10 Best Food Tours of Valencia

Famous the world over for its high standards and exquisite flavour, Valencian gastronomy is one of the most outstanding in the whole of Spain. If you are visiting Valencia, you can't miss out on trying some of its most classic delicacies, as well as the most innovative options of its most important chefs.

Although there is a lot to see and do in Valencia, taking a guided gastronomic tour of the city is one of the best options for getting to know Valencian culture in depth. From participating in a workshop to learn how to make seafood paella, wine tasting, strolling through the best local bars and restaurants, these gastronomic tours will fascinate you.

If you are passionate about seafood, paella and Valencian food, this is the gastronomic tour for you. Start by walking with your guide through the famous Ruzafa market, where you will buy all the fresh produce that you will later add to your paella. You'll get the most out of this experience, as you 'll also learn all the details and secrets of true Valencian paella, one of its most characteristic dishes.

A few metres away is the kitchen where you'll start by preparing a delicious sangria, to get you in the mood. Of course, in the process you'll be tasting a good amount of patatas bravas, Serrano ham and other tapas, drinks and traditional dishes, in a relaxed atmosphere. After this exquisite start, the chef will teach you all the steps to prepare an authentic Valencian seafood paella.

This is undoubtedly a unique experience, and that is why it is among the best gastronomic tours in Valencia, an authentic culinary celebration, ideal to do alone, as a couple or with a group of friends. Don't miss it!

Interesting details

• Price: from 60 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes in total.
• Means of transport: you start with a walking tour to do your shopping.
• Advantages of this option: this is an experience for small groups, so you will receive personalised treatment from both the guide and the chef.
• Disadvantages of this option: not recommended if you are travelling with small children.

Join us on a tour of the most outstanding bars in the El Carmen neighbourhood, one of the most picturesque, because it is an area where you can enjoy Street Art. With your expert guide, you will live the authentic bar crawl experience in Valencia.

You'll get to know the most traditional drinks of the Valencian nightlife and you'll also enjoy a complimentary shot in each of the bars you visit, guaranteed.

This walking tour is ideal to do on your own or with a group of friends. If you are one of those who can't visit a city without getting to know its nightlife, this is the tour for you. Please note that the price does not include any food, so it is recommended that you have had dinner beforehand, otherwise you might get sick from the drinks.

Although it can be enjoyed all year round, with warm temperatures you are guaranteed to have a much better time, which is why this tour is one of the best things to do in Valencia in the summer.

Details of interest

• Price: from 21 euros per person.
• Duration: the tour lasts approximately 4 hours in total.
• Means of transport: you'll get to know the best bars in Valencia on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will have the chance to get to know the best places of the Valencian nightlife and enjoy a few hours of pure fun, thanks to the friendly guides.
• Disadvantages of this option: of course, minors are not allowed on this experience. Although all the bars you'll visit are close by, you might get a bit tired on foot.

On this guided tour you will taste the most typical Valencian dishes and drinks. The tour starts at the horchatería Santa Catalina, where the most delicious and refreshing horchata, a drink made from tigernuts, water and sugar, is prepared. Here you 'll sample some of Valencia's traditional pastries and cakes.

Then move on to savoury flavours on a visit to Valencia's Central Market, a unique place where you' ll delight in the best local hams and cheeses. Your guide will guide you and make recommendations according to your taste. From hams to beers, on a visit to a traditional Valencian tavern.

Finally you will visit the Batlia Palace and the San Valero Parish Church. At a quaint local market you will have the chance to sip a glass of wine and try some ham croquettes to end a magical evening. The tour includes 10 tastings in total.

Interesting details

• Price: from 109 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately 3 hours in total.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to sample some of the most typical Valencian drinks and dishes. In addition, the tour includes a wide range of options to suit all tastes.
• Disadvantages of this option: unfortunately, the option does not include pick-up and return to the hotel.

On this top-notch tour of the old town, you will not only see some incredible sights, but also taste some of the most delicious local wines. Start the tour on Calle Caballeros, once one of Valencia's main thoroughfares. Then you will visit the famous Central Market and all the magic of the El Carmen neighbourhood.

