Valencia travel guide · Discover
Valencia in 1, 2 or 3 days: hour-by-hour itineraries
With one day, focus on Ciutat Vella: Cathedral, Silk Exchange, Central Market and a rice dish for lunch. With two, add the Turia gardens and the City of Arts and Sciences. With three, add El Cabanyal, Malvarrosa beach and a sunset at the Albufera. These itineraries are designed on foot and by public transport, with real times from our routes.
Updated September 27, 2026
The essentials in 60 seconds
- 1 day
- The old town on foot: Cathedral, Micalet, Silk Exchange, Central Market, El Carmen and the Serranos Towers.
- 2 days
- Add the Turia gardens and the City of Arts and Sciences (with the Oceanogràfic).
- 3 days
- Add El Cabanyal, the beach and the Albufera at sunset.
- Transport
- Everything is on foot, by bus or tram; a 72-hour SUMA T costs €11.
What to see in Valencia in one day?
One day is enough for the old town without rushing. Start early at the Central Market, when it's in full swing, and carry on on foot: everything essential is less than ten minutes apart.
| Time | Plan | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 | Central Market and Silk Exchange | The market closes at midday and on Sundays |
| 10:30 | Church of San Nicolás or Santos Juanes | Entry with audio guide |
| 11:30 | Plaza de la Virgen, Cathedral and Micalet | Climb the Micalet to see the whole city |
| 14:00 | Lunch: paella or rice in the centre | Paella is a lunchtime dish, not dinner |
| 16:30 | El Carmen and the Serranos Towers | Street art and remains of the city wall |
| 18:30 | Turia gardens at sunset | Walk or ride a Valenbisi |
| 21:00 | Tapas dinner in El Carmen or Russafa | Dinner starts from 9 pm |
Tickets and tours on Fever
- Guided tour: Silk Exchange, San Nicolás and CathedralSee tickets on Fever →
- Self-guided old town tour on your phoneSee tickets on Fever →
Affiliate links
And in two days?
On day two, jump forward a few centuries: walk down the Turia gardens to the City of Arts and Sciences. If you like aquariums, keep the morning for the Oceanogràfic; if not, the Science Museum and the Hemisfèric. In the afternoon, visit Colón Market and the Eixample, or the Fine Arts Museum, which is free.
| Time | Plan | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 | Walk east through the Turia gardens | Pass the Palau de la Música and the Gulliver |
| 10:30 | Oceanogràfic or Science Museum | Buy tickets in advance to skip the queues |
| 14:30 | Lunch near the City of Arts and Sciences | Or head back to the centre by bus |
| 17:00 | Fine Arts Museum or Colón Market | The Fine Arts Museum is free |
| 20:30 | Dinner in Russafa | The liveliest area at night |
Tickets and tours on Fever
Affiliate links
And in three days?
Day three is for the sea. Take the tram to the beach (lines 4 and 6, stops Platja Malva-rosa or Platja les Arenes), explore El Cabanyal and have a rice dish on the promenade. In the afternoon, head to the Albufera: the lagoon and rice fields of El Palmar are best seen at sunset, from a boat.
| Time | Plan | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | Tram to Malvarrosa and a walk through El Cabanyal | Look out for the tiled house fronts |
| 11:30 | Beach or promenade | In summer, bring a parasol and water |
| 14:00 | Rice by the sea | Rice restaurants on the promenade |
| 17:00 | Bus or excursion to the Albufera | EMT line 24 to El Palmar or 25 to the boat pier |
| 19:00 | Boat trip at sunset | With the sunset light over the lagoon |
Tickets and tours on Fever
- Albufera: bus and boat tripSee tickets on Fever →
- Catamaran cruise around the MarinaSee tickets on Fever →
Affiliate links
Self-guided routes to do at your own pace
If you'd rather follow a step-by-step route, our self-guided routes set out the order of the stops, what to see at each one and how to get between them on the city's real public transport.
Tips to make the most of your trip
- A 72-hour SUMA T (€11) covers all your bus, metro and tram journeys; with the airport, the T+ (€17).
- Municipal museums are free on Sundays and public holidays, but the Central Market is closed on Sundays.
- In summer, keep midday for the beach or a museum: by 3 pm the heat is intense.
- Book a table for dinner at weekends, especially in Russafa and El Carmen.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need to see Valencia?
Three days are ideal to see the essentials without rushing: the old town, the City of Arts and Sciences with the Turia gardens, and the sea with the Albufera. With two days you'll see the first two; with one, focus on Ciutat Vella. With four or five, you can add day trips such as Sagunto or Xàtiva.
What to see in Valencia in one day?
The old town: the Central Market and Silk Exchange first thing, the Cathedral and Micalet, Plaza de la Virgen, a rice dish for lunch and, in the afternoon, El Carmen, the Serranos Towers and a walk through the Turia gardens. It can all be done on foot.
Can you see Valencia in a weekend?
Yes. On Saturday, the old town with the Central Market, which is closed on Sunday. On Sunday, the Turia gardens and the City of Arts and Sciences, or the beach and El Cabanyal. Make the most of free entry to municipal museums on Sundays.
Is the Albufera worth visiting?
Yes, especially at sunset. It's 15–20 km from the centre and you can get there on EMT line 24 to El Palmar, where boats leave for trips on the lagoon; line 25 stops at the Albufera boat pier. It's also the birthplace of paella: eating a rice dish in El Palmar is a classic.
Official sources
Figures and timetables checked against these sources. If anything has changed, the official source prevails.
Keep exploring the guide
- Things to see in ValenciaThe must-sees, grouped by area and with tickets.
- Valencia's neighbourhoodsWhat each area offers and which suits you for your stay.
- Valencia's beachesFrom Malvarrosa to El Saler: how to reach each one.
- What to eat in ValenciaAuthentic paella, horchata, esmorzaret and markets.
- Day trips from ValenciaThe Albufera, Sagunto, Xàtiva and more by public transport.
- Tours and routesGuided tours, self-guided routes and an AI route planner.