When I think of a city break across Europe, major cities like Paris, London, Berlin, Rome, spring to mind, but one place I hadn’t really ever considered was Valencia.
With the news that Ryanair has started to fly direct to the third biggest city in Spain from Belfast, an invitation to explore the city from the Valencia tourist board was an offer I couldn’t refuse.
A short two hour 45 minute flight twice per week on Thursdays and Mondays from Belfast International makes Valencia the perfect destination for a city break. What’s more, with fares as low as £76 per person return, it really makes it a no brainer for a short break.
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Valencia experiences average temperatures of 19 degrees all year round and just 46 days a year when you’re likely to see rain, it’s the perfect destination to explore at any time of the year.
We set up our base for our three day visit in the centrally located Hotel Dimar, a modern, clean and comfortable hotel ideal for exploring the city on foot or via public transport.
The great thing about Valencia is it’s probably one of the most flat cities I’ve ever been too, I don’t recall encountering one single steep hill whilst exploring the city, making it easily accessible for all abilities.
We started our first day with a guided walking tour of the city’s most famous sights which I have to say was one of the best things about our trip. Our first stop was the city's Town Hall, where we were told all about the city's famous festival known as The Fallas of Valencia. The annual event takes place from the 1st to 19th March. It's ancient tradition heralds the start of spring where carpenters would have burned pieces of wood that were used to prop up their lights during the winter.
The festival has now developed and has become a huge annual event where huge works of art are created and children and women dress up in traditional costume and parade through the streets and the fallas sculptures are burned accompanied by a fireworks display.
From Town Hall, we visited the famous Silk Exchange, The Lonja, which was declared a UNESCO heritage site in 1996.
The first stone was laid in this incredible building in 1492, and to this day it remains a stunning piece of architecture. It was also a beautiful sight to see orange trees growing in the courtyard, a nod to one of Valencia’s most famous exports, and having tasted proper fresh Valencian Orange juice, I can confirm that no other will ever compare!
Another interesting stop was to the Valencia Cathedral which holds one of the most important pieces of art from the first Spanish Renaissance. It’s also home to the Holy Chalice which studies and documents have led locals to think that the Holy Grail of Valencia is the one used by Jesus in the last supper.
As we wandered through the streets talking in the sights and sounds of this old style city, it’s hard not to notice the incredible choice when it comes to food and drink. So if you’re a lover of fresh produce a visit to the city’s Central Market is a must do!
We stopped for lunch on our first day at a delightful little restaurant called Restaurant La Lola, nestled on one of the city’s side streets where we enjoyed a very relaxing Tapas lunch. I could definitely get used to the Spanish way of dining, a nice long-lunch in the afternoon followed by a little siesta is a daily routine I could adapt quite easily to!
I even spotted a few people enjoying ‘working lunch’ meetings outside in the glorious sunshine with their laptops, and sipping a small glass of wine with some tapas, sounds ideal!
The bonus thing about a city break in Valencia for me was the fact that you can combine both a city sightseeing break and a chilled out beach trip all in one. Valencia’s beautiful beach and marina area is just a short 15 minute bus trip from the centre so you really can have the best of both worlds.
As keen football fans, my husband and I ensured we paid a visit to the Mestalla stadium, home of Valencia FC during our stay. During the tour we were given a fascinating insight into the long history of the club which at its heart, is the people of Valencia.
This fact proven by a statue situated in one of the seats in the stands which pays tribute to a lifelong season ticket holder who lost his sight through illness, but still attended the games along with his son who talked him through the minute-by-minute plays on the pitch. After his death, the club placed a statue in the seat he occupied for decades beside where his son still sits at home fixtures to this day.
No trip to Valencia would be complete without sampling the city’s most famous dish, Paella. Traditional Valencian paella is made with chicken and rabbit, and I have to admit on first hearing this I was a bit reluctant to even try it. But to my surprise it was a really tasty dish, which we enjoyed by the beach in the beautiful surroundings of Portolito Playa, another fab place to dine while taking in the stunning beach views and sipping on some cocktails and Sangria.
Our next destination was out towards what I would describe as the more modern area of the city to visit the City of Arts and Sciences, including a trip to the Oceangraphic aquarium. This was another highlight of our trip, where we got up close to incredible Beluga Whales and watched a fantastic Dolphin show and heard all about the brilliant conservation work the team at Oceangraphic are doing to help dolphins across the world and save them from the ongoing perils of climate change.
On our way back from exploring the City of Arts and Sciences, we walked via the Turia Garden, a stunning green space which is perfect for bikes and on foot. It’s the perfect area for a picnic or just to stop and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life.
One top tip for visiting Valencia was to get yourself a Valencia tourist card, packed with great discounts which includes free travel on the bus routes across the city as well as free tapas in certain spots and drinks discounts in many, many fantastic eateries located all over the city.
With return flights costing less than the price of a hotel room across the UK & Ireland, what are you waiting for, book your next city break now and Visit Valencia!
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