Alicante
Alicante combines golden beaches, a hilltop castle, a walkable old town, and a brilliant food scene. Here is everything your family needs to know.
0 guides · Valencia & Costa BlancaExplore →
🇪🇸Valencia
Valencia combines a golden city beach, the Oceanogràfic aquarium, futuristic architecture, and the birthplace of paella into one brilliant family destination.
Your family guide
Valencia with kids: beaches, aquariums, and the world's best paella
“Futuristic architecture, golden beaches and the scent of saffron on every square. Valencia combines coast with culture.”
— San & Jo
Valencia is one of those rare cities that genuinely works for every member of the family. Your youngest will be wide-eyed at Europe's largest aquarium. Your older kids will lose track of time cycling through a 9-kilometre urban park that used to be a river. And you get to sit on a sun-warmed terrace eating paella in the city that invented it. Not a bad deal.
What makes Valencia so easy to love as a family destination is how naturally everything fits together. The old town is compact and walkable, the beaches are calm and clean, and the City of Arts and Sciences looks like something straight out of a science-fiction film. You can wander medieval streets in the morning, splash in the Mediterranean by afternoon, and watch the city glow gold at sunset from a Gothic tower.
Valencia has a relaxed, sunny energy that takes the pressure off travelling with kids. Nobody rushes here. The squares fill up slowly, the markets spill out onto the pavement, and even the locals seem to have figured out that life is better when you slow down a little. That attitude is contagious, and you'll feel it within hours of arriving.
Mediterranean climateHot summers, mild winters
Valencia, SpainEastern Costa del Azahar
City beach includedMalvarrosa Beach in town
Best things to do
Best things to do in Valencia
Oceanogràfic aquarium
Europe's largest aquarium is an absolute highlight for families. Dolphins, sharks, penguins, beluga whales, and sea turtles all under one spectacular roof inside the City of Arts and Sciences. The underwater tunnel alone is worth the trip.
Book tickets online to skip the queue
3-4 hours
Turia Gardens
Spain's largest urban park stretches 9 km along the old riverbed of the Turia river, which was diverted after a devastating flood in 1957. Today it is packed with playgrounds, fountains, cycling paths, and shaded walking routes. Rent bikes at the entrance and let the kids lead.
The Gulliver playground near the sea end is a kids' favourite
2-3 hours
City of Arts and Sciences
Santiago Calatrava's futuristic complex looks like it landed from another planet. The buildings are surrounded by shallow reflecting pools that create wild optical illusions. Even if you only walk around the outside, it is genuinely jaw-dropping. Add the Hemisfèric IMAX theatre for a full afternoon.
Visit in the evening when the buildings are lit up
Half day
Malvarrosa Beach
Valencia's main city beach is wide, sandy, and easy to reach by tram from the old town. The water is calm and shallow near the shore, making it great for younger swimmers. The promenade behind the beach is lined with restaurants serving fresh seafood and cold horchata.
Arrive before 11am in summer to get a good spot
Half day
Mercado Central
Valencia's modernist covered market is a feast for the senses. The stained-glass dome, iron columns, and colourful tiles make it one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. Let the kids pick out local oranges and try a slice of fresh tortilla from one of the stalls.
Go on a weekday morning when it is busiest and most vibrant
1 hour
Valencia Cathedral and Miguelete Tower
The Cathedral is said to house the Holy Grail chalice, which is fascinating to explain to curious kids. Climb the 207 spiral steps up the Miguelete Tower for panoramic views over the rooftops and orange trees. It is a bit of a workout but the view at the top is genuinely spectacular.
The tower climb is narrow, so younger toddlers may find it tricky
1-2 hours
Bioparc Valencia
Valencia's zoo is designed around an immersive African savannah concept, meaning there are no visible barriers between visitors and animals. Gorillas, hippos, and white rhinos roam in naturalistic habitats. It is one of the most thoughtfully designed zoos in Spain and a real hit with kids of all ages.
Morning feeding sessions are the best time to visit
3-4 hours
El Carmen neighbourhood
Valencia's oldest quarter is a tangle of medieval streets, colourful street art, and hidden squares. It is perfect for a slow wander in the early evening when the light turns golden and the tapas bars open their doors. The Torres de Serranos and Quart Towers bookend the neighbourhood with impressive medieval city gates.
