1 Day in Valencia: A Realistic Itinerary (From a Local)

Wanna visit Valencia but only have one day to spare? As Spain’s third largest city, you might think seeing Valencia in one day is not possible. But don’t discard it just yet. You can pack a lot in a 1 day Valencia itinerary.

With only one day to see Valencia, your time is very limited. But with a bit of planning and my insider tips, you can do, see and taste quite a few things.

Since this is a one-day itinerary I included only the most famous attractions and essential experiences in Valencia. No, you cannot see all of Valencia in a day. But if you follow this itinerary, by the end of the day you’ll feel like you’ve accomplished a lot.

Here’s how to see the best of Valencia in 1 day.

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About this 1 day in Valencia itinerary

This is a practical and realistic itinerary that you can do in a day. I know this because I followed this exact itinerary myself.

This Valencia itinerary starts from the premise that you arrive the night before and leave the morning after. So you spend a full day in Valencia. This means that you have a little over 24 hours in Valencia.

I’ve designed this 1 day in Valencia guide with foodies as well as culture and architecture lovers in mind. It involves quite a bit of walking, but it also makes use of Valencia’s public transport for longer distances. This way you’re not exhausting yourself and you’re not wasting any precious time either.

I’ve also included plenty of café and restaurant suggestions so you can recharge throughout the day. I hope you’ll find them useful.

Morning: Have breakfast at Mercado Central

Start your day with breakfast at Mercado Central. This is the most famous market in Valencia. It opens bright and early, at 7:30 am, and closes at 3 pm, so you have plenty of time to get here and explore it in all its glory.

I recommend you get a takeaway coffee from Retrogusto (they have wonderful specialty coffee), then walk around the market to take in all the aromas and colorful displays.

The Central Market is one of the most beautiful buildings in Valencia. It has impressive iron columns and a remarkable ceiling, so don’t forget to look up.

Have some fresh-cut fruits or a smoothie from Frutas Virginia, a super popular stall in the center of the market, right under the dome. Or have a bocadillo (Spanish baguette sandwich) at Central Bar. This bar belongs to Ricard Camarena, a local chef rewarded with 2 Michelin stars.

If you’d rather have a sit-down breakfast in the sun, check out one of the bars around the market.

For the best views, stop by Bar Boatella. This is one of the best tapas bars in Valencia. It serves bocadillo sandwiches, as well as a wide array of tapas, including the famous tortilla de patatas (the famous Spanish omelet), and pan con tomate (tomato and olive oil toast).

The tomato toast is a local favorite. Most cafés in Valencia offer it as part of their breakfast deal and it’s so good! For a boost of vitamin C, order a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice on the side.

Visit La Lonja de la Seda

Lonja de la Seda (the Silk Exchange) is Valencia’s only UNESCO-listed site. It’s an imposing building across the street from the Central Market and you should definitely take a peek inside.

The entrance to La Lonja is through a nondescript door on Calle de la Lonja. Climb the few steps between Bar Boatella and La Lonja, then turn left.

The current building dates back to the late 15th century. In fact, the construction of La Lonja started in 1492, the same year Christopher Columbus disembarked in the Americas.

In its heyday, La Lonja was one of the biggest silk trade centers in the world. During this time, Valencia was one of the most influential cities in the Mediterranean.

La Lonja is organized around a courtyard with orange trees and a central fountain from where you can access the Main Hall. This is where the imposing palm tree-shaped columns are – a sight to behold. Several other halls with out-of-this-world beautiful ceilings are open to the public as well. There is no furniture in any of them.

The visit to La Lonja doesn’t usually take long. You can see it in approximately 20 minutes.

Marvel at the heavily ornate ceiling of Iglesia de San Nicolás

Iglesia de San Nicolás is the most beautiful church in Valencia. It is often called the Valencian Sixtine Chapel and you should definitely try to squeeze it into your 1 day Valencia itinerary.

This church is located on Calle de Caballeros, a 5-minute walk from La Lonja. The entrance is through a narrow passage between a pub and a disco club so it’s really easy to miss.

