Valencia is Spain’s third-largest city, behind Madrid and Barcelona. It has a unique charm that sets it apart from its two big sisters. It even has several great assets that make it a European destination of choice. Here’s an overview of Valencia’s strong points in this respect.
A small city with an enchanting climate
One of Valencia’s first special features is its average surface area. In fact, it takes an average of 15 minutes to get from the center to the beaches. The same applies to the universities and the famous Bioparc. So, whatever means of transport you use, it’s quite easy to get around the city quickly.
What’s more, it only takes a day to be able to discover various sites in the city, without having to untangle yourself from traffic jams. For those who prefer to get around by bike, the city offers an ideal setting, given that it has no hills. With this in mind, the best thing to do is to take out a subscription, in the same way as Vélib in France.
Another strong point of the City of Valencia is its climate. There are 320 days of sunshine a year. What’s more, it’s possible to swim between April and November. What’s more, the clement weather favors other outdoor activities, including sport or picnics. Otherwise, in winter, the thermometer rarely dips below 5°C.
As for rainfall, rainy days are rare in the city. However, when the time comes, it’s best to stay dry, even if storms and showers are generally brief in the area.
Valencia, a city with an exceptional quality of life
The city of Valencia is perfectly suited to a full family life. As such, you can stroll around, even late at night, without having to worry about insecurity. Outings are mostly affordable (restaurants and leisure activities). What’s more, contact with the local population is without any particular problems. On the contrary, the people of Valencia are very friendly.
In addition to the dream beaches that the coastline inevitably offers, Valencia is also renowned for its culture and gastronomy. The city has preserved its rich cultural, historical and architectural heritage. The various communities that have successively settled in the region in the past have all left their mark. These include the Romans, the Moorish and the Christians.
However, Valencia is already looking to the future, given the futuristic infrastructures, such as the IVAM museum (Institute of Modern Art). This is one of the destination’s outstanding assets in attracting tourists.
A rich and varied gastronomy
On the gastronomic front, Valencia is best known for its paella. But there are other local signature dishes to discover. These include all i pebre, a potato stew with eel, garlic and paprika. Finally, the drink of choice is the agua de Valencia, a cocktail of orange juice and a sparkling wine called cava.