On the one hand, the city boasts some of the finest medieval architecture in Spain. But it is also home to world-renown contemporary architecture.

[{"selector":"#anim-b701fba0-0f0a-43aa-bed8-b62666ff933f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e664d9b6-8353-4350-8888-640bfbab16b9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 155.49367%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

For sheer aesthetic and historical appeal, you can’t beat the classic Old Town trio; the Silk Exchange, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Valencia Cathedral and the Central Market with its striking Art Nouveau design.

[{"selector":"#anim-5de48889-e17f-44ba-996b-8d69461feda0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7dac63d8-a89e-4a54-a986-c6ed54cbf541","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4fdb6046-2b10-4b94-aff6-1e976ea7dc61","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

The Valencia Cathedral

[{"selector":"#anim-dda60cc6-d337-44b5-a11c-efba668bd935","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3fcd932b-7ec3-4cf8-8606-55382e2f9d7a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4237bde0-1e8f-4f0c-a3b3-1f490f1bb51e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a43dbfd7-7083-4ea7-bb39-49be1a3bf92e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00b1f82e-a5d2-4d6e-9426-df4a729c4639","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.8265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Besides being beautiful inside and out, the cathedral has an important claim to fame. Many believe that the cathedral houses the true Holy Grail, a relic sacred to Christians. You can see it at the chapel of the Holy Chalice inside. Learn more

Mercado Central (Central Market)

[{"selector":"#anim-66120e77-a92a-4df4-a104-49373a434619","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ada9c9a2-3bf3-4093-9c1d-8aaa0be90871","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-787d29cf-af09-4e6e-9d7c-942c98a9c3e5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.92356%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5690944d-c9c5-46bc-96c5-5899f64738fc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf390295-9367-496e-8721-7232c8fdc7ed","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.31945%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Today the market is a popular destination for tourists as well as local with its restaurants, souvenirs and cafes. Make time for a snack at this Mercado Central for an authentic and tasty experience. Learn more

The Silk Exchange

[{"selector":"#anim-300347c2-3d59-448b-bf84-b732e8802e7a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5fbdbaa3-d14c-4277-bb25-23a1cfac64cb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23c28f37-c13d-4888-9204-57ef1baaac90","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5dfece03-67d2-4dcc-891f-b1c31002c027","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9aa07de5-9b85-4c1c-b124-a1f78d91d7ce","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.8265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] There is a reason why this is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This uplifting, glorious structure deserves every accolade the artistic and historical world can bestow upon it. Learn more

Plaza del Ayuntamiento

[{"selector":"#anim-4e8b8761-c99e-4eec-8dd3-d744be5f48db","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff15cf01-878a-49b8-aa6a-b63e2770ec37","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-97189a4d-e13b-4c99-ba0c-d8636dc1520e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.60509%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00af4395-9cbb-43ab-b923-faa3c2584e47","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d3f7953-1aa2-4dea-a378-3cfca5f6526a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.01388%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Many government buildings and high-end hotels are located here. The center is a lovely park with flower shops and many smart shops, cafes and tourist souvenirs lining the perimeter. Learn more

Museo Nacional de Ceramicas y Artes Decorativos

[{"selector":"#anim-3a13dbf7-cdfd-4824-9188-6375406ae5c0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f5d3895-11b5-4622-bc8e-aaf4a22d8aa3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-98f27ccb-e0d8-44de-9392-732bf0eb25b4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b9963885-0ff8-496f-b21f-ca4187869d6c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-33eff3f5-c800-46d4-a4a5-a11bf471ce6b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] This museum is a perfect example of the little gems you find in unexpected places. It was one of the most pleasant museum surprises I’ve ever encountered. THIS is why you travel! Learn more

Valencia in 48 Hours: The Ultimate First-Timer’s Itinerary

Travels with Talek

A 2-day Valencia itinerary should be just enough to understand why Valencia is described as a “city of contrasts.”