Valencia with children

“Travel 4 kids” and its co-founder Jolita, together with Greta and Oskaras, invite you to discover Valencia, the Spanish city where you will find everything you need for a family holiday with children. Valencia, the third largest city in Spain, is the perfect place for a holiday with children. The city of Valencia attracts visitors with its spectacular parks, museums and amusement parks for children. Valencia is also within easy reach of Alicante and Benidorm.

Valencia with children – there are activities and attractions for children of all ages, and we promise you that your holidays in this city will be truly spectacular. We’ve been to Valencia several times, so we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to Valencia’s attractions and places to visit.

Valencia with children

Top things to do in Valencia with children

Bioparc Valencia – Valencia Zoo

This is a modern zoo where the animals are kept in as natural conditions as possible. Children can see the African savannah and the different species of animals without cages or fences, giving an authentic experience. You’ll also see some of the largest animals – elephants, giraffes, rhinos, hippos and gorillas. We have been to many zoos in Europe, so we can safely say that this is one of the top 5 zoos in Europe.

We couldn’t get enough of the grounds, we loved the friendliness of the hippo, we were very impressed by the lemur park, and we visited the gorilla education – definitely worth a visit.

The park has several places to rest and have a snack, and there is also a playground for children.

Our advice: the park is large, with both shows and education, so plan a full day for the park.

Buy your tickets in advance! We bought our tickets as we always do on our partners’ system and entered the park with them right away.

Zoo coordinates.

Valencia Aquarium Oceanogràfic

The largest aquarium in Europe, featuring a wide variety of marine animals, including sharks, dolphins and various species of sea turtles. It is not only an entertainment but also an educational experience for children.

What surprised us was that it is not a single building, as is usually the case when visiting aquariums. It’s a huge area with different buildings and aquatic wildlife themes. There is a huge dolphinarium where there are shows. Make sure you visit the bird dome – you have to be careful anyway, as the staff warns you – we were lucky, but our neighbours who walked by were not so lucky… Because the birds are high up and don’t always warn you of danger…

Our children really liked the underwater tunnels, there are more than one, and especially the huge swimming turtles. I also liked the dolphin show – calm, the animals were more frolicking than “working”, a philosophy now used in many Spanish aquariums and zoos.

Food in Aquarium Oceanografic

There are even a few restaurants in the area, ranging from expensive ones to simpler snack bars and kiosks. We tried the restaurant – the service is fast, the food is nothing special, but it’s certainly edible – we chose to eat in the restaurant because we didn’t want to snack on junk food. The kids were happy eating spaghetti, we had risotto and bowl.

There are playgrounds and educational areas where older children can learn about the diversity of wildlife.

Our advice: give the park a good half day, and if you’re travelling with younger children, don’t plan anything else for that day.

We bought tickets for all the museums as one and saved a lot of money – there are several options to choose from, we went for the three-ticket package – Oceanogràfic + Science Museum + Hemisferic.

You can buy only for the Aquarium, but we highly recommend buying in advance as the queues are long on arrival. Even when we left around 3pm there were still long queues at the ticket office.

With these tickets, you go straight to the entrance and immediately enter the Aquarium area. Be sure to check the information to see when the dolphin shows are, when the cinema is open and take a map of the park.

Coordinates and location of the Aquarium in the city.

Science Museum (Principe Felipe Science Museum)

A symbol of the city and one of the most visited places in Spain. This museum offers interactive exhibitions that encourage children to learn through games and activities.

From space exploration to interactive biology exhibitions, everything is designed for learning and exploration. Children can take part in experiments, try out flight simulators, learn more about the human body and explore different scientific phenomena. Start on the fourth floor, where you’ll spend the most time. You can skip the second floor, as children will not be interested.

Greta and Oscar say it was the most interesting place they visited in Valencia.

Our advice: it’s a big museum, spend at least half a day, and if your children are curious, you might need a day.

At the very least, buy your tickets together with Oceanogràfic – these two places are definitely worth a visit with your children. Tickets to the museums are really cheap!

You can also buy tickets for this museum only.

