Valencia is one of the most popular coastal cities in Spain and a fantastic solo travel destination. With a wide variety of things to do, a quaint old town, the modern City of Arts and Sciences, mouthwatering food, and great weather all year round, the city is highly recommended. Here are some Valencia solo travel tips for when you visit!
Is Valencia Safe for Solo Travelers?
Valencia is generally a safe city for solo travelers. There are petty crimes, of course. After all, it is the third biggest city in Spain, so it is natural that there are pickpockets in busy areas. However, the crime rates are low and locals are friendly.
In general, you need to take the same precautions as in any large city in Spain like Barcelona or Valladolid, such as watching your belongings and avoiding empty, dark alleys at night. Watch your alcohol intake as well to stay safe at night, though, we’ve all been there where it went a bit overboard.
How to Get Around in Valencia
Valencia is a super walkable city and the historic center is well connected with the City of Arts and Sciences through the Turia Garden. It is a lovely walk, but if half an hour walking each way seems a lot, you can rent an e-scooter or a bike. The bike paths in the park are great and there are even drinking fountains on the way where you can fill up your water bottle.
If you prefer going with a group or only have one day in Valencia, take a guided bike tour to the City of Arts and Sciences to get an introduction to the area.
There are also buses and metro taking you easily around, also to the beach which is a little further away.
Valencia Solo Travel Tips: Best Places to Stay
Now that you know what to do, you need to figure out where to stay as a solo traveler in Valencia. Staying centrally is highly recommended so that you easily can walk everywhere. In the summer months, though, you might prefer a more relaxing time by the beach.
Here is an introduction to the best neighborhoods to stay in Valencia for solo travelers.
Valencia Old Town: Walking distance to all the attractions in the historic center like the cathedral and the Silk Exchange. You will have quaint squares and busy streets including great nightlife right at your doorstep.
Ruzafa: Located right next to the train station, this is a hip and safe neighborhood where you will find trendy cafes and bars while still be within walking distance to the Old Town.
Cabanyal: A quiet area by the beach perfect for a relaxing beach vacation. There are frequent buses and metro to the old town and the City of Arts and Sciences and affordable taxi rides to get home at night if you decide to stay out after dark.
The Best Time to Visit Valencia
Valencia is a fabulous travel destination all year round with 300 days of sun and lovely temperatures in summer and mild winters.
But when to go depends a lot about what you want from your Valencia visit, such as visiting the beaches, appreciating the culture, or partying, among others. Here’s a summary of what you can expect per season.
Winter in Valencia
Winter in Valencia means mild temperatures with mostly sunny days, but can get some rain and the nights are cooler. This is the best time of the year for festivities as you can experience Christmas with charming Christmas markets, the Three King’s Parades on the 5th and 6th of January, and the Carnival in February.
Visiting in springtime
Temperatures start to rise in the spring, and nights are milder. You can also find lots of shorts and T-shirt days in between and even days for sunbathing at the beach. This is also when the famous Fallas festival is celebrated (1st to 19th of March) and you can experience the unique Spanish Easter parades (Semana Santa).
Summertime is for the beach
Hot and sunny, summer in Valencia is perfect for beach vacations and sightseeing in the mornings and early evenings. Feria de Valencia is set in July and you can experience other fun music festivals like Valencia Jazz Festivals throughout the summer.
Fall in Valencia
September is a prolonged summer month and perfect for enjoying the beach without the summer crowds. Some years this even drags out to late October. Later in the fall temperatures slowly start to get milder but don’t really get cold before the end of November (sometimes).
There are some festivals throughout the fall to for foodies and music lovers keeping up with the extended, lively summer atmosphere.
Valencia Solo Travel Tips: Things to Do for Solo Travelers
Take a walking tour of the Old Town
This Valencia solo travel tips article won’t be complete without recommending a visit to the Old Town. The city’s historic center is super charming with beautiful architecture around every corner and a wealth of historical buildings from Valencia Cathedral to the Silk Exchange. The best way to get a good overview of the Old Town is to join a walking tour with a local guide.
