Valencia: where history, culture and the sea meet
From the Roman forum to the City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia pairs an old town with a green riverbed and a port on the Med.
Valencia is Spain's third city and one of its most rewarding: a historic old town, a riverbed turned into a long green park, a striking modern cultural complex and a port on the Mediterranean. It is a city where the ancient and the contemporary sit only minutes apart, and where a cruise passenger can see a great deal in a single day.
From Roman Valentia to a medieval city
Valencia began as Valentia, a Roman settlement founded in the second century BC on a bend of the Turia river. It later became a prosperous medieval city and, for a time, the capital of its own kingdom, which left it with a rich historic core.
- Roman Valentia, founded on the banks of the Turia.
- A medieval trading city whose wealth built churches and civic palaces.
- A long history that still shows in the layering of the old town.
The old town
The historic centre is compact and walkable, with a few anchors worth planning around.
- Valencia Cathedral — a mix of styles, with the celebrated Chapel of the Holy Grail.
- Plaza de la Virgen — the civic and religious heart of the old city.
- La Lonja de la Seda — the silk exchange, a UNESCO-listed Gothic masterpiece.
- Mercado Central — a lively covered market in a striking modernista building.
Start at the Plaza de la Virgen and the old town unfolds around you on foot; most of the historic sights sit within a short walk.
The Turia gardens
When the Turia river was diverted, its old bed became one of the longest urban green spaces in Spain. The Jardín del Turia now runs through the city with paths, gardens and sports areas, linking the old town to the modern quarter.
The City of Arts and Sciences
At the far end of the Turia gardens, the City of Arts and Sciences is Valencia's bold modern face: white, sculptural buildings given to science, an aquarium and the performing arts. It is a sharp contrast with the medieval centre and a highlight in its own right.
Valencia and the sea
Valencia's port and beaches sit a little way from the historic centre. The Malvarrosa beach and the port area are reachable by bus, tram or taxi, and the old La Marina district has been redeveloped around the water.
| Plan | What to do | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Short | Plaza de la Virgen + cathedral + market | 2–3 h |
| Half day | Add La Lonja and the Turia gardens | 4–5 h |
| Full day | Add the City of Arts and Sciences | Full day |
Practical tips
- The old town is flat and walkable; save your legs for the City of Arts and Sciences, which is further out.
- Use a taxi or the bus if you want to reach the port, the beach or the modern quarter quickly.
- Many sights keep midday closing; plan around the middle of the day.
- Try a local horchata and the city's rice dishes, which are a point of pride.
Valencia is the rare city that shows two faces in one visit: a medieval core full of stone and markets, and a futuristic quarter of white curves, joined by a green riverbed. To see how it fits into a sailing, see our Valencia port guide and the classic Mediterranean itinerary.
