Why Valencia is your new holiday destination with the whole family
Valencia is so much; you can shop and eat fantastically, but it is also the gem for families who want something more than just eating paella and lying on a beach chair. If you love the Spanish life – who doesn't? – Valencia should really appear on your radar. It's conveniently close: just under two hours by plane. And that's just the beginning of a long list of unique selling points. Like cycling through the lush Jardín del Turia, where squirrels jump in orange trees. If you're going for that heart record on an Instagram post, you might just break it now.
Why Valencia is your new holiday destination
First up: you can get there so easily: Valencia is less than two hours by plane. You step onto the plane in the Netherlands with croissant crumbs on your sweater, and before you know it, you're sitting with a horchata (a cold drink made from chufas, also known as tiger nuts, mixed with water and sugar) dipping your fartons (elongated, sweet-glazed rolls) on a sunny terrace. Just this alone is reason enough to book, right?
Getting a tan, but not melting: The weather in Valencia is truly chef's kiss. The sun shines hard enough for you to come back nicely tanned (don't forget to apply sunscreen – at least factor 30, preferably factor 50), but it's not so hot that you melt like a Solero on a dashboard. And oh yes, want a snack to cool down? Ice creams here seriously cost just one euro. Ideal if you're on holiday with kids, or if you're – like me – a huge ice cream lover.
It's the ideal family holiday: The Spanish people love children. Your baby is welcomed as if they are the star of a Netflix hit. In restaurants, your child gets big winks, spontaneous high fives, and candies from the staff. Nothing is too much trouble, everything is possible. Where in France children have to adapt to parents, here it's the other way around. Moreover, every menu has something child-friendly, and it's no problem if your child is watching a movie under the restaurant tablecloth.
Valencia is so nice and straightforward: Everything in Valencia is clear and within walking distance. Wonderful, because everything is fun, but you won't get choice stress from the huge list of sights you need to check off. And you can just wear those cute wedges, because you won't be getting blisters on your feet here. Also fun: cycling! Valencia is completely set up for cyclists, and it's so safe and relaxed here that even your toddler is safe on a balance bike. Be sure to visit Jardín del Turia, a beautiful park where you can cycle wonderfully.
The vibe is mañana: Valencia is just... a bit different. It's not as touristy as Barcelona, not as mega as Madrid. It's charming, sunny, relaxed, and authentic. Oh yes, and in Valencia, everything just goes its own way. No rushed business, just a city where everyone sets the pace to half speed, and you can finally catch your breath. Mañana mañana, you know?
Eating, eating, and more eating
You can eat for example at Taberna Alkázar, Federal Café, Le Marquis, Mi Cub in the Ensanche district or, Doña Petrona in Russafa – all in the city center and, also nice if you're traveling with children, all in pedestrian areas. Outside the center, there are Huerta Villa Indiano and La Baracca di Tony Montoliu good options. In the Albufera National Park you can eat at Nou Raco and at the beach at Destino Puerto, Vue Arribar, or La Ferradura. Outside the city, there are many more restaurants that are also recommended for families, I wrote about that earlier and you can find it in this article. Here you will find even more delicious tapas restaurants.
Also a really fun experience that you won't forget quickly is the Paella Experience, where you – you guessed it – make your own paella.
Where everyone is also having fun is in the marina of Valencia. There you can kayak, do Pilates, dive, paddleboard, and book boat trips.
As an outing, the boat trip with paella lunch in l’Albufera is perfect. First, you float for half an hour over the lake in a traditional albuferenc boat (local mood: the skippers don't speak English, so download your Duolingo in advance), and then you sit down at a restaurant for a traditional paella lunch. You can choose from bravas, calamares, paella, and a lot of desserts. Bonus: a drink is included in the price. Yep, you can also choose a glass of wine. Cheers.
Never getting bored
A holiday is all about experiences. Ultimately, life is about weaving memories and taking photos of moments that you will look back on for years because they bring you back to that special day. Bioparc Valencia is undoubtedly one of those visits that you won't forget. It's mentioned as one of the best zoos in the world, and that's not surprising considering what there is to see. There is an African savanna, an equatorial jungle, a Madagascar island, and African wetlands. You see all kinds of animals like giraffes, meerkats, and yes: even elephants. There are tours, workshops, and of course, you can also explore the park yourself. By the way, it's open all year round, every day!
Looking for a place where you can see animals both indoors and outdoors? Then order tickets for Oceanogràfic (children under four years old can enter for free). It's a mega-large aquarium, and you can walk under the sharks – this is also a super experience with older children. Both in Bioparc and Oceanogràfic, you can see animals indoors and outdoors, so perfect for any season.
Also very fun is Villa Indiano; an old villa with an eclectic style and French and modernist influences, next to the orchard of Burjassot, which has been transformed into a restaurant.
Also very fun: the Mestalla Forever Tour. A behind-the-scenes look at the stadium of Valencia CF is super cool. Press room, locker rooms, player tunnel – you can go everywhere. If you're not into football, you can drop the rest of the group there and go shopping or get your nails painted in frosé color at one of the nearby salons.
Here you will find even more fun places to visit with your family.
Beautiful parks to chill
Parque del Oeste is perfect for younger kids. Plenty of playgrounds where children can let loose, and enough space for you to relax with your partner (or a good book).
Or go to the beach of Malvarrosa. Soft sand, playgrounds, and just a wonderful place to come back with tanlines.
What is also very nice is the Gulliver Park: a gigantic play structure in the shape of Gulliver from the famous book.
And feeling like going just over the border of Valencia? Then a boat trip to La Albufera is a very good idea.
Valencia may be smaller than Madrid and Barcelona; you will come back at least as happy, satisfied, sun-kissed, and well-read. You don't have to be afraid that your portion of culture will pass you by, because if after all of the above you are still hungry for art, I would say: visit the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. A complete complex full of art and science. Here you can easily spend at least two hours looking, experiencing, and marveling.
Well dear people, I think you should extend your trip by at least a week. There is so much fun to see and discover. And to make it all even easier, there is the Valencia Tourist Card which allows you to travel around the city by public transport and gives you free access to museums and monuments. You also get special discounts on many attractions, tours, shops, restaurants, and you also get a tapa and a drink. You can buy the card for 24, 48, or 72 hours, depending on the length of your visit. Want to stay longer - I would understand that - then you can easily top it up and you also get 10% discount.
Credits: ©VisitValencia
