WHERE TO STAY
Save You can rent apartments from £16 a night via www.only-apartments.com
Spend The Melia Plaza is the Spanish resort’s most central hotel and is just 200 metres from the beautiful city hall. Rooms from £140.
WHERE TO EAT
Save There are plenty of old-style self-service restaurants, food stalls and fast food chains. Street corner tapas bars are also worth a look. Expect to pay £10 for a few small dishes.
Spend Pricier restaurants stretch along the beachfront. For the best choice (and to watch the rich and wealthy), head to the southern end. Here the promenade is called Paseo Neptuno and is next to the luxury Las Arenas resort complex. A good 20 or so restaurants are packed together just where the beach ends and the America’s Cup Port starts. Valencia hosted the world famous sailing event in 2007.
WHAT TO DO For families Visit the opera house and arts centre, Imax Cinema and Planetarium, L’Umbracle walkway and garden or the El Museo de las Ciencias Principle Felipe science museum.
For couples The city’s Les Falles festival marks the arrival of spring with spectacular fireworks, marches and music from March 15 to 19. Or take a romantic stroll to the cathedral and Turia fountain in Plaza de la Virgen in the heart of the historic district.
TOP TIP You can see the sights in a few days but extend your trip to take in the long beaches. And don’t forget shops close in the afternoon for siesta time.
GETTING THERE Regular flights with easyJet start from £27.99 including taxes. Visit www.easyjet.com
WHEN TO GO Great all year but alive – and hot – in spring and summer.