Iglesia de San Nicolás dates back to the 13th century. It’s a Gothic church decorated in the Baroque style, which is one of its peculiarities. It was recently restored and the beautiful frescos covering the walls and ceiling are now the main attraction.

The restoration work is considered to be one of the most important such works ever carried out in the world due to its magnitude and the techniques used. Once the works were complete, the church quickly became one of the most popular attractions in Valencia.

There are a lot of details to contemplate here and you should take your time. Sit down and look up. The entry ticket includes an audioguide in various languages.

See the cathedral

Continue your itinerary to Plaza de la Virgen. This beautiful square is a great place to relax and have a coffee with a view.

Overlooking the square is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Forsaken. This is another beautiful church that you can visit. Next to it is the cathedral of Valencia.

The cathedral has three gates. Personally, I believe the Gothic one, which is facing the Plaza de la Virgen Square is the most beautiful.

Walk around the cathedral to the main gate. The Baroque facade here is quite impressive. Also, it’s facing Plaza de la Reina which was recently converted into a pedestrian area.

The cathedral’s interior is less impressive than Iglesia de San Nicolás or Basilica of Our Lady of the Forsaken. But it’s unique in the sense that it hosts what experts and the Vatican believe to be the Holy Grail.

This elusive cup from which Jesus drank at the Last Supper is on display in a chapel inside the cathedral and it’s only an entrance fee away.

For a bird’s eye view of Valencia, you can climb the cathedral’s bell tower. It has a whopping 207 steps so it will definitely give you a workout. The spiral staircase is pretty narrow and has steep steps. So it’s less fun to climb on a hot summer day but the panoramic views of Valencia from up there are the best.

Peek inside Palacio del Marquez de Dos Aguas

After seeing the cathedral, head to Palacio del Marquez de Dos Aguas. This is Valencia’s most beautiful palace and it’s less than 5 minutes away on foot.

In most travel guides and leaflets, this palace is listed as the Ceramics Museum. If you’re interested in ceramics, this will sound exciting. But if not, you might be inclined to pass. Which would be a mistake.

This is the most important ceramics museum in Spain, so there’s a lot to be proud of. But the ceramics museum occupies only the second floor of the palace.

The first floor hosts the Sumptuary Arts Museum and has lavishly decorated living quarters and ballrooms.

The current building dates back to the 18th century and the Baroque facade is the most impressive in Valencia.

So I recommend you not only snap a picture of the impressive facade but also go in. I usually spend roughly one hour here every time I visit, but you can spend more or less time. It’s up to you.

Lunchtime: Have lunch at Mercado de Colón

By now it’s probably time for lunch. You’ve already seen some of the most important attractions in Valencia and might want to sit down and unwind for a while. You’ve earned it!

For lunch, I suggest you head to Mercado de Colón. This is another beautiful market in Valencia, a 15-minute walk from the palace.

This Modernista market with huge icon columns and red brick facades resembles a cathedral. Originally, it was used as a fresh products market, but it underwent a complete restoration project some twenty years ago.

Now this market features several bars, cafés, and restaurants complete with al fresco terraces. It’s also one of the most visually pleasing places to enjoy a meal in Valencia.

You can have freshly made sushi at Momiji Atelier, authentic decolonial Asian food at Ma Khin Café, or treat yourself to some innovative Mediterranean cuisine at Habitual by Ricard Camarena.

As mentioned before, Ricard Camarena is a Michelin-starred local chef. His restaurant in Mercado de Colón is included on the Michelin guide but so far, it has not received any Michelin stars. For lunch, they offer a set menu where you can choose from a couple of rice dishes.

Mercado de Colón also hosts several cafés where you can have anything from sandwiches to tapas. You can also try the horchata (tiger nuts drink) here.

If you want to taste the world-famous paella, check out my list of top paella restaurants in Valencia.

Afternoon: Wander around the City of Arts and Sciences (+ optional dinner)

After lunch, I recommend you take the bus, metro or taxi and go to the City of Arts and Sciences.

This futuristic architectural complex was designed by local architect Santiago Calatrava. Calatrava designed countless emblematic buildings around the world, but nowhere else has he undertaken a project of these proportions.

