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City trip: 12x Things to do in Valencia

Written by admin on . Posted in Spain. No Comments on City trip: 12x Things to do in Valencia

Valencia is one of my favourite cities in Europe. The combination of its lively city centre, the endless beaches and the delicious food makes it a city that you’ll easily find yourself falling in love with. If you’re planning a city trip to Valencia, look no further. In this article I’ll be sharing my favourite “to do” tips with you, as well as some great food recommendations!

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    1. Bicycle

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    1. Food markets

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    1. Plaza de la Virgen

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    1. Ciudad de las Artes y Ciencias

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    1. Turia Park

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    1. Beach

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    1. El Carmen

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    1. Dinner

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    1. Breakfast

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    1. Paella

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    1. Estadio Mestalla

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    1. Nightlife

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#1 Discover the city by bike

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I’m a huge fan of exploring European cities by bike anyway, but if I had to point out just one city that’s perfect to explore by bike, it would be Valencia without a doubt. Cycling paths are spread out all over the city which makes it not just a fun, but also a safe way to get around. Moreover, you’ll find yourself covering quite some distances from one neighbourhood to another and there’s no better way to do so than by bike, as you get to take in amazing city views on the way!

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#2 Stroll around the food markets

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One of my favourite activities in Spain is visiting local markets. When I was a little girl, I used to visit the local market of Tortosa (Catalunya) every single year. I’ve been obsessed with Spanish food markets ever since, so whenever I’m in Spain, I just have to squeeze in a visit to a market nearby, which is exactly what I did in Valencia as well.

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Valencia’s most popular markets are Mercado Central and Mercado de Colón. The latter is home to many small bars and cafes, whereas Mercado Central is a more traditional food market where vegetables, fruits, meat, fish and other fresh products are being sold. Gorgeous architecture is what the two mercados have in common, which makes them both worth a visist already.

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#3 Visit Plaza de la Virgen

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Plaza de la Virgen can be considered as the most beautiful square of Valencia. The centrally located fountain is a real eye catcher and symbolises the former Turia river. Apart from the fountain, you’ll find the Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados and the Cathedrale of Valencia on this plaza; both gorgeous architectural works. All together they make Plaza de la Virgan a very Instagrammable place.

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#4 Discover la Ciudad de las Artes y Ciencias

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The greatest tourist attraction in Valencia is the City of Arts and Sciences, which makes total sense! Not only you’ll find lots of things to do here, as la Ciudad de las Artes y Ciencias is home to a museum, concert hall and an aquarium park, but the buildings on their own are extremely photogenic as well. My favourite Instagram spot is L’Umbracle. During summer, L’Umbracle even turns into an open air club. The perfect setting for a fun night out!

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#5 Have a picnic in Turia Park

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La Ciudad de las Artes y Ciencias is located in Turia Park, one of Valencia’s other highlights. This park is actually located in the riverbed of the former Turia river, which has been drained after the big flood in 1957. About 30 years later, the park was officially opened with the aim to make Valencia a greener city, in which they definitely succeeded. Turia is the perfect park to cycle around in thanks to its cycling paths. Grab some food and drinks to enjoy a picnic and surround yourself with Valencia’s locals.

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#6 Spend the afternoon at the beach

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In case you’re exploring Valencia on a hot summer day like I did, it’s safe to say that it’s a relieve to keep in mind that you’re just a 20 min cycle removed from the beach! Even when you’re visiting during spring or autumn, the beach area is a great place to discover, as it’s close to the colourful fishing district Cabanyal. Along the boulevard of Playa de la Malvarrosa you can have a drink at one of the many cute beach bars. If you’re more in the mood for a (classy) party, make sure to explore the harbour where some popular beach clubs such as Marina Beach Club are located.

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#7 Wander around the old neighbourhood El Carmen

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Narrow streets, beautiful architecture and colourful street art… welcome to El Carmen! El Carmen is the oldest neighbourhood and serves as a great area to get lost in on purpose. Other than the great architecture, you’ll come across some (vintage) boutique shops and great restaurants!

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#8 Have dinner in the trendy neighbourhood Ruzafa

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If you’re looking for a great place to have dinner, look no further. Ruzafa is the place to be. You honestly can’t make a bad choice here as you’ll stumble upon the next cute place every other 10 metres, but I’m going to take this opportunity to give you a restaurant recommendation anyway: El Rebujito. El Rebujito is actually a tapas bar and it seems to be very popular among the locals. I’ve heared that they have the best draught beers in the city, though I have to say their Sangria isn’t that bad either!

