200+ countries/regions!
