Skip to content

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.

TimePlanTip
9:00Central Market and Silk ExchangeThe market closes at midday and on Sundays
10:30Church of San Nicolás or Santos JuanesEntry with audio guide
11:30Plaza de la Virgen, Cathedral and MicaletClimb the Micalet to see the whole city
14:00Lunch: paella or rice in the centrePaella is a lunchtime dish, not dinner
16:30El Carmen and the Serranos TowersStreet art and remains of the city wall
18:30Turia gardens at sunsetWalk or ride a Valenbisi
21:00Tapas dinner in El Carmen or RussafaDinner starts from 9 pm

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.

TimePlanTip
9:30Walk east through the Turia gardensPass the Palau de la Música and the Gulliver
10:30Oceanogràfic or Science MuseumBuy tickets in advance to skip the queues
14:30Lunch near the City of Arts and SciencesOr head back to the centre by bus
17:00Fine Arts Museum or Colón MarketThe Fine Arts Museum is free
20:30Dinner in RussafaThe liveliest area at night

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.

TimePlanTip
10:00Tram to Malvarrosa and a walk through El CabanyalLook out for the tiled house fronts
11:30Beach or promenadeIn summer, bring a parasol and water
14:00Rice by the seaRice restaurants on the promenade
17:00Bus or excursion to the AlbuferaEMT line 24 to El Palmar or 25 to the boat pier
19:00Boat trip at sunsetWith the sunset light over the lagoon

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

← Back to the Valencia travel guide