But Valencia is much more than a long pristine beach, hearty portions of paella, and refreshing cocktails. Here’s our list of 5 fun ways to enjoy the city:

#1 Taste the world at Mercato Central

Did you know that the biggest European market for fresh products is situated in the city of Valencia? Well, now you know and you better hurry to have a bite of all the delicacies offered at Mercato Central, or the Central Market.

Imagine endless rows of stalls covered with juicy oranges, appealing strawberries, papayas, and many more colorful fruits and veggies. Make your way through the crowds and surrender to the smell of the freshly baked bread stuffed with walnuts, olives, and other indulgent fillings. Don’t miss on all the fish and seafood that have been brought straight from the sea. Plus, the Spanish cheese varieties and the world-famous Iberian ham will be available for a free tasting. But beware: one bite is never enough!

Mercato Central in Valencia, Spain

#2 Move yourself in the Turia Gardens, the park that used to be a river

The Turia Gardens go straight through the heart of Valencia and are an unmissable attraction for all first timers looking to discover the city’s charms.

Did you know that this peculiar park used to be a river? A river that was creating many headaches for the locals. After the devastating flood in 1957, the people of Valencia decided to re-route it, leaving an empty river bed passing throughout the whole city. The river bed has then been transformed into a beautiful green park, a favorite spot for running, cycling, and a refreshing escape from the urban life.

So, why not joining the locals for an invigorating run in the popular Turia Gardens? Plus, this might be good for your waistline after all the cheese and ham you ate the the market.

The old riverbed of the diverted river Turia turned into a park.

#3 Take a guided tour in the old town

Stroll around Valencia’s glorious old town that boasts baroque churches, magnificent cathedrals, charming little squares, and an impressive mix of architectural styles. If mesmerizing sites are not enough, join a guided tour to learn more about the 2,000 year-old history of the city, along with some quirky facts and anecdotes. Such tours are available every day and are generally free. But participants are encouraged to donate as much as they want at the end.

Alternatively, do your own walking tour around the major sightseeing like Plaza de la Virgin, the Serranos Gate, the Silk Exchange, and the Cathedral of Valencia, among other must-see landmarks. Finish with a scoop of ice-cream and a hot cup of black coffee at one of the numerous coffee houses that are always there for you if you get tired.

The old part of Valencia

#4 Go wild in the bioparc

History is not your thing? Nature lovers rejoice because Valencia has to offer more than admirable art, diverse architecture and historical treasures. Leave the old town and head to the bioparc, a modern zoo with almost no fences, where animals are roaming freely in landscapes replicating their natural habitats. Walk around and witness the lemurs happily jumping from branch to branch just above your head. From giraffes licking each other’s necks to gorillas carrying their babies, you can get as close to them as possible. In Valencia, the savanna is just a stone’s throw away, pay it a visit!

Meercats at Bioparc Valencia

READ MORE: 10 fun facts about Spain to know before you go

#5 Enjoy yourself at the beach

Let’s go back to our little Valencia dream. Remember the beach and the cold sangria? It’s time to enjoy them to the fullest. Valencia’s coastline is long and sandy, calling all the travelers who want to feel the light breeze in their hair while chilling by the blue waters, watching the waves washing the golden shores. Is there anything more relaxing than that? Add a warm traditional lunch consisting of paella valenciana (a rice dish with beans, rabbit and chicken meat, snails and seasoned with saffron), and it’s finally time for the cold glass of sangria, or even better ague the valencia (a cocktail made of cava or champagne, orange juice, vodka and gin).

Take this short list of fun activities as a starting point. Keep roaming around the historical streets and the many pretty churches. Hide under the shades in the green parks and share a beer with a stranger, climb a lemon three and enjoy the view from above. Adventures are all around. Go find them and don’t forget to share in the comments!

And now, you can start to think about your next steps – manicure courses, music courses, astrology courses, or improvisation courses 🙂

***

A passionate writer, journalist, and explorer, Yoana Hristova (www.yoanahristova.com) has worked and studied in Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway. Currently based in Bulgaria, she is always on the lookout for great stories that inspire us to travel, grow and discover what life has to offer.

See also: Most Beautiful Spain Gardens. Guide with Tips for First-Timers

and Uncovering the Hidden Gems of Spain: Off the Beaten Path Destinations to Visit

The post 5 fun things to do in Valencia, Spain appeared first on 203Challenges.

Not that a single weekend is enough to examine even a little piece of Valencia but yet you should start somewhere.

Here are the major attractions in Valencia, which you definitely need to see, feel and taste!

