The City of Arts and Sciences isn't a single building—it consists of three: the Oceanogràfic, the Hemisfèric, and the Prince Felipe Science Museum, and each has its own entrance. You can visit them separately or buy a combined ticket that grants access to several of them on the same day. The combination ticket is worth it if you already know you’re going to visit more than one; if you’re only sure about one and want to decide as you go, the individual ticket is the most flexible option, although neither type allows for date changes or refunds once purchased.
- Three buildings, three separate entrances
- Single and Combo Tickets: A Comparison
- When Is a Combo Ticket Worth It?
- Where are they, and how do you get from one to the other?
- Which one is right for you based on the purpose of your visit?
Three buildings, three separate entrances
The Oceanogràfic is the largest aquarium in Europe: a journey through marine ecosystems from around the globe that includes, in addition to the aquarium itself, admission to the Ágora del Mar. It is the largest building in the complex and usually takes the longest to explore.
The Hemisfèric functions as both a planetarium and a movie theater: admission grants access to a single showing, not to the venue for the entire day. It’s important to keep this in mind when planning your schedule, because if you arrive late for your showing, the ticket does not include a second chance to see it.
The Prince Felipe Science Museum is the complex's interactive museum, designed for touching and trying things out rather than reading display panels. It's the building best suited for children who are already bored with traditional display cases.
Single and Combo Tickets: A Comparison
| Home | What's Included | Cancellation |
|---|---|---|
| Oceanogràfic | Oceanogràfic + Ágora del Mar | No exchanges or refunds allowed |
| Science Museum | Just the museum | No exchanges or refunds allowed |
| Hemisfèric | A session | No exchanges or refunds allowed |
| Oceanogràfic + Hemisfèric | Both buildings | No exchanges or refunds allowed |
| Hemisfèric + Science Museum | Both buildings | No exchanges or refunds allowed |
| Oceanogràfic + Science Museum + Hemisfèric | The three buildings + an audio tour in the Hemisfèric auditorium | No exchanges or refunds allowed |
One detail that holds true for all ticket types we checked—both individual and combo tickets—is that none of them allow date changes or refunds. This isn’t a condition exclusive to combo tickets, so it’s not a factor in choosing one over the other: it applies no matter what you buy.
When Is a Combo Ticket Worth It?
A combination ticket makes sense if you've already decided that you're going to visit more than one building that same day. Buying the three tickets separately costs more than the equivalent combination ticket, and it saves you from having to wait in line at the ticket office two or three times.
A single-entry ticket makes sense in the opposite scenario: when you're only interested in one building, or when you don't know if you'll have time for more than one and would rather not risk paying for something you won't use. Since neither option allows for changes, buying the combo ticket «just in case» means paying the full price even if you end up visiting only one building.
A quick note about the Hemisfèric: Since it’s a single showing and not open to the public at any time, if seeing it is your priority, check the show time before deciding whether it’s worth including it in a combined tour with another attraction—such as the Oceanogràfic—that might take longer to visit.
Where are they, and how do you get from one to the other?
The three buildings are part of the same architectural complex, designed by Santiago Calatrava on the former bed of the Turia River. It takes just a few minutes to walk from one building to another: you don’t need transportation or to plan your route between them—just plenty of time if you plan to visit more than one on the same day.
The complex is located at the end of the riverbed closest to the sea, on the opposite side of the Turia Gardens from the Bioparc and Cabecera Park. If your trip also includes family activities in that area of the park, the guide Valencia with the Family explains how to combine them without one day taking precedence over the other.
If you're driving, both the admission ticket to the Oceanogràfic and the combination tickets include a discount on parking at the complex itself, although the parking space itself is not included in the ticket price.
Which one is right for you based on the purpose of your visit?
Family with young children interested in marine animals: The Oceanogràfic alone is enough to fill an entire day. If you also want them to try something interactive, the combined ticket with the Museu de les Ciències is the obvious choice.
Group interested in science and the planetarium: The Hemisfèric and Museu de les Ciències combo ticket covers both attractions without having to pay for the Oceanogràfic if the ocean isn't your top priority.
A full day spent at the resort: Visiting all three buildings together is the most efficient option, as long as you check the Hemisfèric's show times in advance so you can fit it in between the Oceanogràfic and the museum.
Short or indecisive visit: If you only have one free afternoon and aren't sure how much you'll be able to get done, a single-day pass to the building that interests you most is the safest option—precisely because you can't change your ticket type later.
Group with differing interests: If some people want to go to the Oceanogràfic and others prefer the museum or the planetarium, buying individual tickets for each person based on what they want to see prevents you from overpaying for attractions that part of the group won't visit, and you can all meet up at the exit.
Keep watching
All tickets to the City of Arts and Sciences—both individual and combination tickets—are listed at Admission tickets in Valencia and in Museums and Exhibitions in Valencia.
- Oceanogràfic in Valencia: Admission
- Valencia Science Museum: Skip-the-Line Admission
- Hemisfèric: Skip-the-line admission
- Oceanogràfic and Hemisfèric: Admission
- Hemisfèric and Valencia Science Museum: Admission
- Oceanogràfic and Science Museum: Admission
- Oceanogràfic, Science Museum, and Hemisfèric: Admission