Day time fun in Valencia!

When first moving to Valencia from England, I had no idea what to visit, what to see and where all of the culture was in the city. It didn't take me long to figure it all out, but to save you some time, I have made a quick list of all the places I have visited whilst here and where has been the most fun to visit!

One of the first places I visited was Plaza de la Virgen. It is located in the Old town and is a lively square which is home of the Turia fountain. Here you will expect to see many tourists taking lots of pictures and selfies next to the iconic architecture. It is surrounded by historic buildings and a wide variety of cafes and bars. Also here, you will find the most beautiful churches. I really took an interest into visiting these and occasionally sitting in on one of the sunday services. This location is great to absorb the culture of Valencia and take some awesome instagram worthy pictures.

For an amazing view of the beautiful city, I recommend taking a trip to Ateneo Sky Bar. This is located in Carrer de Moratín and usually opens around 12:00. You have to pay around 3€ to take the lift to the top of the sky bar. But it's worth it! When you arrive you will pay the admission fee, however, after doing so, you will get discount on any drink you buy from the bar! This is really worth the visit as the outside views are great and make a great opportunity to take some pictures!

Around old town, you will also find many traditional side streets and paella restaurants. I would recommend eating paella around here as you will find some awesome small restaurants that don't usually get too overcrowded and rowdy.

These side streets are lined with beautiful quaint restaurants and within a 5 minute walk you will reach the central market. It is usually open 7:00-15:00, but I recommend going as early as possible to get everything fresh! Here you can expect to find meat, fish, fruit and vegetables.

Best location for shopping?

For shopping you can visit Russafa or Colon. Here they have big brand shops such as Bershka, Primark and H&M so you’re never short of options! Russafa is also known for really cool vintage stores where you can find some awesome one-off pieces at a really cheap price! Of course, if you are not into the mainstream retail stores, in these locations you are never short of finding some cute independent stores to find some great one off pieces of clothing! It's always nice to support the small independent busineses in Spain too.

Best locations for day trips?

Of course, the main locations for a great day out are the City of Arts and Science Museum and Oceanographic. This is an aquarium and its incredible, it has a wide range of incredible animals and is great to visit with friends or family members that come visit! Admission for this is around 25€. There is also a zoo in Valencia - Bioparc. Admission here is usually 23. 80€ but on Erasmus websites, you can get discount!

For a little more of an adventure, you can visit Montanejos. This is an 1hr 20min drive by car or taxi. Montanejos is located in the Alto Mijares region and provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy leisure time and to admire the natural splendor of the waterfalls in a beautiful environment. (It’s also perfect for Instagram pictures).

Would you advise others to move to Valencia?

To conclude, I am having the time of my life in Valencia. I have made memories I will never forget and have made friends who I will remain friends with for life. I have learnt so much about myself and pushed myself to new challenges I never thought I could overcome. I have experienced new cultures, and opened my mind to life outside of the UK! It has been an experience of a lifetime, and if anyone is looking for an international placement as part of Erasmus, go to Valencia!

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