17 of the BEST Things to do in Valencia

Oceanogràfic is one of those places that genuinely lives up to the hype. Because we lived in Valencia, we visited several times, and each trip felt calm and surprisingly immersive. The layout is wide and accessible, with ramps, elevators, and plenty of seating, making it easy for anyone who prefers predictable terrain or shorter walking distances. On hot days, the cool indoor exhibits are a welcome break from the sun.

It’s also one of the most varied things to do in Valencia; you can move from bright Arctic beluga tanks to long tunnels filled with sharks in just a few minutes. The jellyfish rooms are especially peaceful, dimly lit, and perfect if you want to slow your pace. And since it’s inside the City of Arts and Sciences, it’s easy to pair your visit with a walk around the surrounding architecture.

Oceanogràfic is open year-round, but weekdays outside peak summer are the quietest. Reservations aren’t required, though they help during busy seasons. Tiqets usually offers skip-the-line entry for a smoother arrival.

The Valencia Cathedral is one of the city’s classic landmarks, blending centuries of architecture with some of the city’s most enduring stories. Inside, wide entrances and level floors make it easy to move at a relaxed pace, and the mix of Gothic, Baroque, and Romanesque elements keeps the space visually engaging. Among its most famous treasures is the chalice many believe could be the Holy Grail, reason enough for a brief, curious stop even if religious history isn’t your primary focus.

Climbing the Miguelete Tower can be rewarding, but it’s a steep ascent of more than 200 narrow steps with no elevator. For many visitors, especially those concerned about balance or mobility, enjoying the cathedral from ground level is more than enough. The surrounding plaza is lively throughout the day and offers a comfortable break between other things to do in Valencia.

The cathedral is open most days, though hours shift on Sundays and religious holidays, so checking ahead helps avoid surprises. Tickets often include an audio guide with helpful context, and Viator usually lists reliable tour options that include cathedral entry if you prefer a guided experience.

A Tapas & Wine Tour in Old Town is one of the easiest ways to discover great food in Valencia without guessing which bars are worth your time. When we lived here, we learned that many of the best spots hide down narrow alleys or behind unmarked doors, and a guided tour helps you find them while keeping the pace relaxed with plenty of chances to sit. It’s a comfortable option for anyone who prefers shorter walking stretches or wants an enjoyable evening without navigating the city’s busiest streets alone.

These tours also reveal the rhythm of Valencian life, slow meals, late dinners, and dishes paired with real intention. Along the way, most guides weave in brief historical stops that help you understand the winding lanes and small plazas that make Old Town so memorable. It feels less like a formal tour and more like spending the evening with someone who knows the city well, which is why many people add it to their list of things to do in Valencia.

Tapas tours run year-round, with evenings offering the best atmosphere once the heat fades. Reservations are smart during weekends or festival periods like Fallas. Viator usually has the widest selection of group and small-group options to match your schedule and style.

A paella cooking class is one of the most enjoyable ways to connect with local culture, especially since the dish originated in this region of Spain. When we lived in Valencia, we learned that paella is more than a meal; it’s a social ritual built around good ingredients and unhurried cooking. A class walks you through the essentials, from choosing the right rice to creating that perfect socarrat, all at a pace that’s comfortable and easy to follow.

These classes often begin with a short market visit to select seasonal produce before heading to the kitchen, where everything is set up for simple, hands-on learning. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, making it perfect for couples or travelers who enjoy interactive experiences. It’s easy to see why many people include a class like this among their favorite things to do in Valencia, you end the day with a great meal and a shared memory that feels uniquely local.

Paella classes run year-round, though summer mornings tend to be the most comfortable. Because they’re popular, reservations are smart on weekends or during busy seasons. Viator typically offers the widest selection of class styles, including traditional and modern versions.

The Silk Museum is one of Valencia’s more surprising cultural stops, housed in a restored 15th-century guild building that once stood at the center of the city’s silk trade. Inside, the exhibits explain how weaving techniques, fabrics, and local artisans helped shape Valencia’s economy and identity for centuries. The space is easy to navigate with elevators and smooth pathways, making it a comfortable visit for anyone who prefers slower, steadier sightseeing.

What makes the museum memorable is how personal it feels. Instead of dense displays, it shows how silk influenced neighborhoods, festivals, and everyday life. If you’re already exploring Ruzafa or Old Town, it’s an easy detour and adds new context to the surrounding streets, once home to merchants and workshops tied to this industry.

