Valencia is the third largest settlement of Spain and the birthplace of Paelia. The city is often overlooked due to Barcelona or Alicante, although this place is rich in no less amazing architecture, delicious tapas, local wine and sidr, green parks and wide beaches. In addition, there are much fewer tourists than in more popular resorts, and prices are much lower.
Valencia is good to visit at any time of the year: in winter, temperature holds in the range of +15-20 ° C, and in the summer there are jumps and up to +40 ° C. But the streets are designed so that they create a shadow at home, and trees with lush crowns grow on wide avenues. We tell you what to do in the Spanish city.
Entrance rules
Russians will need a passport and the Schengen visa. Now Spain is considered one of the most loyal European states in terms of the requirements of K. The value of the application is 80 euros for an adult (about 5,800 rubles*).
How to get
From Moscow to Valencia, you can fly away with transfers in Casablanca (Royal Air Maroc), Istansh Airlines and Belgrade (Air Serbia). One way tickets cost from 38,000 rubles*. It will be cheaper to get to Barcelona and take a bus to Valencia. They go directly from the airport, a one -way ticket costs from 30 euros (about 2,400 rubles*). On the way you will spend about four hours.
Where to stop
Hotel El Siglo (Assessment 8.4) – A small hotel in the city center with sunbeds on the roof. The night in a standard room costs from 10,500 rubles*.
Hotel Valencia Alameda 41 (Assessment 9.1) – stylish numbers with a view of the shady green street. Prices start from 16,000 rubles* per night.
Hotel Puerta Serranos 4 Sup (Assessment 9.6) – A new hotel, each room has its own balcony with a view of the Turia Park, a museum of elegant arts and Serraunos towers. The night in Deluxe costs from 26,600 rubles*.
Central market and silk exchange
Valencia can be divided into an old and new city. The first, more compact, is better to inspect on foot, plunging into the history of architecture. The second, futuristic and spacious, is perfect for research on a bicycle.
Traveling in the old city is good to start with the central market Mercado Central – It works from 7:30 to 15:00 (depending on the season, time may vary), Sunday is a day off. Inside, more than 300 kiosks with fruits, vegetables and berries from local fields, meat, seafood and sweets. Here you can buy literally everything – even living eels are sold in aquariums, which will be prepared before your eyes. There are also corner with tapas, Paeali and Spanish breakfast, and there are agreements with some restaurants nearby: products that you bought on the market are prepared for a small fee.
It is worth going here, even if you do not plan a snack. The building has an unusual shape: the market ceiling is a huge dome painted with oranges, the main fruit of Valencia.
A old silk exchange is located across the road Lonja de la Sedathe entrance ticket costs two euros (about 160 rubles*). If you came on Sunday and did not get to the market, do not be upset – but on this day the entrance to the exchange is free. Inside you can admire beautiful stained -glass windows and stone columns in the form of twisted palm trees.
The surroundings of Plaza de la Virgen
Two minutes from the silk exchange, the district is located El CarmenWhere the oldest buildings of the city are adjacent to the walls painted with colorful graffiti. The streets of El Carmen will lead you to the Valencia Cathedral. For two euros (about 160 rubles*) you can climb the El Miguelette tower and admire the beautiful view of the city. Numerous roofs with blue domes are worth overcome by 207 steps. If you are interested in religion, visit the cathedral – the Holy Grail is stored there.
Behind the cathedral is the area Plaza de la Virgenone of the main in the city. In the afternoon, tourists who come to look at the basilica Basilica de la Virgen de Los Desamparaados And the statue of the patroness of Valencia inside her. After sunset, the area changes beyond recognition, night life boils there.
The second main square of Valencia – Plaza de la ReinaIn the afternoon, it is surrounded by historical architecture and closed roller shutters of the first floors painted with graffiti, and in the evening the place comes to life – all buildings are highlighted by spotlights, shops and restaurants open their doors, and street artists and musicians appear on the square itself.
Plaza ayuntamiento
The square is located in the southern part of the old city, near the Northern Station. Unlike two other central squares, it is surrounded by a road, which may seem less comfortable. There is not only the town hall, but also the impressive building of the General Post Office of Valencia. All holidays are held on this square, during which it becomes completely pedestrian. And in winter, the Christmas tree is installed here and the rink is poured, despite the warm weather.
Jardin Botanico Botanical Garden
Previously, it was the pharmacist garden of the University of Valencia, and now it has become a habitat of many animals. The botanical garden is located near the Torres de Quart gate in the western part of the city. The entrance ticket costs 2.5 euros (about 200 rubles*), on the last Sunday of every month at 11 and 12 hours free excursions are held here. At the entrance, a booklet is issued in English with a detailed map. Plants are located so that they can trace their evolution from primitive to complex forms.
Park Jardí Del Thange and City Gate
The park is best inspected on a bicycle – its territory seven kilometers in a longitudinal is enveloped in Valencia and connects the old part of the city with the new one. Previously, the tough river flowed here, but it often emerged from the coast and was redirected. Now in its line and under the green magnificent crowns of trees a park is hidden with bridges and fountains. In the spring, you will find the flowering of the baobabs here, and in the summer you will admire the orange trees under chatter chatter.
