Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville get much of Spain's high-profile tourism. But Valencia, the country’s third-largest city, on the Mediterranean coast, woos visitors in a quiet way offering no pretensions but plenty of fun and edge. It’s a livable, relaxed port that turns heads with pulsing nightlife and restaurants, stunning architecture, and a cutting-edge arts and music scene.
City of Arts and Sciences: Don’t miss the space-age structures (one of them is shaped like an eye) of Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, designed by Valencia-born architect Santiago Calatrava. Situated on a verdant carpet of parkland, this enormous entertainment, cultural, science, and oceanographic complex is family-friendly, with a large aquarium and interactive exhibits for children.
Oranges: Valencia’s namesake citrus is everywhere — piled high at fruit stands and incorporated into restaurant dishes and cocktails. Purchase a few at the Central Market, then find a shady spot at one of many parks to savor the flavorful fruit.
Awesome Architecture: Valencia offers up both futuristic verve and Old-World grandeur: Modernista buildings, genteel mansions, and a labyrinthine Old Town delineated with medieval gates.
Design Dynamos: From Moorish and Gothic to Neoclassical and contemporary, the array of building styles make wandering Valencia's neighborhoods a feast for the eyes.
Art Lovers: Valencia has more than 45 museums that you can tour. Eye the chefs d'oeuvre at Museo de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts), a spiffy shrine to Spanish masters El Greco, Goya, and Velázquez. Or ogle the collections at IVAM (Valencia Institute of Modern Art), with notable works from sculptor Julio González.
Hot Weather: Valencia has a long summer season and at its peak — in August— the heat and humidity can get oppressive.