Travel Tips for Valencia, Spain

Cost: € (affordable)

Safety: 4/5 for solo female travellers

When it comes to visiting Spain, Valencia is not to be overlooked. The city has so much going for it, including its beautiful beaches, funky architecture, great attractions and delicious food. I thoroughly enjoyed my 2-day trip here, and I would recommend the city for solo female travellers.

How to get there

You can fly direct from Dublin or Cork to Valencia Airport via Ryanair. The flight length is about 2 hours 30 minutes from Cork, and 2 hours 50 minutes from Dublin.

As I was already in Palma de Mallorca, I flew via Ryanair and the flight took about 55 minutes.

Language, Currency & Weather

The two official languages spoken in Valencia are Spanish and Valencian, a dialect of Catalan. However, I did not have any issue with speaking English in the city, as most people speak it.

The Euro is accepted, as this is the currency used in Spain.

The weather in Valencia is hot in summer, with temperatures between 22 and 30 degrees Celsius. I visited in July and it was very hot and humid, so it was perfect weather for the beach!

In winter, the weather is mild, with temperatures between 8 and 17 degrees Celsius. 

Public Transport

Valencia has an excellent public transport system which includes the metro, trams, buses and commuter trains. I found it straight-forward to use.

To pay for the transport, you can buy single tickets for the bus or underground. However if you think you will be using transport a lot, I would recommend buying a Valencia Tourist Card.

This card offers unlimited trips for 24, 48 or 72 hours and you can use it on the bus, metro, tram and commuter trains. It also includes the Valencia Airport route (metro lines 3 and 5).

Where To Stay

I found accommodation in Valencia to be very reasonable. I stayed at Hotel Conqueridor which was located in the city centre.

If you are looking for luxury, I would recommend Only YOU Hotel, SH Valencia Palace or Hospes Palau de La Mar. They are 5 star hotels, but in my opinion are not crazy expensive.

Otherwise, I would choose OttoH Charm Stay or Sercotel Sorolla Palace (this is a bit away from the city centre but has metro access).

If you’re on a budget, there are plenty of hostels to choose from, including Home Youth Hostel by Feetup or The River Hostel.

Where To Go & What To Do

I booked a walking tour for my first day in Valencia to learn all about the city’s history and culture, and I would recommend you do the same.

After this, I would advise you to visit Plaza de la Reina located in the Old Town, the City of Arts and Sciences (CAC), Galería del Tossal, Llotja de la Seda (Silk Exchange) and Valencia Cathedral (the Holy Grail, the cup that Jesus was supposed to have drunk from at the last supper, is said to be kept here).

In the afternoon, pop by El Carmen, which is a neighbourhood in the Old Town that is full of boutiques, cafés, bars and some great artwork. Ruzafa is also a very cool neighbourhood with a little market, lots of restaurants, bars and boutiques.

If you’re a sports fan, book a tour of Mestalla Stadium, or if you’re lucky enough, buy tickets to a game.

Valencia has lots of beautiful beaches, so I travelled out to Las Arenas for some sun, sand and sea. The water was amazing, and I would definitely recommend a visit here if you want to unwind.

I would also advise you to book a relaxing sunset boat tour along the Mediterranean Sea.

What & Where To Eat

Paella, Paella, Paella!

I vowed to try this dish when I travelled to Valencia so I booked a spot on the terrace at La Pépica. The food was absolutely delicious, and the staff were great.

I also tried the paella in Casa Carmela. I must say it’s hard to choose which is my favourite spot!

A stroll around Valencia’s Central Market is a must, and it has really interesting stalls full of fish, meat, fruit and vegetables.

I tried Lia València for lunch, which is a Mediterranean restaurant that serves amazing food, and also offers a huge drinks menu.

Meanwhile for dinner, I popped in to Casa Montaña, an old-fashioned tapas bar in the district of Cabanyal. The food is of such high-quality and is so fresh.

Enjoy Valencia!