🌞 A Week in Valencia, Spain: The Perfect 7-Day Travel Guide for 2025

Valencia 7-Day Itinerary (2025 Update)

Spend one week exploring Valencia, Spain - a Mediterranean city known for its futuristic architecture, vibrant food culture, and Europe's best urban park: the Turia Gardens. This 7-day itinerary covers historic streets, sandy beaches, modern museums, sunset viewpoints, and the essential Valencian experiences like paella, horchata and the City of Arts and Sciences.

Day 1: Old Town & Valencia Cathedral - climb El Micalet for panoramic views.

Day 2: City of Arts & Sciences - explore Oceanogràfic and L’Hemisfèric.

Day 3: Turia Gardens - walk, cycle, and visit Gulliver Park.

Day 4: Valencia Beaches - relax at Playa Malvarrosa and enjoy beachside tapas.

Day 5: Albufera Natrual Park - boat ride, sunset, and traditional paella.

Day 6: Ruzafa & Food Markets - discover Mercat Central and local cafés.

Day 7: Day Trip - choose between Xàtiva, Requena wine country, or Peñíscola.

Best travel time: March-June and September-November.

Local specialities: Paella Valenciana, horchata, fideuà, aqua de Valencia.

Transport: Walkable city + Metro + bicycles.

📥 Download the free 7-day Valencia itinerary (PDF)

Why Valencia Should Be Your Next Mediterranean Trip

Valencia is the perfect balance of culture, coastline, and cuisine - not overwhelming like Barcelona, and more authentic than many tourist-heavy Spanish cities.

Here's why travelers love spending a week here:

• Walkable neighborhoods with charming plazas

• Turia Gardens, Europe's largest urban park (9km long)

• City of Arts and Sciences, an iconic futuristic complex

• Beautiful Mediterranean beaches just minutes from the center

• World-famous paella, born right here in Valencia

• Safe, clean, and suprisingly afforable

• Easy airport and train access with fast connections across Spain

Whether you love history, nature, or food - Valencia offers the best of Spain in a relaxed, coastal setting.

7-Day Valencia Itinerary Overview

Day 1: Old Town, Cathedral & El Carmen

Start your week in the heart of Valencia exploring Ciutat Vella. Visit:

• Valencia Cathedral

• El Micalet tower for panoramic city views

• Plaza de la Virgen

• Silk Exchange (La Lonja de la Seda) - a UNESCO World Heritage site

Day 2: City of Arts & Sciences

Spend the day exploring Valencia's most famous architectural icons by Santiago Calatrava:

• L'Oceanogràfic (Europe’s largest aquarium)

• L’Hemisfèric (IMAX + planetarium)

• Museu de les Ciències (interactive science museum)

Perfect for families, photography lovers, and anyone who enjoys futuristic design.

Day 3: Turia Gardens & Gulliver Park

Valencia transformed a former riverbed into a 9 km urban park - one of Europe's most incredible public spaces.

Rent a bike or walk through:

• Orange groves

• Fountains and playgrounds

• Rose gardens

• Gulliver Park, a giant sculpture-turned-playground

This is Valencia's soul - peaceful, sunny, and endlessly green.

Day 4: Albufera Natural Park - Sunset & Paella

A 55-minute bus ride brings you to the birthplace of paella. For the adventureous, rent a bicycle! The ride takes less than an hour, and you will be on protected bicycle lanes for most of the ride.

Top experiences:

• Boat ride through Albufera lagoon

• Sunset over the rice fields

• Traditional paella Valenciana in El Palmar village

This is one of the most romantic experiences near Valencia.

Day 5: Playa Malvarrosa & Cabanyal

Head to the coast for a day on Valencia's famous beaches.

Highlights:

• Playa Malvarrosa

• Playa Patacona (more relaxed)

• Port of Valencia (water sports, restaurants, nightclubs)

End the day with seaside tapas or a chilled aqua de Valencia

Day 6: Ruzafa, Mercat Central & Café Culture

Explore Ruzafa, Valencia's creative district filled with cafés, murals, and boutiques.

Then visit:

• Mercat Central, one of Europe's best fresh markets

  • For a less crowded market, check out Mercado de Ruzafa

• Local bakeries for fartons + horchata

• Vintage shops and concept stores

Day 7: Day Trip Options

Choose your perfect final-day adventure

• Xàtiva Castle — dramatic hilltop fortress

• Requena wine country — try cava and local reds

• Peñíscola — coastal town with a castle over the sea

• Sagunto — Roman amphitheater + castle

Why This Week-Long Valencia, Spain Travel Guide Works

Valencia is compact enough to explore without rushing, yet diverse enough to offer a new experienc every day.

This itinerary balances

• Culture

• Food

• Beach time

• Nature

• Local neighborhoods

• A scenic day trip

Minimal transit, maximum enjoyment.

Essential Travel Tips for Valencia

Best Time to Visit

• Spring (March - June): ideal weather

• Fall (September-November): warm, sunny, fewer crowds

• Summer: hot but great for beaches

• March: experience Las Fallas festival

Getting Around

• Walkable city center, excellent sidewalks and plazas connecting all the sights

• Metro connects the airport and beaches

  • Will be the few times you may need to use public transit

• Bicycle rentals are everywhere

  • Dedicated bike lanes make for comfortable riding

What to Eat

• Paella Valenciana

• Fideuà

• Horchata + fartons

• Tinto de verano

• Oranges (Valencia!)

Top Neighborhoods & Areas to Explore

Neighborhood	Why Visit	Highlights
Ciutat Vella	History	Cathedral, Lonja, plazas
Ruzafa	Cafés + art	Markets, murals, boutiques
El Carmen	Nightlife	Tapas bars, street art
Cabanyal	Culture + beach	Colorful houses, seafood
Benimaclet	Student vibe	Live music, cheap eats

💡 Travel Smarter, Not Poorer

📥 Download Itinerary

Your free 7-day Valencia itinerary includes:

• Daily plans

• Local Restaurant picks

• Map links

• Best photo spots

• Money-saving tips

• Ideal time-of-day reccomendations

• Metro + bus routes

• Albufera sunset timing

📥 Download your free Valencia itinerary (PDF) here

Final Thoughts: Valencia Is the Future of Mediterranean Travel

Valencia is the perfect city for travelers who want sunshine, culture, and unforgettable food without the crowds of stress of larger cities.

A week gives you enough time to explore deeply - and fall in love with the city's rhythm, energy, and Mediterranean charm.

📥 Download your free Valencia itinerary (PDF) here