Spanair

Manises Airport is located eight kilometres from the city. The airport taxi service is available to reach Valencia, a trip that costs around fourteen euros.  However, there is also a direct bus service that despite being less comfortable is considerably cheaper at €2.50 a ride. The bus operates between the airport and Valencia every twenty minutes, from 6am to 10pm, 365 days a year.

The city also has an important port (visit www.valenciaport.com) that was host to the famous America’s Cup sailing competition. The citizens and institutions of the city aim to integrate the port with the city through the Balcón al Mar project to create a space in the port for cultural and sports activities - in addition to its evident role in the transport system.
If Valencia had to stand out for one thing alone, it would be its efficient traffic system. The city has a variety of well-organized transport modes to move around. In addition to its public bus service, widespread taxi services and fleets of private hire cars, the city has metro, tram and train services.

The metro has four lines that link the city centre with nearby towns and municipalities. A single ticket costs €1.10 (to travel in zones A, B, C, D) and a multi-trip metro ticket costs €5.40 (to travel in zone A).
As in all self-respecting tourist cities, Valencia proudly boasts a modern tram that circulates in the streets of Pont de Fusta, crossing the city’s main areas, to the port, and to the beaches of Las Arenas and Malvarrosa.

The Bús Turístic is operated specially for tourists wishing to go on an attractive guided tour of the City of Valencia. 

The El Carmen District
This area is the bustling historical heart of the city. Its narrow streets, irregular blocks, stately buildings, palaces, and Roman and Arab ruins reveal their primitive constructions. The houses have been gradually converted into modern establishments, restaurants, bars and open-air cafés as El Carmen has developed into one of the city’s most popular leisure areas.

Valencia is called "the city of light and colour" as it receives over 2,500 hours of sun and an average of 300 sunny days every year. The reason is the famous Mediterranean warm and dry climate that prevails within the territory, blessing the land with juicy oranges and spectacular flora.

The temperatures range between 20ºC in summer and 9ºC in winter and the climate tends to be humid. From November to March, the average temperature is in the region of 13ºC.
It rains infrequently and generally in autumn. Humidity is normally highest in summer.

Rice is the culinary star of Valencian dishes, a variety of different specialities exist: the legendary Valencian paella, arròs al form (oven-baked rice), arròs en fesols (rice with white beans and turnips) and arròs a banda (saffron rice and squid with allioli) are just some of the delights that substantiate the city’s gastronomic reputation.

Other extraordinary dishes of this typically Mediterranean diet include fideuà (similar to arròs a banda but prepared with small noodles, whitebait and a grouper or swordfish bone) and all i pebre (eels in piquant sauce) - the regional main course - prepared with fresh eels, garlic, pepper, chilli, oil, water, salt and potatoes).

Arnadí, a delight for the taste buds, is the most celebrated dessert across the whole of Valencia, its name has Arab origins and it is a pastry normally served at Easter. Arnardí is a homemade pastry with a golden colour decorated with white hints of almond or meringue, prepared from pumpkin and sweet potato confit, sugar, almonds, pine nuts and cinnamon. 

As in any leading capital, Valencia has large, unique and diverse establishments where one may try any type of international dish. However, the list below highlights some of the restaurants with the best traditional Valencian-style menus.

Galbis
Address: C/Antonio Almela 15
Telephone: (+34) 96 254 10 93
Price: Over €45
Website: www.galbis.com
Specialty: Valencian Paella from the Ribera Alta
Since 1963 this traditional family-run restaurant has delighted visitors with lovingly prepared, innovative Valencian dishes, always moving with the times. It holds the Guinness record for paella preparation - the record to date is for preparing paella for 110,000 people with a single paella pan.

Racó de L'Olla
Address: Ctra. del Palmar 21
Telephone: (+34) 96 162 01 72
Price: Over €45
Specialty: Eels in piquant sauce 
This restaurant has a lovely waterfront location on the shores of Lake Albufera that also offers the opportunity to go on a leisurely boat trip or enjoy a stoll in its gardens, etc. 

Mesón San Román
Address: C/Antonio Almela 6
Telephone: (+34) 963 943 411
Price: From €20 to €30
Specialities: San Román salad, roast ribs with honey and char-grilled meat.
The restaurant has air conditioning and two function rooms.

El Timonel
Telephone: (+34) 96 352 63 00
Address: C/Félix Pizcueta13
Price: Over €45
Specialities: Rice with lobster, grilled fish, grilled seasonal vegetable platter, rice with white beans and turnips, fish à la marinière and confit of duck à l'orange.
El Timonel has a wonderful marine décor similar to the inside of a yacht and a well stocked wine cellar.

