Why CityAppTour?
Explore a city in 1 day
Stories from local guides
Pause whenever you want
Affordable
Stress-free navigation with audio guidance
English guide
Where futuristic City of Arts and Sciences meets medieval towers and baroque splendor, Valencia offers Spain's most striking architectural contrast. The city that gave birth to paella transforms from a sun-drenched Mediterranean paradise by day to a vibrant culinary hotspot as evening falls.
These contrasts unfold through your headphones as you explore Valencia walking tours at your own rhythm. Local voices guide you through centuries of history while you decide when to pause for horchata at a traditional café or marvel at the verdant Turia Gardens. The freedom to discover Valencia without a guide yet with expert narration creates the perfect balance.
Besides our audio guide, there are many other ways to experience Valencia. Here are some suggestions that can complement your self-guided tours in Valencia:
Best Time to Visit
Valencia enjoys over 300 days of sunshine annually, making it a year-round destination. Spring (April-June) offers ideal temperatures and fewer crowds for walking tours Valencia visitors recommend. If you visit in March, don't miss Las Fallas festival with its spectacular fireworks and giant satirical sculptures, though be prepared for crowds during this world-famous celebration.
Getting There
Valencia Airport connects to major European cities, with the metro line 3 or 5 taking you directly to the city center in about 20 minutes. The high-speed AVE train from Madrid (1h40m) or Barcelona (3h) arrives at Joaquín Sorolla station. Within the city, the efficient metro, buses, and Valenbisi bike-sharing system make exploring Valencia without a guide easy and affordable.
Opening Hours and Holidays
Most shops open 10:00-20:00 Monday to Saturday, with many observing a siesta break between 14:00-17:00, especially in summer. Museums typically close on Mondays, while Sunday trading is limited to tourist areas. Major holidays include January 22 (San Vicente Mártir), March 19 (San José/Las Fallas finale), and October 9 (Valencian Community Day) when many attractions operate on reduced hours.
Comfort on the Go
Valencia's Mediterranean climate means sun protection is essential year-round for self-guided tours Valencia offers. Comfortable walking shoes are a must for navigating both cobblestone streets and the expansive Turia Gardens. Carry a water bottle that you can refill at numerous public fountains, and consider a light backpack for layers as evening temperatures can drop significantly, especially near the coast.
Local Customs and Etiquette
Valencians typically eat lunch around 14:00 and dinner after 21:00, with many restaurants not opening for dinner until 20:30. When ordering paella, remember it's traditionally a lunch dish shared among several people. A small tip (5-10%) in restaurants is appreciated but not mandatory. When greeting locals, a kiss on each cheek is common among friends, while a handshake is appropriate in formal situations.
CityAppTour routes are built by content makers who have actually walked the city, researched local history and gathered input from people who know the place well. For Valencia, that means telling the story of the Silk Exchange merchants, the Holy Grail in the Cathedral, the transformation of the riverbed into Europe's longest urban park and the origins of a dish that the world has been cooking wrong for decades.
Valencia is the birthplace of paella — but the authentic Valencian version bears little resemblance to what is served in most tourist restaurants. The original uses rice, chicken, rabbit, green beans, garrofó beans, tomato, olive oil and saffron — no seafood. Horchata, a cold drink made from tiger nuts, is the other Valencian institution, traditionally served with fartons (long sweet pastries) at a horchatería. Agua de Valencia — orange juice mixed with cava — is the city's classic cocktail.
The five unmissable experiences in Valencia are: the City of Arts and Sciences, Calatrava's futuristic complex on the old riverbed; the Mercado Central, one of the most beautiful food markets in Europe; the Cathedral, which claims to hold the Holy Grail; the Turia Gardens, a 9-kilometre linear park where a river used to flow; and an authentic Valencian paella, eaten at a restaurant outside the city centre.
Yes — Valencia is one of the most rewarding cities in Spain and consistently underrated compared to Barcelona or Madrid. It has a stunning futuristic complex in the City of Arts and Sciences, a UNESCO-listed Gothic Silk Exchange, one of the largest fresh food markets in Europe, and the original home of paella. The climate is sunny almost year-round, prices are lower than Barcelona, and the old town and beach are both accessible on foot or by bike along the Turia Gardens park.
Yes, the tour works fully offline after downloading. Download it on Wi-Fi before you travel and you have access to all audio, maps and points of interest throughout the day without using any mobile data.
Three days is a comfortable amount of time in Valencia. On day one, explore the old town — the Mercado Central, the Cathedral and the Barrio del Carmen. On day two, visit the City of Arts and Sciences and the Turia Gardens. On day three, the beach, the Silk Exchange and any remaining museums. Four days allows a more relaxed pace or a day trip to the Albufera lagoon, where paella was originally cooked.
The tour is written for adults, with content on Gothic architecture, the Holy Grail legend and Valencian history. Children aged around 12 and up generally follow along well. Younger children can enjoy the walk — the Mercado Central, the Cathedral tower and the Turia Gardens tend to capture the attention of visitors of all ages.
Valencia has a combination few Spanish cities can match: the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences alongside a Gothic old town, a UNESCO World Heritage silk exchange, the original paella, and a 9-kilometre park running through the city where a river used to be. It is also Europe's City of Design since 2022, and hosts the Las Fallas festival every March — one of the most spectacular fire festivals in the world, recognised by UNESCO.
Yes, the tour can be shared with the people you are travelling with. Check the app for the current sharing options and any available group discounts.
A CityAppTour audio tour lets you explore Valencia entirely at your own pace. You can linger at the Mercado Central, climb the Miguelete tower when the queues are shorter, or spend more time in the Barrio del Carmen without a group schedule. No booking required and the tour works offline from the moment you download it.
Free walking tours exist in Valencia but rely on tips — typically €10–15 per person. CityAppTour offers a consistent, fully researched route at a fixed price that you can start the moment you arrive, on any day and at any time.
Plan around 2 to 2.5 hours for the walking tour through Valencia's historic centre. The route covers the Mercado Central, the Cathedral and its Miguelete tower, the Silk Exchange, the Plaza de la Virgen, the Barrio del Carmen and the key squares of the old town — all at your own pace.
