1 Day in Valencia for First Timers

With flat streets, endless bike lanes, and Turia Riverbed Gardens (Jardí del Túria) cutting a scenic path through the city, Valencia is a cyclist’s dream. The morning is the best time for sightseeing, too, before the sun gets too hot overhead. Saddle up to zip around the city’s must-see spots with ease, parking up for a closer look at landmarks like the Central Market and Valencia Cathedral.

It’s a little-known fact that paella, now considered a typical dish of Spain, originated in Valencia. Even lesser known is that the original recipe calls for chicken, rabbit, local beans, plus artichokes and snails—and certainly no seafood. Avoid the tourist traps and learn how to make a proper paella in an afternoon cooking class, with plenty of local wine and tapas for the full experience.

After siesta, head out to Albufera Natural Park, a freshwater lagoon known for its wetland scenery and agricultural heritage. Enjoy drinks on a lakeside terrace as dusk falls, or get out on the water on a traditional albuferenc (local boat) to see the sunset at its best. Afterward, get dropped back to the city to continue the night with tapas and cocktails at a local cantina—note that bar reservations are recommended and increasingly the norm in Valencia.