I would not consider myself fluent in any languages other than English and sarcasm, but I have enough working knowledge of Latin and Germanic languages to muddle through most of Europe. Spanish, to me, is among the easiest to navigate — especially in a country like Spain where the locals are patient, friendly, and happy to help you butcher their language over a cold beer.
Valencia was the first stop on a two-and-a-half-week trip through Spain in January 2024. We flew into Valencia’s compact international airport and took a quick taxi to the AC Hotel, located in a business-and-residential district just a couple blocks from food. Easy, no drama.
We arrived on January 6th — the Day of Epiphany — which is a major holiday in Spain. And when I say major, I mean everything was closed. No restaurants, no shops, no markets. We fended for ourselves that first day with whatever we could scrounge from a convenience store. After that, though, the city opened up and we discovered the deals were unbelievable — a meat sandwich for about three euros, a beer for one. Try doing that in New York.
Valencia is the third-largest city in Spain, and I had absolutely no idea there was so much to see. We only spent three days here before heading to Barcelona, and I wish we’d had longer. The metro and local rail system are fantastic — day passes, pay-as-you-go, light rail along the harbor connecting to the metro. Getting around was effortless.
The highlight of Valencia was easily the City of Arts and Sciences complex — a jaw-dropping collection of futuristic buildings designed by Santiago Calatrava, stretching along the drained riverbed of the Turia Gardens. The Oceanogràfic, Europe’s largest aquarium, sits right in the middle of it all.
Beyond the aquarium and science center, we spent a lot of time walking through the Turia Gardens — a massive park built in the old riverbed that runs through the city. Great walks, good people watching, and easy access to different neighborhoods.
We didn’t get enough time to fully explore the beaches, but we did take a stroll down to Playa del Cabanyal — Valencia’s local beach neighborhood.
Valencia surprised me. I came expecting a quick layover on the way to Barcelona, and left wishing I’d planned a full week. The food is incredible, the transit is easy, the people are warm, and the city has a perfect mix of culture, coastline, and affordability that bigger Spanish cities can’t match. I would absolutely go back.