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Europe Spain Valencia Do & See Central Market

Overview

Central Market

The guide was updated: 2024-03-13

Opposite La Lonja, you will find the oldest food market in Europe, housed in a fascinating building in a true Valencian style. The market is just as lively now as it was a hundred years ago as if time had stood still. This is a great place to buy some local delicacies and experience Valencia's daily life.

Useful Information

Address: Mercat Central de València, Plaça de la Ciutat de Bruges, Valencia
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 7:30am–3pm
Website: www.mercadocentralvalencia.es
Phone: +34 963 82 91 00

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

Central Market

Central Market

Opposite La Lonja, you will find the oldest food market in Europe, housed in a fascinating building in a true Valencian style. The market is just as lively now as it was a hundred years ago as if time had stood still. This is a great place to buy some local delicacies and experience Valencia's daily life.

City of Arts & Sciences

City of Arts & Sciences

The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, or City of Arts and Sciences, is a cultural and architectural complex designed by Santiago Calatrava that has become the number one attraction in Valencia. Walking around and taking photos of the stunning buildings is a pleasure in itself, and that does not cost anything. However, it is well worth the entrance fee to explore the various exhibits inside.

Cathedral & Miguelete Tower

Cathedral & Miguelete Tower

Valencia’s Cathedral is a beautiful example of Gothic architecture and the home of the Holy Grail–the only one certified by the Vatican. Its tower, the Miguelete, is a true icon of Valencia. Climb up to the top for great views of the city.

Turia Gardens

Turia Gardens

Since the Turia river was diverted south of the city after serious flooding in the 1950s, its former riverbed has become one of the best places in Valencia to go for a stroll, offering 9 km of gardens, children’s playgrounds and sports facilities.

Silk Museum

Silk Museum

The museum is housed in the former headquarters of the Colegio del Arte Mayor de la Seda (Silkmakers Guild), a beautiful 15th-century Gothic building restored to its former glory. It takes visitors through Valencia’s Golden Age when it was the epicentre of the silk trade.

Bioparc

Bioparc

With no visible barriers, visitors to this 10-hectare zoo park can immerse themselves in the amazing wild habitats where lions, elephants, hippos, gorillas, and many more species live. The emphasis is on the preservation of endangered species and protecting the environment.

Malvarrosa Beach

Malvarrosa Beach

Valencia is a vibrant city with the added bonus of being right on the beach. Playa de la Malvarossa is a 1km long promenade with clean white sands, just a few minutes walk from the city centre attractions. In the evening, head to one of the promenade's bustling bars and restaurants.

Institut Valencià d'Art Modern (IVAM)

Institut Valencià d'Art Modern (IVAM)

Spain's oldest centre of modern art, this institute features over 10,000 pieces of art and photography from the 20th century. Temporary exhibitions are housed in the basement–once part of the city's medieval fortifications.

La Lonja de la Seda

La Lonja de la Seda

If you only manage to see one sight while in Valencia, it has to be La Lonja, the old silk exchange. It is heralded as one of the foremost Gothic buildings in Europe, and in 1996, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The actual market is the size of a cathedral, covering 21,420 square feet.

San Nicolás Church

San Nicolás Church

This small church in the district of El Carmen is known as Valencia’s Sistine Chapel. The spectacular frescoes that cover its ceiling, dating from the 17th century, have recently been restored to their full glory.

Colon Market

Colon Market

One of the most beautiful examples of Modernist architecture in the city, the Colon Market is home to several cafes and restaurants, and a good place to pick up interesting crafts and gifts, particularly at the Christmas market.

Plaza de la Reina & Plaza de la Virgen

Plaza de la Reina & Plaza de la Virgen

The two squares that surround the Cathedral are at the heart of Valencian life. The many bars and restaurants lining the squares are always buzzing and their terraces are great places to relax in the sun and watch the world go by.

Gulliver Park

Gulliver Park

This playground is quite unusual and very much appreciated by the children. If you look closely you will see that the whole playground consists of a large giant, hence the name "Gulliver".

Rice Museum

Rice Museum

In this museum located in a restored mill built at the beginning of the 20th century and that was commercially functioning until the 1970s, you will learn about the procedure of processing rice in the mill's machinery and understand an interesting part of Valencia's cultural memory.

Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia

Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia

Located in a 17th-century Baroque building, this art gallery is the second-largest in Spain. It features approximately 2,000 works of art, most of which date from the 14th to 17th centuries. Artworks by Goya, Velázquez, José Ribera, and Sorolla cover its red, peach, and green walls.

Fallas Museum

Fallas Museum

This small museum’s exhibits focus on Valencia’s huge Las Fallas festival. Las Fallas is a traditional celebration held every year in March, and people use this festive event to ridicule those in power. The term Fallas refers to both the celebration and the monuments created during the celebration. A number of towns in the Valencian Community have similar celebrations inspired by the original one in Valencia.

Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden

The University of Valencia's Botanical Garden has its roots in the orchard that was established in the 16th century to facilitate the teaching of botany. The garden boasts an impressive collection of over 3,000 species of trees and plants from various regions of the world. Its collection of palm trees, tropical shrubs, cacti, and desert flora is particularly noteworthy.

San Juan del Hospital Church

San Juan del Hospital Church

Constructed around 1261, this Gothic church is one of the oldest in the city and is believed to be the first church to be built following the Christian conquest. It has a single nave with a pointed barrel vault ceiling. Visitors can appreciate the beautiful Santa Barbara chapel and other chapels adorned with Gothic-era painted murals while inside.

Serranos Towers

Serranos Towers

The Serrans Gate, also known as the Serranos Gate or Towers, is a Valencian Gothic structure built at the end of the 14th century. It is one of the twelve gates that used to be part of Valencia's ancient city wall, known as the Christian Wall. The towers were originally designed as defensive structures for one of the busiest city gates and now offer breathtaking views of the city and the Turia River.

Hemisfèric

Hemisfèric

Designed by Santiago Calatrava, The Hemisfèric was the first building in the City of Arts and Sciences to open to the public in 1998. It features an impressive ovoid roof that spans over 100 meters and houses a large sphere inside, which serves as the projection room. The Hemisfèric is a 3D IMAX cinema that provides a comfortable and educational respite for tired feet. You can relax in comfortable chairs and enjoy a visually spectacular film of your choosing.

L'Oceanogràfic

L'Oceanogràfic

The Oceanogràfic is is an oceanarium, which is part of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. With a surface area of 110,000 m2 and 42 million litres of water, it is the largest aquarium in Europe. Here you can see dolphins, sea lions, penguins, turtles, sharks and rays.

Príncipe Felipe Science Museum

Príncipe Felipe Science Museum

The Príncipe Felipe Science Museum is an interactive museum, part of the City of Arts and Sciences complex, dedicated to science, technology, and the environment. It features several floors of exhibits that will definitely put your brain cells to the test, all in a fun and educational way.

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía

The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía is part of the City of Arts and Sciences. This opera house/performing arts centre has four auditoriums dedicated to music and scenic arts. The great acoustics, location, and surroundings are some of the reasons why this is becoming one of the most prestigious opera houses in Europe.

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