10 Things to Do in Valencia in Winter

Valencia is the capital of arts and sciences in Spain, one of the cities with the best beaches and an ideal place to spend the summer, but it also has many attractions to visit in winter, especially because it has a very pleasant climate and several museums to discover.

Some of the best things to do in Valencia during the winter include visiting the Science Museum, seeing a concert at the Reina Sofia Palace of the Arts, having lunch at the Central Market in Valencia and visiting the walled town of Morella during the winter snows.

The architectural complex of the City of Arts and Sciences is the most representative site of Valencia and the Science Museum occupies one of the main buildings of the complex.

There you can take part in scientific dissemination activities, attend talks and conferences, and visit L'Hemisferic, a giant 3D screen showing science and nature films and documentaries.

The Science Museum also has a floor dedicated to technology and the environment, and every quarter it inaugurates temporary exhibitions on different themes.

The Science Museum also houses a children's pavilion which aims to combat the popular legend that learning science can be boring, so a visit to the museum may be one of the activities you should consider if you plan to visit Valencia with children.

Interesting details

• Price... General admission is approximately 9 euros.
• Location... Main building of the City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia.
• Opening hours... Every day from 10.00 am to 7.00 pm.
• How to get there... Buses lines 10, 19 and 35.

No visit to Valencia is complete until you visit the historic quarter, which is the district where you will find the most important buildings in the city and some of the most visited tourist sites, such as the Plaza de la Virgen, the Cathedral, the Santa Catalina Tower, the Micalet, the Castellfort Palace and La Lonja de la Seda.

To get to know the historic quarter in depth, you can explore it on foot, by bicycle or on a Segway tour of Valencia, and winter is a good time of year because the temperatures are mild and it is not as hot as in summer.

In addition, the historic quarter has some of the best restaurants for you to stop for lunch and a break, such as Sagardi and La Coveta or visit the Central Market of Valencia, one of the most complete in Europe.

The Albufera Nature Park is the largest nature reserve in the Valencian Community and is noted for its natural views, boating activities and freshwater lagoon. It also has some of Valencia's best wild beaches in the Dehesa de Saler.

If you visit Valencia during the winter, in the Albufera National Park you will be able to see the bird migration and also watch the sunsets during clear days. Visiting the Albufera is one of the best tours from Valencia.

If you are a nature lover or if you want to see one of the most beautiful places on the Valencian coast, you can visit this nature reserve with a general entrance fee of approximately 5 euros per person.

Interesting details

• Price... Tickets are priced at approximately 5 euros per person.
• Location... Gulf of Valencia, Valencian Community.
• Opening hours... Monday to Saturday from 8.00 am to 2.30 pm.
• How to get there... By car on the CV-500 road and by bus on lines 10, 35 and 40 combined with line 24.

The winter season also opens the indoor concert season in Valencia and the Palacio de las Artes Reina Sofía is the place where the best dance and opera performances take place in the Valencian Community. If you are planning to visit Valencia during the winter you can't miss one of their shows.

At the Palacio de las Artes Reina Sofía you can see operas, dance shows, symphonies and concerts of piano and Valencian music. The Reina Sofía is, without a doubt, one of the most representative cultural spaces in Valencia.

The Palace of the Arts is located within the City of Arts and Sciences and the building can be visited on guided tours. Fees for performances depend on the chosen show.

Interesting details

• Price... General admission to visit the building costs approximately 11 euros.
• Location... Reina Sofía Building of the City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia.
• Opening hours... Every day from 10.00 am to 8.00 pm.
• How to get there... Bus lines 10, 19 and 35.

Valencia's Central Market is the oldest in the city and its building is considered one of the great works of Valencian modernism.

When you visit it, not only will you be able to eat and shop like a local, but you will also be able to see one of the most beautiful buildings in the city and take shelter from the cold if it starts to rain.

This market has over 1000 stalls where you can buy fresh produce, fish, seafood, sausages and pickles, as well as several bars and restaurants to eat inside.

Valencia' s Central Market is open Monday to Saturday from 7.30am to 3pm and its location close to the Market Square makes it an ideal place to stop for lunch between excursions.

Interesting details

• Price... Admission is free.
• Location... Plaza de Brujas s/n, Valencia.
• Opening hours... Monday to Saturday from 7.30am to 3pm.
• How to get there... Bus lines 15, 24, 25, 35 and 95.

For centuries, the textile industry was the economic engine of Valencia and thus of much of Spain. The epicentre of that industry was the Lonja de la Seda, a Gothic building from the Middle Ages located opposite the Central Market and the Plaza de Brujas. Visiting the Lonja is one of the best things to do during your tour of the old town.

The building is considered a World Heritage Site and stands out for the architecture of its central tower and the internal columns that support the structure. You can also visit the Sala Consulado del Mar and the Patio de los Naranjos, and on guided tours of the building you can learn about its sculptures and the influence the Lonja had on the Velluters neighbourhood.

I advise you to take the time to visit it and get to know it inside, because it has some of the most striking architecture in the city and can form part of your itinerary as a refuge from the cold during your winter visit to Valencia.

