Now that normality seems to want to come into our lives, travel has ceased to be something dreamed of and has become a dream come true. We long to go out again as before, and choosing the place to travel to in 2022 is not always easy. That’s why any help is good and we like it.
From CNN they have created a list that, according to their experts, brings together the 21 best destinations in the world to visit in 2022and the surprise comes when we see a Spanish city on the list (our particular list would have many Spanish cities because we love local tourism as much as international).
The chosen one is Valencia, the alternative to Barcelona according to CNN, and in the list we find remote islands such as or National Parks such as those of Gabon, which are also part of this particular list.
Cities like Lyon or Naples, countries like Jordan and specific areas like the Munga Thirri Simpson desert in Australia, are some of the sites that we find in the listalthough we will focus on the part that touches us, Valencia, to tell you how to make the most of it on a weekend getaway because yes, this city is much more than Fallas and paellas.
How to get to Valencia
Less than three and a half hours by car from Madrid, Valencia is the ideal spring getaway. It has been chosen European Capital of Smart Tourism 2022and it is accessible and close to more than you can.
We can arrive by train (going to Valencia at the weekend costs us less than 50 euros in Renfe) and even by plane (it only takes an hour and we have flights from 93 euros round trip), and getting around the city is easy. If we do it by bike, for example, we can take advantage of its lanes to tour the city full.
Renfe Madrid-Valencia from 46 euros.
MAD-VAL roundtrip flight from 93 euros.
Where to sleep in Valencia
Remember that in Valencia it is very easy to get around, so choosing a hotel away from the center would not be a problem. If you want to soak up the city, it is best to stay in a hotel in the Ruzafa area, the Senator Parque Central Hotel which has double rooms from 249 euros for two nights. You can also bet on going to the center, for example to the Hotel Zenit Valencia that has double rooms for two nights on a weekend from 320 euros.
Hotel Senator Parque Central Hotel with double rooms from 249 euros for two nights.
Hotel Zenit Valencia with double rooms for two nights at the weekend from 320 euros
What to see (and do) in Valencia in a weekend
A visit to the old town of Valencia
As great fans of Valencia, we will tell you that it is worth taking a walk through its old town in 100% of the visits to the city. Getting lost in its streets is a pleasure, but if you have never been, we can start our visit with the towers of serranosbuilt by Pere Balaguer between 1392 and 1398.
Admission is free (for now), and this declared monument of Historic-Artistic interest is also a fantastic viewpoint. From its terraces you can see the city and the Turia riverbed (with its gardens)and is an access point to the historic center.
Within the old town of Valencia there are several must-see stops, starting with the cathedral of Valencia and the basilica of the Virgen de los Desamparados, both in the Plaza de la Virgen (one of the most beautiful in the city). Take the opportunity in the cathedral to climb the steps of the Miguelete of its tower and enjoy one of the best views of the city from aboveand have a drink in the square, while admiring the beauty of these two buildings.
The Plaza del Ayuntamiento is the next stopand since we are close, we can see the North Station, a beautiful monumental terminal of Valencian modernist style that is worth visiting.
The Central Market, open until 3:00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday, is perfect to take refuge from the suffocating heat of the streets of the historic center. It is considered one of the masterpieces of Valencian modernism not only because of its spectacular façade, but also because of its interior.
Less than a minute’s walk away we find the Lonja de la Seda, jewel in the Valencian crown and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its interior Gothic architecture is wonderful and closes a basic and beautiful visit to the historic center.
The essential City of Arts and Sciences
From the historic center, and after getting your strength back in one of the many restaurants in the area, you can go to the City of Arts and Sciences by taxi, although you can also you can rent a bike and enjoy its bike lane and of the gardens of the Turia that you will cross on the way.
There are those who consider that visiting Valencia and not going through this futuristic area designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela is like going to the city and not eating an authentic Valencian paella: a sacrilege.
Can you visit the Museum of Arts and Sciences or simply walk around the area and dedicate yourself to taking photos and more photos, because the place is like a postcard. You can also take advantage and visit the Oceanographic of Valenciathe largest aquarium in Europe.
The neighborhood of Ruzafa and El Carmen (and a different plan to get to know them)
Ruzafa is a fashionable neighborhood where we will find restaurants, cute shops and a lot of life. Some even compare it to Tribeca and as it happens with El Carmen, it hides some of the most beautiful works of art in the city in the form of graffiti.
We can get lost in its streets to discover the most original, although it would help us to have apps like Street Art Citieswhich will show us the best and most beautiful works of art in Valencia.
Then you can have lunch or dinner in one of its many trendy restaurants, such as La Salita, with two Repsol soles; the Japanese Nozomi; or the Scoundrel Bistro by Ricard Camarena.
Visit the beach away from the classic Malvarrosa
Valencia has more than 300 days of sunshine a year so spending time on the beach will be something you feel like yes or yes. Visiting all its beaches is impossible and since we like to see the ones that not everyone sees, we will give you two options far from the classic Malvarrosa that everyone knows, one closer to the center and another further away.
Saler beach, located in the heart of the Albufera Natural Park, is the most remote option, although it is only about 10 minutes by car from the city center. The best thing is that it is surrounded by the coastal wetlands of the Albufera, which are a protected area, which makes this beach something very special.
If you don’t want to go that far, you can go to the old fishing district of Cabañalfantastic also if you want to know something more about the city and even try an authentic Valencian “esmorzaret” (in addition to the classic paella, in Valencia they have another classic that is the “esmorzaret”, a generous lunch that is made between 9 and 12 in the morning), and visit Las Arenas or Cabañal beach. This coast inspired the painter Joaquín Sorolla and you will feel like in one of his paintings when you see it.
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Photos | Juan Puyo, William Carletti, Veerle Contant, Michele Bitetto, Maria Lopez George Y Daniel Bernal in unsplash