City of Arts and Sciences (Ciutat de les Arts Valencia) – this is a cultural complex, situated over 350,000 square meters. It shelters five buildings with unique architecture: Prince Felipe Science Museum (Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe) – a three-story building in the form of a whale skeleton; L’Hemisfèric – an IMAX cinema with a screen in the form of a hemispheric dome of 900 square meters; L’Umbracle- a landscaped walk; L’Oceanogràfic – the biggest aquarium in Europe with around 40,000 animals; and the Queen Sofía Palace of the Arts (El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia), which is a stage for opera concerts.

City of Art and Science in Valencia | Sarunas Mikalauskas/Flickr

Valencia Cathedral (Catedral de Santa María de Valencia) is an interesting mixture of Roman, Gothic and Baroque style and architecture. It shelters many pieces of art, such as several paintings by Francisco Goya. The cathedral is also known as a depository of the probably most acknowledged candidate for being the authentic Holy Grail, which has been in Valencia since the XV century. The cathedral was built between 1262 and 1356.

National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Arts (Museo Nacional de Ceramica y de las Artes Suntuarias Gonzalès Marti) is a museum-palace, known for its huge entrance gate with marble sculptures. The building dates back to the XV century. Inside, there is a collection of ceramic items from prehistoric times until nowadays. On the first floor there is a huge ballroom, a living room and many other rooms. Here you can see an authentic kitchen, characteristic for Valencia, built entirely of decorated tiles with typical vessels and utensils.

La Lonja de la Seda is a silk exchange dating back to the XV century. The building is built in Gothic style. There are gorgons on its façade, while inside the walls are adorned with floral motifs and many detailed figures of animals and people. La Lonja is declared one of the most significant Gothic buildings in Europe.

La Lonja de la Seda in Valencia | MollySVH/Flickr

Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia (Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia) is the place where you can see a really huge collection of paintings. It shelters works of Velazquez, Goya, Sorolla and others, as well as paintings of modern artists, sculptors and archaeological findings.

The Central Market (Mercato Central) of Valencia is the biggest fruits and vegetables market in Europe. It has more than 90 stores offering mostly fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, seafood, jams, as well as tea, coffee, tinned food. The market is open from Monday to Saturday.

Las Fallas is a festival of fireworks, incredible fire and pyrotechnics show, which has turned into a tradition for Valencia. It is organised on different dates every year, very often in April. The tradition derives from the past when people used to burn down the waste after the spring cleaning. Nowadays the festival continues for a whole week during which every one of the local communities prepares big sculptures of flammable materials, such as wood and papier-mâché, which are set on fire on the last day of the festival.

Las Fallas in Valencia | Pablo Monteagudo/Flickr

Bioparc Valencia is a different type of zoo because here the animals are walking freely in their natural habitat and you can even touch them. You will be surrounded by lions, tigers, zebras, giraffes, rhinoceros, chimpanzees, and many others. There are huge crocodiles and alligators in natural swamps, hippopotamus, herons, and etc. On the whole, there are animals from all continents. You are going to experience an unforgettable adventure.

La Albufera is the biggest lake in Spain. It is a wonderful place located only 12 km away from the city. A cozy beach, many birds, rice plantations, boat trips and delicious meals at the restaurants in the region. What more can one wish for? Here the sunrise and the sunset draw an unforgettable picture over the lake. Enjoy it!

Paella – You should definitely try paella while in Spain. There are different varieties of this traditional meal but the ingredients that are omnipresent include rice, saffron and olive oil. It can be garnished with different type of meat, vegetables and seafood. It is up to your personal taste and is also suitable for vegetarians. The residents of Valencia, on the other hand, claim that the meal was created in their city.

Siesta – after the nice lunch it is time for a brief rest – from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m., or longer, if you wish so. When in Spain, do it like the Spaniards and take advantage of the daily siesta. This is the time when the sun is the strongest, so what better way of escaping the heat than a nice nap.

Shopping in Valencia – souvenirs, t-shirts, jewellery, shoes, postcards, porcelain sets are found at the stores between the Central Market and Plaza Ayntamento. There are many stores in the passage between Plaza de la Virgin and Plaza de la Reina offering goods at good prices. There are also many malls in the city where you can find everything: Nuevo Centro, El Saler, Aquа, and others.

Nightlife in Valencia – Valencia meets everyone’s taste including in the night: house and jazz clubs, bars, restaurants, outdoor discotheques adorned with palm trees. You can choose entertainment pleasing your very own taste in one of the numerous clubs along the beach or in the outskirts of the city. The young Spaniards often gather in the open air at the squares and the streets in the night and have a beer or calimocho (a cocktail made of wine and coke) before heading to the discotheque after midnight.

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