The City of Arts and Sciences is made of six buildings and two bridges. It’s like a city within a city. The buildings are connected by pools of water and the whole park is surrounded by greenery. In fact, the City of Arts and Sciences is located in Turia Park, a former riverbed converted into a lush garden.

You can easily spend the whole afternoon here, especially if you want to check out any of the buildings.

The biggest attraction here is the Oceanogràfic, the largest aquarium in Europe (book here).

If you’re visiting Valencia with kids, you can also check out the Principe Felipe Museum, a fun interactive science museum (book here).

Or see a movie at Hemisfèric, an IMAX cinema with a huge concave screen where you can watch documentaries lying down.

There’s a lot to see at the City of Arts and Sciences and a lot is hidden from the naked eye. If you’d like to learn more about the architecture of this place as well as how it came to be, I recommend you join this guided tour.

The cherry on the cake is that the tour ends with a tapas dinner on the rooftop terrace of one of the tallest buildings in Valencia. This way you can end your one day in Valencia with spectacular views.

Evening: Drinks (+ dinner) in the marina

If you’re not too tired (seeing Valencia in one day can be overwhelming), I suggest you take a bus or taxi to the marina. This vibrant area of Valencia is packed with restaurants and bars. It’s also relatively close – 3.5 km (2.2 miles) away.

The marina is one of the best places to see the sunset in Valencia. Depending on your preferences, you can watch the sunset from the beach or a terrace. Or even better, go on a sunset cruise and end your visit to Valencia with a bang.

If you haven’t had dinner yet, there are dozens of restaurants along the promenade. Many specialize in Mediterranean cuisines, such as rice dishes and tapas.

Facing the marina, there are several bars and clubs. They have blasting music and tend to attract a young crowd. If you’re visiting Valencia in your 20s, this can be a great place to dance the night away. Otherwise, there are plenty of other clubs in Valencia that might be more your scene.

FAQ related to spending one day in Valencia

Do you have any questions about visiting Valencia for a day? Feel free to ask in the comments section below. In the meantime, I’ll go ahead and answer some of the most common ones below.

Is 1 day in Valencia enough?

One day in Valencia is better than no day at all. Valencia is a beautiful and culturally rich city with plenty to offer, and ideally, you would want more time to fully explore and enjoy it all.

But if all you have is one day, I recommend you make the most of it by carefully planning your itinerary and focusing on the attractions that interest you the most. Even if you may not be able to see and do everything you want in one day, it can still be a fun experience.

Can you visit Valencia on a day trip?

Yes, it’s possible to visit Valencia on a day trip from various cities in Spain. Valencia is well-connected and can be easily reached by either bus or train, depending on your base location.

For example, the AVE high-speed train journey from Madrid to Valencia takes as little as 1h 50 min. While the Intercity train from Alicante to Valencia takes approximately 2 hours.

You can also visit Valencia on a day trip if you are based in Elche, Albacete, Cuenca, Teruel, Castellón de la Plana, Tarragona, and a myriad of other towns in the Valencia region. However, planning a day trip to Valencia from Barcelona can be a bit challenging due to the lengthy train ride of approximately 3 hours or even longer if driving.

Also read: Valencia or Alicante: Which City Should You Visit?

What can you do in Valencia in half a day?

If you only have half a day in Valencia, I recommend you visit either the City of Arts and Sciences or the Old Town.

The former is a one-of-a-kind, futuristic architectural complex. The latter is Valencia’s central district where the majority of attractions are. The two locations are approximately 40 minutes apart from each other.

You should also try the famous paella. Read these fun paella facts and order it like a local.

Final thoughts on seeing Valencia in one day

I normally recommend spending at least 3 days in Valencia. But if you only have 24 hours in Valencia, you can certainly make the most of your time by following this itinerary.

The attractions and activities I included in this itinerary are some of the most popular ones. You can, of course, switch them with others that match your interests better. For further inspiration, see my list of the best things to do in Valencia.

If you want to learn more about your destination, see what Valencia is famous for and check out these fun facts about Valencia.