Sabis II
Address: C/ Burriana 40
Telephone: (+34) 963 732 597
Price: Under €10
Specialities: Main courses, canapés, a selection of tapas and Manchego-style gazpacho.

La Escalinata
Address: Bélgica 5
Telephone: (+34) 963 890 518
Price: Under €10
This restaurant offers a wide range of traditional and more elaborate nouvelle cuisine dishes.

Mikoniwa
Address: Corretgeria 12
Specialty: Traditional Valencian dishes with eastern influences.
This exotic restaurant hides a treasure inside, an ancient Roman water cistern that is used as a private function room.

Parador Luis Vives
Address: Av. de los pinares
Telephone: (+34) 961 611 186
Price: From €20 to €30
Specialities: Rice dishes
The restaurant has two private function rooms and a car park.

Valencia is teeming with high-quality, luxurious hotels offering something to suit all budgets.

HOTEL EUROSTARS GRAN VALENCIA 5* 
Address: Valle de Ayora, 3 Valencia (VALENCIA)
Price: From €60 per night
A hotel with a modern design located opposite the Congress Hall and very close to the Trade Fair Centre.

HOTEL CONQUERIDOR 4* 
Address: Cervantes 9-11 Valencia (VALENCIA) 
Price: Average
In the heart of the city.

HOTEL NOVOTEL VLC PALACIO CONGRESOS 4*
Address: C/ El Valle de Ayora, without number, Valencia (VALENCIA) 
Price: From €40
Surrounded by the newest areas of Valencia; the Congress Hall, the Trade Fair Centre and the business district.

EUROSTARS GRAN VALENCIA 5*
Address: Valle de Ayora, 3 46015 Valencia
Website: http://www.eurostarsgranvalencia.com
Email: reservas@eurostarsgranvalencia.com
Telephone: (+34) 963 050 800
Fax: (+34) 963 050 809 

HOSPES PALAU DE LA MAR 5*
Address: Navarro Reverter, 14 46004 Valencia
http://www.hospes.es
Email: palaudelamar@hospes.es
Telephone: (+34) 963 162 884
Fax: (+34) 963 162 885 

MELIÁ VALENCIA PALACE 5*
Address: Paseo de la Alameda, 32 46023 Valencia
Website: http://www.sh-hoteles.com
Email: melia.valencia.palace@solmelia.com
Telephone: (+34) 963 375 037
Fax: (+34) 963 375 532 

Modern and classic styles intermingle in the city. The streets of Marqués de Dos Aguas and Poeta Querol adorn their windows with the most famous brands in the world. High quality goods and luxury shops are also centred in the areas of Don Juan de Austria, Colón and Jorge Juan - Valencia’s most chic areas.

The Mercado de Colón, in the heart of the city, has a more relaxed atmosphere.  Tourists will find an alternative style behind its colourful Valencian façade, somewhere between modern and traditional. The recently restored market is one of the city’s most emblematic art nouveau buildings. It houses a roomy leisure space with shops, restaurants and open-air cafés, etc.
Valencia also has an ample selection of department stores for those who want to find everything under one roof.

The local rastro [flea market] on Sundays, located next to Mestalla football stadium, is perfect for lovers of unusual trinkets.  As well as typical market stalls, the La Lonja old mediaeval silk market has a point inside for selling stamps and coins for collectors, although the real crafts market is in Plaza Redonda.

Lovers of tradition and those seeking earthly pleasures can start the route by catching the tram to Malvarrosa Beach. Once there, follow the Paseo Marítimo promenade to discover the most fantastic places. Almost without realising, tourists will end up in front of authentic Valencian paella in one of the bustling restaurants with views across the sea. 

After a relaxing start to the day, and with a happily full stomach, catch the tram once more back to the centre to visit the city’s modern Congress Centre, designed by Sir Norman Foster. To continue with the leisurely pace of the morning, go on a boat trip around the Albufera Natural Park during sunset and be captivated by its charm and beauty.

For those looking to be immersed in culture and the contrast of a more modern atmosphere, the El Carmen area is the perfect choice where, in the heart of the city, an alternative movement is emerging and expanding. The Asociación Vulture (www.vulture.es) invites visitors to über trendy fiestas and cocktails in El Café de las Horas. The atmosphere is unbeatable, surrounded by the young arty intelligentsia; one can enjoy pleasant contemporary poetry recitals whilst seated in an open-air café.

