Let’s talk about exactly how many days you should spend in Valencia. Spain has plenty of breathtaking cities to visit, and this Mediterranean capital certainly deserves a spot in your itinerary. So dive into the article to find out the perfect amount of time to spend here – coming from someone who’s been here since 2018.
How Much Time Should You Spend in Valencia?
In my opinion, I believe 3 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Valencia. The city has tons of monuments, museums, and some activities that will take several hours. So to best enjoy your visit, I find 3 days to be that sweet spot.
Of course – more time is always wonderful. I’ve been here for more than 6 years and I still haven’t seen everything.
But if you’re trying to coordinate your trip through Spain and the rest of Europe – I’d suggest at least 3 days.
Now if you’re still in planning phase – let’s go over some different options, so you know how many days you need in Valencia.
Ideal Valencia Itineraries
The perfect itinerary for you might depend on what you want to see! So we’ll go over a few different options, and you can decide for yourself how much time you should spend in Valencia.
These are my suggestions for what to do in the city, but it can change for each traveler! So feel free to use these as loose guides for spending time here.
24 Hours in Valencia
If you only have 1 day in Valencia, then I recommend spending most of your day in the city center. You’ll want to visit the most important monuments, head inside the Cathedral, and check out the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Then in the evening, you should check out the City of Arts and Sciences, plus the trendy Russafa neighborhood.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how you should spend 24 hours in Valencia:
- Plaça de l’Ajuntament
- Mercat Central
- La Llotja
- La Seu and El Micalet
- Lunch in the city center
- Falles Museum
- City of Arts and Sciences
- Dinner & Drinks in Russafa
In other words – one day in the city is enough to get a brief introduction to the historic center, plus the monumental City of Arts and Sciences.
It’ll be an intense day – but you’ll get the essence of the city!
3 Days in Valencia
For most people, I recommend spending 3 days in Valencia. I find that it’s the perfect amount of time to spend for most travelers.
This way, you’re able to see the city center in more detail, enjoy some more authentic experiences, and not feel so rushed.
So here’s how I recommend spending 72 hours in Valencia:
Day 1
- La Plaça de l’Ajuntament
- El Mercat Central
- La Llotja
- La Seu (The Cathedral)
- L’Almoina
- Estació del Nord
- Carrer de Colom
- Mercat de Colom
Day 2
- Torres dels Serrans
- City of Arts and Sciences
- L’Oceanogràfic
- Museu Faller
- Turia Gardens
- Russafa
If you need suggestions on where to eat dinner in Russafa, make sure to check out my Valencia restaurant guide.
Day 3
- El Cabanyal
- La Malva-rosa
- Paella
- La Marina
- Veles e Vents
- L’Albufera
➡️ Are you spending a weekend in the city? Check my out free, done-for-you itinerary!
5 Days in Valencia
If you’re able to stay a bit longer in the city, then 5 days gives you plenty of time to explore the city more fully.
This is the perfect choice if you have extra time in your holiday plans – or if you just want to get to know the Cap i Casal a bit better!
Here’s how to spend 5 days in Valencia:
Day 1
- La Plaça de l’Ajuntament
- El Mercat Central
- La Llotja de La Seda
- La Seu
- L’Almoina
- El Palau del Marqués de Dosaigües
- El Carme
Day 2
- Torres dels Serrans
- La Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències
- L’Oceanogràfic
- Museu Faller
- Jardí del Túria
- Russafa
If you want to visit L’Oceanogràfic, you might want to get the Valencia Tourist Card first. If you plan on visiting everything on this itinerary, you’ll end up saving a bit in the end!
Day 3
- El Cabanyal
- La Malva-rosa
- Sant Nicolau
- Sant Joan de l’Hospital
- Plaça del Patriarca
- Plaça Redona
- Carrer de la Pau
Day 4
- Estació del Nord
- Day Trip to Xàtiva
- Carrer de Colom
- Mercat de Colom
Note – if you don’t know how to get to Xàtiva, make sure to read my guide on how to easily take the train!
Day 5
- L’Albufera
- Dine in a Barraca
- Free Time
More Valencia Travel Resources
Honestly – there are so factors that affect how many days you need to visit Valencia. You’ll practically never run out of fun, new things to see and do. So it really just comes down to knowing what your travel priorities are.
If you can only squeeze in 1 day – then at least you’ll get a quick introduction!
But I find that for most travelers, 3 days ends up being the sweet spot.
So if you’re planning on visiting the city, here are some extra resources and guides that will help you:
- Best restaurants in Valencia
- How to get to the airport to the city center
- Public transport guide
- Where to stay in the city
FAQs
3 days is perfect for a trip to Valencia. Of course, every traveler has different preferences, but Valencia is a city that’s large enough to need a few days to visit in fully. Some of the largest attractions each take several hours to visit, so 3 days gives you enough time to see the most important things.
I believe 3 or 4 days in Valencia is ideal. You can make do with one day, but you’ll miss out on some of the most important things – like Europe’s largest aquarium.
No, you’ll need more than one day to see everything in Valencia. One day is enough to explore the historic center, but you won’t have time to visit some of the important attractions. Although it gives you just enough time to see everything from the outside – but it’ll be a busy day!
Need help planning your trip to Valencia?
Here are the tools I use for the cheapest (and most reliable) vacation planning:
- 🏠Booking – Affordable hotels and apartments
- 🏠Hostel World – Safe and budget-friendly hostels
- ✈️Skyscanner – My favorite tool for cheap flights
- 🚗Discover Cars – Best place for car rentals
- 🚄Trainline – The easiest way to book local trains in advance
- 📶Airalo – eSim cards for easy internet access while traveling
- 🦺Safety Wing – The #1 travel medical insurance
- 💸Airhelp – Cancelled flight compensation (it’s free!)
- 💱Wise – Easiest low-fee way to transfer currency
Affiliate disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These are links to services I personally recommend using for your trip to Valencia. At no extra cost to you, I may earn a small commission from these brands if you choose to make a purchase. Your support helps me pay my bills and eat more bunyols!
