1. Cycle The City
Valencia is a very modern and a very clean city with the public transportation to match. The bus beats the Metro when it comes to commuting into and Valencia city centre is easy enough to cover on foot but if you want to make the most of the parks and attractions that populate the old, dried up, sunken river bed, then youll need a bike.
You can make the most of this pedestrian friendly, thoroughfare from the city – all the way down to the coast. The majority of bike rentals includes a bike lock, helmet and rucksack for stowing away all your essentials, and you normally need to hand over your passport as a deposit. Or if you prefer you can book a bike tour with locals!
Book your tour and get to know the city by bicycle, covering the classic sights!
2. Cruise Through the Old River Bed to the Bioparc
With a fine bike conveying you through the back streets of Valencia, you’ll be down in the nearby Jardin del Turia (river bed) in no time. When you descend take a left and head to the ever expanding zoo Bioparc Valencia. If youre not a fan of the average zoo and think that the run of the mill – no sky enclosures are cruel, then you might approve of this one. The climate in Valencia allows for large open air gardens and lots of expansion. Get within hair raising distance of the lions, watch the rhinos treading their tracks and see the gorillas up close.
3. The Oceanofráfico
A 26 million litre dolphinarium, seven globally diverse aquariums, an Antarctic enclosure and a Red Sea Auditorium are just some of the highlights in this chunk of the Science Park. There are 45,000 specimens from 500 different species of salt water friendly – creatures here so if you do visit, factor in half a day to get through it all.
4. Hemisfèric, Umbracle and Palau de Les Arta Reina Sofía
After your exploration of the Oceanofráfico youll find that the Science Park has much to more to it than mere dolphins and sharks.
One additional option is the Hemisfèric built to look like a human eye, with a 900 metre squared screen on the inside of the lid. In other words its an Imax cinema with astronomical shows, planetarium presentations, cartoons and seasonal entertainment.
Next door to this youll find the Umbracle, a breath taking garden promenade, perfect for romantically orientated night photos and a spot of relaxation away from the super urban-ware of the city centre and its army of pneumatic drills. The final science park treat worthy of the international backpacker is the Palau de Les Arta Reina Sofía a massively important performing arts centre and stage for the big, touring operas like Carmen.
5. City Markets
If you dont mind a little diversion then a great little alternative can be found slightly south out of the city centre at Plaza Baron de Cortes on bus route 35. This arguably superior market is much more vibrant and packs local produce in at slightly more affordable prices. Expect many a leg of pork (trotters nall) hanging from the rafters.
There are two markets worth taking a trip to in this city. Within the old city limits its Mercado Central at number 6, Plaza del Mercado. This is a beautiful building set amongst boulevards – strewn with orange trees and ornate churches, with lights shows bounding off the intricate stained windows. Inside the stalls stock everything edible that locals and tourists could ever want but it is endorsed by the tourism board which means that these 8000 square metres can get uncomfortably busy.
