If you’re planning a quick visit to Spain, this Valencia day trip itinerary is proof that you can experience the city’s highlights in just one day without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
Last month, I was scrolling through Ryanair’s fare finder during my lunch break out of curiosity, and I saw a £30 same day return fare from London to Valencia. I mean…it would be rude not to snap up that deal. I could have stayed the night for a similar price, but I had an important work meeting the following day, and this holiday request was quite last minute. Spain isn’t really somewhere that has appealed to me as a destination, but it’s a big country, and each region is different, so I decided to give it another go. I did a solo Valencia day trip, and it turned out to be one of the most relaxed and enjoyable experiences I have had in Spain. From historic streets to fresh orange juice and multiple gardens, Valencia has a charm that feels so vibrant yet easygoing.
My Valencia day trip started early with a morning flight landing at around 10.30am. I was sat at the front of the plane, so didn’t need to wait around in any long security queues. I went to the toilets to get changed and put on some makeup, then it was a short metro ride (around 30 minutes) to Xàtiva station. From here, it was a 15 minute walk to the old town, which is where my first stop was located.
1. Central Market of Valencia
No Valencia day trip itinerary can be complete without visiting the Central Market. This was one of my favourite stops, full of colour, fresh produce, and authentic local energy. I grabbed a fresh orange juice, and wandered around the stalls trying a few small bites.
Did you know that paella actually originated in Valencia? It is a lunchtime dish that started in the 18th century. Traditionally, it contains rice, snails, chicken, rabbit, and white beans. I bought a portion of this paella pictured above, but it didn’t appear to have any snails or rabbit inside. I’m not complaining though, because I don’t like rabbit and have no interest in eating snails. This paella was very tasty and reasonably priced! Valencia seemed to be really cheap in general by Western European pricing standards. I saw coffee for £1.50! Many tapas were around £2.50.
2. La Lonja de la Seda
A short walk away from the market, is La Lonja de la Seda, a gothic style building and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a very short visit but also worth it. The architecture is beautiful, and it gives you a real sense of Valencia’s history as a trading city.
This is a photo of an orange tree I found in the courtyard of La Lonja de la Seda. Valencia is known for it’s orange trees, which were introduced to Spain by the Moors. These trees are randomly dotted all around the city. It’s important to note that you shouldn’t eat the oranges off these publicly located trees, because they are not the sweet, edible type of oranges that locals eat. These oranges are usually sprayed with pesticides and taste very bitter. They are used to make marmalade.
3. Valencia Cathedral
My next stop was a short walk to Valencia Cathedral, which is on the Plaza de la Virgen. This area was one of my favourite stops because the atmosphere was calm, despite it being a main square. What makes this cathedral interesting is that it was previously many different religious buildings. It was originally a Roman temple, and was also a mosque during Islamic rule. This cathedral is also famous for housing the Holy Grail, which some people believe is the original cup used at the Last Supper.
4. Turia Fountain
This beautiful fountain is on the same square as the Valencia Cathedral. It is supposed to represent the Turia River, which used to flow through the city until severe flooding in the 1950s.
5. Drink Agua de Valencia
This is a must-do for any Valencia day trip itinerary! This local cocktail, called Agua de Valencia, has been around since the 1950s. This refreshing cocktail is made with fresh Valencian orange juice, cava, vodka, and gin. The problem with this drink is that it doesn’t taste like it’s full of alcohol; it’s sweet, light, and 100% stronger than it tastes! Unfortunately, most places only serve this in pitchers that are meant to be shared with 2-4 people. I went to 3 different places and had to leave because they didn’t serve it as a single drink…until I found Cafeteria la Virgen. It’s definitely an overpriced tourist trap type of place, and I could tell from looking at the menu and prices (plus it has terrible reviews on Google). But it’s fine for drinks, and the cup was huge (I’m pretty sure it was around 400ml of liquid).
6. Torres de Serranos
One of the final stops on my Valencia day trip itinerary was Torres de Serranos, one of the largest and best-preserved medieval city gates in Europe. The towers were originally part of Valencia’s old defensive walls and acted as one of the main entrances into the city. Visitors can normally climb to the top for views of the city. I had originally planned to climb, but after trying Agua de Valencia just before, I decided that admiring the towers from below was probably the smarter option 😂.
7. Turia Gardens
Right next to the towers are the Turia Gardens, which was a perfect way to end the day. I had to walk through them to get to the metro station on my way to the airport. Remember how I mentioned the Turia River above? These gardens were originally the site of the Turia River. After the flood in the 1950s, the river was redirected away from the city centre, and the riverbed was transformed into a public park. In true Valencian form…you will also find some orange trees here!
If you’re planning a day trip in Spain, and only have a short amount of time, Valencia makes the perfect day trip. It has a little bit of everything: history, beaches (I didn’t have time), green spaces, and amazing food.
Leave a Reply