Stand on the Pont de l'Assut de l'Or and the white ribs of the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències rise out of the dry Turia riverbed on both sides, with the bridge's own pylon overhead. That contrast — a riverbed turned into a long green spine through the city, and a run of modern buildings laid along it — is the quickest way to understand how Valencia is put together.
The city suits travellers who want Gothic stone and modern architecture in the same afternoon, and who are happy to move between them on foot and by metro. The old centre is compact and dense with churches, towers and markets; the former riverbed is a single continuous stretch you can walk end to end.
This guide covers the monuments and architecture of the centre and the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències complex, with a one-day plan that links them.
Top things to do in Valencia
1. Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències
This ultra-modern architectural complex sits on the former Turia riverbed and was designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava and Spanish-Mexican architect Félix Candela. It contains several separate venues, each with its own ticket, and a combined admission covers all of them.
If you would rather not pay the individual admission charges, you can walk around the complex and take in the architecture from outside for free. The combined ticket is valid for three days, but the same venue cannot be visited twice on it, so plan the order of your visits before you buy.
2. L’Oceanogràfic
The largest oceanarium in Europe, with seven sections devoted to different ecological zones. The building was designed by Félix Candela to resemble a water lily, and highlights include a dolphinarium, a walk-through shark tunnel, a shark tank open for public diving, and a spherical bird aviary.
Hours vary by season but it is open daily, and there are several restaurants on-site. With so many attractions it is easy to make this an all-day affair, so give it a full slot rather than squeezing it between other sights.
3. El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe
A science museum designed to resemble a whale skeleton, with interactive exhibits on three floors. It is one of the venues inside the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències complex.
Opening hours shift with the season, running later in summer than in winter, so check the day's times before you set out. It works well paired with the other buildings in the same complex, since you are already there.
4. Catedral de Santa María de València
The cathedral stands on a site that has held a Roman temple, a Visigothic cathedral and a Moorish grand mosque, and it is now the seat of the archbishopric of Valencia. The current Gothic structure was begun in 1262 and remodelled numerous times, leaving elements from three distinct architectural periods; the Puerta de los Apóstoles from the 14th century and the Puerta del Palau, the oldest doorway, are especially notable.
Last admission is 45 minutes before closing, and opening hours differ between November–March and April–October, so arrive with that margin in mind. It sits on Plaça de la Reina, which makes it an easy first stop in the old centre.
5. Capella del Sant Calze
This side chapel of the cathedral centres on a chalice of agate whose top is believed by the devout to be the Holy Grail. Of the handful of similar chalices with the same claim, many scholars consider this the most likely candidate, as that part has been dated to the 1st century BCE.
It was acquired in 1399 and repaired after being broken into several pieces when a priest dropped it in 1744. Visit it as part of your cathedral visit rather than as a separate trip.
6. Llotja de la Seda
A UNESCO landmark considered one of the most significant secular Gothic buildings in Europe, built between 1482 and 1533 on the site of an earlier oil exchange. It has four distinct parts: the Sala de Contractació, also known as the Saló Columnari; the Sala Consulado del Mar with its ceiling; the unfinished Torre with its debtor prison, temporarily closed to visitors; and the Pati dels Tarongers.
Look up at the Gothic gargoyles, some of which are quite naughty. Admission is free on Sundays and holidays, which is worth knowing if your dates are flexible.
7. Micalet
The unusual octagonal bell tower, built in the 14th and 15th centuries, provides a pleasing view of the city. It is a short climb with a defined reward at the top.
It opens in two blocks, morning and late afternoon, with a long midday closure, so fit it around those windows rather than treating it as an all-day option. It pairs naturally with the cathedral, which you will already be visiting nearby.
8. Torres de Serrano
Built in 1392, this gate was part of the ancient wall and for a time also served as a prison. It has been massively renovated and somewhat modernized, but is still interesting, and it offers excellent views.
It stands across the street from the park, which makes it a natural stopping point as you move between the old centre and the former riverbed. Admission is free on Sundays and holidays.
9. Torres de Quart
This medieval tower was part of the wall that surrounded the old city, and the numerous pock-marks on it are from gun battles during the Spanish War of Independence from the French. Great views of the city can be had from the top.
It sits at the end of Carrer de Quart, so you can walk the length of that street to reach it. Like the other wall gates, it is free on Sundays and holidays.
