How to Spend 1 Day in Valencia
Valencia draws fewer tourists than Madrid and Barcelona yet boasts comparable culture and dining scenes, and is wrapped by a ribbon of parks. Here’s how to make the most of 24 hours in Spain's third-largest city.
Valencia City of the Arts & Sciences (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias)
1,461 Reviews
Varies by season
Autopista del Saler, Valencia, 46013
The Basics
You haven’t seen Valencia until you’ve seen its City of the Arts and Sciences, an icon in the Spanish city. The site encompasses the Prince Philip Science Museum, Hemispheric Planetarium (with its own IMAX cinema), Oceanographic Park (Oceanografic), and the Palace of the Arts (Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia). You can purchase solo tickets for each individual attraction within the park, or save on combo tickets to two or more of the buildings. It’s also possible to see the attraction on a guided tour of Valencia, which might include other experiences like rooftop wine tasting, a Segway sightseeing tour, or a guided bike ride through the city, depending on the option you choose.
Valencia City of Arts & Sciences Tour with Rooftop Wine Tasting and Tapas
$102.54 per adult
Fabulous food and tour
We had a fabulous tour of the city of arts and sciences with a lot of information! The small group we were with was great fun and we had fun enjoying tapas in a small apartment 20 stories up with an amazing view of the city of arts and sciences and Valencia. The Food was all cooked on site and the wine was plentiful. It wasn’t rushed and a great explanation was given as to each course that we tried that was paired with a wine. I would highly recommend this tour!!!
kimmg0, Feb 2020
Recent reviews from experiences in Valencia
Things to Know Before You Go
The City of Arts and Sciences is a must-see for architecture buffs and families.
Choose between a single attraction ticket or a combo ticket with access to the science museum, aquarium, and planetarium.
Don’t forget sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and water, as much of the complex is outside without much shade.
The City of the Arts and Sciences is accessible to wheelchair users.
How to Get There
The Valencia City of Arts and Sciences is southeast of central Valencia. Buses run here from the center of town, and the Alameda metro stop is a 15-minute walk from the complex.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
The City of Arts and Sciences is open throughout the year. To best enjoy the outdoor architecture, plan to visit in the morning or evening to avoid the heat; expect daily highs around 95°F (35°C) during July and August.
Visiting the City of Arts and Sciences
While it’s possible to experience all of the City of Arts and Sciences’ attractions in a single day, it’s recommended to dedicate at least two days if you want to see everything. A typical visit to the science museum takes about three hours, while the aquarium takes four, depending on how many shows you plan to see. Individual sessions at the planetarium last about 45 to 50 minutes.
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- Plaza del Ayuntamiento
- Serranos Towers (Torres de Serranos)
- Valencia History Museum (Museu d'Història de València)
- Valencia Bullring (Plaza de Toros)
- Albufera Natural Park (Parque Natural de la Albufera)
- Valencia Cruise Port (Puerto)
- Valencia City of the Arts & Sciences (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias)