Valencia itinerary: old town, Turia gardens and real paella
Valencia is easy: flat, sunny and made for cycling along the old riverbed that now runs as a long park through the city. The trick is fitting in the beach, the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences and a proper paella in the Albufera rice fields. This prompt has your todo.is agent plan it all at a relaxed pace.
The prompt
- Plan a [NUMBER OF DAYS]-day Valencia itinerary for [WHO IS TRAVELLING] in [MONTH], staying in [AREA]. Include the old town (Cathedral and Miguelete tower, La Lonja silk exchange, Central Market, Plaza de la Virgen), a bike ride through the Turia Gardens, the City of Arts and Sciences with [CITY OF ARTS VISITS], Ruzafa, and Malvarrosa beach. Add a trip to the Albufera for a boat at sunset and paella in El Palmar. Tell me what's on in our month (Fallas in March, Las Hogueras nearby in June). Suggest horchata with fartons and one [EVENING]. Email me a PDF with links and a short WhatsApp summary. Don't book anything.
What to change
- [NUMBER OF DAYS]: E.g. "3". Three days covers the city, the beach and the Albufera.
- [WHO IS TRAVELLING]: E.g. "a couple", "family with kids aged 6 and 10", "friends for a long weekend".
- [MONTH]: E.g. "March" (Fallas, very busy), "October" for warm sea and fewer crowds.
- [AREA]: E.g. "Ciutat Vella", "Ruzafa", "near the beach in Cabanyal".
- [CITY OF ARTS VISITS]: E.g. "the Oceanografic aquarium", "the Science Museum", "just the outside".
- [EVENING]: E.g. "tapas in El Carmen", "rooftop drinks", "an opera at the Palau de les Arts".
Example result
- Valencia in 3 days, a family in October
- Staying in Ciutat Vella · kids aged 6 and 10
- Day 1: Old town
- • Morning: Central Market, one of Europe's largest fresh food markets in a modernist hall. Snacks for the kids, fruit for later.
- • La Lonja de la Seda, the Gothic silk exchange (UNESCO-listed), right across the street.
- • Midday: Plaza de la Virgen and the Cathedral; climb the Miguelete tower (about 200 steps) for the view.
- • Afternoon: horchata (tiger nut milk) with fartons, the long sweet buns for dipping.
- • Evening: the lanes of El Carmen, street art and the Torres de Serranos gate; early tapas.
- Day 2: Turia Gardens and the City of Arts and Sciences
- • Rent bikes and ride the Turia Gardens, a 9 km park in the old riverbed. Stop at Gulliver Park, a giant playground.
- • The City of Arts and Sciences: Calatrava's white buildings and reflecting pools.
- • The Oceanografic aquarium (allow 3 to 4 hours): sharks, beluga whales, the Arctic and the Red Sea. Book online.
- • Evening: dinner in Ruzafa, the lively neighbourhood with the best restaurants.
- Day 3: Beach and the Albufera
- • Morning: tram to Malvarrosa beach; walk the promenade and swim in the warm autumn sea.
- • Lunch: drive or bus to El Palmar in the Albufera (about 25 minutes). Valencian paella (chicken, rabbit, green beans) or arroz a banda. Paella is a lunch dish in Valencia.
- • Sunset: a flat-bottomed boat on the Albufera lagoon among the rice fields.
- Festivals
- • Fallas (mid-March): giant satirical sculptures, fireworks and daily firecracker shows. Hotels book out.
- • Check event dates on official sites for your month.
- Good to know
- • Valenbisi public bikes and rental shops make cycling easy.
- • Check opening days and ticket rules on official sites before you go.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your days, travellers, month, area, City of Arts visits and evening.
- Paste it into todo.is on the Today screen or send it to your agent on WhatsApp.
- Your agent plans each day and emails a PDF with links, plus a short WhatsApp summary.
- Reply "add a day trip to Xativa" or "skip the aquarium" and book tickets yourself.
Tips for a better result
- Eat paella at lunch, not dinner. Locals rarely order it in the evening, and the best places cook to order at midday.
- See the Turia Gardens by bike. The park runs right across the city, from the old town to the City of Arts and Sciences.
- Book Fallas stays months ahead, or avoid mid-March if you want a calm trip.
- Ask your agent for paella restaurants in El Palmar that cook over wood fire and need advance orders.
Valencia itinerary: FAQ
- How many days do you need in Valencia? Two days covers the old town and the City of Arts and Sciences. Three days lets you add the beach and the Albufera.
- Where should you eat paella in Valencia? El Palmar in the Albufera, where rice is grown, and the beachfront restaurants at Malvarrosa are the classic choices. Order at lunchtime.
- When is the best time to visit Valencia? April to June and September to October are warm without peak heat. March is exciting for Fallas but very crowded.
- Can my agent plan a Spain trip with Valencia and Barcelona? Yes. Ask for both and it will add the train between them, which takes about three hours.
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