Interesting details

• Price... General admission costs approximately 2 euros.
• Location... Plaza de Brujas s/n, Valencia.
• Opening hours... Every day from 10.00 am to 7.00 pm.
• How to get there... Bus lines 15, 24, 25, 35 and 95.

The intimate Monforte Gardens are the most representative of Valencia and also the last of the gardens of the Spanish bourgeoisie to be built in the Community of Valencia.

Nowadays you can visit and discover the viewpoints, fountains, the garden mansion, a waterfall and the sculptures that adorn the pedestrian paths.

Among the sculptures there is one that pays homage to winter and this is because the gardens have a large number of flowers that reach their peak during the winter period, making it one of the best times of the year, along with spring, to walk peacefully through the gardens.

Admission to the gardens is free and they are open every day from 10.00 to 20.00 hours. Monforte is opposite the Jardines del Turia, so if it is a mild winter's day you can make the most of your visit by taking in both of Valencia's green lungs.

Interesting details

• Price... Admission is free.
• Location... Plaza de la Legión Española s/n, Valencia.
• Opening hours... During the winter it is open every day from 10.00 am to 10.00 am.
• How to get there... By bus line 70.

The Church of San Nicolás de Bari, in the historic quarter, is considered the Valencian Sistine Chapel. It is notable for its 15th century Gothic structure and for the Baroque decoration of its interior and bell tower. The church is still in operation, still maintains a worship schedule and plays a fundamental role in the city.

During December, the festivities of San Nicolás de Bari are celebrated , so if you are planning to visit Valencia in winter, you may be able to attend the church during the celebrations, one of the most characteristic of the historic quarter. Every Monday, the faithful also come to the church for the St. Nicholas Walk.

Interesting details

• Price... General admission costs approximately 7 euros.
• Location... Camino de los Caballeros 35, Valencia.
• Opening hours... Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 to 19.00. Mondays only open for walks and during religious worship hours.
• How to get there... By bus lines 7, 27 and 73.

Valencia, among all its attractions, also stands out for its dishes. The city is full of restaurants, bars and street stalls and you can also take some of the best gastronomic tours to discover paella, puchero valenciano, arroz caldoso, sopa cubierta and other typical winter foods.

Due to the city's mild climate, even in the winter season, you can also enjoy Valencian cuisine from the terraces along the seafront promenade. In addition to the typical dishes of Valencia, I also recommend you try the winter desserts and hot drinks, including chocolate with churros and buñuelos (fritters).

If you are planning a short stay in the city, I recommend that you set aside some time to enjoy the food, even if it is between excursions. If that's your case, here's a list of the best attractions you can visit to discover Valencia in 2 days.

If you are planning to travel to Valencia in winter, after the tour of the city you can't miss Morella, a medieval village in the interior of Castellón that during the winter season is covered in snow and offers one of the best spectacles in the Valencian Community. There you will be able to take some of the best photographs of your visit. There you will be able to take some of the best photographs of your visit.

Morella is a town built within the walls of the Middle Ages, whose most famous attraction is the Castle, the main fortress. You can also visit the Basilica, the Paseo de la Alameda and the narrow streets of the old town within the walls.

From the towers of Morella you can enjoy some of the best views of the town and also marvel at the site illuminated at night.

Bear in mind that it is a distance of approximately 200 kilometres from Valencia to Morella, so it might be an inconvenient option if you are planning a short stay in the city. If that is your case, here is a list of things you can do to discover Valencia in 3 days.

Interesting details

• How to get there... The best option is to travel by car along the AP-7 motorway. You can also get there by train on the Euromed and C6 services. By bus you can take lines 71, 81 and 32 and combine them with line L1.

The average temperature in Valencia during the winter is 12°, with highs of 18° and lows of 6°. Even in January, which is the coldest month of the winter season, temperatures remain mild.

If you travel to the interior of the Valencia region or plan to make excursions to Morella, where it snows, temperatures may drop, but rarely below 0°.

Winter is the low season in Valencia, so the number of tourists decreases substantially, which makes touring the main sites quieter and less crowded.

Keep in mind that some attractions such as the shows at the Reina Sofia Art Palace may have a larger influx of people, so in those cases I advise you to book in advance to avoid being sold out, especially if you plan to be in the city for a few days and have no margin with the dates. If this is your case, here are the activities you can do to discover Valencia in 1 day.

Winter is the low season in Valencia so prices also decrease, which makes it a good opportunity to visit the city at a lower price.

Keep in mind, however, that some activities such as the shows at the Reina Sofia Art Palace may increase when the tickets available are sold out, so in that case you should book in advance online to get better prices.

The winter in Valencia is mild and although it can be a bit cold, it doesn't usually snow and the minimum temperature doesn't drop below 6°. There are even some activities, such as visiting the old town on foot or by bicycle, which are usually more comfortable to do during this season than if you visit Valencia in summer, when the heat can be suffocating.

To protect yourself from the cold, you can opt for indoor plans, such as gastronomic tours, visiting the city's markets, shopping centres, shows and concerts, and the most representative sites, such as the San Nicolás de Bari Church and the Loja de la Seda.

• Sunglasses
• Woollen jumpers
• Waterproof coat
• Comfortable shoes
• T-shirts
• Sports trousers
• Lightweight coat
• Woollen scarf
• Woollen socks