The museum is open year-round, though hours shift on Sundays and holidays, so checking ahead helps. Tickets are affordable, and guided visits offer more depth. For those planning several cultural things to do in Valencia, Tiqets often lists convenient entry options when available.

The Fallas Museum offers a quiet, detailed look at the artistry behind Valencia’s most famous festival. Exhibits showcase ninots (colorful figurines) saved from the annual celebrations, highlighting decades of creativity, humor, and social commentary. It’s a relaxed indoor stop with smooth pathways and well-spaced displays, making it easy to explore at your preferred pace.

This is also one of the better cultural things to do in Valencia if you want to understand the festival without crowds or noise. The museum provides enough context for newcomers to appreciate why Fallas is so central to local identity, while still offering plenty of visual interest for a quick visit.

The museum is open year-round with hours that shift slightly on Sundays and holidays. Tickets are inexpensive and typically purchased directly at the entrance.

Taking the streetcar to the coast is an easy way to see a quieter side of Valencia as you roll past neighborhood cafés and residential streets on your way to the vast beaches of Malvarrosa and Patacona. It’s a simple, low-effort outing that works well for anyone who prefers minimal walking or wants a smoother alternative to the bus.

Because the tram offers level boarding and predictable routes, it’s one of the most accessible things to do in Valencia. Once you reach the shoreline, you can stroll the promenade, grab a meal by the water, or enjoy the sea breeze before heading back.

Tickets are straightforward: buy a single-use pass at the station or use your Valencia Tourist Card, which grants access to all public transport around the city. The system is intuitive, runs year-round, and rarely requires planning; choose your stop and ride.

L’Almoina Archaeological Museum offers one of the most quietly impressive historical experiences in the city. Beneath modern Valencia, you’ll walk over glass platforms that reveal Roman baths, early Christian ruins, and Visigoth structures preserved exactly where they were uncovered. It’s a calm, indoor stop that works well for visitors who want a slower-paced look at the city’s ancient foundations.

The museum is thoughtfully arranged, with ramps, seating, and clear pathways that make it easy to explore without feeling crowded or rushed. Because the displays are well-lit and organized by era, even first-time visitors can follow the story of how Valencia evolved layer by layer over two millennia, making this one of the more meaningful things to do in Valencia for history-minded travelers.

L’Almoina is open year-round, with slight schedule changes on weekends and holidays. Tickets are inexpensive, but if you plan to visit multiple museums, the Valencia Tourist Card is often the best deal, covering transport and entry to several cultural sites across the city.

Iglesia de San Nicolás is one of Valencia’s most stunning artistic treasures, famous for its vividly restored frescoes, which have earned it the nickname “the Sistine Chapel of Valencia.” Once inside, the ceiling and walls are covered with detailed scenes that create an immediate sense of quiet awe, and the entrance is at a level that’s easy for visitors who prefer minimal stairs or tight spaces.

What makes this one of the standout things to do in Valencia is how easy it is to experience without rushing. The audio guide provides helpful context as you move through the chapel at your own pace, letting you pause wherever the artwork captures your attention.

Hours vary on holy days, so checking the schedule ahead of time helps. Viator offers reliable advance tickets, making it simple to secure your visit and avoid the small on-site line.

The Museo de la Semana Santa Marinera offers an insightful look at Valencia’s coastal Holy Week traditions, displaying the ornate costumes, ceremonial items, and pointed capirote hoods used in local processions. It’s located in the Cabanyal neighborhood and provides a calm, spacious setting that’s easy to navigate at your own pace.

For travelers interested in cultural context, this is one of the lesser-known things to do in Valencia that highlights how deeply the festival is woven into community life. Many local families have participated for generations, and the exhibits reflect that sense of devotion and continuity.

The museum is open year-round with low entry fees, though hours may shift around holidays. Tickets are purchased at the entrance, and while it’s not listed on major platforms, some Cabanyal walking tours on GetYourGuide occasionally include it as a stop.

Ruzafa’s street art became one of our favorite discoveries in the city, with murals that shift so often the neighborhood feels new every time you visit. Bold colors, playful designs, and occasional political messages turn its streets into an open-air gallery you can enjoy at your own pace.

Because the area is flat and full of cafés, it’s an easy stroll for anyone who likes to pause, rest, or explore without a fixed plan. For travelers looking for creative things to do in Valencia, mornings offer quieter wandering, while late afternoons bring more energy as shops open.