Start a walk in the park from the tower Torres de Cuart – This is the first city gates to be about 600 years old. The walls retained traces of cannon shots, in which large parrots are now curled. Walking, reach the towers Torres de Serranos (these were the main gates of the city), and then inspect the triumphal arch Porta de la march. A new part of the city begins at the end of the park.
Palace of Art and Oceanarium
Symbol of the new city – futuristic buildings Cities of Arts and Sciences. The architectural complex consists of three buildings: Palace of Arts Palau de Les Arts in the shape of a sea shell, cinema La hemisferic In the form of an eyeball and a museum of sciences Museo de las cenciaswhich resembles a skeleton of a whale. All this is surrounded by a pool, and from May to September on water you can swim on a sapping or kayak.
Palau de Les Arts hosts operas, dramatic performances, concerts and exhibitions. Near Museo de Las Ciencias, the largest oceanarium in Europe was built, where ecosystems of the world for 500 species of fish, amphibians and marine mammals were recreated. You can save on the input ticket if you buy in advance in one of the City Pass in one of the tourist centers for 24, 48 or 72 hours. The map costs from 15 euros (about 1,200 rubles*) and allows you to use public city transport for free and visit many museums.
Bioparc Valencia
Another place where you can get acquainted with wild animals is Valencia Biopark. He has a large open -air territory, but walking here is comfortable even in the summer, since most pedestrian paths are covered with a canopy or crown of trees. Inside, besides giraffes, lions and other inhabitants of the savannah, hippo, flamingo and lemurs live – you can even go into the zone where animals move freely.
At the entrance, a park and a sheet with a schedule of animal feeding are issued at the entrance – they are distributed in time so that you can see all of them, so you can come at any time. But it is better to do this no later than two hours before closing, in order to have time to get around the whole territory. There is an entertainment program for children in the biopark.
City beaches
Road to the sea through a bright area El Cabanyal. These colorful houses are more like a Cuba than Spain. There are three city beaches in Valencia, and two of them, Las Arenas And Malvarossainterconnected. This is a long coastal line with snow -white sand and palm trees. Opposite the Las Arenas beach there is a small food MercabanyalWhere you can try street food for different kitchens: bao buns, land, burgers. Trams No. 4 and No. 6 and bus No. 32 come here.
A little further is the beach Platja de la Patacona. It is not so crowded and there are excellent bars and cafes where you can eat deliciously. The entrance to the water on the coast of Valencia is very smooth, without cliffs, and the bottom is perfectly even.
Behind Platja de la Patacona is a harbor Port Saplatja. It is not at all like a port in the usual performance: boats and yachts are moored in the channels, among which a whole area is built. There are high bright buildings along the shores, due to which a local flavor is created. You can get there by bicycle or by public transport. From the city center you need to get by metro to Maritim Serreria, and then by tram to the final stop.
Wild beach
There are three more beaches nearby: desert city Playa de Pinedo And Playa de la Davesa del Saler And finally, wild El Saler. Until the first two, buses No. 14 and No. 15. El Saler is located 11 km from Valencia, you can get by bus No. 107 or combined with a visit to the park PARC Natural de l’Lbuferawhich is very close.
Locals love El Saler for its amazing location: it is surrounded by dunes and pine groves, the shore is covered with white small sand, and the water is clean and blue.
PARC Natural de l’Lbufera
Valencia’s largest natural park lies around the lake of the same name. To get acquainted with the local flora and fauna, choose one of the equipped pedestrian paths – it is dangerous to leave them, because there are many marshy areas in the park. Herons, storks and even flamingos live on the lake. And in a cafe in the park, you can try Paelli or the national dish a l’Ll and pebre, which is made from an eel from a local lagoon.
Toward evening, take a boat and admire the sunset – local residents even call the lake a mirror of the sun. The boaters are taken from three euros (about 240 rubles*) depending on the mood, time of day and the number of people.
Pars Natural de la Serra Calderona
Serra Calderona – This is a mountainous area near Valencia. A natural park is available for tourists at any level of training, as well as for children and four -legged ones. Lovers of outdoor activities will appreciate mountain peaks from 600 to 900 m, from which amazing views of the Mediterranean Sea and coastal plains are opened. There are also many paths and there is a tourist center.
Serra Calderona stores an outstanding heritage: there are archaeological monuments, castles, traditional farm houses, monasteries and monastic communities. In these mountains, you can see the remains of civilizations that inhabited our lands from the Paleolithic era, through the bronze age, Iberian culture, Roman, Arab and medieval periods.
To enjoy nature and relax, the park has places for a picnic with barbecue and grill stations. There is also a bar, a toilet, public tables, a zone with drinking water and garbage tanks.
To get to the park from Valencia, you need to get by bus to Albalat Dels Tarongers or by train to Sagunto. On the way for about 40 minutes, one -way tickets cost from three euros (about 240 rubles*).
*Prices are relevant at the time of publication.