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#9 Enjoy breakfast at Dulce de Leche

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Dulce de Leche is known as THE breakfast spot in Valencia. I have to admit that they really have some delicious specialties, so it’s totally worth the hype. Their pies and pastries look amazing as well, so you might spend some more time here than originally planned. DDL actually has three locations in Valencia: Ruzafa, Cuitat Vella (centre) and Patraix.

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#10 Try the traditional paella

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Did you know that paella originates in Valencia? Thanks to the abundance of rice fields in Valencia region and rice being the main ingredient of paella, it’s the most typical meal in Valencia. The Paella Valenciana must really be worth a try. I personally haven’t had the chance to try the Valencian version of paella yet, so let me know when you have!

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#11 Visit the home base of Valencia CF

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In my opinion, Estadio Mestalla is one of Europe’s coolest football stadiums. Mestalla can easily be reached by bike from the old centre, as it’s right across Turia Park. It’s an impressive stadium from the outside already, but if you’re a football fan, it might be worth it to book a stadium tour. Even better if Valencia CF is playing a home game during your stay and you can get hold of a ticket for the match…

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#12 Experience Valencia’s nightlife

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Just like in any other Spanish city, people are out on the streets untill late at night. I’m personally used to clubs opening around 11 pm, but in Valencia they’re only just having predrinks around that time. To fully experience this atmosphere, you’ve got to be in Ruzafa again as there’s an abundance of typical Spanish (cocktail) bars. The actual clubbing starts around 1 am which is when the clubs usually open, though most clubs are only getting crowded from 3 am onwards as the party won’t stop before early in the morning.

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Recommendations:

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    • Xtra Large Playground (club with two different areas in Ruzafa)

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    • RUMBO 144 (located in the student neighbourhood Algirós)

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    • Espit Chupitos (shots, shots shots!)

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    • Marina Beach Club (located along the harbour at the beach)

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    • L’Umbracle (open air during summer, basement during winter)

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Looking for some more info about this popular holiday destination? Have a look at my other blog articles about Spain or fly along to another destination!

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Do you have any questions about my travels or do you see a great opportunity to collaborate? I’m happy to reply to your Instagram DM or email (floraflies.nl@gmail.com)!

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City trip: How to explore Barcelona in one day (+ directions)

Written by admin on . Posted in Spain. No Comments on City trip: How to explore Barcelona in one day (+ directions)

In order to explore Barcelona in the best possible way, I’d say it’s perfect to spend around three to five days in Barcelona, since the tourist attractions are located all over the city. In case you’re just planning a day trip to Barcelona, I’ll try to guide you through the city in the most efficient way. In this article you’ll find some of my favourite places and attractions in Barcelona, along with directions that I created to explore Barcelona in one day in the best way.

  1. Sagrada Família

  2. Park Güell

  3. Barceloneta

  4. Parc de la Ciutadella

  5. La Rambla

  6. Plaça d’Espanya

Tip: start the day by buying a T-Casual underground ticket for only €11,35 that’s worth 10 rides on Barcelona’s underground (can be used by multiple passengers), though it would normally cost €2,40 per single ride. At the bottom of this page, you’ll find my (underground) directions that will guide you along the below listed six places in Barcelona.

 

#1 Sagrada Família

Underground station: Sagrada Família

 

Just like the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Colosseum in Rome, the Sagrada Familia is the most popular tourist attraction of Barcelona. They started building the basilica back in 1882 and even Today’s image of the Sagrada Familia includes cranes. The objective is to add the final tower in 2026. By then, the basilica should have a height of 170 metres.

 

Have a look at the impressive Sagrada Familia from all corners, as the basilica consists of different parts. The oldest part – which is based on Antoni Gaudí’s drawings – is located on the side of the main entrance. Across the street you’ll find Plaça de Gaudí, a park with a beautiful pond, which is the ultimate place to get your picture perfect of the Sagrada Familia.

 

Although I’ve been told that the basilica is absolutely gorgeous from the inside as well (yes, I’ve visited Barcelona over five times – yes, I’ve never actually been inside its main tourist attraction), I’d say it’s best to fully admire the Sagrada Familia during a longer visit. Trust me, you’re going to want to revisit the Sagrada Familia, as it’s guaranteed that the basilica will look differently during your next visit since it’s currently still under construction.

 

#2 Park Güell

Underground station: Alfons X

 

Another beautiful master piece by Gaudí. Though Park Güell is further away from the city center, it’s totally worth the visit. Buy your ticket online in advance for around €10. This ticket includes the Alfons X – Park Güell shuttle service if you show your ticket at the bus stop, as well as exclusive access to the famous mosaic benches. Have you really been to Park Güell if you didn’t post a photo on Instagram on the mosaic benches? (I personally don’t have any proof as I lost all of my photos of that day, oops). From this spot, you’ll be able to enjoy views all over Barcelona and even the Mediterranean in the back. Take your time to explore the rest of the park as well, Gaudí’s unique style can be recognised in every corner.