Museum coordinates.

Hemisferic film screenings

If you plan to visit all of these sites – the aquarium, the science museum and the hemispheric – like us, plan your activities over two days. We had planned to do the Aquarium on one day and leave the Science Museum and the cinema screening for the other day, but with the tickets we had bought we were free to swap as we pleased – so we did the Science Museum in one day with the Aquarium.

We saved the Hemispheric film screening for another day. Impressive dome-shaped cinema hall, spectacular film about the Amazon forests (by the way, the film was about 40 mins long, it was not a documentary, so it was perfect with kids). At times it seemed like we were rising from our seats and flying over the Amazon forest. The impression is unforgettable. We watched the film in Spanish, but they give you headphones with translation for other languages.

Buy your tickets together with Oceanogràfic and the Science Museum.

You can also buy tickets just for the Hemisferic.

Hemisferic coordinates.

Gulliver Park – free activity in Valencia

A fun and free outdoor amusement park that is set up so that children can climb and play on the giant sculpture of Gulliver, which shows him lying on the ground.

The park has free toilets, an emergency worker on duty, and you can buy snacks and drinks.

The children enjoyed it very much, but be warned that on a hot day the surfaces of the slides get hot, so be careful not to hurt your children or scald their skin. It is better to wear long bottoms when visiting this park.

Gulliver’s Park coordinates.

Top places to visit in Valencia with children

Valencia beaches with children

Valencia is a city by the water. So if you are visiting during the warm season, make sure you visit Valencia’s beaches too. Malvarrosa and Arenas beaches in Valencia are ideal for families, with plenty of picnic areas, children’s playgrounds and a sandy shore.

Valencia centre

This was not our first visit to Valencia, so it was therefore not our first visit to the old town and the centre. If you read our Spanish city guides, you will know that in the centre and the old town we choose a free guided walking tour. This time was no exception – we took two tours and had a great experience of the city and its sights.

We saw Valencia Cathedral, Plaça del Ajuntament – the city’s largest public square, the central post office. We passed by the old bullfighting ring and admired the interior of the railway station. Of course, we also wandered around Valencia’s old market and visited the more modern one.

If you want, you can also buy an inexpensive tour through our partner system, the price is very similar to what we leave for the free walking tour guides as a thank you. Another option for a tour in Valencia.

City of Science (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias)

This is one of the modern architectural wonders that attracts a lot of interest among both locals and tourists. This complex is widely known for its futuristic design and multifunctional buildings. The City of Science was also our destination for this trip.

The project started in 1991 and the first element of the complex, L’Hemisfèric, was opened in 1998. The construction costs were much higher than originally planned, which led to much controversy and debate. The project was criticised for its high cost, especially in view of the economic crisis in Spain at the time of construction.

The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is made up of the following main sites, some of which we visited:

• L’Oceanogràfic – Europe’s largest aquarium.
• L’Hemisfèric – a cinema and planetarium with the appearance of an eye.
• El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe – a science museum with a skeletal structure.
• L’Umbracle – a strolling area with a garden gallery where you can see native plant species and sculptures.
• Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía – opera house and cultural centre.
• El Pont de l’Assut de l’Or bridge.
• L’Àgora, now the Caixa Forum, a multi-purpose building used for concerts, sports events and other activities.

However, the complex is today a real draw for many people, tourists and locals alike, and is often used in various films and commercials for its futuristic look, and is commonly referred to as one of the symbols of Valencia. During our visit, the complex was hosting a concert.

TOP Museums in Valencia with children

Fallero Museum (Museo Fallero)

The Museo Fallero is about one of Valencia’s most important cultural festivals, Las Fallas. The museum features colourful sculptures and figures that are created each year for the festival. It is also a great opportunity to learn about the traditions and art of this unique festival. Our Spanish teacher Ruth, who lives in Valencia and of course we were able to meet, shared with us about this festival.

Museo de Muñecas de Porcelana

This is a unique museum that exhibits porcelain dolls. Here, children and adults can see an impressive collection of dolls from different styles and eras, and learn about the art and history of doll-making.