10. Església de Sant Nicolau
Established in the 13th century and expanded in several phases, the church reached its current 15th-century Gothic structure before extensive Baroque renovations to the interior in the late 17th century. The ceiling frescoes completely cover the vault of the nave and the presbytery and illustrate the lives of St. Nicolás and St. Peter; they were designed by the Italian master Antonio Palomino and painted by his student, Dionis Vidal, and have been completely restored.
Tourists are not permitted to visit during mass or other liturgical celebrations, so check the time before you go. Opening hours also differ between October–June and July–September.
11. Cripta arqueològica de la presó de Sant Vicent Màrtir
This Visigothic chapel displays objects discovered during its excavation, including a Visigothic altar, a Roman mural, Muslim artifacts, and a sculpture of the early Christian Saint Vicente Mártir, who is believed to have been buried here.
It is free on Sundays and holidays, and it sits on Plaza del Arzobispo, close enough to the cathedral to fold into the same walk around the old centre.
12. L’Umbracle
A botanic garden landscaped with plants native to Valencia, within the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències complex. The same area holds the Jardí d'Astronomia and the Passeig de l'Art, which has permanent and temporary exhibits of large-scale contemporary art, mostly sculpture.
It is free, which makes it a good way to see part of the complex without buying a ticket. Combine it with your walk around the rest of the buildings.
13. Pont de l'Assut de l'Or
The striking cable-stayed bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava and completed in 2008 crosses the dry Túria riverbed. At 125 m high, the bridge tower is the highest point in Valencia.
It is a structure to look at rather than a venue to enter, so treat it as part of a walk along the riverbed between the other sights in the complex.
14. Almodí
Constructed in the early 14th century on the site of a Moorish palace, the building is essentially Moorish in design and used to function as the municipal granary; its name derives directly from 'almud', the Arabic word for bushel. It was fully restored in 1996.
It keeps a split schedule, closing for the middle of the day on Monday–Saturday, and is free on Sundays and holidays. It sits on Plaça Sant Lluís Bertrán, so it fits into a walk through the old centre.
15. Monestir de Sant Miquel dels Reis
Founded in the 16th century, this massive Renaissance building is considered by some historians to be the early model for the better-known El Escorial near Madrid. It was dissolved in 1835 and came under state control, serving at various times as a school, an asylum and, during the Franco period, a prison; it was fully restored in 1997–2000 and now houses the central library of the Valencian Community, whose collection includes many of the original volumes kept here during its monastic period.
Guided architectural tours run on weekends and holidays at 12:00 and 13:00 with no reservation required, and they are given in Spanish or Valencian only. It is free, and it sits away from the centre in Els Orriols, so plan it as its own outing.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start in the old centre at the Catedral de Santa María de València, remembering that last admission is 45 minutes before closing. Add the Capella del Sant Calze inside it, then climb the Micalet, which opens in a morning block before its long midday closure. Walk the short distance to the Cripta arqueològica de la presó de Sant Vicent Màrtir on Plaza del Arzobispo, then see the Llotja de la Seda and the Almodí.
Afternoon: Continue to the Església de Sant Nicolau, checking that you are not arriving during mass, then walk Carrer de Quart to the Torres de Quart. Cross towards the former riverbed to the Torres de Serrano, which stands across the street from the park, and take in the views from the top.
Evening: Head to the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències and walk the complex from outside, which costs nothing, crossing the Pont de l'Assut de l'Or and passing through L’Umbracle. If you want to go inside, choose one venue for the remaining time — L’Oceanogràfic is easy to make into an all-day affair, so it suits a longer visit, while El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe keeps seasonal hours that run later in summer.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay to see the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències?
No. You can wander around the complex and appreciate the architecture from outside for free. The individual sights charge admission, and a combined ticket covers all of them, valid for three days, though the same venue cannot be visited twice on it.
When is admission free at the old-city monuments?
Several sites are free on Sundays and holidays, including the Llotja de la Seda, the Torres de Quart, the Torres de Serrano, the Almodí and the Cripta arqueològica de la presó de Sant Vicent Màrtir.
Can I visit the Església de Sant Nicolau at any time of day?
No. Tourists are not permitted to visit during mass or other liturgical celebrations, and opening hours differ between October–June and July–September, so check the day's times before setting out.
Are the guided tours of the Monestir de Sant Miquel dels Reis in English?
No. The guided architectural tours on weekends and holidays at 12:00 and 13:00 are offered in Spanish or Valencian only. No reservation is required, and admission is free.
Pick your dates around the free Sunday openings and the seasonal hours, and you can build a Valencia itinerary from the list above without much guesswork.