A great option for dinner is to head off to la Taberna de Marisa close to the Plaza del Carmen to sip an excellent drop of wine whilst the entrées are served - Iberico ham and a cheese platter.

Those looking to sample the nightlife should visit the Radiocity - a music club that masterly fusions music styles, and beforehand perhaps catch a live show at Café Bayano. Those wanting to hit the dance floor should try Piccadilly - one of Valencia’s well-known clubs.

Valencia is a truly cosmopolitan city with an excellent variety of cultural attractions. The most important and interesting include:

Príncipe Felipe Science Museum (City of Arts and Sciences) 
This is one of the city’s most famous buildings, with exhibitions related to science and technology. It is an interactive museum; visitors interact with the pieces on display to learn.

Fine Arts Museum (San Pío V 9) 
This is Spain’s second largest art gallery after the Prado in Madrid. Its exhibitions focus on gothic paintings, and it contains a total of 2,000 pieces, including works by Valencian artists from the 14th and 15th centuries. It also exhibits an interesting collection of modern art, a sculpture pavilion and an impressive archaeological collection.

Valencian Institute of Modern Art (IVAM, Guillem de Castro 118) 
This is in the top three best modern arts museums in Spain and has a collection of 360 paintings, gold and silver items, sculptures and drawings. 

Fallas Museum (Plaza Monteolivete 4) 
All the best ninots [cartoon-like figures or statuettes] that have been saved from the flames since 1934 are kept in this museum together with an impressive photographic collection that conveys the spirit of the best fallas (bonfires) as well as the posters that have won the annual competition. The Fallas Artist Museum is another museum with the same theme.

Malvarrosa Beach
At any time of the year and just minutes from the city centre, the Las Arenas and Malvarrosa beaches can be easily reached using many transport modes:
the modern city buses (www.emtvalencia.es), bicycle - using the cycle paths, a comfortable journey on the metro (www.metrovalencia.com) by car, or on foot.

The Paseo Marítimo is a magnificent seafront promenade with excellent facilities that is one of the best leisure areas to enjoy walking, roller skating, jogging… Not forgetting it is the perfect spot to try the wonderful paellas and fresh fish stews.

The Atarazanas [The Royal Shipyards] (Plaza Juan Antonio Benlliure) 
In its early life, this old building was used to build and repair boats. Despite the cruel passing of time and the different working lives of this building (workshops, warehouse, cinema…) it still stands strong and was declared a National Monument in 1949. The building was restored after it was purchased by the Local government and in 1994 it was opened to the public as a tourist attraction.

The Almudín (Plaza San Luis Beltrán 1) 
This was the first building in the city that was used for storing, distribution and selling wheat.
It was declared a National Monument in 1969 for its important contribution to the city’s history. In 1969 the Almudín was converted into a Palaeontology Museum and in 1996 its restoration was completed. It currently houses prestigious temporary exhibitions. 

The Cathedral of Valencia
This is a monument with many faces as it has three main entrances in three different styles: Romanesque (from Calle Palau), gothic (opposite Plaza de la Virgen), and baroque (towards Plaza Zaragoza). The most interesting aspect is its bell tower, a symbol for the city, known locally as the Miguelete (also Micalet).

Mercado de Colón (opened in 1916)
One of the symbols of the city. It has been declared a National Monument and is one of the most important works in art nouveau architecture. Two enormous arch-shaped entrances at either end lead to the central space that is covered by a metal structure, with cast iron pillars, built in the style of industrial buildings of the era.

The Roman Consul Decio Junio Bruto chose the name Valentia (meaning strength and capacity) when he founded the city in AD 138 on an island on the River Turia.

Since then, different civilisations have left their mark on these lands – first the Visigoths, then the Muslims (AD 718), and later the Christians (AD 1238). The Kingdom of Valencia was established in the latter stage under the reign of King Jaume I. Thanks to the powers granted by its privileges, Valencia became the capital of the confederation of the kingdoms that formed the Crown of Aragón. However, in the 18th century the city lost its privileges in reprisal for the support lent to the Austrian pretender to the Spanish throne.

Industrial and political activity was renewed in the 19th century. Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, the renowned Valencian writer, author of famous works such as Sangre y Arena [Blood and Sand], and Arroz y Tartana [Rice and Carriage] sowed the first seeds of the republican movement.

One of the darkest moments in the history of the city was the floods of 1957 that affected thousands of people. From that point onwards, the Plan Sur was put into action, a project that diverted the River Turia to the south of the city. Today, the government has converted the old riverbed into an urban garden stretching over 10 kilometres long.