Free things to do in Valencia

Valencia can be enjoyed without spending a euro and in all its facets. History, architecture, urban art, beaches and many more options are waiting for you in the city and totally free of charge.

Touring the medieval charm of the El Carmen neighborhood

The historic center of Valencia is a free attraction and you can’t miss a complete walk through it during a morning or afternoon. An area where Christian and Muslim cultures have converged between walls, leaving a rich architectural, historical and cultural legacy. It is the ideal place to get lost in its cobblestone alleys and enjoy its bohemian life with street art, eat a paella in one of its restaurants or have a drink in the evening in any of its squares, all full of medieval charm.

Bathing and walking along the beautiful beaches of Valencia

Valencia has no less than 7 km of beaches to stroll and enjoy all the charm of the Mediterranean. There is something for everyone and to do whatever you want to do: relax with an umbrella, walk or run among the dunes, take long refreshing baths. The closest ones are in Cabanyal, Malvarrosa or Patacona; the farthest and most recommendable are in El Saler, la Garrofera or la DevesaBut you can reach them all in no time with a bicycle, in a trip where the terrain is always flat and with the sea at your side.

A stroll through the Marina and the colors of its boats and docks.

It is the old port of Valencia, now converted into a public space and free to visit. It is home to many enterprises related to tourism, culture and gastronomy, and is gradually becoming a great space for innovation. It is a very particular corner in which the historical buildings of the dock (sheds, the old dry dock or the Clock building) coexist with more modern and avant-garde proposals, such as the multi-space Veles e Vents. In addition, it is a perfect area to see boats of all types and colors, since it has space for 800 moorings. And if you are a fan of water sports, the Marina of Valencia is home to all the diving, rowing, sailing and canoeing clubs.

Enjoy a free tour of the city

As is the case with many tourist cities in Spain and around the world, Valencia also offers many options to enjoy a wide range of free tours that are not totally free, but in which the value is set by you: at the end of the visit, you leave a tip according to your criteria, according to the information you have just received and the degree of satisfaction that the route has given you. The best free tours in Valencia are the ones that go through the historic center; the urban art route through El Carmen and other neighborhoods; the free tour with the legends and myths of Valencia; and the walk through the City of Arts and Sciences.

Towers with a lot of history

The essential architectural testimony through which we can see what the medieval walls in Valencia were like are the Serranos Towers. These are two polygonal towers that head what was one of the ancient access gates to the city and served many functions, from military defense to prison.

Another tower of great historical importance and nearby is the Torre de Quart, which was also another entry point to the ancient citadel. This is newer, built between 1441 and 1460 (the Serrano Towers began to be built around the 1230s), in lime and stone masonry, and still retains the marks of the cannon fire of the French troops during the War of Independence.

Urban art route with the most creative graffiti in Valencia

Graffiti in Valencia are very important and decorate the walls of many neighborhoods, forming a very complete and varied route of urban art that you can enjoy a walk while taking the best photos. In the neighborhood of El Carmen there is a lot of graffiti by Escif, a street artist of the city and who is considered the “Banksy of Valencia”, and you can also find works by Julieta XF, Cere, Erica Il Cane, Blu and Hyuro, most of them in the streets Baja, Peydro, Calatrava and Purísima and in the Tossal square.

The best architecture at Open House Valencia

As in cities such as Barcelona, Lisbon, Athens, Milan or New York, Valencia joins the trend of opening the doors of its most emblematic buildings to the public for 48 hours and free of charge. Open House Valencia takes place every October, with guided tours by experienced architects who tell the best-kept secrets of emblematic public and private spaces in the city. Civic centers, museums, hotels, foundations, towers and even private apartments that are of interest for their unique architecture open their doors to everyone.

The unique heritage of the Museum of Fine Arts

One of the most important museums in Valencia, managed by the autonomous community itself and one of the first painting museums in Spain. Among its extensive heritage, we can highlight the collection of Valencian Gothic panels from the 14th and 15th centuries, the Self-portrait by Velázquez and two works of great artistic value belonging to two Italian masters: Gherardo Starnina and his complete altarpiece, and the Virgin with Child and donorby Pinturicchio. Its permanent collection and temporary exhibitions can be visited free of charge.

Fresh air and beautiful gardens in Cabecera Park

The Parque de Cabecera is one of the most beautiful gardens of the old Turia riverbed. An ideal place for a romantic stroll along the ponds that surround the vegetation and that communicate with the City of Arts and Sciences. During the spring and summer months there are balls and canoes to ride on the water, and small swan-shaped boats can also be rented. It is also an appropriate place to relax reading a good book or enjoying a picnic in the open air.

The Moorish footprint of the Portal de la Valldigna

In a corner of El Carmen are the few remains of Arab walls that are preserved in the historic center of Valencia. It is the Portal de Valldigna, a gate that connected the Christian quarter with the Arab quarter and was removed in 1400. Today the Gothic semicircular arch, restored in 1965, is preserved. An interesting fact about this corner: next to this arch, the master printer Lamberto Palmart opened the first printing press in Spain in 1474.