Valencia (València in Valencian, pronounced [vaˈlensia], vahl-EHN-see-ah; baˈlenθja [bahl-EHN-thyah] in Spanish) is a charming old city and the capital of the Valencian Community. With just over 830,000 inhabitants in 2023, it is Spain’s third-largest city and, after Barcelona, the most significant cultural centre along the Spanish Mediterranean coast. It is the capital of the autonomous Valencian Community, and is known for tourism and cuisine.
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Valentia Edetanorum was established as a Roman colony in the second century BCE. In the early 8th century CE the Moors invaded, and Balansiyya became the capital of the Muslim Taifa of Valencia, thriving as a trading centre for paper, silk, ceramics, glass, and silver. With a brief interlude of Christian control in the 11th century under El Cid, the city remained in Muslim hands until the Christian Reconquista led by King Jaume I of Aragon in 1238, and was incorporated as a kingdom under the Crown of Aragon. Valencia experienced its golden age in the 15th century, with a growing population and flowering of Valencian culture and the arts.
Streets in Valencia have two names, Valencian and Spanish, but most street signs are in Valencian only. Maps may list street names in Valencian or Spanish and rarely both, while addresses may be given in either language, which could create some confusion. Addresses in this guide are generally listed in Valencian. The city has begun changing some Franco-era street names to those commemorating other figures, especially women.
A total solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 Aug 2026, starting at 20.32 and lasting 1 minute. The chances of a clear sky are 70%, but you need to find a spot with a clear view to the north-west horizon, where the sun will be setting. Hilltops may be socked in by cloud, and after the show you’d have to descend an unfamiliar hill trail in darkness. 1 Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias / City of Arts and Science), Av Autopista del Saler, 5 (take metro to Ciutat Arts i Ciències - Justícia 10 ), ☏ +34 90 210 0031. Call centre: M-F 09:00-20:00, Sa 10:00-20:00, Su 10:00-15:00.
One of Spain’s most spectacular fire festivals, Falles (Spanish: Fallas) can be best characterised as a fire-fireworks-gunpowder street party extravaganza. The festival draws up to two million visitors annually, and is listed as a UNESCO ‘intangible cultural heritage’. Its origins date to the Middle Ages when the city’s carpenters burned piles of scraps in the streets and plazas near their workshops on 19 March, the eve of the day of San Josep (Spanish: San José, or St. Joseph). In the 18th century, it became customary to fashion these piles of junk with papier mache into human figures and sculptures, called ninots (Valencian for 'dolls'), which were assembled to form larger fallas.
Paella. There are several versions of this tasteful rice dish: paella valenciana, with meat (chicken and/or rabbit usually), paella de marisco, with fish or seafood, or even paella mixta, with meat and fish at the same time, the least popular among locals. It is very difficult to say which is the 'real' paella, as every person has his/her own version (though no paella that deserves this name contains sausage, ham or meat broth, for instance). If you want to eat an authentic paella, try it at the Malvarrosa beach area; you will find there are several good restaurants.
Aigua de València (Agua de Valencia). 'Valencia water' is a very famous mixed drink, invented in 1959 and based on a mix of orange juice and cava, the local sparkling wine. Many modern versions also include gin and vodka as well as sugar. Be careful, as this drink packs a punch! (updated Jun 2017) Orxata (horchata). A drink made from tigernut (Valencian: xufa, Spanish: chufa), which was first created during the Moorish period. Being cold and sweet, it is especially popular during the summer months, and can be ordered in orxateries or horchaterias and at street carts as well as in most cafés and bars.
Valencia is quite possibly among the safest cities in Spain and Europe. As with Madrid and Barcelona, streets are filled with people at all times, even deep into the night. Valencia also has a decent police presence. The only neighborhoods that may warrant extra precaution are Ciutat Jardí, El Cabanyal, and Aiora, in the east of the city. They are mostly deserted at night, but muggings are not unheard of. The city's railway stations and certain metro stations might attract beggars and drunkards, but simply saying no will be enough. The Falles celebrations attract thousands of people every year. Watch out for pickpockets.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Valencia typically sees ~31°C daytime highs and 4 rainy days.
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