There’s no need for tickets, walk and see what’s changed. Laura loved roaming these side streets, stopping to photograph newly painted walls or chatting with locals about the latest additions. The constant evolution is part of the fun.

Cabanyal is one of Valencia’s most distinctive neighborhoods, a former fishing district filled with pastel facades, patterned tiles, and a mix of architectural styles that give it a lived-in, authentic charm. It’s an unexpected but memorable addition to your list of things to do in Valencia, especially if you enjoy places that feel local rather than curated.

The area is flat and easy to explore at a slow pace, with plenty of corners to stop and admire the tilework, or to step into a long-standing family shop. Each visit reveals something new, a restored balcony one day, a hand-painted doorway the next.

No tickets are required; wander freely and take in the neighborhood at your own pace. Those who want a deeper context can look for locally guided walks offered by neighborhood associations or cultural groups, but exploring independently is just as enjoyable. Cabanyal rewards curiosity all on its own.

Seeing the Serranos and Quart Towers illuminated at night is one of the most atmospheric historic experiences in the city. Their Gothic stone walls glow warmly after dark, revealing details you often miss in daylight, including visible scars from past battles, like artillery damage from the Napoleonic invasion. You don’t need to climb anything; simply walking around the base gives you a strong sense of scale and history.

For travelers seeking slower things to do in Valencia, the surrounding plazas are quieter in the evenings, and the level footpaths make it an easy stroll. We often paired a nighttime wander between the two towers with an after-dinner walk on warm evenings.

There’s no ticket or reservation needed; the illumination is free to enjoy year-round. While some guided evening tours stop here, visiting on your own feels just as rewarding.

Mercado Central is one of the liveliest places in the city, a huge glass-and-iron market filled with produce, seafood, spices, and pastries. During our time living in Valencia, we stopped in three or four times a week, chatting with vendors and picking up groceries as part of our daily rhythm. It’s an easy, come-as-you-are visit, wander slowly, take in the aromas, and sample what interests you.

Because the aisles are wide and level, the market is simple to navigate, and mornings are quieter before the lunchtime rush. For travelers seeking food-focused things to do in Valencia, it’s a natural way to experience local life without planning ahead.

There’s no ticket required; walk in and explore. Vendors are usually happy to explain regional products or offer a taste, making it an enjoyable stop for anyone who likes connecting with a city through its food.

Evening walks at La Marina quickly became one of our favorite ways to unwind in the city. The wide, level promenades make it easy for anyone to move at a relaxed pace while watching sailboats drift through the harbor. Around sunset, the water picks up soft gold and pink tones, one of the most peaceful scenes you’ll find in Valencia.

For visitors looking for calmer things to do in Valencia, La Marina offers a quieter rhythm than the beachfront, with plenty of space to pause and enjoy the view. Waterfront cafés and restaurants make it easy to add a light meal or drink to your walk.

There’s no cost and no planning required. Arriving 30–45 minutes before sunset gives you the best light, and the area is pleasant year-round for a simple, scenic evening outing.

Spending time in Turia River Park is one of the most refreshing things to do in Valencia, thanks to its miles of green space running through the city. Once a riverbed, it’s now a sprawling park with walking paths, bike lanes, gardens, and shaded corners perfect for exploring at any pace. We often came here to unwind, choosing different sections depending on whether we wanted quiet nature or a lively, social stretch.

The terrain is mostly flat and smooth, making the park easy for anyone who prefers predictable pathways or uses mobility aids. Benches and shaded areas are frequent, so you can pause whenever you like, whether for people-watching or a slow, peaceful break. And because the park links several neighborhoods, it’s a pleasant alternative to navigating busy streets.

Turia River Park is open year-round with no tickets required. Mornings are calm, afternoons bring more locals outside, and any time of day makes this urban oasis one of the simplest, most uplifting ways to enjoy Valencia.

Enjoying Malvarrosa or Patacona Beach is one of the most relaxing things to do in Valencia, especially if you love wide, sandy coastlines and an easygoing seaside vibe. Just a short ride from the center, these beaches feel open and calming, perfect for a quiet walk or an afternoon by the water. The long, level promenade makes it simple to move at your own pace.

The beachfront paths are smooth and spacious, with plenty of cafés and restaurants nearby for a drink or a casual meal. We often returned to enjoy the breeze, watch the waves, or wander the promenade as the evening light softened.

There’s no fee to visit, and both beaches are enjoyable year-round. Mornings and weekdays tend to be the quietest, while summer is livelier. No planning is needed; bring sunscreen and let the coastline work its magic.