Arrive 18:30, check in, breathe Mediterranean air. See the 🧭 Routes tab for turn-by-turn airport → hotel directions.
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Rough Guide: "Metro lines 3 or 5 to the centre" from Manises airport. ~25 min, ~€2.90. Buy Tourist Card here for unlimited transport.
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Buy València Tourist Card 72h (€25) at the airport — unlimited metro/bus/tram + museum discounts for all of Days 1–3.
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Hotel is steps from Mercado Central. First evening: horchata at Horchatería Santa Catalina (Plaza Santa Catalina 6), then a wander through Barrio del Carmen.
Monday · March 30 · Day 1
Historic Heart with Mediterranean Soul
Old Town on foot · Rough Guide: "compact enough to walk around"
🏛️ All walkable🎨 Rough Guide Top 10🛍️ Open till 21h
Plaza Santa Catalina 6. Café con leche with ensaimada (soft sweet bun). Rough Guide perfect day starts here: "better choice for breakfast is a café con leche with an ensaimada on the side."
Rough Guide: "make your way through the atmospheric old streets of the Barrio del Carmen towards the cathedral"
⏰ 11:00 AM
Valencia Cathedral + El Miguelete
Rough Guide: "worth the climb up the 207 spiral steps to the belfry, the Miguelete, for an unbeatable panoramic view." Audio guide included. Also home to the Santo Cáliz (Holy Grail). €10.
Rough Guide: "across the road from the market is Valencia's favourite building, La Lonja"
🍽️ Lunch · 1:30 PM
Mercado Central
Rough Guide Top 5: "the best place to get good food." Europe's largest market, 1,200+ stalls, built 1928. Mon–Sat 7:30am–3pm. Note: your hotel is 2 min away!
Rough Guide: "the frescoes of the Apocalypse on the vaults by Antonio Palomino are not to be missed." The "Sistine Chapel of Valencia" — completely restored. ~€5.
Rough Guide: "for a taste of the Barrio del Carmen you can just walk along Calle Caballeros"
🚶 5:00 PM
Barrio del Carmen
Rough Guide Top 2: "the most fashionable part of the city, day and night." Walk Calle Caballeros. Rough Guide: "the once run-down medieval quarter is now a trendy place to pass a day of sightseeing or a night partying."
Hidden gem in the old town. Seafood paella, grilled octopus, incredible croquettes. ~€25/person. Evenings only Mon–Fri. Book in advance! (Open Monday evenings ✓)
🐙 ~€25/pBook ahead!
Tuesday · March 31 · Day 2
Avant-Garde Architecture & the Sea
Tram to beach · Arts complex by metro · See 🧭 Routes tab
Rough Guide: "take metro line 4 in the direction of Doctor Lluch and get off at Les Arenes." Depart from Pont de Fusta tram station (across the river from Torres de Serranos). Wide sandy beach, water sports at La Marina.
Paseo Neptuno 6, tel: 96 371 03 66. Rough Guide Perfect Day: "enjoy Valencia's signature dish of paella over a long lazy seaside lunch (ordered in advance) at La Pepica." A classic since 1898, Hemingway ate here. ~€€–€€€.
Rough Guide Perfect Day: "Catch metro line 5 to Alameda and walk up the river bank to the extraordinary gleaming white buildings"
🔬 4:00 PM
Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències
Rough Guide Top 9: "Valencia's 21st-century architectural showcase, with lots to see and do." Combo ticket €39.10 for Hemisfèric + Museu de les Ciències + Oceanogràfic. Allow 4–5 hours. Rough Guide: "this is valid for one, two or three days."
Top-rated Argentinian steakhouse. Tasting menu with unlimited house wine. CLOSED Wednesdays — Tuesday is fine!. Walk back through the Turia gardens to the old town.
Rough Guide: "begin at Nou d'Octubre station on metro line 3" (or walk from the Turia gardens). "Next to the Parque de Cabecera is the extraordinary Bioparc, which recreates different African habitats." Elephants, giraffes, gorillas, lions, rhinos. Book online ~€25. Allow 3h+.
Back to city by metro/bus, then Bus 24 from city centre → El Palmar
🌾 2:30 PM
Parque Natural de L'Albufera
Rough Guide Top 8: "one of Spain's most important bird habitats." Rough Guide: "Bus 24 lleva al El Palmar y la 25 a El Perellonet." 10km from the city. Freshwater lagoon surrounded by rice paddies. Take a traditional albuferenc boat ride.
