Valencia happens to be a fabulous city to visit, and one we highly recommend. But many more of us are tightening our purse strings, and as a result, travelling on a budget. So, with that in mind we wanted to know….are there free things to do in Valencia? What are the best free things to do in Valencia? And, what are the more unique and unusual free things to do?
Valencia is packed with free things to do. Art Museums, natural history museums, national monuments, parks, beaches, promenades, plazas, markets and old city streets. You won’t be short of things to do in Valencia even if you’re on a budget.
We’ve put together this list of the best things to do in Valencia for free, which you can use when planning your next visit. We’ve even made it super easy for you to put together your own itinerary by including a map of all the best free things to do in Valencia.
The map includes some of the best places to see in Valencia such as the grand plazas, but also many of the free museums in Valencia. It also includes museums with free admission on a Sunday and public holidays.
If you’re still not sure on when to visit Valencia check out our post on The Best Time of Year to Go to Valencia, but for now let’s dive in to our list of 13 Unique Free Things to do in Valencia:
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VISIT THE FREE MUSEUMS IN VALENCIA
Spain loves its museums, in fact a recent survey conducted by Musement concluded that the museums most favoured by Spaniards are those related to art, natural history, and archaeology. And on that front, Valencia definitely delivers!
Here’s just a few of the free museums in Valencia, but we’ve included a couple more on the map:
Bombas Gens Contemporary Art Centre –
This contemporary art centre is housed in a former factory built in the 1930s in the Art Deco style. The current collection brings together over 1,500 works from both national and international artists, and includes the Colleccio Per Amor a l’Art.
Bombas Gens is perfect if you’re visiting with teenagers and young adults who may be far more interested in modern art including photographic and interactive art.
The centre is open Wednesdays through to Sundays 11am to 2pm and 4pm to 7pm. Although admission is free, the centre offers optional fully guided tours in both Spanish and English for €8 per person. The tours are only available on Saturdays and Sundays, and must be booked in advance.
Natural History Museum of Valencia –
Perfect for the kids, this natural history museum has some of the usual paleontological exhibitions including dinosaurs, but also includes exhibitions about Valencian ecosystems.
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 7pm, except between 1 and 6 January, the 1 May and the 25 December.
La Almoina Archaeological Museum –
The La Almoina Archaeological Museum is located next to Valencia cathedral, and consists of the ruins from the various eras of Valencia’s history.
The museum is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 7pm and on Sundays and public holidays, 10am to 2pm.
PICK UP SOME FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE AT THE CENTRAL MARKET
With an incredible 1200 stalls, the Central Market is Europe’s largest fresh produce market. Take the opportunity to pick up some fresh local ingredients for your culinary delights.
The market stalls offer everything from fresh fruit and vegetables, to spices and nuts, with much more to boot. If cooking isn’t your thing, why not sit down with a cerveza or sandwich at the Central Bar.
GET LOST IN THE OLD TOWN STREETS
This sounds really simple, but believe me when I say that taking a wander through the back streets of Valencia is something you absolutely must experience. One minute you have the sun on your face, the next you’re walking through a shaded backstreet picking up the gorgeous aromas from nearby restaurants.
Many of the streets are pedestrian only, and depending on the time of year, not too crowded.
SPEND A MINDFUL MOMENT IN A PLAZA
Having wandered through the old city streets, what better way to recuperate than to take a seat and watch the world go by. Whether to sit by a fountain, have a bite to eat, or take a cafe solo, the plazas are the perfect place to drink in the moment.
Placa de la Reina and Placa de la Verge are great for this, and are easy walking distance from each other through beautifully traditional back streets.
HUNT FOR STREET ART IN EL CARMEN
If I had to describe El Carmen I would say trendy, alternative, and vintage. The area is full of tall period buildings, narrow streets, independent cafes and restaurants, shops and galleries, and well….street art!
Some of the street art is better than others, but some of it is really good. But then we happen to like street art, which I know not everybody does. If like us you do, you’ll definitely enjoy getting lost in these streets.
VISIT THE CARME CONTEMPORARY CULTURE CENTRE
While in the area of El Carmen, why not stop off at the Carme Contemporary Culture Centre. Housed in what was once an old monastery, the building has undergone several expansions and modifications, and has previously been a museum and royal academy of fine arts and crafts.
Now a culture centre, the building alone is worth the visit, but exhibitions, concerts, and educational events are also frequently scheduled.
AMBLE DOWN THE GRAN VIA DEL MARQUES DEL TURIA
Stretching from Valencia’s central train station to Turia, this tree lined esplanade, with its statues and fountains, will guide you past some grand old buildings, shops, cafes, and restaurants.
ENJOY THE OPEN SPACE OF TURIA PARK
The park, which now sits on the bed of the old Turia, is over 9 kilometres through the city. The river was diverted in 1957 following a devastating flood and what remains is the largest urban park in Spain
The park is filled with a huge array of plants and trees, including orange and palm trees, and is ideal for entertaining children and adults alike. Cycling (including bike hire), play parks, and sports are just some of the activities available within the park.
BE TRANSPORTED TO ANOTHER WORLD AT GULLIVER PARK
This is essentially a children’s obstacle attraction that is based on the main character in the novel ‘Gulliver’s Travels’. So if you’re looking for fun things to do in Valencia with the kids then look no further. The attraction is made up of stairs, ramps, and epic fast slides that will keep the kids entertained for hours!
The playground is wheelchair accessible and the area around Gulliver is perfect for a lunchtime picnic. So, with the addition of a wander around the lush green park, you could quite literally spend the whole day here.
Admission is free and the park is open year round, although opening times vary depending on the time of year. The only days the park is not open are December 25 and January 1.
TAKE A WANDER AROUND THE CITY OF ARTS & SCIENCE
The city of Arts and Sciences actually consists of several attractions, and although those are not free, taking a wander around the site is. The complex, which was designed by Santiago Calatrava, is huge and has been the location for several futuristic Hollywood movies.
Wander around the large clear pools, marvel at the architecture and engineering, or sit and have a coffee. You won’t be disappointed that you came.
EXPLORE THE COLOURFUL STREETS OF EL CABANYAL
This area, with its colourful and tile clad traditional houses, is packed with character and definitely worth a wander through on your way to the beach.
The old fisherman’s quarter has experienced challenges over the years with threats of demolition from the local government. But having been declared a protected historical zone, and listed as an endangered heritage site by a number of world organisations, it has since become a very popular and trendy neighbourhood.
You’ll find plenty of cafes and places to eat here that cater for vegans. We recommend Mestiza, a vegan tapas restaurant.
SPEND AN AFTERNOON SUNNING YOURSELF ON THE BEACH
No holiday in Spain is complete without a bit of sunbathing. What better place to do that than on one of Valencia’s beautiful sandy beaches.
Whether it’s a tranquil spot close to the wetlands you’re after, or if you’re the active type looking for adventure, Valencia has a beach for you. Take a look at this article by LonelyPlanet to make the most of Valencia’s beach scene.
GET FREE MUSEUM ENTRY ON A SUNDAY
Not all of Valencia’s museums are free. But of those that aren’t, some offer free admission on a Sunday or on public holidays. So, if you really are travelling on a budget but don’t want to miss out, make sure to plan your visit so that you can visit the paying museums on a Sunday.
The Fallas Museum, the Silk Exchange, the Torres de Serranos, and the Palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas which houses the National Ceramics Museum all offer free admission on Sundays and public holidays. However, the standard admission for all four is €2 or €1 for those in groups, which won’t exactly break the bank. Even so, every little helps!
CONCLUSION – THINGS TO DO IN VALENCIA FOR FREE
So as you can see, you really won’t be short of things to do if you’re travelling on a budget to Valencia. There are plenty of free things to do, something for all ages.
We’ve also put together an ultimate guide to Valencia, which although isn’t specifically about free things to do, a lot of the activities we’ve included are very inexpensive.
We hope, as always, you’ve enjoyed this post but feel free to let us know what you think or give us your own recommendations either by commenting below or directly via our contact us page.
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