Hotels in Valencia

Valencia is Spain's third-largest city, set on the Mediterranean coast where the Turia River once met the sea. Founded by the Romans in 138 BC as Valentia Edetanorum, it has been shaped over two millennia by Visigoths, Moors, and the Christian Reconquista, leaving a Old Town of Gothic and Baroque churches, a UNESCO-listed silk exchange, and one of Europe's largest covered food markets. Walk a few minutes east and the cityscape changes completely - the futuristic white shells of the City of Arts and Sciences rise over a former riverbed.

The city is the birthplace of paella and a year-round destination thanks to mild winters, golden Mediterranean beaches at Malvarrosa, and one of the largest urban parks in Europe - Turia Gardens, built into the diverted riverbed that loops around the Old Town for 9 km. Valencia rewards a slower visit. The historic centre is compact and walkable, a comprehensive metro and tram network connects the airport, beaches, and outer neighbourhoods, and the city's flat terrain makes it one of Spain's best places to explore by bicycle.

Compared to Madrid and Barcelona, Valencia is noticeably cheaper and less crowded, with a thriving food scene built around horchata, agua de Valencia, and rice dishes that go far beyond the iconic paella valenciana. The annual Las Fallas festival in March, recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, fills the streets with towering papier-mache sculptures and nightly fireworks. Outside that week, the pace stays relaxed - long lunches, late dinners, and beach afternoons within a 20-minute tram ride from the cathedral.