Museum of Illusions

Once inside, visitors are immediately immersed in a world where reality and illusion merge. One of the main features of the Museum of Illusions is the use of optical illusions to tell the legends of Valencia. Each exhibit is carefully designed to represent a different story from the city’s past, using visual tricks that surprise and intrigue visitors. Cheap tickets for the Museum of Illusions.

When to travel to Valencia?

The best time to visit Valencia with children is spring and early autumn, when the weather is pleasant and there are fewer tourists. April and May and September and October are ideal times to enjoy the city’s attractions and sights without the crowds. The summer months are also popular but can be very hot, so you should prepare accordingly.

We once travelled during the Christmas holidays – it was cool in the evenings and nights. Another time this year was in the first days of June. The weather was ideal. It was drizzling one day, but without being cold. And after the rain we had a fun and refreshing visit to the Biopark.

Where to stay in Valencia with children?

The Ciutat Vella (Old Town) and the Eixample are popular with families because of their central location and proximity to most tourist attractions. El Cabanyal is a great choice if you want to be closer to the beach. The Turia Park area is also a good choice, offering spacious stays close to the city’s largest park.

We stayed in Ciutat Jardí, in the Algirós area. It is located in the east of the city. The neighbourhood has good transport links. The Amistat and Ayora metro stations are located on the southern edge of the district. The area is known for its green areas and residential housing complexes, which are designed according to the ‘garden city’ concept. Ciutat Jardí attracts both locals and tourists looking for tranquillity and proximity to nature. The area boasts a wide range of cafés, restaurants and shopping outlets that are geared towards a young audience, thanks to the proximity of the Valencia University campus.

We find the best options among the offers of our partners.

What to eat in Valencia?

Valencia is famous for its exceptional cuisine. We recommend trying:

1. Paella Valenciana – did you know that Valencia is the birthplace of paella? And paella valenciana is the most traditional option in the region. This dish is made with chicken, rabbit, green beans, broad beans and rice. It is one of the most popular dishes to try in Valencia.
2. Fideuà – similar to paella, fideuà is another striking Valencian dish based on vermicelli rather than rice. Fideuà is usually made with a variety of seafood. Such as prawns, cuttlefish and clams, and is richly flavoured with herbs and saffron.
3. Horchata is a drink made from tigernuts, water and sugar. Horchata has a sweet, nutty taste and is often served cold as a refreshing drink on a hot day – it reminded us of our Lithuanian poppy seed drink.
4. Alongside the horchata, be sure to take a fartones bun.
5. Tapas – although tapas are popular throughout Spain, Valencia has some of the more interesting ones – such as ‘esgarraet’ (a salad of smoked peppers and cod), a variety of snacks with fresh seafood.

Public Transport in Valencia

Travelling by public transport in Valencia is really convenient. From the airport, take a special metro line. We used both metro and buses in the city. Our 8-year-old Oscar travelled for free on the metro. Because in Valencia, children under 10 years old can travel for free on the metro within the city limits with an accompanying person who has purchased a ticket.

We bought a SUM supplementary card for the metro, and just paid on the bus with our bank card.

The SUM card is available at metro stations, kiosks and other authorised sales points. The card can be loaded with either a monetary amount or a number of specific journeys.

We recommend that you also take a look at the Valencia Tourist Card, especially if you are on a longer holiday in Valencia. We didn’t use one because we calculated that we would have to travel less to make it worthwhile, and we were not going to visit the museums, which are free with the card.

With the Valencia Tourist Card, you can travel for free on buses, metros, trams and commuter trains in the city and on the metropolitan area. Also visit the municipal museums for free, and benefit from special discounts at Valencia’s main attractions. You can choose between a 24, 48 or 72-hour card to best suit your travel plans. Enjoy travel on buses, commuter trains, metros and trams in the AB zones, including Valencia-Airport-Valencia.

The card offers discounts at the city’s main attractions. Including 10% off Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias and 10% off Oceanogràfic.

You can also buy HOP-on HOP-off tickets when travelling in the city itself, with 24 and 48-hour options available.

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