Named "World Capital of Design 2022 and European Capital of Smart Tourism", Valencia, Spain's third largest city, has everything it takes to become one of the top destinations of the year. A rich historical heritage, long sandy beaches, a wide range of cultural activities, renowned gastronomy, a taste for parties and nearby natural areas make up a cocktail that can be enjoyed in all seasons, whether on a long vacation or a short weekend stay. And who would refuse to go to a city with 300 days of sunshine a year, 2 hours from Paris...
Each neighborhood has its own assets
Ciutat Vella is considered one of the most interesting medieval complexes in Europe. It is home to some of the city's most emblematic historical monuments such as the Cathedral of Valencia, the Lonja or the Mercado Central. But this opulence should not make us forget the charm of a stroll through the alleys and plazas, more sheltered from the tourist flow, nor the nightlife of Carmen, to be enjoyed through the many bars and new restaurants. Developed in the mid-19th century, the Eixample and Russafa neighborhoods are inspired by the Cerdá plan in Barcelona and are also the center of Valencian modernism, with the Estación del Norte and the Mercado de Colón as their flagship buildings. The wide avenues of the Eixample are the preferred territory for designer boutiques, cosmopolitan bars and modern restaurants. As for Russafa, this former working-class neighborhood has become a favorite place for Valencians. Located between the Turia Gardens and Blasco Ibañez Avenue, the East of the Turia is now the symbol of 21st century Valencia, with the futuristic buildings of the City of Arts and Sciences as its emblems. It is also the junction between historic Valencia and its maritime façade. You can go there to stroll through the gardens of the Turia, to visit the new restaurants or to stay in one of the many four-star hotels that have been established there. On the seafront, the 32nd edition of the America's Cup in 2007 contributed to the transformation of the coastline with the construction of Veles et Vents and the development of the Marina de Valencia. To the west of the waterfront, the old fishermen's quarter of Cabanyal, currently being renovated, can be enjoyed. Following the coastline, you will enjoy the beaches of Cabanyal, Malvarossa and Patacona, the small beach that rises. It is here that you should come and enjoy a paella, preferably at noon, in one of the many seaside establishments. The pleasures don't stop there, as the region of Valencia will also be an opportunity to discover nature, such as the Albufera Park (10 km away) or the Sierra Calderona Park (25 km away). Or heritage with the ceramics of Manises (at the gates of the city) or the wines of Utiel-Requena, via a wine bus leaving every Saturday from the city center
Projects, exhibitions and signature events
After cities like Turin, Seoul or Cape Town, it is Valencia's turn to host the World Design Capital in 2022. A decisive challenge for a city where this sector contributes decisively to the regional economy and is also home to a large number of professionals with Javier Mariscal as one of the most famous representatives. On this occasion, the city has set itself a double objective: to make Valencia a reference point on the international design scene and to give impetus to a dynamic that will continue beyond the year 2022. To contribute to this goal, the city will offer a very dense program of projects (interventions, meetings, publications...), more than thirty exhibitions and seven "signature" events that will attract more than 100 international speakers
Among these events, let's mention, for example, the World design experience which, in June, will bring together professionals of digital design and animation at the Marina and La Rambleta, or the World design exchange which will welcome in September organizers and managers of the world design weeks, in the art center Bombas Gens. Another key event is the World Design Street Festival, which, as its name suggests, will bring design to the street, functioning as the "off" of the Feria Habitat de Valencia. From September 19 to 25, the different activities will take place in all the neighborhoods of the city and along the gardens of the Turia. This will allow you to travel around Valencia meeting many design professionals, attending conferences, workshops or discovering connections between this sector and other areas such as gastronomy, for example
Design in all its forms
In addition to these major international events, the city of Valencia will have its own program, running throughout the year, and multiplying the angles of approach. In the spring, the IVAM will produce an exhibition "Graphic Journey. The sound design of Valencia", which will show the relationship between graphic design and clubbing in the 80s and 90s in the city; in April, the González Martí Museum will focus on the Valencian know-how in fans through "Designing the air"; in May, the Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporània (CCCC) will highlight the relationship between design and games; in June, the Chirivella Soriano Foundation will dedicate an exhibition to Pepe Gimeno, Valencian designer and great ambassador of Spanish design internationally, and in September, the Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporània will open a retrospective dedicated to another great name of Spanish design, Jaime Hayon.
