Destination - Valencia, Spain

Aug 20

6 min read

Destination - Valencia

Located on the eastern coast of Spain, Valencia is the country's third-largest city, offering stunning views of the turquoise Balearic Sea towards Ibiza and Mallorca. For almost five centuries, it served as the capital of the Kingdom of Valencia. Rich in history and culture, Valencia is a blend of tradition and modernity, welcoming and inclusive to people from all walks of life.

What To See:

There is an almost unending list of things to see in Valencia, and you will be challenged to fit it all in across the course of a week. Some key locations would be:

The Old Town - wandering through the beautiful and often meandering streets of the Old Town, you get a feel for the legacy of Valencia's history. From its Roman roots and its Moorish rulers onto El Cid and the impact of modern Spain, Valencia has a flavour of its nearly 2500 years of change. Cobbled streets open into plazas such as the monumental Plaza Ayuntamiento lined with grandiose buildings like the neoclassical town hall or the more ancient Plaza De La Virgen, which dates back to Roman times, surrounded by the Cathedral Santa Maria and the Basilica De Los Desamparados.
The City of Arts and Sciences - Pioneering architecture transports you to an almost cinematic vision of a utopian future. The unique buildings of the Ciudad De Las Artes are home to the Science Museum, The Oceanographic Centre (Europe's biggest aquarium), The Palau Des Artes which features Operas and Concerts, and the gardens of the Umbracle, a 17,000 sqm garden with Mediterranean plants and sculptures.
The Beaches. There are three main beaches in Valencia with plenty of room to enjoy the sand, sea, and sun. Las Arenas is the closest, followed by Malvarrosa and then Patacona, each slightly quieter than the last as they move further away from the centre. A long boulevard connects them all, and there are restaurants, cafes, and bars aplenty.

These are just three key areas of this wonderful city, you could fill a book with with the rest. If you are interested, see the further information section below for useful links.

La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia

When to go:

Valencia is a year-round city that offers entertainment whatever the weather. It has a wonderful climate and, as with a lot of Mediterranean destinations, late spring and early autumn are superb times to visit. Temperatures remain warm, rainfall is low, and all of Valencia's wonderful sights and sounds are there to be enjoyed.

July and August, particularly in recent years, have seen temperatures in the high 30s. In this heat, the beach provides a gentle breeze and the option to take a dip in the cooling Mediterranean. Even in late autumn and winter, there is plenty to do in Valencia, and of course, it can make for a cheaper trip.

How to get around:

From the airport, there are two fully wheelchair-accessible Metro lines that serve the city centre. Both Line 3 and Line 5 run along the edge of the Old City, with Xativa and Colon being the most central stops. You can buy a metro card and charge it with multiple journeys for your stay. SUMA 10 cards have 10 public transport journeys prepaid on them and cost €8. Accessible buses also serve the city from the airport, and there is a limited number of wheelchair-friendly taxis available.

Getting around Valencia is really quite liberating. The Old City has no metro stops in it, but its outskirts are served by 3 stations which all provide easy routes into the Old Town. The Old Town does have some cobbled streets, but if you find this an issue, they can usually be circumvented.

Valencia's city beaches can be reached by bus or by Metro. Line 5 to Maritim and then hopping on to Line 4 will allow you to get off at Playa Las Arenas.

A network of buses also crosses the city, and all have automatic ramps with a manual backup and reserved spaces for wheelchair users.

There are accessible taxis, but they are limited in number. If this is your preference, then it is always best to pre-book.

Food & Drink:

Valencia is a city full of wonderful aromas that envelop you and subtly draw you towards the markets and restaurants. It is also the home of Paella, which is served in one form or another almost everywhere across the city, and it would be entirely remiss of one not to try it. There are various versions to suit the tastes of carnivores, pescatarians, and vegans alike, but the traditional Paella Valenciana is made with chicken and rabbit (and sometimes snails) and spiced with paprika and saffron. Arroz Negro, black paella, catches the eye next to its brighter cousin, but this paella dish, made with squid ink, is one to try as the spicy and aromatic scents tingle the olfactory senses.

The Spanish tradition of Tapas, a wide range of small dishes, is strong in Valencia. A wonderful choice to while away a few hours with a range of flavours and the obligatory glass of wine.

A great way to try a range of culinary delights from Valencia is to find a Menu Del Dia. These three-course inclusive menus provide a range of starters, a choice of mains, and a dessert for a price from around €17/18 and up.

Valencia is also a wine DO (Denominación de Origen), and the quality of local wine is good. Perhaps try a Merseguera for a white or a bold and smoky Monastrell (known as Mourvèdre in France) as a red.

If you fancy something soft to drink, give Horchata a try, tigernut milk. It's made from small tubers, a delicious nutty and slightly chalky drink served ice-cold and sweetened. A perfect refresher on a hot day.

If you are a food lover then you must visit the Mercado Centrale and witness the cornucopia of delights on offer. The art nouveau covered market hosts stalls selling cheeses, meats, pastries, vegetables, fish, bread and chocolate as well as a host of cafes and stalls ready sell you dishes ready to go. Head there with an empty stomach!

Culture:

Valencia hosts various festivals, with the most prominent being the Las Fallas Festival held from the 15th to the 19th of March. More than 700 intricately crafted wood and polystyrene sculptures are paraded through the city streets during what is considered Europe's largest street celebration. Following the festivities, all but two of these artworks are set ablaze in towering bonfires.

In July, Valencia celebrates the Gran Feria de Valencia, the Great Fair, with a month full of events including concerts, fireworks, medieval markets, and more.

Annually on the second Sunday of May, Valencia commemorates its patron saint, Our Lady of the Forsaken (Nuestra Senora de los Desamparados). Neighborhood groups gather to present stunning floral tributes at the Basilica de los Desamparados before transferring the effigy of the Lady to the Cathedral. A vibrant festival ensues with parades, fireworks, and a variety of other traditional customs.

These are just a few examples of the rich traditions and festivals that can be experienced on the streets of Valencia.

Parade during The Lady of the Forsaken Festival

Accessibility:

Pavements and Streets - Accessibility for wheelchairs is largely good in the Old Town of Valencia. Lots of areas are pedestrianised and ramps and drop curbs are a regular feature. As with many old cities there are some streets that are cobbled and uneven which may be a challenge for some. 4/5
Sites - Most of the tourist sites of Valencia are wheelchair friendly with permanent or mobile ramps. Due to the age of some of the structures there are some limitations on access and manoeuvrability but by-and-large these are far an few between. 3/5
Accommodation - Disable/Wheelchair accessible accommodation is very common. Adapted rooms are present, particularly in modern hotel and lifts are a regular feature. 4/5
Public Facilities - They are quite limited in Valencia so it often comes down to using hotel, bar or restaurant facilities. This can be a bit hit and miss regarding accessibility so it is always best to chose modern looking sites. (tip - Burger King and branded fast food restaurants are usually a good option as most have disabled facilities). That said if you are in the Turia Gardens there are fully accessible toilets. 3/5
Public Transport - All the central Metro stations that I used were fully accessible to wheelchair users and the gaps between the platform and the trains was very small. The buses have wheelchair reserved spaces and automatic ramps. There are a limited number of wheelchair accessible taxi's, but it's best to book these in advance to avoid a wait. 4/5