Walking tours are especially enjoyable as a solo traveler as you often meet other travelers on the tour. But it is also a good way of getting to know the city so that it is easier to navigate on your own later.
Most Valencia walking tours include the cathedral and the Silk Exchange, but not all of them include the entrance tickets.
Visit Valencia Cathedral
Valencia Cathedral is a must-visit whether you go on a tour or visit it on your own. It is a blend of baroque, gothic, and renaissance styles and absolutely stunning inside. But the most noteworthy is that it is said that the Holy Grail is stored in Valencia Cathedral. You get an audio guide included in the entrance ticket so you can learn all about it!
Make sure you climb the 207 steps to the top of the Miguelete Bell Tower to take in the views of the beautiful Plaza de la Virgen.
Take a bike tour
There are many different bike tours in Valencia and it is a great way to get an introduction to the city when you first arrive. For solo travelers, it may feel safer to walk around the streets of a new city after having been there with a guide or a group.
But there are also themed bike tours like foodie bike tours and street art bike tours if you want to combine it with something in particular. You can also explore the City of Arts and Sciences with a bike tour, which saves you a long walk or a trip on the bus.
Whichever is your preference, exploring Valencia by bike is a fantastic experience and this way you can tick off your exercise while vacationing.
Visit the Silk Exchange (La Lonja de la Seda)
The 15th-century Silk Exchange, or La Lonja de la Seda, was used for trading silk when Valencia’s prosperity was blooming. The Gothic structure is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the top attractions in Valencia.
It is highly recommend to go on a guided tour to learn more about the history of this stunning site. Many city walking tours include it, so you might want to look into that.
Check out the City of Arts and Sciences
No visit to Valencia is complete without visiting the City of Arts and Sciences, the modern and futuristic area of the city. It’s located about a half an hour’s walk from the historic center, but you can easily take the bus or rent a bike to go there.
The avant-garde architecture is mind blowing from the Oceanographic to the Hemispheric building. I highly recommend visiting the Science Museum, which offers a highly interactive way of learning about science.
Even if you don’t enter the exhibitions, the recreational area outside is beautiful and you can take the iconic Valencia vacation pictures with the futuristic buildings. The architecture is incredible (take that from one that’s mainly interested in old architecture) and the waterscapes are beautiful. The garden overlooking this space has a fun interactive (and totally free!) astronomical exhibition which is very fun.
Go on a food tour to try paella
Valencia is famous for its paella and while the origins of it is a bit vague, there are many things that point to it being invented in Valencia. Apparently, farmers used to throw together what they had available with rice.
While you should try it when visiting Spain in general, it is only fair that it is a must to taste this delightful rice dish while visiting Valencia. It is a coastal city, so the seafood paella is popular. If you don’t eat seafood, they also have vegan paellas.
Traveling solo, going on a paella food tour is highly recommended. This way you learn more about the history of paella in Valencia as well as join a group of other foodies. You never know, you might meet some fun people to hang out with later for a drink.
Search for the best street art
Valencia is also home to some incredible street art. Especially the El Carmen neighborhood is jam-packed with cool, colorful pieces, but also other areas in Valencia have stunning street art by artist like Hyuro and Dridali to mention a couple.
To learn more about the street art and the story behind it, take a guided street art tour either by foot or by bike. This is yet another great opportunity to meet other travelers!
Traveling to Valencia alone
Summing up Valencia for solo travelers, it is a fabulous city to visit alone. There are plenty of fun tours to take so you both can learn more about the city’s food, culture, and history as well as meet other travelers. It is also a safe European city where you don’t have to worry about walking alone. You still have to watch out for scams, of course, and use common sense when exploring at night.
No matter your preferences, Valencia is a great destination for solo travelers with plenty of fun to be had.
Happy travels!
