Valencia

Opposite La Lonja, you will find the oldest food market in Europe, housed in a fascinating building in a true Valencian style. The market is just as lively now as it was a hundred years ago as if time had stood still. This is a great place to buy some local delicacies and experience Valencia's daily life.

The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, or City of Arts and Sciences, is a cultural and architectural complex designed by Santiago Calatrava that has become the number one attraction in Valencia. Walking around and taking photos of the stunning buildings is a pleasure in itself, and that does not cost anything. However, it is well worth the entrance fee to explore the various exhibits inside.

Valencia’s Cathedral is a beautiful example of Gothic architecture and the home of the Holy Grail–the only one certified by the Vatican. Its tower, the Miguelete, is a true icon of Valencia. Climb up to the top for great views of the city.

Since the Turia river was diverted south of the city after serious flooding in the 1950s, its former riverbed has become one of the best places in Valencia to go for a stroll, offering 9 km of gardens, children’s playgrounds and sports facilities.

The museum is housed in the former headquarters of the Colegio del Arte Mayor de la Seda (Silkmakers Guild), a beautiful 15th-century Gothic building restored to its former glory. It takes visitors through Valencia’s Golden Age when it was the epicentre of the silk trade.

With no visible barriers, visitors to this 10-hectare zoo park can immerse themselves in the amazing wild habitats where lions, elephants, hippos, gorillas, and many more species live. The emphasis is on the preservation of endangered species and protecting the environment.

Valencia is a vibrant city with the added bonus of being right on the beach. Playa de la Malvarossa is a 1km long promenade with clean white sands, just a few minutes walk from the city centre attractions. In the evening, head to one of the promenade's bustling bars and restaurants.

Spain's oldest centre of modern art, this institute features over 10,000 pieces of art and photography from the 20th century. Temporary exhibitions are housed in the basement–once part of the city's medieval fortifications.

Located in one of Valencia's most iconic modernist buildings, the Central Market is the largest fresh produce market in Europe. It features over 1,200 stalls selling a variety of items, including fruits and vegetables, meats, cheeses, spices, nuts, fish, and seafood. The market is bursting with colour, aroma and flavour, and is a must-visit destination for anyone in the city. Don't forget to stop at the Central Bar for some tapas while you're there!

El Rastro de Valencia is a weekly flea market that takes place on Sunday mornings and attracts over 500 vendors each week. It is one of the largest flea markets in Spain and offers a wide variety of items, including old books, ornaments, toys, household items, jewellery, vinyl records, vintage clothing, ceramics, and more. The market is a great way to spend a few hours exploring and finding unique treasures but is open for a short time, so it's best to arrive early to avoid the largest crowds.

Adolfo Domínguez is a Spanish fashion brand with a history dating back to the 1950s. Today, it has stores all over Spain and around the world. With an emphasis on sustainability, the brand offers stylish and elegant clothing, bags, and shoes for both men and women.

Spain's department store colossus is both loved and hated, but successfully performs the main task of a department store, which is to offer most things to most people. Designer fashions, their own low and medium-priced lines, enormous perfumery and make-up departments, accessories, toys, children's and baby's clothes, art materials, souvenirs, food and delicatessen, household furniture and decorations, electrical goods, books, and a range of services can be found here.