Valencia is home to some of the most beautiful tourist spots in Spain. However, if you’re looking for unique and unusual things to do in Valencia, we invite you off the beaten track to explore the road less traveled. Here we share the secret-spots of the city and its surrounding area, how to enjoy Valencia like a local and unique and unusual ways to experience Valencia's most iconic sights.
How to Get Off the Beaten Track in Valencia
- 1. View Valencia from New Heights
- 2. Wine & Dine in 11th Century Historic Monument
- 3. Explore Valencia's Mountain Villages and Natural Springs
- 4. Discover the City’s Secret Spots
- 5. Witness an Ancient Tradition
1. View Valencia from New Heights
No trip to Valencia is complete without seeing the iconic City of Arts and Sciences. Calatrava’s ingenious building complex looks like something straight out of a science fiction movie. But do you know the stories behind the futuristic buildings? On this 4-hour intimate small group experience, meet your passionate local host.
On TripAdvisor's top-rated activity for Valencia, explore the futuristic City of Arts & Sciences complex and learn the storytelling behind the architecture. Marvel at the innovative designs and discover ample photo opportunities! Then, ascend to Valencia’s highest private rooftop terrace. From here, you can view the City of Arts and Sciences, the stretch of the verdant Turia gardens and the Valencian coastline, all from great heights.
Here you are invited to indulge in a gastronomic experience showcasing the best of local produce. Journey through “small bites of Valencia” with a specially-designed menu incorporating our most important tapas. The menu is paired with prizewinning wine sourced from the Valencian region. With each course, your host will share what makes the ingredients so special to the Valencian community.
Learn about the Valencian culture with every bite as you explore local gastronomy with an unforgettable backdrop. This is a truly unique venue from which to taste some of the best tapas and wine of the region. The views are unmissable and Sea Saffron make the experience one you will always remember.
2. Wine & Dine in 11th Century Historic Monument
When visiting Valencia, the historic Old Town is a must-see destination. With its sprawling plazas and stunning assemblage of architectural styles, this zone of Valencia is full of quintessential tourist spots. If you are looking to explore something off the more well-known tourist route, discover the treasures of Valencia’s Old Town with Sea Saffron, the top rated tour company on TripAdvisor.
During this 4-hour small group experience your passionate tour guide will share the storytelling of our most important buildings and city landmarks and the secrets behind them. Travel through time as you explore Roman, Moorish, Gothic & Baroque architectures whilst your guide shares folklore tales and fun facts along every side street.
View the highlight of the Old Town, the hidden ‘Sistine Chapel’ of Valencia: Iglesia San Nicolas with its incomparable frescoes and dazzling interiors. From there, discover a unique dining spot hidden in the heart of the Old Town. The tour will culminate in one of the most emblematic spaces of Valencia: the remnants of the original city walls, built by Arabs and dating back to the Moorish era of 711BC.
This is one of the most significant sites for the social geography of Valencia, and the site for the tensions between Christians and Moors and the reign of El Cid. Surrounded by the ancient city walls, we share our most traditional Valencian dishes. Enjoy a menu of the best local ingredients, traditional paella valenciana, tapas and wine selection of the region's most typical grapes.
UNCOVER VALENCIA'S MOST HISTORIC VENUE
3. Explore Valencia's Mountain Villages and Natural Springs
It is not just the city of Valencia which is spectacular but also its surrounding regions. Escape the city with this exciting day trip from Valencia with Valtournative. In this 8-hour tour, fully immerse yourselves in the beauty of the Valencian community and its nature. After meeting at a convenient spot in the city center, take a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle to the magical Montanejos.
The small group excursion is led by local Daniel Escriva, a charming, sweet and knowledgeable guide who shares his genuine love for Valencia in every explanation and sight. Along the way, Daniel explains the small towns, the olive trees and almond orchards and the stunning scenery of Comunidad Valenciana. Pass through the Horta Nord and see some of the original Roman fortress of Sagunto. Then enjoy a totally unreal experience in the Hot Springs.
Swim in the 25°C mineral waters and feel their medicinal properties. The water is crystal clear and clean, allowing you to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city. Bathe, swim and splash in fresh mountain air. Daniel equips you with river swimming shoes and goggles so you can embrace your inner mermaid or merman and swim through the caves. After you have worked up an appetite, enjoy a delicious lunch in a stunning landscape. Before heading back, visit one of the most relevant and impressive dams in the area.
Marvel at the deafening roar and sheer force of the water - a true feat of nature! Travel back to Valencia and reflect on your memorable day out of the city. The experience is an ideal way to experience Valencian culture in a way that is off the beaten path. If you have more time to explore, the small villages of Bocairent, Teruel and Albarracín are some of the most stunning examples of small-town Valencia.
4. Discover the City’s Secret Spots
Tucked away behind one of Valencia’s main sights, Plaza de la Reina, you will find Europe’s most narrow building. Standing at just 107cm wide, this charming landmark is hidden in plain sight. Local folklroe has it that the building was so narrow that the women of the household had to dress outside in the plaza as their dresses were too big! Although the interior no longer remains, the facade of the building has been perfectly maintained and makes a fascinating pit spot. Meters away in the same square, you will also be able to spot some of the quirkiest of Valencia’s street art.
Artist Raquel Rodrigo has decorated corners of the city with her totally unique cross-stitched art. Also hidden in these backstreets is one of the microcosms of Valencian culture: Mercado de Tapineria. This little square is gorgeously decorated and is a perfectly representative pocket of the outdoor eating and drinking culture. Not only is it a frequent venue for pop-up markets and events throughout the year, it is also the perfect spot to try a traditional vermut with your tapas.
5. Witness an Ancient Tradition
It is easy to get swept up in the beauty of Valencia’s most famous square, Plaza de la Virgen. The dramatic architecture of the Cathedral, the iconic fountain of Neptune and the picturesque Basilica make for a wonderful backdrop. However, look a little closer and you may come across one of the city’s best kept secrets. Every Thursday at midday, at the Cathedral’s Door of the Apostles, meets the Tribunal de Las Aguas (The Water Court).
This tradition dates back to the Moorish occupancy of Valencia and still has legal standing today; in fact, it is the oldest law institution across Europe still in use today. The gathering is actually a real functioning court between eight farmers and the meeting takes place in the regional dialect of Valencian. The meeting is to determine the distribution of the water among the 8 main channels of Valencia.