Valencia holidays
Spain’s third city, Valencia is less crowded than Madrid or Barcelona but offers just as much appeal. The City of Joy is the birthplace of paella and the alleged home of the Holy Grail, so you can be sure of a good time eating and drinking your way around town.
Overdose on architecture, paella and sunshine
Mild winter temperatures mean you can make the most of Valencia’s beaches for most of the year, while you can also feast your eyes on stunning art nouveau architecture. Hire a bike and cycle along the Turia Gardens that arch their way six miles around the city, dotted with sculptures, fountains, sports fields and buskers.
Shop for designer wares on the Golden Mile of Calle Poeta Querol or at the art nouveau Colon Market, which houses cafes, restaurants and shops. Head down to Malvarrosa beach to savour a leisurely lunch at Casa Carmela with its local specialties such as seafood fideua. Then wander around Cabanyal-Canyamelar, the atmospheric old fishermen’s village with rows of cute, tiny pastel-fronted houses that cry out to be photographed.
Enjoy the lively nightlife scene – stop off for a horchata, a traditional drink made from tiger nuts, at Casa del l’Orxata. Call in for dinner at Ricard Camarena Restaurant and sample what the two Michelin-star local chef calls ‘agriculture a la carte’. For a nightcap pop into Cafe Madrid where you can enjoy an expertly mixed cocktail from its snazzy roof terrace or hang out in the trendy Ruzafa district in the kitschy, antique-festooned bar La Bella de Cadiz. Book your flights to Valencia today.
Carefully selected Valencia hotels
Best hotels in Valencia for all types of traveller
We have a fantastic range of quality hotels in Valencia to recommend. The Westin Hotel Valencia is a fine place to lay your head. Housed in a former wool factory this stylish city-centre hotel offers airy rooms, an indoor pool and a Mediterranean garden attached to its El Jardi Bar which serves unique cocktails inspired by the sea.
Prefer something more coastal? Try the Santos Las Arenas Balneario Resort. This five-star property right by Las Arenas beach has spacious rooms, mostly with large terraces affording fine views of the Med. Maybe you want to be closer to the action? Set in an elegant 19th Century palace Hospes Palau de la Mar Valencia is a cool, urban bolthole near the commercial district, offering gourmet dining and a Bodyna Spa where you can fully relax and revitalise yourself.
Another good option, just 600 metres from the City of Arts and Sciences, Primus Valencia is a sleek, contemporary hotel with avant-garde furniture and a restaurant-bar with a massive outdoor terrace. The Silken Puerta Valencia is a reliable 4-star-hotel with bright, spacious rooms in the tourist area. It also features the Restaurant Puerta Valencia, which specialises in local rice dishes. SH Ingles Boutique Hotel is just metres from the National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Arts. This boutique hotel set in a renovated 18th Century palace offers authentic Valencian cuisine in its SH Ingles Restaurant.
Valencia holiday FAQs
- The City of the Arts and Sciences is a masterpiece of modern architecture occupying a 35,000 m2 stretch of the reclaimed Turia riverbed. The brainchild of local starchitect Santiago Calatrava, the complex comprises four spectacular main buildings featuring an opera house, a science museum, a 3D cinema and an aquarium. A network of pools and promenades surround the structure which can all be explored in multiple ways.
- Valencia’s 13th Century cathedral was built on a Roman site that was later a mosque. It’s predominantly Gothic with Neoclassical side chapels. Its many highlights include its museum, rich Italianate frescos, a pair of Goyas and, most famously, what’s claimed to be the Holy Grail Jesus supped from during the Last Supper. Climb the 207 steps in the bell tower for sublime city views.
- The Museum of Fine Arts houses Spain’s second-largest art collection in a beautiful 17th Century building that was once a seminary college. It showcases works from the 15th to 19th centuries by the likes of Pintoricchio, Andrea del Sarto, Van Dyck, Murillo, Velazquez, El Greco and Goya. The Gothic and Renaissance eras are especially well represented alongside proponents of the Valencian school, such as Sorolla, Pinazo and Benlliure.
- Housed in a handsome art nouveau structure complete with domes adorned with stained glass and mosaics and completed in 1928, Central Market is a colourful place alive with sensory delights. The market has over 1,200 stalls heaving with fresh fruit and vegetables, especially oranges, tomatoes and beans, meat, cheese, spices, nuts, fish and seafood, making it one of Europe’s largest food markets. To taste some of the typical produce, pause for some tapas or a bocadillo and a drink at chef Ricard Camarena’s Central Bar.
- Built in 1482, La Lonja de la Seda was the city’s silk market and remains a powerful symbol of Valencia’s mercantile clout today. The UNESCO-listed building is an impressive structure and is one of the finest examples of civil Gothic style. The grandiose Sala de Contratacion houses lofty, twisted pillars while the Consulado del Mar was where a maritime tribunal once sat. A citrus-studded courtyard connects the two.