 

#3 Barceloneta

Underground station: Barceloneta

 

After taking the bus back from Park Güell to Alfons X, it’s time to take the underground to Barceloneta. Once you’ve arrived there, a walk along the harbor towards the boulevard follows, during which you can have a look at some quite impressive yahts that are stationed there. The sand of Barceloneta beach might have been sprayed on, but that doesn’t take away the fact that Barceloneta has a chill beach vibe. Skip the tourist restaurants that you will most certainly be approached by on your way to the beach and take a seat at one of the bars at the beach instead. Bo Kaap is your place to go to if you’re in the mood for some delicious patatas bravas and pan con tomate!

 

#4 Parc de la Ciutadella

Underground station: Arc de Triomf

 

Enjoy the walk from the beach through the fishing district back to Barceloneta’s underground station. Instead of taking the underground again, walk for another 10 minutes to the south entrance of Parc de la Ciutadella, which is a beautiful city park where you’ll encounter many locals enjoying a picnic on a sunny day. The Cascada Monumental is the main reason to visit this park, though just strolling around is worth it already. If you leave the park on the side of Passeig de Lluís Companys, you can squeeze in another hotspot: the Arc de Triomf. I only discovered this area during one of my last visits to Barcelona, but it’s quickly made it to my list of favourite places in the city.

 

#5 La Rambla

Underground station: Catalunya

 

My personal experience is that La Rambla is a bit overrated and way too touristy, but it’s still the most famous street of Barcelona, so it’s basically a must if it’s your first time in Barcelona. Other than that, La Rambla is located in a great area that offers lots of sights, so you’ll probably just be in the neighbourhood anyway! To get to La Rambla, you take the underground from your previous stop (Arc de Triomf) to Plaça de Catalunya, from where you can explore the area by foot.

 

Combine your visit to La Rambla with Mercat de la Boqueria, which is one of the biggest food markets in the city. Palau Güell (another creation of – surprise, surprise – Gaudí) and the charming square Plaça Reial are located along the bystreets of La Rambla. Plaça Reial is a great starting point to further explore the Gothic Quarter. Barri Gòtic is one of the most popular neighbourhoods of Barcelona, thanks to its abundance of cute narrow streets and architectural sights such as the Cathedrale of Barcelona.

 

#6 Plaça d’Espanya

Underground station: Espanya

 

After taking the underground to from Plaça de Catalunya to Plaça d’Espanya, the first thing you’ll see is the giant roundabout. Along this arterial road a former bullfighting arena is located, which has now been renovated into a great shopping mall. Even if you’re not planning to shop, I can recommend you to pay a visit to the mall. Take the escalator to the top floor from where you can enter the rooftop to take in some amazing views. I always love escaping the hustle and bustle of a big city in places like this, while not being far removed from it.

 

On the other side of the roundabout you’ll find the Palau Nacional. By day, this museum is quite photogenic already, but once the sun sets Palau Nacional is even more worth visiting. The fountain that’s located in front of it is home to a magical light show right after sunset (depending on time of the year; usually on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays). Make sure you Google whether (and if so, at what time) this light show takes place at the day of your visit to Barcelona. A great way to end the day for sure!

 
 

Directions

Starting point: Sagrada Família

 

1) Sagrada Família

 

Station Sagrada Família – Station Verdaguer (8 min. walk or underground L5)

Station Verdaguer – Station Alfons X (underground L4)

Station Alfons X – Park Güell (shuttle bus)

 

2) Park Güell

 

Park Güell – Station Alfons X (shuttle bus)

Station Alfons X – Station Barceloneta (underground L4)

Station Barceloneta – Strandtent Bo Kaap (12 min. walk)

 

3) Barceloneta

 

Strandtent Bo Kaap – Parc de la Ciutadella (22 min. walk)

 

4) Parc de la Ciutadella

 

Parc de la Ciutadella – Arc de Triomf (4 min. walk)

Station Arc de Triomf – Station Catalunya (underground L1)

 

5) La Rambla

 

Station Catalunya – Station Espanya (underground L1)

 

6) Plaça d’Espanya

 
 

Looking for some more info about this popular holiday destination? Have a look at my other blog articles about Spain or fly along to another destination!

 

Do you have any questions about my travels or do you see a great opportunity to collaborate? Feel free to send me an Instagram DM or email (floraflies.nl@gmail.com).