A family city break to Valencia in Spain
Our trip to Valencia
So because of our unexpected trip to Seville in February we happened to be in Spain twice in the space of a few weeks. This time it was for a family city break to Valencia in Spain, the third largest city in Spain behind Madrid and Barcelona.
Our flight and getting to the Airbnb
The flight was around 7.30am from Gatwick with BA. This meant a very early start but on the plus side it meant we were in Valencia and ready to explore with lots of the day left. We got the Airport train to the city and our Airbnb was only a short walk away.
The airbnb was lovely, as usual, and unlike many of the other places we stay it felt really authentic and lived in. It was also wonderfully located for access to the parks and city centre.
Las Fallas Festival – what an experience!
We happened to be in the City for the annual Las Fallas Festival which was a brilliant time to be in Valencia. It’s the biggest Fiesta of the year in Valencia and runs from the 12th to the 19th March. It is extremely noisy and very busy but a unique sight and we’re really happy we were accidentally visiting during this time.
There were daily processions of people in traditional costume and a Mascleta (daylight firework display). Without doubt the single loudest thing I’ve ever heard. I actually regret taking the children to the Mascleta as it was far too loud for them (not that they were overly bothered) but it was quite the experience. It’s held daily at 2pm in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Over our time there we had to get used to locals letting off firecrackers randomly in the street. We jumped out of our skin to begin with but you do get more used to it! Our trip didn’t even coincide with the main days of the festival when it really gets going – concerts in the street, paella making competitions and so on.
However the highlight for us was the HUGE Fallas which are dotted all over the city. Up to 25 metres tall they are made of wood, papier-mache and fibre glass and they are the most fascinating, intricate sculptures you are likely to ever see. There was a handy Fallas app (or a map which you can get from newsstands) to ensure you can see as many of them as possible.
The climax of the festival is on the 19th March, by which point we had gone home, but there is a huge firework display at midnight and they fill up the Fallas with fireworks and burn them (!). Quite a sight I imagine, and one which we’ll return to see once the girls are old enough.
What else did we do?
When we weren’t touring the city looking for Fallas we went on another great hop on hop off bus tour, stopping half way to go to the Oceanografic de Valencia. It was a good place to spend a few hours. Sadly though we had a horrible experience at the Submarino Restaurant there. Unbelievably we paid over 100 euros for inedible food (and we’ll eat anything :-)). I should have checked trip advisor before we went as the reviews were not good….ah well, you live and learn!
Running through the centre of Valencia there is a dried up river bed which is now a city park called Jardin Del Turia. It is a 9km stretch of greenery that runs through the entire city and we went on a sunny lunchtime to have a picnic.
A great, unique, find in this lovely park was the El Grand Gulliver children’s park, which is basically an extraordinarily large (70 metres in fact) Gulliver flat on his back. There with climbing frames, slides and walkways all over him. Our eldest adored it! Myself and Dave were exhausted from chasing her all over it. It’s entirely free and a great way to spend an hour or two.
Summary
We had a great family city break to Valencia in Spain, and really felt like we got to know the city. But home was beckoning so off we flew. Check out our YouTube travel guide to Valencia here.
Read about our fantastic trip to Seville a few weeks before this break to Valencia, here.
