10 Essential Places to Visit in Valencia

In this guide, we’ve already explored why you may choose Valencia for your educational school trip, including where to stay and what are some must-do activities so as to not to miss the magic of this city. In this article, we bring you the most prominent and important locations of interest to see in Valencia. You won’t want to miss a thing and we assure you that your students will leave with the best memories of their school trip! Valencia has perfectly preserved its historic centre, mixed in with modern neighbourhoods and newly erected buildings, without losing an ounce of the city’s charm. As a recommendation, one of the best times of year to visit Valencia is in the Spring, not only for the bursting color and life throughout the city, but also to experience first-hand the famous national celebration of Las Fallas.

What to Visit within the City Limits?

Valencia is the perfect sized city to visit for a long weekend. One of the main perks of this city is that all of its attractions are concentrated in a small zone of the centre, so it’s possible to visit all of the monuments without having to walk very far.

  • Oceanografic

The Oceanografic, tucked inside the City of Arts and Sciences complex, is the largest aquarium in Europe complete with reproductions of the planet’s most important marine ecosystems. For groups of students from primary, secondary, and high school it is certainly an exciting and worthwhile visit on your school trip to Valencia.

  • The City of Arts and Sciences

This controversial work by the famous architect Calatrava is one of the most outstanding sites to visit in the city of Valencia. The structure itself you may find interesting or not, as it is known to have both supporters and critics throughout Spain, but what is surely worth a visit during your school trip is the museum housed inside this famous building.

  • City Hall and the Plaza de la Virgen

The first thing you’ll notice when you arrive in this square is the grand white facade of the City Hall, the home of the Valencia City Council. The City Hall building was constructed between 1758 and 1763 in a mix of styles ranging from original neoclassic to the neo-baroque, through the neo-renaissance era. In front of this, you’ll find the Post and Telegraph Building. This plaza is anchored with a beautiful circular fountain in the centre. From here is where you’ll witness the fireworks being set off on the days of mascletà, when tens of thousands of Valencians and tourists from all over the world gather to watch the spectacular Las Fallas fireworks show in person.
Not far from here is the Plaza de la Virgen, another quaint square surrounded by some of the most historic buildings in the city: Santa María Cathedral, the Basilica of the Virgen de los Desamparados, and the Palace of the Generalitat.

  • Central Market

The Central Market of Valencia is a feast for the senses, with its lively and bustling ambiance, and definitely an obligatory stop while in the city. Here you’ll find the best products from the Mediterranean and from the Valencian countryside. Many of the top restaurants in the city source their products from this very market.

  • The Silk Market

Close to the Central Market you’ll find the Silk Market, or Lonja de los Mercaderes, constructed between 1482 and 1548 and also designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996. This site is an important reminder of the city’s economic power during the 15th century, when it was experiencing its own Golden Age.

  • Valencia Bioparc

If you’re thinking that Valencia Bioparc is just another typical zoo, you’d be mistaken. It is an educational centre in which animals are cared for by highly skilled professionals, in their own natural habitats: savannah, wetlands, equatorial forest, and Madagascar. The Bioparc is also home to incredible conservation efforts, aimed at reviving endangered species. 

  • Ruzafa Neighbourhood

Ruzafa is a very trendy neighbourhood in Valencia. A neighbourhood brimming with creativity, space for leisure and small businesses, and an exciting mix of new-age and traditional aspects. See for yourself–include it in your school trip planning as an unexpected surprise for your students! 

What to Visit Along the Waterfront?

Another major draw of Valencia is that, being a coastal city, you can combine city and beach activities, a big plus for students to enjoy on a school trip.

  • Malvarrosa Beach

The main city beach in Valencia, where you can enjoy beach and water activities of all kinds.

  • Beachfront Promenade

Full of life and bursting with people, Valencia’s promenade is a fantastic option to visit after a long day at the beach, stopping at the many stalls to buy souvenirs or popping into one of the beachfront bars and terraces.

  • Albufera National Park

Albufera National Park is a coastal lagoon and estuary surrounded by rice fields, an important stopover zone for migrating birds. The park serves great ecological importance as it serves as home to numerous bird species in danger of extinction. 

Guide for Organising your School Trip to Valencia

Learn more about Valencia and organising your educational school trip with the rest of our guide: activities, accommodation, prominent monuments, etc.:

For more information regarding possibilities for your school trip to Valencia, you may contact us at >>> info@etheriatrips.com or by phone at +34 689 844 233.