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 bed of the Turia on both sides, with the bridge tower above you. That contrast — a medieval core a short walk from an ultramodern complex — is what shapes a visit to Valencia.
The city suits travellers who like to move between centuries in a single afternoon: Gothic towers and a silk exchange in the old town, then a science museum and oceanarium in the former riverbed.
1. Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències
This ultramodern architectural complex on the former Turia riverbed was designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava and Spanish-Mexican architect Félix Candela. If you do not want to pay the steep admission charges to the individual sights, you can wander around the complex and appreciate the architecture from outside for free.
A combined admission ticket for all sights is valid for three days, but the same venue cannot be visited twice, so plan the order of your visits before you buy. Take metro to Ciutat Arts i Ciències - Justícia.
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.
There are several restaurants on-site, and with so many attractions it is easy to make this into an all-day affair. Hours vary by season, and it is open daily.
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 individual sights within the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències complex, so you can buy a day ticket for this section alone rather than the combined pass.
Opening hours shift with the season: winter hours are shorter on Monday to Thursday, and in summer it stays open into the evening.
4. Catedral de Santa María de València
The site has held a Roman temple, then a Visigothic cathedral, then a Moorish grand mosque; the current Gothic structure was begun in 1262 and remodelled numerous times, leaving elements from three distinct architectural periods. Especially notable are the Puerta de los Apóstoles from the 14th century and the Puerta del Palau, the oldest doorway, which is Romanesque with Moorish influences.
Opening hours are shorter from November to March than from April to October, and last admission is 45 minutes before closing. It stands on Plaça de la Reina.
5. Llotja de la Seda
This UNESCO landmark is 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 consists of four distinct parts: the Sala de Contractació, also known as the Saló Columnari; the Sala Consulado del Mar with its magnificent ceiling; the unfinished Torre with its debtor prison, temporarily closed to visitors; and the Pati dels Tarongers.
Some of the Gothic gargoyles are quite naughty, so look up as you cross the courtyard. It is free on Sundays and holidays.
6. 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 rather than a full attraction, which makes it easy to pair with the cathedral and the surrounding old-town sights.
It closes for a long midday break, so time your visit for the morning or late afternoon rather than the middle of the day.
7. Capella del Sant Calze
This side chapel's focus is a chalice of agate, the top of which is believed by the devout to be the Holy Grail. Of the handful of similar chalices with the same claim, this is deemed by many scholars to be the most likely candidate, as that part has been dated by experts 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 stop.
8. 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 in the late 17th century. The most significant of those was a remarkable set of ceiling frescoes covering the vault of the nave and the presbytery, illustrating the lives of St. Nicolás and St. Peter, designed by the Italian master Antonio Palomino and painted by his student Dionis Vidal.
Tourists are not permitted to visit during mass or other liturgical celebrations, so check the schedule before you go. It sits on Carrer dels Cavallers.
9. 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 is across the street from the park, which makes it a natural stop before or after a walk along the old riverbed. It is free on Sundays and holidays.
10. Torres de Quart
This medieval tower was part of the wall that surrounded the old city, and the numerous pock-marks on its face 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 stands at the end of Carrer de Quart, so you can walk the length of that street to reach it. It is free on Sundays and holidays.
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 and the Capella del Sant Calze to combine in one old-town wander.
12. L’Umbracle
A botanic garden landscaped with plants native to Valencia. The park also contains 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 Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències complex without buying a ticket.
13. Pont de l'Assut de l'Or
The striking cable-stayed bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava crosses the dry Túria riverbed. At 125 m high, the bridge tower is the highest point in Valencia.
Walk across it as part of a circuit of the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències complex, since it links the two banks of the former riverbed.
14. L'Àgora
A multi-use covered plaza, designed for sporting events, concerts, and special exhibits. It is one of the structures within the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències complex, so check what is on during your dates before deciding whether to go inside.
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 more well-known El Escorial near Madrid. It was dissolved in 1835 and used over time as a school, an asylum, and during the Franco period as a prison, before being fully restored in 1997-2000; it now houses the central library of the Valencian Community.
Guided architectural tours are offered on weekends at 12:00 and 13:00, in Spanish and Valencian only, with no reservation required, and admission is free. It is in Els Orriols, away from the old town, so give it its own slot in your plans.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start in the old town at the Catedral de Santa María de València, then climb the Micalet for the view while you are there. Add the Capella del Sant Calze inside the cathedral and the Cripta arqueològica de la presó de Sant Vicent Màrtir on Plaza del Arzobispo, then walk to the Llotja de la Seda before the midday break.
Afternoon. Head to the former Turia riverbed for the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències. Wander the complex and L’Umbracle for free, cross the Pont de l'Assut de l'Or, and pick one paid sight — El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe or L’Oceanogràfic. If you choose the oceanarium, expect it to fill the rest of the afternoon.
Evening. Return to the old town and finish at the Torres de Serrano, which is across the street from the park and offers excellent views. If you still have light and energy, walk to the Torres de Quart at the end of Carrer de Quart.
Can I see the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències without paying admission?
Yes. You can wander around the complex and appreciate the architecture from outside for free, and L’Umbracle is free as well. Paid tickets are for the individual sights such as El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe and L’Oceanogràfic.
How does the combined admission ticket work?
The combined admission for all sights is valid for three days, but the same venue cannot be visited twice. Day tickets for individual sections are also available, so decide whether you want to spread visits across several days or focus on one or two sights.
When is the best time to visit the cathedral and the Micalet?
The cathedral has shorter hours from November to March than from April to October, with last admission 45 minutes before closing. The Micalet closes over the middle of the day, so plan it for the morning or late afternoon.
Are any of these sights free to enter?
Several are free on Sundays and holidays, including the Llotja de la Seda, the Torres de Serrano, the Torres de Quart, and the Cripta arqueològica de la presó de Sant Vicent Màrtir. The Monestir de Sant Miquel dels Reis is free, with guided tours on weekends.
Decide which of the paid sights in the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències matters most to you, check the seasonal hours for the cathedral and the Micalet, and start building your days around them.