If you are wondering how to spend the perfect 2 days in Valencia, Spain, look no more! I have been living in Valencia, Spain, for more than a year and I will let you know what to focus on so you can get a feel of this amazing city!
Are two days enough to visit Valencia, Spain?
Valencia is such a beautiful city with lots of things to do, so, even in a week you won’t run out of activities! But two days are very doable to discover Valencia. This can work for two full days, but also you can adjust it to your needs. It can work as well if you arrive in the morning on the first day and leave at night on the second.
How to divide your time for the perfect two days in Valencia, Spain
To be more efficient, I suggest spending one day in the city centre and one day in The City of Arts and Sciences district and the beach, as they are a little bit far from each other.
Day one, old city vibes
Whoop, whoop! The first day in Valencia is here, how exciting! For this first part of this itinerary, I suggest walking to immerse yourself into the old part of the city. Also, the streets here are usually narrow and can get crowded, so a bike would be a bit of an inconvenience. Save it for the second day where you can really benefit from it!
I suggest starting at the Nord Train Station (Estación del Norte). It’s perfect if you arrive by train too. I suggest checking out this stunning art nouveau building, with oranges on the outside and natural details on the inside, specific to the Albufera Lake. Next to it, you can admire you can the Bull Ring Square (Plaza de Toros) with a beautiful amphitheater.
Next, head out to The Town Hall Square (Plaza de Ayuntamiento), a large plaza, usually bustling with people. There are cute flower shops, souvenir shops, and huge teddy bears. You can visit the Town Hall for free on weekdays and it’s worth it for its stunning chandeliers.
After that, go to The Central Market (Mercat Central), the biggest fresh produce market in Europe! If you have ever been to Barcelona and visited The Boqueria Market, it’s nothing like it! It still has an authentic vibe to it and locals actually shop there. You can still find something to grab on the go, like cut up fruits or veggies, juices, or some tapas. This is also a great place to shop for local souvenirs.
Very close, you can find the The Silk Exchange (La Lonja de la Seda), the only UNESCO World Heritage building in Valencia. It has an interesting history and the interior architectural details are amazing!
From there, I suggest walking to Redona Square (Plaza Redona), a rounded charming little place. After checking this place out, Queen’s Square (Plaza de la Reina) is very close. This is a beautiful part of the city, nesting Valencia’s Cathedral, represented by a mix of Mediterranian Gothic style, Romanesque, and Baroque with Neoclassical features, standing here since 1238! You can visit the Cathedral for 9 euros or just visit the Miguelette Tower for 2,5 euros to see the city from above!
Behind the Cathedral, you can find Virgen Square (Plaza de la Virgen), an open place with cafes, a beautiful fountain, and great views. Close, you can find Cafe de las Horas, the most iconic place where you can try Agua de Valencia, a local cocktail consisting of Valencian orange juice, cava (champagne), gin, vodka and some sugar.
Another place that is a must-see are The Serranos Towers (Torres de Serranos). They used to be the gateway to the city in medieval times. You can go up for free on Sundays and other holidays, otherwise, the fee is only 2 euros! That is a great way to see the city from above.
Next, I suggest going to the Turia Gardens (Jardín del Turia), as they are at the base of the Serranos Towers. This park is very long, at almost 9 kms (and soon to be enlarged!). It used to be the base of the Turia River, but it was relocated due to a very bad flood.
Last, but not least, check out the Flower Bridge (Puente de Las Flores), a stunning bridge, covered with red, white, and pink flowers. The abundance of flowers makes it breathtaking!
An optional thing to do from here would be visiting the Fine Arts Museum of Valencia (Museu de Belles Arts de València). It is free to entry and it has beautiful pieces and as a bonus, a stunning courtyard.
Another optional thing to do is walking to Colina, a hill in the Cabecera Park, where you can get a good view of the sunset. In that way, you can enjoy the first part of The Turia Gardens also, as that’s the best route from the Serrano Towers area.
Day two, modern vibes and the beach
For the second day, I suggest renting a bike, although you can do just fine without it!
If you choose to rent a bike, I suggest going through the Turia park and heading out to The City of Arts and Sciences(Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències), an impressive complex, with futuristic looking structures and turquoise water. You can check out their website here, so you see the activities available at the time of your visit. Whether or not you choose to visit anything on the inside, just checking out the complex is a very nice activity. The place has a good energy. If you want to take some cute pictures, there is a Valencia sign, and also, the Umbracle, a semi-open structure, filled with palm trees.
From The City of Arts and Sciences, I suggest checking out the Marina. It is usually an overlooked part of the city, but very beautiful. You can admire the boats and yachts. Sometimes, there are people dancing or skating. If you are a F1 fan, you can see some traces of the old circuit. This could be a fun activity.
After that, head out to the beach. The main beach in Valencia is Malvarrosa Beach, but that also means it’s the busiest. If you are looking for something quieter, I suggest going to Patacona beach instead. If you are visiting in the summer, you can try a beach bar (chiringuito /chirringito), for something to eat and drink, while having your feet on the sand. There is also a beautiful promenade, filled with palm trees and restaurants that you can enjoy.
As an optional thing to do, if you have rented a bike, you can check out a beautiful white church on the beach, where a river flows into the sea. Its name is Ermita del Miracle dels Peixets. Biking, it’s about 10 minutes from the Malvarrosa beach.
Final thoughts
Seeing Valencia in two days is doable and perfect for a city break! This city is beautiful, it has everything from a quaint old town to futuristic-looking structures, a stunning marina, crystal-clear water beaches, and much more in between. The climate makes it perfect to visit any time of the year!
If you are looking for more ideas of things to do, check out my list of 33 epic things to do in Valencia, Spain.
On the other side, if you only have one day in Valencia, check out The best 1-day itinerary for Valencia, Spain.
Let me know if you have any questions. Wishing you happy travels!