You will visit the Lonja de la Seda, the Church of Santa Catalina, the Plaza de la Reina and the Plaza de la Virgen, one of the current axes of the city. You will learn from your guide about Valencia's past, from the years of Roman and Muslim occupation to the arrival of Christianity. You will be able to notice the features of its architecture, where this cultural mix becomes as evident as it is captivating.

Finally, finish this tour with an international wine tasting in a place with centuries of history, located in the heart of the historic centre. The tasting includes pairings with local seasonal flavours. This 2-hour gastronomic experience includes tapas, appetizers and dessert. An excellent tour that perfectly combines history and gastronomy. Not to be missed.

Interesting details

• Price: from 64 euros per person.
• Duration: about 4 hours in total.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: the price of the tour includes all drinks and meals.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you are looking for a gastronomic experience only, this tour may not be ideal.

On this guided tour of Valencia you will get to know the impressive City of Arts and Sciences, an architectural space created by the architect Santiago Calatrava. Learn all about these 7 futuristic structures that have given the city of Valencia a new look.

Then, access the highest terrace of the city, where you can enjoy an exclusive wine and tapas tasting, with the best panoramic views. Without a doubt, this is one of the best tours in Valencia, as the City of Arts and Sciences is one of the most important architectural landmarks of the city. Thanks to your guide you will learn the details of its construction and striking design.

The wine tasting includes local and international wines, paired with the most exquisite tapas, to end this experience in the best way.

Interesting details

• Price: from 87 euros per person.
• Duration: about 4 hours in total.
• Means of transport: walking tour, including return to the accommodation.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to enjoy the best views of the city from an elevated viewpoint. Wine and tapas tasting is included in the price of the tour.
• Disadvantages of this option: not recommended if you suffer from vertigo.

The best way to book a tour is always online, as you can check the references of the company offering the tour, as well as reading reviews and opinions from other travellers.

When you buy online you are guaranteed to be choosing the option that best suits your interests. If, on the other hand, you book a tour on the street, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise, or it may simply not be what it seems. If you book in advance you can get unique experiences such as a private gastronomic tour with 10 tastings or a stroll through the old town of Valencia with an exclusive wine tasting, and more.

The average duration of these types of tours is around 4 hours, some are longer and some are shorter. Bear in mind that these are experiences that include, in many cases, the purchase of products or strolls through markets, tours and tasting, preparation of dishes, and that usually takes time. In addition, in order to savour properly, one cannot be rushed by the clock, one must give oneself to the enjoyment and live the experience with all 5 senses.

It will depend on the tour you choose. You can do a bar crawl through the best bars in the city, you can do a tour with 10 different tastings throughout the city's bars, restaurants and street markets, do a seafood paella workshop, or take a walk through the most touristy places in the city and finish with a wine and tapas tasting on the rooftop of the City of Arts and Sciences. As you can see, the options are varied and one more interesting than the previous one, you just have to choose the one that best suits your interests and enjoy!

Here are some practical tips:

• My first tip is to look at all the gastronomic tour options available and choose according to your desires, that way you will be guaranteeing an experience tailored to you and yours.

• Another thing to bear in mind with these types of tours is that if you have any preferences or limitations in terms of drinks or food, please inform the tour organisers so that they can take them into account.

• All gastronomic tours in Valencia are done on foot, so I recommend you wear comfortable shoes. You will spend several hours on foot or walking from one market to another, so you should be light and comfortable.

• My last recommendation is that this type of gastronomic tour is not recommended for children. Although there is no prohibition in this regard, it is not a type of activity that can entertain them, both because of its duration and because you have to walk through several areas. If you are travelling with your children, I advise you to opt for one of the many things to do with children in Valencia.

There are options for all budgets, the prices of these gastronomic tours in Valencia start at 21 euros per person, to tour some of the best bars in the city, and then you have options with tasting or tasting between 60 and 109 euros per person. As you can see, everyone can do this type of tour, and live an authentic Valencian culinary experience.

Gastronomy is a very important and representative part of Valencian culture. From its classic paella, famous around the world, to its many varieties of seafood dishes, the flavours of Valencia are those that conquer the heart and the stomach.

That's why a gastronomic tour of this city is so highly recommended: not only will you be sampling some unique flavours, but you'll also be getting to know part of the cultural heritage of this region of Spain.