While Valencia will try to "breathe" design in every corner of the city, a modular pavilion will be installed in the Plaza de la Ciudad de la Ciudad as the nerve center of this year of design. With a surface area of 350 m², illuminated at night with lights and multimedia installations, it will be an exhibition hall, a showcase of Valencian design, a place of memory telling the story of ceramics or interior design, but also a meeting place for Valencians, tourists and professionals. Which will eventually be moved to another space in the city to serve as a legacy for future design.
Cinema, concerts, fallas...
Mediterranean city, beautiful landscapes, ruins of the first century BC, Valencia does not lack arguments to seduce the cinema! The futuristic settings of the City of Arts and Sciences were chosen by Walt Disney Studios to shoot Tomorowland. A film starring Georges Clooney, released in France in 2015 under the name ofIn Pursuit of Tomorrow. And in August 2016, it was Bollywood that invested the city, choosing such emblematic filming locations as the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, the Russafa neighborhood, el Cabanyal, the Serranos torres and the Mercado Central for its feature and short films. If it has provided beautiful settings for filming, Valencia is also the birthplace of one of the greatest directors in the history of Spanish cinema: Luis García-Berlanga (1921-2010). Awarded the Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953 for Welcome, Mr. Marshall (1952) and nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film for Placido (1961), he was one of the most emblematic filmmakers of the Franco period and left a gritty and satirical legacy. Begun in 2021, the tribute paid by the city on the occasion of the centenary of his birth will continue until June 2022 (exhibitions, conferences ...) and on February 12, the Palau de les Arts de Valencia will also host the Goyas ceremony, the Spanish equivalent of our Caesars
Two other buzzwords can be added to your Valencian festive agenda: concerts and fallas. For the first, you should know that music is part of the soul of the city, just like gastronomy or the Mediterranean lifestyle, and that you can enjoy the most diverse musical styles: opera, jazz, urban music or sounds of the 90s... All of this in settings that are often unique, by the sea or in auditoriums with excellent acoustics. The prestigious Cité des Arts et des Sciences is the setting for the festival of les Arts which will offer 24 hours of music as well as a meeting with other artistic disciplines such as design. 4Everfest will take place in the Marina de Valencia during the summer, and the Viveros gardens will be the setting for numerous concerts throughout the summer. On the side fallasthe 2022 edition of what remains the most emblematic event of the city, classified as intangible heritage by UNESCO since 2016, has chosen to highlight two Valencian artists, Alejandro Santaeulalia and Antonio Segura Donat, known as Dulk. The former has a long career as a fallero artist and the latter has exhibited Valencian street art in cities such as Miami, London, Antwerp or Barcelona. Their respective arts will meet through a specific falla, called Protegeix allò que estimes", "protect what you care about", made of sustainable materials to raise awareness of the protection of the planet.
The opening of the CaixaForumValència in the summer of 2022 will complete the spaces dedicated to culture. Located in the spectacular Agora building in the City of Arts and Sciences, this new 6,500-square-meter cultural complex will have two exhibition halls and an auditorium with seating for nearly 300 people. There will also be a cafeteria, a bookstore and a boutique, all of which will be free of charge
Eco-responsible gastronomy
A stay in Valencia will also be accompanied by the discovery of a specific gastronomy. The undisputed star is paella, a traditional Valencian dish that is now world famous. It is best eaten at lunchtime and if possible by the sea or in the middle of the Albufera. You can try your hand at making it by going to the Mercado Central to buy the many ingredients of a real Valencian paella or learn how to cook it, since there are schools that offer training in this delicate art.