Plaza del Tossal is a lovely quiet square for a cold drink with kids
2 hours
Our verdict
How Valencia scores for families
Kids
Between the Oceanogràfic, Bioparc, Turia Gardens playgrounds, and a city beach, Valencia has an exceptional amount to offer families with children of all ages.
Culture
Gothic cathedrals, a UNESCO Silk Exchange, a legendary water tribunal, and futuristic architecture all in one walkable city. Valencia punches well above its weight culturally.
Food
The birthplace of paella, home of horchata, and a city with one of Spain's most beautiful food markets. Valencia's food scene is world-class and genuinely accessible for families.
Beach
Malvarrosa Beach is clean, wide, and easy to reach from the city centre. Calm Mediterranean water makes it great for families, though it gets busy in peak summer.
Budget
Valencia is noticeably more affordable than Madrid or Barcelona. You can eat well, visit major attractions, and stay centrally without breaking the family budget.
Planning your visit
How long should you stay in Valencia?
2
2 days
Quick visit
Old town highlights, the City of Arts and Sciences, and a quick dip at Malvarrosa Beach
sweet spot
3
3 days
Sweet spot
Time to do the Oceanogràfic, explore Turia Gardens properly, eat your way through the Mercado Central, and still have a relaxed beach afternoon
5
5 days
Deep dive
Add the Bioparc, a day trip to a nearby village, a cooking class, and enough paella lunches to feel like a local
Fun facts
Things to know about Valencia
The river that became a park
The Turia river used to flow right through the city. After a catastrophic flood in 1957, the river was diverted around Valencia. Instead of building a motorway in the empty riverbed, the city turned it into a 9-kilometre park. Today it is Spain's largest urban green space and one of the best cycling routes in the country.
The world's oldest water court
Every Thursday morning, a group of farmers meets outside Valencia Cathedral to settle water disputes. This tradition has been running continuously since the Roman era, making it one of the oldest democratic institutions in the world. UNESCO declared it an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009. No lawyers allowed, no written records, and every decision is final.
Valencia once held the Holy Grail
Valencia Cathedral claims to house the actual chalice used at the Last Supper. The cup is small, made of dark agate stone, and has been in Valencia since the 15th century. Whether or not you believe the legend, seeing the real object behind the story is genuinely memorable for kids who have grown up hearing about it.
Taste Valencia
What to eat with your family in Valencia
Paella Valenciana
Must tryLa Pepica (Passeig Neptú, Malvarrosa)
This is the real thing. Authentic Valencian paella is made with chicken, rabbit, garrofó beans, green beans, tomato, and saffron, finished with a crispy bottom layer called socarrat. It is a lunchtime dish here, never dinner, and it is served in the pan it was cooked in.
Horchata y fartons
Kids love itHorchatería Santa Catalina (Plaza Santa Catalina)
Horchata is a sweet, milky drink made from tiger nuts grown just outside Valencia. It is served ice-cold alongside fartons, long fluffy pastries made for dunking. Kids absolutely love this combination, and you will find it at every horchatería in the city.
Fideuà
Local favouriteRestaurante Navarro (Carrer de l'Arxiduc Carles)
Think of fideuà as paella's noodle-based cousin. Made with short toasted noodles instead of rice, cooked in a rich seafood stock with hake, shrimp, and squid. It is lighter than it sounds and a great option for kids who are curious but not quite ready for a full paella.
Buñuelos de calabaza
Daily treatMercado Central stalls (Plaza del Mercado)
These pumpkin beignets with a hint of orange zest are a traditional Valencian sweet, especially popular during the Las Fallas festival in March. Light, slightly crispy, and dusted with sugar, they are the kind of snack kids will ask for again before they have finished the first one.
Arroz a banda
Safe choiceRestaurante El Poblet (Carrer de Correus)
A traditional Valencian rice dish cooked in a deeply flavoured fish broth, served separately from the fish it was cooked with. The rice is finished with alioli and has a wonderfully savoury depth. It is simpler than paella but just as satisfying, and a great way to introduce kids to Valencian rice culture.
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