Why Bother With Valencia?

Is Spain’s third-largest city really worth visiting?

“Why Valencia? Why not Ibiza or Barcelona?”

I stared at my friends, a bit surprised. It had seemed obvious to me earlier that day when I’d booked my flight — a mere 35 pounds to travel to a city I’d never visited before, which would provide some much-needed sunshine during the British winter. Now, though, I was starting to second-guess my choice.

“I read about it online,” I said lamely. “It sounds like there’s a lot to see there.”

I noticed one of my friends (actually, not really my friend, but that’s a different story) suppress an eye roll. She’s much more worldly than I am, or at least thinks she is.

I’ll admit that I didn’t know a great deal about Valencia before booking my flight. Mostly I associated Valencia with oranges (which did turn out to be somewhat correct). But I generally have the mindset that if I have the opportunity to go somewhere, I’m going to go, no matter where it is — within reason, at least. And honestly, that strategy hasn’t disappointed me yet!

As soon as I arrived, any fears that my friends had planted in my head about Valencia quickly disappeared. It was not only a beautiful city, but it also had an abundance of museums, gardens, markets, and of course beaches too.

One of my favorite spots was probably Jardin de Monforte, a gorgeous garden that felt like a hidden oasis in the midst of the bustle of the city. It was also home to many friendly cats.

Valencia also has a massive museum complex called Ciutat de les Arts y les Ciencies (City of the Arts and Sciences) which takes days to explore all on its own. Part of the complex is L’Oceanographic, the largest aquarium in all of Europe!

Another favorite of mine (and UNESCO World Heritage Site) is the Silk Exchange. As the name implies, it was originally used for silk trading. The architecture is just amazing, and I spent a large part of my visit there gawking up at the ceilings!

A darker side to Valencia — and Spain in general — is the bullfighting. As an animal lover, I find it cruel, and I’d never want to go to a bullfight. I did go to the bullfighting museum, though. It was interesting, if a bit depressing.

To finish on a more positive note, the beaches in Valencia were quite nice — perhaps not the most unique or beautiful beaches I’ve ever been to in the world, but great for a relaxing afternoon of sunbathing and a dip in the Mediterranean Sea (or technically the Balearic Sea). Even in winter it was warm enough to wade in the water, though I personally wouldn’t recommend fully swimming until spring or summer.

So as you’ve probably guessed by now — yes, Valencia is absolutely worth visiting! It may not be the trendiest city in all of Spain, but honestly, I think that’s a good thing. There is more than enough to see and do there, and I think it would be a real shame to skip it if you ever have the chance to go.

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