The fact that you’re reading this article means that you’re already thinking about going to Valencia or maybe you’ve just landed here and have no idea what to do. It was almost impossible to choose only 5 local experiences that I’d recommend doing in Valencia, but here’s the final list and make sure you read to the end because number 5 is really special.
1) Visit the City of Arts and Sciences and The Turia (el rio)
If you only have one day in Valencia, you should make sure that you go to the City of Arts and Sciences. Even though the majority of buildings there were designed in the late nineties and noughties, they still look incredibly futuristic. This plan is obviously quite touristy, but after visiting the City of Arts and Sciences, you’ll already be next to the Turia which is known locally as ‘the rio’. This former river has been turned into a 9km park and you’ll see locals walking their dogs, running, having picnics and just living their daily lives.
2) Drink Agua de Valencia
This drink sounds very innocent when you translate it into English (Valencian water) and it basically looks like orange juice. Don’t be fooled because this cocktail is made up of cava, vodka, gin and orange juice, so you’ll be feeling the effects after a glass or two. It’s normally served in a pitcher and I’d recommend Cafe de Las Horas as one of the best local places to try it out.
3) Play Padel
Padel is the fastest growing sport in the world but there’s no doubt that Spain is the European country where it is the most popular. Unlike other major cities like Madrid and Barcelona, you can find lots of padel courts in Valencia and you’ll find that people of all ages love to play it. If you’ve always thought about playing padel and want to enjoy this local experience, then why not have a look at our amazing local experience. Padel Experience Valencia
4) Eat Paella
Whenever I have friends and family visiting, the local experience that they are always keen to try is eating traditional Valencian paella. Here are a few local tips to make sure you get the best experience and don’t hesitate to contact me if you want specific restaurant recommendations :)
1) Paella is a lunchtime dish and local people will never go out to eat it for dinner. If the restaurant serves paella for dinner, it’s likely to be aimed at tourists.
2) Valencian paella contains chicken, rabbit, sometimes snails, flat green beans, garrofó [white] beans, garlic, paprika, saffron and tomato. (Ricard Camarena)”
3) If you don’t have have much time or are travelling alone, then you can consider comidas para llevar (food to take away) and you can buy an individual portion of paella for around 4 Euros.
5) Fallas Festival (March 1-19 2025)
The most local Valencian experience that you could ever hope for. The city completely changes at the beginning of March and there are is a never-ending explosion of noise. This is the experience that many Valencians look forward to all year (some of them hate it) and if you are looking for an incredible cultural event, then you should definitely come to Valencia in March.