Valencia in one day. That does sound like a challenge, knowing this Spanish city has a lot to offer when it comes to architectural gems, beautiful sceneries, delicious food and drinks and shopping! But that doesn’t mean it is impossible! If you are traveling through Spain and you decided to add a day trip to Valencia to your itinerary, I’ve got the perfect city walk for you! So put on your comfortable shoes and let’s start your one day in Valencia!

One day in Valencia; the perfect city walk (+ itinerary)

The map above is created in Google Maps. You can find the links to this route at the end of this article.*
Total distance: 11.6 km / Time without stopping and exploring the markets: 2.5 hours
Start early because this walk will take a complete day, if you will be taking a lot of pictures and enjoy the sceneries. If you’re not a great walker you can try to rent a bike and do the itinerary by bike. Valencia is a very bike friendly city!

Valencia Nord Train Station

Because most day trippers come by train from other cities, I decided to start this walk at the train station. If you come by car; there is a parking lot at the station (Calle Xàtiva 24, 46007 Valencia, price: €6,60 per two hours). Arriving at the train station you will already discover Valencia has fantastic architecture to offer. The interior and exterior of the station in Art Nouveau style will definitely impress you and will set the mood for the rest of the day! Outside you will also discover Valencia’s bull fighting arena.

Plaza del Ayuntamiento/Plaça de l’Ajuntament

From the train station go straight ahead via the Av. del Marqués de Sotelo to reach the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Take your time to admire all the amazing façades surrounding this prestigious square. Especially the stunning neoclassical Town Hall and the Central Post Office, in a beautiful eclectic style, stand out!

Plaça del Mercat

Continue to go straight ahead and turn left at the Av. de Maria Cristina. When you follow this street you will arrive at the Plaça del Mercat. Here you can visit the Mercat Central, Valencia’s biggest indoor market and a must during your one day in Valencia. Take a look at the Iglesia de San Juan and the Llotja de la Seda (the old silk market). Then take the little alley called Carrer dels Cordellats to arrive at the Plaça de la Companyia where you can take a look at another side of the Llotja de la Seda and the pretty Moorish style doors of the Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús de la Compañía.

Portal de Valldigna

Take the Carrer de la Sénia and turn left at the Carrer de la Purissima. Continue this street which will change name into Carrer de Calatrava and turn left at the Carrer dels Cavallers (Calle Caballeros). Turn right into the Carrer de Landerer and continue this little street until you reach the Portal de Valldigna. This is an archway built in 1440 leading into what used to be the old Arab quarter.

Torres de Serranos

Continue through the Portal de Valldigna via the Carrer del Portal de Valldigna and turn right at the Carrer de Baix. Continue this street passing Plaça de l’Arbre and take Carrer del Pintor Fillol until you reach Plaça del Carmen. Explore the square a little and then turn right into Carrer de Roteros. Continue until you reach Plaça dels Furs where you can find one of the old city gates named Torres de Serranos. Originally there were 12 gates like this. There is another one still standing; Torres de Quart in the West.

Plaza de la Virgen

Take the Carrer dels Serrans to the Carrer dels Cavallers and turn left to the Plaça de la Mare de Déu (Plaza de la Virgen). This is probably one of the most famous spots of Valencia, so you can’t miss this during your one day in Valencia. Here you will find the pink basilica, the impressive city cathedral and the gorgeous Turia fountain. If you are already hungry I suggest to eat at Ness (Calle Caballeros 5). If you want to taste the best Agua de Valencia (it consists of cava, orange juice, vodka and gin), you should go try it at the Café de las Horas nearby (Carrer del Comte d’Almodóvar 1). Be warned; you may not really taste the alcohol and it is super delicious, but you will get a bit drunk, so maybe eat first! 🙂

Don’t forget to take the passage way between the basilica and the cathedral to discover the side portal of the basilica through which you can spot the statue of Our Lady of the Forsaken. You will arrive at the Plaça de l’Almoina where you can see old Roman and Arab ruins through a glass floor and another entrance to the cathedral.

Baños Arabes / Banys de l’Almirall

Take the Carrer del Palau and continue until you can turn right into the Carrer dels Banys de l’Almirall. Here you can visit the old Moorish bath house for free!

Plaza de la Reina

Then continue this street and turn right at the Carrer del Miracle. Cross the street at the Carrer de les Avellanes and take the Carrer dels Cabillers to reach the Plaza de la Reina. Here you can take a look at the prettiest entrance of the cathedral in baroque style.

Marques de Dos Aguas Museum

Now cross the Plaza de la Reina in the South direction and take the Carrer de Sant Vicent Martir. Don’t forget to take a look at the Santa Caterina tower on you right on your way. Turn left at the Carrer de l’Abadia de Sant Marti to reach the Marques de Dos Aguas Museum. I didn’t enter but the entrance to this museum is an impressive piece of art, that you may not miss when visiting Valencia.

Mercat de Colón

Turn right into the Carrer del Poeta Querol and turn left at the Carrer de Salvà. You will pass the Plaça del Collegi with its orange trees. Turn right at the Carrer de la Universitat and turn left at the Carrer del Pintor Sorolla to the Plaça d’Alfons El Magnànim. In this neighbourhood you will find the most expensive houses of Valencia, often in jugendstil style. Turn left to the Plaça de la Porta de la Mar and there you take the Carrer de Colón to turn left at the Carrer del Comte de Salvatierra. In this street you will encounter the Mercat de Colón on your right side. You can eat something here if you didn’t eat at the Plaza de la Virgen or have a drink.

Pont del Mar / Jardín del Turia

After visiting the Mercat de Colón turn left at the Carrer de Cirilo Amorós to the Pont del Mar, a pretty little bridge over the Jardín del Turia, the huge park of Valencia.

Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències

Take a walk through the park in Southeast direction. You will pass the Palau de la Música de Valencia and continue until you reach the scientific and cultural site with its surreal architecture called Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències. There you will feel as if you are beamed into the future seeing all these surreal buildings. This is a must do even if you are only one day in Valencia. Also take a walk at the Umbracle.

Russafa

Then return via the park until you can take the Carrer de Pere Aleixandre. Turn left at the Avinguda de Peris i Valero and turn right into the Carrer del Mestre Aguilar to enter the Russafa quarter. Here you will see a lot of colored and beautiful façades and some trendy bars and boutiques. Turn left at the Plaça del Baró de Cortés and visit the Mercat de Russafa (if it is still open, it closes at 15.00). Continue via the Carrer de la Reina Na Maria and before you turn right into the Carrer de Cadis take a look around at the intersection where you will find a lot of beautiful façades.
Cross the Gran Via de les Germanies and take the Carrer de Castelló back to the train station. This is the end of your one day in Valencia city walk!

If you have time left

• Climb the Miguelete tower of the cathedral
• Go shopping at the Carrer de Don Juan de Austria, around the Plaza de la Reina or in the old neighbourhoods of Mercat, El Seu and El Carmen.
• Eat tapas at the Calle Caballeros (Ness also has great Sangria)
• Drink the real Agua de Valencia at Café de las Horas (if you didn’t during the walk)

Book your stay here!

If you do decide to stay longer than one day in Valencia, or maybe just one night so you can start early to do this walk, please book your stay here! I earn a small commission which will help me to create more content like this and you don’t loose anything.

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* Routes in Google Maps of this one day in Valencia city walk: Valencia Nord train station to Plaza de la Virgen / Plaza de la Virgen to Pont del Mar / Pont del Mar to Valencia Nord train station via Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias

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