Valencia is a well known party spot for Spanish people and tourists alike. Situated on the Costa Blanca, the city is a prime destination for people seeking beach holidays with the added excitement of a big city break.
Things to see and do:
- Barrio del Carmen - this is the oldest part of Valencia. Some of the old city walls remain and you can spend a nice day looking at the old houses, and in the evenings this area is one of the best places to enjoy Valencia's nightlife.
- The Plaza del Ayunamento is a pretty square surrounded by flower sellers, which makes for a picturesque resting point.
- The Jardins del Real is a park in central Valencia which features a small zoo, so if you're travelling with kids this makes an ideal afternoon out.
- La Tomatina - In the town of Bunol, near Valencia, there is a Tomato festival on the last day of August. Not a usual festival, the Tomatina involves truckers hurling trucks full of tomatoes at festivalgoers. There's nowhere to stay in Bunol so if you want to get in on the tomato fights you'll have to make it a day trip. Don't forget to take a spare t-shirt!
Getting there:
The airport is eight kilometres from the city so it's very easy to get a bus or taxi to your hotel or hostel. Valencia has a very pretty central rail station – the Estacion del Nord – and also a ferry port for those travelling on to the Baleriac islands.
Location and weather:
The city itself can get quite congested and polluted but the coastline of the Costa del Azahar - between the Costa Dorada and the Costa Blanca - is in the shape of a large bay so the winds are gentle and mild, making Valencia the ideal location for an off-peak holiday.
Top tip:
Much of the coastline around Valencia is crowded with the over-development of holiday complexes and villas, so if you're looking for a quieter time head to the beaches around Denia and Xabia which are harder to access but much less spoilt.
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