Rough Guide recommends El Rek (Pintor Martí Girbés 1, El Palmar, tel: 96 162 02 97, ~€€) and Raco' Nou (Carretera de El Palmar 21, tel: 96 162 01 72, from €33/p). L'Albufera is literally where paella was invented.
Stay for the sunset — the sky burns in reds, oranges and pinks. One of Spain's most spectacular natural moments. Watch from the Embarcadero viewpoint or a traditional boat on the lagoon.
🌅 UnmissableFree
Thursday · April 2 · 🐱 Sisi Day
Day Trip to Visit Sisi's Shelter
Rental car day · Rough Guide car hire companies listed
🐱 Visit Sisi🚗 Rental car
🚗 Car Rental — Compare & Book
Thursday April 2 · Holy Week = book well in advance! · Rough Guide: "at least a year's licence, over 21"
⚠️ Holy Week warning: April 2 is Maundy Thursday — a national holiday in most of Spain. Car rental demand is very high. Book at least 2 weeks ahead. Good Friday Apr 3 is also a public holiday.
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🚗 Centauro Rent a Car
from ~€15/day
Spanish local company · Airport shuttle from VLC · Very competitive rates · Good reviews. Shuttle to their depot takes ~5 min. Full insurance ~€11/day extra.
✈️ Enterprise (Airport)
~€25–35/day
tel: 961 52 27 13 · At Valencia Airport terminal. Rough Guide listed. Reliable, no shuttle needed.
💡 April in Valencia: economy car ~€20–35/day. Holy Week rates spike — book now! Check if your credit card covers CDW insurance (saves ~€10–15/day). Low Emission Zone (ZBE) in downtown Valencia — avoid driving in the historic centre. Paid parking: blue zones Mon–Fri 9–14h & 16–20h, Sat mornings. Use underground car parks.
Drive to the shelter in the afueras. Call ahead, bring photos of Sisi. Sisi's shelter is in the Paiporta region (l'Horta Sud), south of Valencia. Ask the 🤖 AI assistant to help find the address and best route.
🐱 Most meaningful moment!
🏰 After shelter visit
Sagunto — Roman Theatre + Moorish Castle
Rough Guide outskirts section recommends Sagunt. 30 min north on A7 (toll). Roman theatre still used for summer festivals + dramatic Moorish castle with sea views. Rarely crowded.
IVAM: one of Spain's best modern art museums. Rough Guide: "the prehistory museum next to the IVAM, the Museu de Prehistòria de València, is also worth a look" (free on Sunday, today is Thursday). €6 each.
Rough Guide Top 10: "a visual feast inside and out." The most extravagant Baroque alabaster facade in Spain. Rough Guide: "the streets opposite the ceramics museum lead to two venerable Valencian institutions, the university and El Patriarca." €3.
Head to Puerta de los Apóstoles — arrive before 12:00!
🏛️ 12:00 NOON THURSDAY — Move to Day 4 (Apr 2)!
Tribunal de las Aguas (UNESCO) — Thursday only!
Rough Guide: "every Thursday at 12 noon this doorway becomes the setting for what is perhaps the most extraordinary court of law anywhere in the world." 1,000 years old. "When there is no debate the affair can be over as the clock strikes midday — so get there promptly."
Moro Zeit 13 (in Barrio del Carmen). Rough Guide Perfect Day: "one of the best in town is Bar Pilar which has been operating since 1912 and is renowned for its excellent mussels." Then sit in Plaza Redonda — Rough Guide: "sit in a pavement café and watch life go by."
Rough Guide: "a ribbon of parks and playing fields, criss-crossed by an attractive mix of historic and modern bridges." Rent from Cyclobikes Valencia (Turia gardens, Gulliver Park, tel: 64 600 67 99) or Do You Bike (Calle del Mar 14, tel: 96 315 55 51).
Rough Guide Perfect Day: "enjoy a leisurely gourmet dinner in swanky Ricard Camarena Restaurant (Avda. Burjassot 54)" — Michelin starred, ~€€€€. Or La Riuà (Calle de la Mar 27, tel: 96 391 45 71, ~€€) for excellent Valencian cuisine at great value. Book way ahead!
