Have you heard lots of good things about Valencia but still not had time to visit the city? Well you definitely should! Valencia came in at number 5 on Lonely Planet’s list of the ten cities to visit in 2011 and even though the year is nearly over, we assure you that Valencia will still be incredibly beautiful with lots of sun and fun to discover in 2012.

You might prepare for your visit with a good Valencia travel guide which will definitely guide you to the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, the city’s beach La Malvarossa, the beautiful historical city centre “El Carmen” with all its nice cafes and cute shops and not forgetting, to the large Turia Garden. All these are certainly worth seeing it but after paying a visit to these important attractions, take some time to discover Valencia’s secret places (very important!) and this is when you will discover why Valencia is referred to as Spain´s best kept secret!

Slaughterhouse, Valencia

Discover Ruzafa! The district called Ruzafa is a very lively part of Valencia close to the train station with lots of atmosphere during the weekends. You will find interesting bars, art galleries, small shops and many young people on the streets. This is a place filled with locals and not tourists like the district “EL Carmen”. At Ubik Café, one of Babylon Idiomas’ favourite venues,  you have concerts, movie nights, language exchanges and walls full of books. Being half library half café they organize an event called “Tapa del libro” where for only 3 Euros you get a Tapa, a glass of wine and a free book. Nice! Close to Ubik Café you can find many more bars such as the Slaughterhouse, La Bicicleta and many more.

If you are more of a fan of upmarket areas with classy restaurants it might be worth visiting Canovas.

Take a walk during the night in the street called Compte d’Altea and enjoy the beautiful terraces side by side. Are you looking for a clubby atmosphere to dance the night away? Then the L’Umbracle might be the place for you as it is one of the trendiest terrace clubs in Valencia.

Want to meet young people and have fun? Close to the university you will of course find more student life during the nights. At Plaza del Cedro, Plaza Xuquer and Plaza Honduras you will meet students from all over the world. At Sala Matisse or Wah Wah Club, both located at Plaza del Cedro, you will see concerts almost every weekend.

Bargains at Valencia's Flea Market

In case you have some energy left on Sunday morning, keep your belongings safe and visit the flea market next to the football stadium Mestalla. It takes place every Sunday morning and you can find very curious items here, just remember to be careful and make sure that you don’t leave the market with fewer belongings than you had on arrival.

Valencia’s city beach is very nice but can become hectic. If you have the time, take the yellow bus to the beach El Saler which is located a little bit outside of town. Here you will find a much more relaxed environment, less people and wonderful sand dunes. The yellow bus to this beach leaves from several points throughout Valencia. It’s best to ask in a tourism office for the actual stations and times.

The beautiful Cala Moraig, Javea

If you have the possibility to rent a car for the day then we recommend that you go an hour down the coast line to Javea. Here there are many small beaches with wonderfully clear waters that invite you to snorkel or dive. Our special recommendation: Cala Moraig.

The new AVE train connection allows you to visit Madrid in less than 2 hours – we highly recommended going there for a cultural weekend. However, Valencia also offers a wide range of cultural activities: MUVIM (El museo Valenciano de la Ilustración y de la Modernidad), IVAM (Insituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno) and La FILMOTECA are all great places to visit.

More insider’s tips wanted? Come over here to learn Spanish with us and discover your own secret and special places in this amazing city!

Blogger: Katharina