facebook
youtube
email
Party Tours, Festival Tours & Beer Trips
search
  • Tours
  • Thirsty Travel
    • Festivals
      • La Tomatina
      • Rio Carnival
      • Songkran
      • Festival Tours
    • German Beer Festivals
      • Oktoberfest Munich
      • Stuttgart Beer Festival
      • Starkbierfest
      • Springfest Munich
    • Party Destinations
      • Party in Reykjavik
  • FAQ’s & More
    • Our Story
    • The Thirsty Difference
    • Travel Insurance
    • Terms & Conditions
    • No Idiot Rules
  • News
  • Contact
    • Travel Agents

Blog Post

Home  /  Thirsty News  /  What else is there to do in Valencia, Spain?

What else is there to do in Valencia, Spain?

07 Nov 2020
0 Comment
Ashley Smith

Wait just a minute… you mean there are things to do in Valencia, Spain other than chuck tomatoes at each other at La Tomatina festival? Believe you me, there’s plenty to explore. And you may even learn a thing or two… before getting all sense knocked out of you by projectile produce. Still counts.

Valencia is actually the 3rd largest city in Spain, just behind Madrid and Barcelona. It’s also one of the oldest having been first settled by Roman settlers in the year 138 B.C. So yeah, they’ve thought of a few ways to pass the time over the millennia. After you’ve recovered from the marinara massacre, here’s where you can head next…

Mercado Centrale

So maybe you’re going through tomato withdrawals, that’s to be expected. There’s nothing to be ashamed about, pal. Identifying the problem is the first step. The second step is hitting up Valencia’s Central Market for loads and loads of food (but I can’t promise there will be any ‘maters left).

This public market has been catering to tourists and locals alike since 1839. To put that into perspective, that’s the same year tea was first introduced to the UK and the term “OK” was first used. Can you imagine life before OK? What a strange and uncertain time!

At Mercado Central you can get everything you need for groceries—meats, cheeses, produce, spices, seafood—or just grab a super fresh and delicious lunch. This air-conditioned, organized, notably clean, and well-managed market is hard to miss with its massive size and fancy Art Nouveau style.

Valencia spain
Photo from Pixabay

Turia Gardens

And just what are you going to do with all that food? Duh, fix yourself up a picnic and go enjoy life!

Turia Gardens offers visitors to Valencia the perfect spot for recuperating after a day of all-out tomato warfare.

What began as a river is now the largest urban park in Spain. Yes, I said river. In an effort to kill off the deadly flooding that once plagued Valencia, the Turia River was diverted around the city, leaving a massive empty riverbed through Valencia that later became Turia Gardens.

Today you can enjoy the large green space, a number of sports facilities, bike and walking paths, fountains, or take a much-needed nap under some orange trees while visions of vine-ripened vegetables (or are they fruits?) dance in your heads.

City of Arts and Sciences

I know what you’re thinking, “Arts? Sciences? No. Beer? Flying fruit (or is it a vegetable)? Yes!” Well, I totally understand that attitude but wait until you see this place.

Located at the very end of the riverbed/Turia Gardens is the City of Arts and Sciences, the largest complex of its kind anywhere in Europe. This complex, inaugurated in April 1998, is made up of seven weird-as-hell buildings and structures including:

L’Hemisfèric

L’Hemisfèric is an IMAX theatre and planetarium. Not so weird, right? Until you see the building itself that was built to look like an enormous eye that even opens and closes. So what you think is tomato poisoning doing your brain in is actually a real-life structure known as the “Eye of Knowledge”.

valencia spain arts and sciences
photo from Pixabay

El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe

This is the fancy way to say interactive science museum. To stick with the weird factor happening here, this building was constructed to resemble the skeleton of whale. And for what reason? I know not.

L’Umbracle

L’Umbracle is a massive open-air landscaped walkway intended as the entrance into the City of Arts and Sciences. Inside are thousands of plants indigenous to Valencia and an outdoor sculpture garden and art gallery.

L’Oceanogràfic

This is the largest oceanographic aquarium in Europe with a size of 1.2 million square feet and a capacity of 42 million liters of water. Many different marine habitats are exhibited here including Mediterranean and Red Sea, tropical, and arctic habitats. There’s even a place called a Crocodilary which sounds pretty promising.

You can see sharks, rays, a dolphin show, and eat dinner at an underwater restaurant. And yes, they offer seafood on the menu.

La Lonja de Seda

Located in the center of the city, La Lonja de Seda was built in the 15th century and resembles a typical medieval castle. It is here that Valencia’s Silk Exchange was once housed and today is one of the most famous Gothic monuments in Europe. In addition to admiring the impressive architecture of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and absorbing the history, you can also climb the tower for stunning views of the city.

Valencia Cathedral

You’re in Europe; you know that incredible churches are a dime a dozen. But this one is special… or at least that’s what its mother tells it.

Valencia Cathedral was built in the 13th century and houses the Chapel of the Holy Grail. What I thought was just a cheeky name actually came from the relic tucked away inside, the Holy Grail. THE Holy Grail, you guys.

Say what? If the Holy Grail is here, why is everyone always looking so hard for it? Do people know about this? Personally, I thought it was deep under a pile of rubble in the Temple of the Sun, in the Canyon of the Crescent Moon, no?

This one, believed by most Christian historians to be the true Holy Grail is actually quite fancy, with a gold base adorned with emeralds—not really the cup of a carpenter, eh?

valencia spain
Photo from Pixabay

Like this article? Pin it on Pinterest! ↓↓↓

About the Author
Hi, I’m Ashley. I’m a regular here but I live over at my travel blog, My Wanderlusty Life. Come visit anytime you like. I’ve got beer! Tweet me. Like me. Pin me. Double-tap me? You get my drift...

Social Share

    Thirsty Adventures

    Beer or Bust tour

    Beer or Bust

    26 Sep 2023 - 06 Oct 2023
    Oktoberfest Tours Thirsty Swagman

    Oktoberfest Tours

    16 Sep 2023 - 03 Oct 2023
    Stuttgart Beer Festival Tours

    Stuttgart Beer Festival Tours & Packages

    22 Sep 2023 - 08 Oct 2023
    Let's connect ->

    NO IDIOT RULES

    Travellers on our tours know how to party, but always in a way that respects others. If you turn into an idiot after a few drinks then you'll risk being kicked off tour.
    MORE INFO

    About Thirsty Swagman

    The World's Coolest Party Tours, Beer Trips & Festival Tours!

    Combine your love of travel and a good party and enjoy the ultimate party holiday on our incredible festival and party tours through Europe, Australia and Asia. Thirsty Swagman takes you to the best party & festival destinations and beer trips with zero boring sightseeing!

    At Thirsty Swagman we believe that relaxing with a beer (or any drink for that matter) is one of the great pleasures of life and the best way to make new friends and meet the locals.

    Our party and festival tours (we call them Thirsty Adventures) feature premium hotel / resort accommodation and zero boring sightseeing!

    Join us... if you're thirsty for adventure.

    Why Party With Us?

    If you like to party & travel, then you’ll love our adventures.

    Thirsty Swagman includes only the best available accommodation and we don't have boring itineraries that take up your free time.

    Want to party? Then choose the best! Here are 5 Reasons why.

    Copyright © All Rights Reserved, Thirsty Swagman Pty Ltd
    • Sitemap
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions