Valencia · TOUR REVIEWS
Old town or riverbed park, lagoon or hot springs, the trouble with Valencia is choosing. The 15 below are the days that earn a slot, priced and timed, with the rest of the catalogue underneath.
Spend a day at Valencia’s Oceanogràfic, Europe’s largest sea life center, inside the City of Arts and Sciences. Your ticket covers all exhibits, including marine habitats, the underwater tunnel, sharks, belugas, penguins and outdoor bird areas. Expect a large, walkable attraction with indoor and outdoor spaces. No guide is specified.
“Must do activity if in Valencia. Enjoyed the Dolphin show.”
Take a 24- or 48-hour pass on Valencia’s Bus Turistic, with 17 stops linking the city center, City of Arts and Sciences, port, beach area, Bioparc and museums. An onboard audio guide is available in 10 languages. You can board at any stop and exchange your voucher on the bus.
“I love the hop on hop off bus option for a city break! I always do a full loop to get my bearings then work out on the map what I want to see and what areas I need to be in. This one didn’t disappoint, excellent value for money, the buses have a good timescale & good stop locations, the drivers were pleasant, buses were clean and tidy and would definitely recommend. You get amongst the city and along to the coast so you get to see pretty much all of this beautiful city”
At Palosanto Tablao Flamenco in Valencia’s Cabanyal neighborhood, an entry ticket gets you a live performance of flamenco dance, guitar and cante jondo vocals. Artistic direction is by dancer Verónica Pulido. The intimate theater is near Cabanyal Municipal Market, with a bar for drinks and snacks. Arrive early if you want to improve your chances of sitting close to the stage.
“The show was prepared in a very good manner. Each group was lead individually to a seating place. The dancers and singers were amazing. The atmosphere was unique. The theatre was prepared to deliver a show where you could focus on the experience. No cameras are allowed, soboty can really focus on the show.”
Board a spacious sailing boat with a Spanish- and English-speaking crew for a one- to three-hour cruise along Valencia’s coast. You’ll see the city from the Mediterranean, including views toward the City of Arts and Sciences and the Miquelet. Choose daytime or sunset; the sunset option includes a glass of cava, and some Wednesday summer sailings offer a DJ.
“What a wonderful experience for the money! The catamaran was big enough for seating and the staff friendly. It was a great way to spend the evening. The cost is amazingly small for the activity.”
Spend about four hours exploring Valencia’s Old Town in an English-speaking group of up to 12. See the Silk Exchange, cathedral squares and, on daytime tours, Central Market. Guides such as Martha, Mimi and Ellie have led the walk, which ends with a full tapas meal, paella, dessert and regional wines in a historic Old Town venue.
“Myself and the other 8 people in my group loved this experience! Martha taught us a lot about the city, which we needed since we were only there a short time. Walking tour was just the right amount of time and really interesting. The tour ended in a stunning private location, with amazing tapas (very good at catering for dietary restrictions) and amazing wines! Most of us purchased the same wines we tried, after the tour. Honestly could not thank Martha enough for hosting this amazing experience and if we ever visit Valencia again we’ll be sure to do this tour again! Definitely got our money’s worth and we even…”
This one-day combo ticket covers Valencia’s Oceanogràfic aquarium, Príncipe Felipe Science Museum and Hemisfèric cinema. See marine life from belugas to jellyfish, try hands-on science exhibits and choose a scheduled film. There is no guide or transport, so plan your own route and check the film times before you go.
“Oceanographic was beautiful to visit and see so many different animals there that I never saw before. It could get overcrowded in certain areas when visiting so be cautious of that. A portable fan is useful to have when going around the outside areas in the heat. Also visited the Science Museum which was interesting to see. Unfortunately, did not have time to watch a movie in the hemisferic.”
Ride from City Hall through Valencia’s historic center, the Turia Gardens and the City of Arts and Sciences with a local guide. Expect photo stops, stories about the city’s monuments and a mostly flat route. Group and private tours are available, with e-bikes and a longer bike rental offered as add-ons.
“Excellent tour! Surpassed our expectations. Jose was a fabulous guide and extremely informative. We got to see and visit all the important sights. A great way to see the city”
Set sail from Valencia’s port on a double-decker catamaran, with a choice of daytime or sunset departure. The 50-minute to 1.5-hour cruise includes a cocktail or other drink and music, with a DJ on Saturdays. Expect coastal views rather than a narrated sightseeing tour. The trip depends on weather, and the sea can feel choppy once you leave the marina.
“Great value for money, spacious boat, great music and an amazing way to see Valencia.”
Spend four hours exploring Valencia’s Old Town in English, with stops around Plaza de la Reina and Plaza de la Virgen, then sit down to tapas, paella, dessert and regional wines inside an 11th-century monument. Guides such as Mimi, Martha and Ellie bring the city’s Roman, Moorish, Gothic and Baroque past into view.
“We had a wonderful experience on our Old Town Valencia tour with Mimi. She was incredibly knowledgeable, approachable, and truly a lovely person to spend the morning with. Her passion for the city’s history and culture made every stop engaging and memorable. We ended the tour with delicious tapas and paella, paired with tantalizing Spanish wines that complemented the meal beautifully. It was the perfect finale to an already fantastic experience. We would highly recommend this tour — and especially Mimi — to anyone visiting Valencia!”
Spend 8.5 hours on a guided Montanejos outing from Valencia, with roundtrip transport, a moderate mountain hike and free time at Fuentes de los Baños. See the Mijares River and the Chorro, a powerful water jet when operating. The hike is optional, but it can be steep and wet. Guides have included Alejandro, Nouha, Manu, Taoufik and Paco.
“I had a great time on this one day excursion. The highlight was definitely bathing in the Natural Pools (don’t forget to bring bathing shoes!). The hike was great as well and Francesco and Marco were two very friendly and communicative guides.”
Travel from Valencia to Vall d’Uixo with a guide, then ride a small boat along 850 meters of the Caves of San José’s underground river and walk about 200 meters through a dry gallery. The tour lasts four hours, includes transport and admission, and offers 30 minutes of free time. The boat guide may speak only Spanish.
“guide was great. informative, good sense of humor and set up timing to fit all participants”
Spend an hour at Ca Revolta, an old building in central Valencia with a small concert hall, for live flamenco guitar, singing, and dance. The performance brings several styles together in an intimate room, close enough to see the dancers’ footwork and expressions. Tickets are about $23; food and drink are not included.
“Absolutely loved it. The whole show gave me goosebumps from start to finish. Highly recommend it!”
At El Toro y La Luna, Valencia’s first flamenco tablao, seven performers bring dancers, singers, and guitarists together for a live show of about 90 minutes. Book show-only or add a traditional dinner. The small, family-run venue sits in a quiet plaza, and dinner packages may offer closer seats.
“Oh my goodness, this was a dream come true for me especially that we enjoyed the show on my birthday April 6. The sangria, tapas were delicious 😋, service was super friendly. we came early and got an awesome table close to the stage. the Flamenco show was just INCREDIBLE! From the musicians to the dancers to dear PAPA, there was so much power, passion and love for their craft.....ohhh the BEAUTIFUL ENERGY was like no other. at the end of the show we danced on stage with the dancers and took photos, they were so gracious, they even sang "happy birthday" to me! 😘 I seriously recommend you book…”
Starting at Torres de Serranos at 10:00 am, guide Luke leads a small-group ride through Valencia’s old town, the Turia gardens, the City of Arts and Sciences, the marina and Malvarrosa Beach. Bike hire, water, sunscreen, a map, access to the Bike Guy VLC app and a beachside drink with snacks are included. The ride returns to its starting point.
“Luke was very enthusiastic, knowledgeable and great fun; his bike tour of Valencia was excellent and we would highly recommend. Lovely touch to have the local drink Horchata de Chufa with the fartons mid cycle!”
Start near MYR Hotel Palau Vallier and, on eligible morning tours, shop for paella ingredients at Valencia’s Central Market with a local guide. Then cook Valencian paella step by step, with tapas and Spanish wine along the way. Instructors have included Daniel, Victor, Reyes, and Belen. The experience lasts about four hours; market visits are not available on Sundays or afternoon and evening tours.
“I had a fantastic time learning to cook paella in a warm, friendly atmosphere that truly felt like being among friends. The class was fun, well explained, and the paella turned out absolutely delicious. A special thanks to Daniel, who was an excellent host and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommended!”
Pick a quarter, a boat or a kitchen.