€€ · Calle de la Mar 27 · tel: 96 391 45 71 · Great Valencian cuisine, paella, fideua · "acclaimed for its paella" — Rough Guide · Closed Sun night & Mon
What's happening in València during your stay · Mar 29 – Apr 4, 2026
🕯️ Special context
Semana Santa Marinera
Your entire stay falls during Holy Week 2026 (Mar 29 – Apr 4) — one of Valencia's most unique festivals! Unlike Seville's famous processions, Valencia celebrates Semana Santa Marinera — a maritime Easter rooted in the ancient fishing villages of El Cabanyal, Grao & Canyamelar. Declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest.
Good Friday Apr 3 = National holiday🚌 Some bus disruptions likely
📅 Events During Your Stay
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Procession of the Palms — Mar 29 (Your arrival day!)
11:00 AM · Plaza de José Antonio Benlliure (Cabanyal) · Palm Sunday procession opening Holy Week · emotional & colourful · free to watch
Procession of the Torches — Apr 2 (Maundy Thursday, your Sisi day!)
8:00 PM · Avenida del Mediterráneo · Cabanyal · Dramatic torch-lit procession to the sound of timpani & drums. Streets filled with candles. Don't miss this if you're back from Paiporta in time — it's extraordinary.
Good Friday Procession — Apr 3 (National Holiday!)
8:00 AM · Playa de las Arenas · Tribute to sailors lost at sea. Then at 6:30 PM: the most solemn & popular 5-hour procession through the seafront neighbourhoods. Public holiday — many shops & restaurants closed. Plan accordingly!
Plaza de la Reina · 10:30 AM–2:00 PM & 4:30–9:00 PM · Artisan market right next to the Cathedral with local crafts, ceramics, jewellery & textiles. Perfect for souvenirs — open throughout your entire stay!
Immersive Leonardo da Vinci Exhibition — until Apr 13
Museu de les Ciències · Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències · Hands-on immersive exhibition of Da Vinci's inventions and paintings. Running until April 13 — catch it on Day 2 when you visit the Arts complex!
Valencia · Joaquín Sorolla (1863–1923) was Valencia's greatest painter — known for luminous Mediterranean light & beach scenes. 60 major works on display until April 6 — your last chance is Day 5 (Apr 3) or Day 6 (Apr 4)!
Various venues · After Fallas, the one ninot sculpture "pardoned" from the flames is exhibited. In 2026 running until May 30 — see this unique saved Fallas artwork throughout your stay. A fascinating insight into Las Fallas.
Pérgola de la Marina Weekend Concerts — Mar 28 & Apr 4
La Marina · Saturdays with live music and brunch by the sea. Mar 28 (day before you arrive) and Apr 4 (departure day morning) — if your flight allows, catch the last one at the Marina!
Free · Little-known Modernist garden built early 20th century · Peaceful escape with a sumptuous mansion, domed tower & romantic green space · Almost no tourists · Perfect for a quiet afternoon
Free guided tours year-round · Hidden in plain sight in the old town — Valencia's oldest church (13th century), founded by the Knights of St John. Rarely crowded. Contains the tomb of Emperor Baldwin II of Constantinople.
Guided tours available (year-round) · A restored 1930s hydraulic pump factory turned stunning contemporary art centre. Houses an underground Civil War shelter you can visit. Ricard Camarena restaurant is inside!
Seasonal Easter treat · Traditional Valencian Easter cake — a fluffy sponge decorated with a hard-boiled or chocolate egg. Only available during Holy Week! Find them at any panadería (bakery) or pastelería in the city.
Valencia's coolest neighbourhood for locals: independent cafés, vintage shops, street art, and some of the city's best tapas bars. Not in the tourist brochures but where Valencians actually hang out at night. A 15-min walk from your hotel.
~1h 20min by car north of Valencia · "The best-kept underground secret near Valencia" (Visit Valencia). Navigate 700m of underground river by boat in a spectacular cave system. Open year-round. Perfect for the Sisi car day!
Trenca de Perols — Easter Saturday midnight tradition
Cabanyal neighbourhood · Holy Saturday (Apr 4 = your departure day) · At midnight, church bells ring and residents throw clay pots from their windows — a 500-year-old tradition. If your flight allows a late night... it's truly unique.
• Good Friday (Apr 3) is a national holiday — banks, govt offices & many shops closed
• Easter Monday (Apr 6) is a holiday in Valencia — but you fly home Apr 4 so no impact
• Restaurants generally stay open but book ahead — city is busier than normal
• Semana Santa processions may temporarily block roads in the Cabanyal/seafront area
• Best Easter food: mona de Pascua (Easter cake with chocolate egg) & panquemao (sponge cake)
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