Valencia with Kids: The Best Things to Do, Family Tips & Our 5-Day Itinerary
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In this post:
City of Arts and Sciences: Exploring Valencia’s Futuristic Architecture
Top Highlights: Must-See Buildings, Viewpoints & Photography Tips
Old Town & Vibe: Experiencing Two Sides of the City in One Day
Oceanogràfic: Europe’s Largest Aquarium & Practical Family Tips
Farewell to Valencia: A Relaxed Beach Walk Before Flying Home
This post covers the highlights of two different days of our trip. We explored the City of Arts and Sciences on our fourth day in Valencia, while we visited Oceanogràfic on the morning of our departure.
A Grey Morning, Exciting Plans
Our fourth day didn’t quite begin the way we had imagined. When we looked out of the window that morning, grey clouds had settled over Valencia—it was the only overcast morning of our entire trip. I have to admit I was a little disappointed, as this was the morning we’d planned to explore the City of Arts and Sciences, and I knew the photos probably wouldn’t capture the bright, vibrant atmosphere I had imagined on a sunny day.
But that’s part of travelling, isn’t it? Sometimes it’s these little unexpected twists that make a trip even more memorable. And in the end, the weather made it up to us—by the afternoon, the clouds had completely disappeared, leaving us with clear blue skies.
Since the City of Arts and Sciences was relatively close to our accommodation, but we weren’t sure whether it would start raining, we decided to drive there instead of walking. It turned out to be a great decision. We managed to find free street parking next to Centro Comercial El Saler. After enjoying a relaxed breakfast inside the shopping centre, we walked out through the opposite entrance, and within just a few minutes one of Valencia’s most iconic landmarks appeared before us.
As we approached the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias), it genuinely felt as though we had stepped onto the set of a futuristic film. After wandering through Valencia’s historic centre, this completely different side of the city came as quite a surprise. Striking white buildings, crystal-clear turquoise pools, and bold architectural designs surrounded us in every direction.
This enormous complex, covering almost 350,000 square metres, was built in the former bed of the Turia River and designed by world-renowned architects Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela. Although the project faced considerable criticism during construction because of its enormous cost, it’s now impossible to imagine Valencia without it. Today, it has become one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.
As we wandered alongside the vast reflective pools, we discovered one iconic building after another.
Tip: If you want to dive deeper into the history and details of these futuristic buildings, joining a free walking tour of the City of Arts and Sciences is a fantastic option.
Each structure had its own distinctive character. The first thing that caught our attention was the elegant Assut de l’Or Bridge, a striking cable-stayed bridge that, at 125 metres tall, is the highest structure in Valencia. It beautifully connects different parts of the modern complex and has become a landmark in its own right.
From there, we continued to the Science Museum (Museu de les Ciències). Even from the outside, the building is incredibly impressive, but inside you’ll find three floors of interactive exhibitions. One of the best things about the museum is that visitors are encouraged to touch and experiment with many of the displays, making it an excellent attraction for families with children—especially if they have an interest in science or technology.
Next came the unmistakable eye-shaped L’Hemisfèric, probably the building most people recognise from photos of Valencia. Reflected in the surrounding water, it looks even more spectacular. Naturally, we couldn’t resist taking a few family photos in front of the famous VALENCIA sign. Inside the building, you’ll find an IMAX cinema and a planetarium.
Our walk then continued towards the elegant Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía. Resembling the sail of a giant ship, this impressive opera house dominates the entire area. Besides its unique design, it’s also remarkable for its height—standing 75 metres tall, it’s considered one of the tallest opera houses in the world.
After that, we climbed up to the arched walkway of L’Umbracle, which ended up being one of our favourite spots in the entire complex. Walking among the palm trees and Mediterranean plants, you’re rewarded with beautiful panoramic views of the futuristic buildings below. Best of all, it’s completely free to visit. If you’re hoping to take some of your best photos in Valencia, don’t skip this viewpoint.
Towards the end of our walk, we also stopped by the striking blue L’Àgora building, which today is home to the CaixaForum cultural centre. During our visit, the surrounding pools were being renovated and had been drained, but the building’s dramatic architecture was still well worth seeing up close.
The furthest—and perhaps most famous—part of the complex is Oceanogràfic, the largest aquarium in Europe. We decided to leave that for the following morning before our flight home, so I’ll share our experience in more detail a little later in this guide. One thing I can already say is that if you’re planning to visit Oceanogràfic, I’d recommend setting aside at least half a day—although a full day would be even better.