You will also see that rice is available in all its forms, whether baked or cooked in a banda... and that Valencian gastronomy is also accessible to the greatest number of people through the "Cuina Oberta" operations, which bring the great tables within the reach of the smallest budgets. Another specificity is the long-standing practice of zero km in food. In this area, few cities have the privilege of having large natural larders that allow them to obtain supplies without weighing too much on the planet
From the vegetable plains of La Huerta to the rice fields of the Albufera, and from the Mediterranean to the seafood and fish, every day these local products supply the municipal markets and are found on restaurant menus. There are other signs of its commitment to food sustainability. Since 2019, Valencia has hosted the FAO's Global Center for Sustainable Urban Food and has set itself the goal of becoming a reference in this area. And it has recently joined the urban beekeeping sector via the installation of beehives that allow pollination and thus contribute to the biodiversity of the city's parks
European capital of intelligent tourism
On October 27, 2021, Valencia was named European Capital of Intelligent Tourism for 2022 along with Bordeaux. A decision that rewards its commitments to the environment, accessibility and digitalization
To promote responsible and ecological tourism, the city has always bet on the development of bicycle paths. With more than 160 km of trails, you can cross the city from one end to the other, reach the beaches from the center by crossing the 10 km green corridor built in the old Turia river bed, but also go through the natural parks of the city like the new Parque Central.
The historic center of Valencia is easily visited on foot, especially since the exclusively pedestrian areas have gained new strategic locations: Plaza del Ayuntamiento, around the Mercado Central and Plaza de la Reina. It must be said that the city has set an ambitious goal in this area: to make the tourist footprint carbon neutral by 2025. A goal that also involves a major effort to digitize. From now on, all the stands and information desks have been fully digitized. You can access all the sites using a simple QR code, without using paper. Or download guides, maps and brochures on your cell phone and complete your information sources via the touch screens present in the tourist offices. To improve access to information, Valencia also offers Braille translations and pictograms in its information offices and buses are equipped with a system, Navilens, allowing mobility for the visually impaired.
FUTURE INFORMATION
When is the best time to visit?
With an average temperature of 20 degrees, the city is easy to discover all year round. If you want to add the pleasures of the beach and swimming, you can reach it from the beginning of May to mid-October. On the other hand, it is not uncommon for this Mediterranean coast to experience short but impressive rainfalls from mid-October to mid-November. During the fallas, remember to book your accommodation in advance
Duration
Two or three days to discover Valencia is short but doable. You'll get an overview of the different neighborhoods, enjoy some emblematic monuments and visit one or two museums. Ideally, you should spend a week in Valencia to take the time to wander around and get lost in the streets, without keeping an eye on your watch
Budget
Generally speaking, Valencia has not experienced the same price surge as a city like Barcelona. On the other hand, major festivals and sporting events sometimes double the price of accommodation. And they also have an impact on some restaurant bills
Public
Valencia is suitable for all types of travelers: students, young couples, groups of friends, families with children, retirees... The range of activities is so wide (cultural heritage, museums, relaxation, water sports...) that everyone should find something to do
The plus
The charm of a city that has managed to remain childlike and its human size that facilitates the discovery in quiet mode
The minuses
A metro map not always readable, better to take the bus, especially to the beaches.
Getting there
The average price of a flight from Paris to Valencia can vary from 100 € in low season to 250 € in high season. Valencia has expanded its network of direct connections with France, with direct flights from Paris-Orly or Roissy as well as departures from Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Bordeaux and Toulouse
Useful
VALENCIA TOURIST OFFICE - More information on the website
Plaza del Ayuntamiento, 1 bajo (in the Town Hall, next to the main door)
Phone: +34 963 524 908
Maps, tourist information and reservations for the main tourist attractions, guided tours or water sports activities
VALENCIA CARD - More information on the website
The card is available in 3 formulas: 24h, 48h or 72h (prices on the website and possibility to buy online). Activated from the first use (entrance to a museum or transport), it allows free travel on buses, metro and tramways and free visits to museums and municipal monuments
WhatsApp: +34 667 630 430
A direct contact to answer your questions. Monday to Saturday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, Sunday and holidays, 10 am to 2 pm.
Money
Euro
Formalities
A valid identity card is sufficient for EU citizens.
