Neighbourhoods and areas in Valencia
Discover the most charming neighbourhoods and areas in Valencia
Valencia is an amazing city full of life, with a Mediterranean atmosphere and fascinating spots all over the 19 districts that are subdivided into 88 neighbourhoods.
Here you can find a guide on the most notable neighbourhoods in the city, organised into 6 areas so you can plan your time and not miss out on anything.
See the map with the most interesting neighbourhoods and areas to visit in Valencia so you can enjoy a complete experience in the city.
Historic Centre
Valencia has one of the oldest historic centres in Europe. The city has over 2000 years of profound history and a rich artistic heritage; therefore, it is a must see. Both La Lonja and the Water Tribunal, which meets every Thursday at the Cathedral's Door of the Apostles, are part of the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site list, as well as the local festivity, Fallas, which takes place in March.
The list of essential visits in the historic centre is long, with treasures such as the Cathedral and the Holy Chalice, the Central Market, the frescoes in the Church of San Nicolás, the Torres de Serranos, Plaza Redonda or the Palace of Marqués de Dos Aguas, among others. You will need a full day to see them all.
Alameda, City of Arts and Oceanogràfic
As it is a large area of the city, the best way to discover it all is on foot or by bike through the Turia Garden and see the 18 bridges that cross them. You can start at Alameda with the Viveros and Monforte Gardens and the Museum of Fine Arts, a spectacular classical picture gallery. Afterwards, you can then move on to the old Turia river bed, where you can visit the City of Arts and Sciences, Puente de la Exposición and Palau de la Música.
We recommend you take a full day to visit all of the above, as visiting the Oceanogràfic and the rest of the City of Arts and Sciences will take approximately 5 hours.
The Marina, beaches and the Cabañal neighbourhood
This area is ideal to enjoy Valencian cuisine with a sea breeze and spectacular views. The Valencia Marina is a famous area with plenty of space to walk, ride a bike, enjoy the local cuisine and do water sports. The Cabañal and Malvarrosa beaches, the promenade and the Cabañal seafaring neighbourhood area trendy areas due to their lifestyle.
It is a large area with a varied leisure and cuisine offer, therefore we recommend you take your time when visiting it. You can go for a swim at the beach, ride a bike, try a Valencian paella and enjoy the lively atmosphere on the terraces next to the beach.
Albufera Natural Park
The Albufera Natural Park is only 10 kilometres from the city. It is a Mediterranean ecosystem with a combination of wild dune beaches, pine forests, rice fields and a huge freshwater lake. You don't need a car to reach it, bus number 25 takes you straight there or you can take the Albufera Bus Turistic for a panoramic visit.
In order to learn more about the area's biodiversity, take a boat ride on the lake's calm water or take a bike ride or stroll along one of the six marked routes in the park. Paella was invented in this area, so why not try one? You can also discover other local culinary delights, such as all-i-pebre or llisa adobada.
We recommend you spend at least 6 hours on this visit in order to take a boat ride, discover a part of the park and try some of the local cuisine.
Bioparc and Parque de Cabecera
At the other end of the Turia Garden, to the west of the city, one of the largest green areas in Valencia, Parque de Cabecera, can be found. You can visit a small part of Africa in the ecosystems recreated by Bioparc Valencia, with species and vegetation from the African savannah, forests from equatorial Africa and Madagascar, as well as wetlands.
Bioparc will take 3 hours to visit. It could be longer if you walk around Parque de Cabecera or go out on a pedal boat in the lake.
Ensanche and Ruzafa
Ensanche has a great amount of modernist architectural treasures and is the best shopping area in the city. Ruzafa is also a great area known as the Valencian "soho".
Plan your visit and enjoy the best shops, cuisine and lively atmosphere at the Colon Market, as well as other alternative shops and galleries in the Ruzafa neighbourhood. Famous Valencian chefs have chosen this area to open resturants, such as Habitual or Canalla Bistró by Ricard Camarena, Mercatbar by Quique Dacosta or RiFF by Bernd Knöller.
