City of Arts and Sciences
How to plan your visit to the Oceanogràfic, the Hemisfèric, and the Museu de les Ciències, and when the combined ticket is worth it.
Valencia combines the sea and the avant-garde like few other cities: Calatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences and the Oceanogràfic on one side, the beaches of Malvarrosa and the Albufera—the birthplace of paella—on the other, and in between, a historic center featuring the Silk Exchange, the Cathedral, and the Central Market. Here we’ve gathered the tickets and guides you need to make the most of your visit without waiting in line or taking detours.
Valencia is best enjoyed at a leisurely pace: from a mid-morning glass of horchata to paella by the sea, you can experience the whole city in a single day.
How to plan your visit to the Oceanogràfic, the Hemisfèric, and the Museu de les Ciències, and when the combined ticket is worth it.
Europe's largest aquarium, Bioparc, and the Turia Gardens: activities that are great for kids without taking up the whole day.
Where to go swimming just a stone's throw from downtown, how to get to the Albufera, and where to eat paella in its place of origin.
Valencia is Spain's third-largest city, located on the shores of the Mediterranean. The former Turia Riverbed, transformed into a 9-kilometer-long green park, connects the historic district with the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences. In the center, the Silk Exchange (World Heritage Site), the Cathedral with the Holy Chalice, and the Central Market, one of the largest in Europe.
If this is your first time: the Oceanogràfic, a stroll through the Turia Gardens to the City of the Arts, the Central Market and La Lonja, an afternoon at the beach at the Pink Mallow and one paella at the Albufera at sunset. With reserved tickets, you'll skip the lines at the Oceanogràfic during peak season.
The airport in Valencia (Manises) It's about a 15-minute ride from downtown by subway. By train, the station Joaquín Sorolla It's connected to Madrid by AVE in less than two hours. The city center is very walkable, and the metro and public bike-sharing system (Valenbisi) take you almost anywhere.

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In two or three days, you can see the historic district, the City of Arts and Sciences (including the Oceanogràfic), and still have an afternoon left for the beach and the Albufera. A weekend is enough to cover the essentials.
Yes, especially if you have kids or if you like aquariums: it’s the largest in Europe, and you can easily spend 3–4 hours there. The combined ticket with the Hemisfèric or the Bioparc is a good deal if you’re visiting more than one place.
Valencian paella originated in the Albufera; the rice paddies of El Palmar and Pinedo are the gold standard. In the city center, steer clear of menus with photos and look for rice restaurants with a good reputation; order it for lunch, not dinner.
The metro (Lines 3 and 5) connects Manises Airport to downtown in about 15–20 minutes. Taxis and ride-hailing services are also available; during rush hour, the metro is usually the fastest option.