Valencia is a booming destination in 2017! There is plenty of information for trips with the boyfriend, groups of friends, or colleagues… but where are the tips for visiting Valencia with kids? Kids Love Travel is making the change: here are 10 top tips for visiting Valencia with your little ones.
Diner at six?
Something, which might be surprising whilst visiting Valencia with kids, is the difference in timetable. Valencians have lunch between 14:00 and 17:00 and dine between 21:00 and 23:00. Of course some restaurants will have different opening hours, but usually these are the more tourist-focussed restaurants, and going to a fast food restaurant isn’t always the best option. A must-visit is the hippie/alternative restaurant La Finestra in the upcoming barrio (area) Ruzafa. This restaurant’s bestseller is the mini pizza (€1,60 each) and has a lot of other small Italian dishes on the menu. What’s really handy to know is that La Finestra is open daily from 10:00-15:00 and 18:00-01:00! Another recommendation is ‘100 montaditos’ which basically means ‘100 small buns’: 100 buns with different toppings. Kids will especially love the sweet montaditos.
A la playa!
Besides a city trip destination, Valencia is also a beach destination! The city has an amazingly wide beach, which you can visit with the kids. The beach is divided into three parts: Las Arenas (closest to the city centre), La Malvarrosa and La Patacona. Locals usually visit la Patacona and here you’ll find a few cafes (such as La Más Bonita). Also Las Arenas is an option to visit with kids. Here you’ll find, next to the America’s Cup, a huge playground (and a sunny terrace for parents).
Cycling
The city centre is quite compact, which means you don’t have to walk long distances to get to the city’s highlights. You don’t need a car or public transport to get around in Valencia during a city trip. If you’d like to visit some other barrios, the beach (this isn’t connected to the city centre) or if you’d like to cruise through the beautiful Turia park, it is recommended to hire a bike.
Running, playing & picnics
Looking for some natural life in Valencia? Go to the Turia park! This used to be a river, but because of many floods it was redirected and the drained part was used to create the park. The 9-kilometre park starts at the Bioparc, Valencia’s Zoo, and ends at the modern building complex Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences). Even though Valencia’s city centre isn’t that busy (compared to other Spanish cities), relaxing in the park is never a bad idea. Even better: we recommend having a picnic at the park with fresh food and drinks bought from the biggest food market of the city, Mercado Central.
Best time of year
Valencia is a Spanish destination with more or less 300 days a year filled with sun. Valencia is a great place to visit throughout the whole year, but you must keep in mind that summers (especially August) can get really (really!) hot. Temperatures of 40 degrees Celcius aren’t an exception so make sure to stock up on high factor sun creams for the kids! Another time of year, which is super fun, but may not be so practical with kids: Las Fallas. From March 15 until March 19 the city goes mad. With over a million visitors this might not be the best time of year to visit Valencia with (small) children.
Beautiful buildings, old buildings
Stroll through Valencia and you’ll notice many breathtaking buildings, characterised by authentic balconies, tiles, etc. Lots of accommodations (such as Airbnb’s) are established in these buildings. There are many great apartments, but don’t forget to check if these beautiful and authentic buildings have a lift… Walking up seven floors when visiting Valencia with kids isn’t really that practical.
Holiday treats all year long!
Many Dutch kids love ‘oliebollen’, a sweet deep-fried dough treat, mostly eaten during New Year’s. In Valencia this treat is being sold all year long! It’s not exactly the same as the Dutch treat of course, but a Valencian take on the oliebol: the buñuelo. This is also a sweet deep-fried dough treat, made of oranges and/or pumpkin, sprinkled with sugar, mmm! The best buñuelos in town you can be found at El Contraste, and the better-known churros are also sold here.
Dolphins and tigers
Valencian kids love the zoos. They usually go to the L’Oceanografic, the biggest aquarium in Europe. Another idea is to go to the Valencian zoo, Bioparc. What makes this zoo different to other zoos, is that the living circumstances of the animals are more or less the same as in their natural habitat. Animals live in their original ecosystem. For example, the savannah has been recreated in with several animals living next to each other, such as antelopes, zebras and giraffes living all together.
Gulliver, the friendly giant
Not only can you have a picnic in the earlier named park, kids can also clamber and climb in the Turia park. Near the City of Arts and Sciences you’ll find Parque Gulliver, a huge playground which is actually designed to look like Gulliver himself. His hairdo can be used as slides, the ropes that were being used by the Lilliputters to hold him tight, can be used to climb on top of Gulliver. Tip: near this playground you can also find a minigolf course.
Water fun!
A city trip to Valencia with kids will be made even better with a little bit of water fun. In the City of Arts and Sciences (older) kids can step into a see-through canoe or into a water-walking ball (during the summer). If you’re staying a little bit longer in Valencia, you can go to the beach but the water park Aquarama can be even more fun! Visiting Valencia in the colder months? Just outside of the Valencian Zoo, in the Parque Cabecera, you can hire pedalos!
What do you think of our Valencia with kids top 10? Are you favorites in here as well? Would you love to read more about city trips with kids?
This guestblog is written by www.verrassendvalencia.nl.
