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Guide to Valencia, Spain
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ValenciaThough Valencia is the third-largest city in Spain, it is also among the least-visited in the country. Because it is a city mainly open for business, travelers tend to pass over its streets in exchange for those of Madrid or Barcelona. However, if you happen to know the citys highlights and are willing to go the unconventional way, you can find yourself enjoying Valencia a bit more than you expected; maybe a lot more! One aspect that visitors to Valencia must always be aware of is the regions dominance of a particular culinary dish paella. You may find it in many cities around the world, in quaint bistros in NYC or along side-streets in London, but youve never experienced genuine paella until you cross to border to Valencia. In addition to the citys trademark attraction, Valencia is also home to a number of great beaches and clubs. The night crowd is wild, especially in the summer, but youll have to keep wide awake well into the wee hours of the morning to experience the general mayhem that occurs here. A little imagination and a lot of energy will surely bring you to love Valencia, Spain.
When to go:
Valencia sits on the eastern coast of Spain, hugging the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. While the temperatures are ordinarily ideal here, if a bit hot in summer, you wont get the usual soakings associated with the region. Of course, this is fine by us; the better the weather, the better the experience! The city is not continuously thumping with activities and events, though. So youll have to plan around the busiest times of year, or plan for them. If youre in the mood for fun and enjoy mingling with the crowds, then spring is your season. In March, the city holds a weeklong festival known as Fallas, where city folk create elaborate but mostly odd papier mache statues. Parades are put on each day, and at the end of the festival, the statues are burned. Also, the city is bursting with fireworks, so when roaming the streets concentrated around the festival, we suggest you wear ear plugs or keep that iPod of yours on hand.
Getting there and around:
Manises Airport is your connection to the city, and because it is only a 15 minute ride away, you wont be dreading the transfer into town. There are many ways by which you can get into Valencia: bus, taxi, or train. If youre short on time, taxis are always available, though you will have to pay a premium higher fares in the evening. Buses are definitely for those not in a hurry as they are the slowest of the three, and once you arrive at the citys main bus depot, we suggest heading over to the metro station (unless, of course, your hotel is within walking distance of the city center). Trains follow the same guidelines, but you will arrive a bit sooner in the city than you would via bus.
Because Valencias city center is so compact and all sites are within walking distance of each other, it makes no sense to waste funds on short-distance rides. However, if youre planning on visiting the citys sands and/or downtown clubs, you may want to board a bus or subway train. Taxis are only necessary during the evening when they are the safest mode of transportation (all too often visitors are reported to get robbed on nighttime buses and subways).
Attractions:
To satisfy the physics geek in you, make your way to the City of Arts and Sciences. Yes, this science and art hub is so great (in both architectural and informative senses) that it has nearly been designated its own area code. It has quickly become one of the chief attractions in Valencia, and you may get lost in what seems to be the countless number or exhibits, youll always find yourself stopping to see the view from the waters edge (at sunrise it is especially beautiful).
La Albufera is another wonderful attraction that is situated in the citys suburbs. This is an area known for the romantic lagoon rides and the amazing culinary establishments. What used to be a quite place where rice plantations thrived, now exist restaurant after restaurant competing for praise from the palates of locals and visitors alike. Prices for food here are quite inexpensive, and after youve filled up, you can always hire a boat to take you on a serene trip around the waterways.
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