After thoroughly exploring Valencia’s futuristic district, we returned to the city’s historic centre in the afternoon. By then, the clouds had completely disappeared, and the sunshine had brought the city back to life.
We parked in the same car park we had used two days earlier. There was no rush and no real plan—we simply wandered through the charming streets, enjoyed the lively squares, stopped for a delicious ice cream, and took a break for coffee. Later, we found a sunny terrace where we tried Valencia’s famous cocktail, Agua de Valencia. Made with freshly squeezed orange juice, sparkling wine, and a splash of gin and vodka, it’s a unique yet surprisingly refreshing drink that suited the warm afternoon perfectly.
These are the moments we love most when we travel. The ones where there’s no strict itinerary, and we simply let ourselves soak up the atmosphere of the city. We ended the day with a lovely dinner.
Within just a few hours, we experienced two completely different sides of Valencia: its striking futuristic architecture and the timeless charm of its historic old town. Few cities offer such a remarkable contrast, and perhaps that’s exactly why Valencia has remained so memorable for us.
Although we had already explored the City of Arts and Sciences the previous day, we saved Oceanogràfic for the morning of our journey home. Since our flight wasn’t until 7:45 pm, we had plenty of time to end our Valencia trip with one final unforgettable experience.
After breakfast, we checked out of our accommodation (check-out was by 10:00 am) and drove back to the same free parking area next to Centro Comercial El Saler, where we had easily found a space the day before.
Tip: We had already purchased our tickets online for the 10:00 am opening, and looking back, it was definitely the right decision. Even though the park had only just opened, there was already a long queue at the entrance. Booking in advance saved us so much time and made getting in quick and effortless.
Check ticket availability for your dates below:
At the entrance, we were also given a map, which turned out to be very useful as Oceanogràfic covers a huge area. The first thing we did was check the dolphin show schedule because we definitely didn’t want to miss it. The earliest performance started at 11:15 am, so we planned our route around the nearby exhibits until then.
About twenty minutes before the show, visitors were allowed into the amphitheatre, which gave us enough time to find some great seats. Arriving early was well worth it, as the stands filled up incredibly quickly. The dolphin show was genuinely spectacular and was just as enjoyable for the adults as it was for the children.
Why You Should Visit Oceanogràfic
After the show, we continued exploring the rest of the aquarium at a relaxed pace. Oceanogràfic is the largest aquarium in Europe, with separate buildings dedicated to different marine ecosystems from around the world. We walked through the impressive underwater tunnel while sharks and rays swam gracefully above us, visited the belugas, penguins, jellyfish, and of course admired countless colourful tropical fish.
In our opinion, Oceanogràfic is one of the very best family-friendly attractions in Valencia. It’s an easy place to spend an entire day, especially if you’re visiting with children.
The park has several restaurants, cafés, and smaller snack bars, so during our visit we stopped for a coffee, enjoyed an ice cream, and later grabbed some sandwiches for lunch. It was really convenient not having to leave the park, with everything we needed close by.
We eventually left at around 2:00 pm. Even though we had spent almost four hours there, we still didn’t feel we had seen everything properly. If you’d like to watch all the presentations and explore the entire park at a comfortable pace, we’d definitely recommend allowing a full day.
Since my husband’s parents hadn’t had the chance to visit the beach on our first day, our original plan was to return one last time, have lunch there, and then head to the airport.
Unfortunately, thanks to the beautiful weather and the fact that it was Good Friday, every beachfront restaurant was completely full. We asked at three different places, but each one quoted at least a one-hour wait.
In the end, we decided that our daughter would spend a little more time building sandcastles and playing at the playground while we simply enjoyed the view of the sea one last time. Looking back, it turned out to be an even better farewell to Valencia than sitting and waiting for a table in a busy restaurant.
Afterwards, we made our way to the airport at a relaxed pace, stopping for something to eat along the way before returning our rental car. From there, a shuttle bus took us to the terminal, and before long we were heading home with countless wonderful memories.
Goodbye, Valencia!
Valencia managed to surprise us every single day. One day we were walking among futuristic architectural masterpieces, the next we were wandering through centuries-old streets. Beyond the city itself, we also took time to explore the sunny coastline on our day trip to Alicante, and finally said goodbye with one last visit to the sea.
Perhaps it was this incredible variety that made the trip so special for us. And by the time our flight home took off, we already knew one thing for certain—we’d love to return to Valencia one day.
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