- Ciutat Vella is Valencia’s historical centre where you’ll find most of the city’s key attractions, including Valencia Cathedral, La Lonja de la Seda and Central Market. Wander its atmospheric tangle of narrow lanes and orange tree-lined squares and take in the street art dotted around the El Carmen neighbourhood which comes to life at night. For a taste of local life browse the 1,000-odd stalls of the Central Market, visit the impressive Gothic structure that is the city’s silk market and join a paella cookery class.
- Cullera is a lively seaside town tucked between mountains and the sea on the Valencian coast with a well-maintained old town and 11 safe beaches to enjoy. A medieval castle and the neo-Romanesque Mare Deu del Castillo shrine are worth seeking out, as are the Dragut Caves Museum and the Cullera Lighthouse. Enjoy 10 miles of sheltered beaches and cliffs and go fishing in one of the freshwater lagoons that surround the area.
- Marina Beach Club near Las Arenas beach and the Valencia Marina is considered one of the country’s finest. Enjoy outstanding views of the Med, a beautiful pool area, two restaurants and a stage hosting international DJs. In summer it houses the city’s largest outdoor terrace, while the menu offers local and modern cuisine including traditional Valencian paella and many other rice dishes. Order their signature Aguas de Valencia cocktail (a potent combo of cava, orange juice, gin and vodka) and enjoy the tech-house beats and chilled vibes.
- Valencia’s beaches bask in the morning sun before nearly anywhere else in Spain and the sea can be warm enough for swimming from April through to November. The most central beach, Las Arenas, gets packed out by a party-loving crowd that flocks here for the beachside bars, sun loungers and volleyball court. Malvarrosa is quieter and has more of a local’s vibe while still retaining essential facilities like toilets and bus stops. Quieter still is Patacona, a little further out with cleaner water and plenty of space. Pinedo is more sheltered with dedicated spaces for pets, water sports and nudists. The beaches get wilder as you head further south, with El Saler offering water sports, while La Garroferra has long grass and rolling dunes beyond the sands.
Valencia’s Metro network is fast, inexpensive and convenient. There are 10 lines (including underground and tram) covering the airport and most of the city. For unlimited use save money by buying a discounted ticket available in one-, two-, and three-day durations. Children six and under travel free. Valencia’s a small, flat and very walkable city. Several companies offer free walking tours, or you can hire a bike using the city’s Valenbisi scheme.
Valencia has plenty of family-friendly attractions, including the Turia Gardens, Albufera Natural Park, Gulliver Park and the Marina, plus seven Blue Flag beaches to enjoy.
Why choose British Airways Holidays?
The British Airways experience is more than a flight.
We’re one of the UK’s largest holiday companies offering carefully chosen hotels, resorts and villas in the most amazing places, and car hire with no hidden extras. Our access to the extensive British Airways global network and oneworld® alliance puts us in a unique position to create holiday packages with convenient flights across the globe. From start to finish consider your holiday taken care of.
Low deposits
Secure your holiday with a low deposit and spread the cost with flexible payments.
Baggage allowance
All of our holiday packages include a generous checked baggage allowance.
ATOL protected
You'll be ATOL protected from the moment you book a holiday package.
Pay with Avios
Reduce the cost of your next trip and pay for your holiday with Avios.
Customer reviews
Our customers’ reviews are independently moderated by Feefo. We're extremely proud of our verified ratings, satisfaction scores and the commitment we see, when our customers consistently choose to book with us again.
Other holiday destinations you might be interested in...
Barcelona holidays
Benidorm holidays
Fuerteventura holidays
Gran Canaria holidays
Ibiza holidays
Lanzarote holidays
Madrid holidays
Majorca holidays
Malaga holidays
Menorca holidays
Seville holidays
Tenerife holidays
Terms and conditions
- Flight only prices are updated every 24 hours and are accurate when published. Flights at these prices are limited and may sell out quickly.
- Package holiday prices (flight + hotel or flight + car) prices are updated every 24 to 48 hours and are accurate when published and may vary upon reaching subsequent pages. Availability may be extremely limited particularly during peak periods.
- Return fares displayed are the lowest adult return prices in the cabin specified including taxes, fees and carrier charges, based on a 7-day return journey.
- Each–way fares displayed are the lowest adult each-way prices in the cabin specified based on the lowest adult return prices for a 7 day travel period, including all taxes, fees and carrier charges available in this period.
- One-way fares displayed are the lowest adult prices in the cabin specified including taxes, fees and carrier charges available in this period.
- Package holiday prices (flight + hotel and flight + car) shown are in GBP per person based on 2 adults sharing one room or one car and prices include taxes, fees and carrier charges unless otherwise specified. Flight + car prices based on drivers aged 30-70 years.
- Additional charges will be applied for payments made using a corporate credit card.
- Advertised fares are available on ba.com. Additional charges may apply if purchased through British Airways outlets or travel agents.
- Combine and save on Holidays: Guaranteed savings are only available when booking a Flight + Hotel or Flight + Car booking including one land product, it does not apply to a ‘Customise your trip’ holiday including more than one hotel and / or car.
- Package holidays are protected under British Airways Holidays Ltd by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 5985.
- Standard British Airways terms and conditions apply