Valencia is Spain’s third city and is used to being overshadowed by boisterous Barcelona and slick Madrid.
But in a Which? survey, it unexpectedly came out on top as the European city break destination Britons love the most (tied with the equally charming Krakow, in Poland).
With an impressive 92 per cent score, little Valencia beat the likes of better-known Stockholm, Seville and Berlin to take the top spot.
As a Briton who has been lucky enough to live in Valencia for the past five years, my only surprise was why people hadn’t realised the virtues of this lovely city earlier.
Here are seven reasons this city needs to be on the list for your next city break, according to an adopted local, including one that will surprise you…
It has a park that used to be a river
Turia Gardens (above) is ‘the centre of Valencian life’, writes Sarah
Few cities do green spaces like Valencia, and its crowning glory is a ribbon of green that wends its way through the city for more than five miles.
This is Turia Gardens, formerly the Turia River, before it was redirected following a flood in 1957. Now it is the centre of Valencian life.
Stroll among the pines and palm trees and under historic bridges dating back to the 15th Century and you’ll find yoga classes, loved-up couples, spontaneous football games and picnicking families. It’s also the perfect way to get around the city without having to touch a road and a great way to live the Valencian lifestyle.
It’s home to sci-fi-worthy architecture
Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences has appeared in Tomorrowland, Doctor Who and will appear in the second series of Star Wars prequel Andor
Sarah Gordon in her home city of Valencia
Right at the easternmost point of Turia Gardens you’ll find some truly futuristic sites. Emerging from the park and perfect pools of turquoise waters are great gleaming white buildings in surreal shapes. They house a 3D cinema, science museum, art gallery and opera house – there is even an open-air nightclub here in the summer months. This is the City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava. You may recognise these unusual buildings from George Clooney’s film Tomorrowland or even an episode of Peter Capaldi’s Doctor Who.
These buildings also became the city of Delos in Westworld and scenes for the second series of Star Wars prequel Andor were filmed here.
You can cycle everywhere
As you may have gathered from the fabulous park, Valencia is a city that lives life outdoors – after all, it has more than 300 days of sunshine every year.
So, what could be better than getting about on two wheels?
Sarah recommends exploring Valencia by bike, noting that its 125 miles of cycle lanes connect the centre with the beach, park and surrounding villages
This city of fewer than a million residents has around 125 miles of cycle lanes.
They connect the centre with the beach, park and even the farms and villages that surround Valencia. Hire a bike during your stay and peddle your way around like the locals.
There are fabulous beaches
The picture above shows just why Valencia was voted Britons’ favourite European coastal destination
Yes, Valencia was voted the best city break destination by Which?, but it was also voted Britons’ favourite European coastal destination in a separate survey.
It’s easy to see why. This city is set on the Mediterranean coast and is fringed by golden beaches. Just a couple of miles from the city centre (that’s what the bikes are for!) you can enjoy lunch with a sea view. My favourites are Patacona, for its summer beach bars and bohemian vibe, or slightly further away, El Saler, for its pristine sands backed by wild dunes and a lush pine forest that’s perfect for a leisurely hike.
The paella is fabulous
Valencia is the birthplace of paella, says Sarah, who adds: ‘To make it is an art form’
Spain’s national dish was born in Valencia. And true paella is made with rabbit, chicken, green beans and lima beans, sweet paprika, saffron and rosemary. To make it is an art form. It will take about 30 minutes and you need to order for at least two people – but it’s worth it. Look out for the caramelised bit that you need to almost scrape from the pan, called socarrat. It’s everyone’s favourite bit.
Not sure about the paella? No worries.
Valencia is surrounded by farmland (another reason to jump on a bike), which means the restaurants here have the freshest ingredients to work with. Order a whole fish with local vegetables, dig into delicious tapas dishes of chorizo, coca (a type of flat bread) with different toppings, or Valencian ratatouille with tuna (titaina) and if you’re feeling daring all-i-pebre – a dish featuring eel, paprika and chilli.
You’ll find the Holy Grail
The Holy Grail is said to be housed in Valencia’s cathedral (above)
This image shows the carved gold reliquary in Valencia Cathedral that is said to have been used by Jesus Christ during the Last Supper
Yes, really. It’s been here all along. Someone really should have told Dan Brown. Head to the handsome blue-domed cathedral in the city’s gorgeous Gothic centre – all winding streets and quirky street art – and you’ll find a little chapel where an agate cup, now adorned with a carved gold reliquary, is said to be the one used by Jesus Christ during the Last Supper.
The church explains its claim and why it believes this is the true Holy Grail. You can decide for yourself.
Then head up El Miguelete tower for sweeping city views, before heading out to enjoy the sun-splashed squares lined with orange trees and the lovely little shops of the old town.
Its Fallas festival will leave you in awe (and slightly deaf)
Valencia’s Las Fallas festival (above) sees towering works of art mounted in the streets
Perhaps one of Spain’s most bizarre festivals, Las Fallas runs for about three weeks every March, but reaches peak excitement in the final few days before ending on March 19 – so book for those days. Neighbourhood groups mount towering statues in the streets featuring satirical scenes and the city closes to traffic – you can wander between free open-air parties in each neighbourhood, and every day in the town square at 2pm there is a thunderingly loud fireworks display.
You’ll see falleros strolling around in regional dress – opulent silk dresses and Princess Leia hairstyles for the women and trousers to the knee, shirts and waistcoats for the men.
Then on the night of the 19th, all the works of art, which took the best part of a year to create and cost a fortune, are burnt to the ground. It’s said to be a nod to when carpenters would burn the pieces of wood that propped up their lights in winter to welcome the spring.
If you’re still wondering whether Valencia should be your next city break destination, there are plenty of other reasons to visit, from the fabulous al fresco restaurants to the crop of new boutique hotels (try The Valentia or Yours) and from the friendly locals to the colourful hipster neighbourhoods (try Ruzafa and Cabanyal).
Just don’t tell too many people about it, it’s my little secret…