Valencia with kids: 10 things to see and do

In mid-July, we spent a week in Spain, in Valencia with the family. We have friends who come from a village in the region, and they had the lovely idea of celebrating their respective 40th birthdays there. For us, it was an opportunity to return to this part of Spain, which we had visited as a couple ten years earlier! Today, I am taking you on a tour of the beautiful city of Valencia to share everything you can do there on a trip with children.

Valencia with kids: 10 places to visit

The Oceanogràfic:

Valencia’s aquarium is the largest in Europe and undoubtedly one of the most beautiful too. It is particularly remarkable for its architecture and the wealth of marine life it houses. It comprises ten striking modern buildings representing different ecosystems. The children loved walking through the various tunnels, surrounded by fish from all over the world.

The Oceanogràfic is located in the City of Arts and Sciences. Ticoeur and Titpuce loved this visit, and so did we! As is often the case with large aquariums, admission is fairly expensive, but it is worth it. Note: admission is free for children under 4. Allow 3 to 4 hours for your visit.

 

The Science Museum:

Also in the City of Arts and Sciences, the children spent two hours exploring the Museu de les Ciències. Its exhibits reminded us of the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie at La Villette in Paris, but on a smaller scale. Personally, I only tend to visit this kind of place for the children, but I nevertheless appreciated the building’s architecture. Ticoeur and Titpuce enjoyed the hands-on experiments, especially the water games and construction area.

2026 update: the interactive exhibition “DANCE! The art of movement” is currently running until 10 January 2028.
 

Gulliver Park:

Once you have finished exploring the City of Arts and Sciences and start heading towards the centre of Valencia, you will come across an unusual playground with an enormous figure of Gulliver. He is so large that children can climb all over him and slide down the many giant slides. Ticoeur loved it! Titpuce was still a little too young.
 

A walk through the Turia Gardens:

Continue towards the centre of Valencia along the Turia Gardens, which occupy the former riverbed. This long green corridor stays pleasant even when temperatures are high. It is pedestrianised, and you will pass several playgrounds along the way.

Valencia with kids: off to the beach!

Valencia’s beach is well worth a visit. It is enormous, with fine golden sand. Swimming is ideal for children because the water remains shallow for dozens of metres. At that time of year, the sea was 30°C! The children and my husband loved it; for me, it was almost too warm ;-). We went to Las Arenas beach.
 

Bioparc Valencia:

I will finish with another big favourite for the children — and the parents! Bioparc is Valencia’s zoo, and its design is extremely successful. We had not visited it on our previous trip, which makes sense as it only opened in 2008. The settings recreate natural habitats remarkably well. We particularly enjoyed the Madagascar area, where you can walk among lemurs, and of course the savannah area with elephants, giraffes, lions and more.

 

More things to see in Valencia:

Besides activities for children, here are some other places not to miss — these are perhaps more for the parents!

Mercado Central:

Do not miss Valencia’s impressive covered market, with its many stalls and historic market hall. The children enjoyed drinking fresh fruit juice, which is available from all the fruit and vegetable stalls. Personally, I was more drawn to the Spanish hams and the fish section.
 

La Lonja de la Seda:

It is not that children are desperate to see this place, but it is directly opposite the Central Market, so it would be a shame to miss this superb UNESCO-listed monument. The visit is very quick, too. This is the Silk Exchange, Valencia’s former centre of commerce, built between the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Its magnificent hall has numerous columns, and Ticoeur and Titpuce found it fun to weave between them.
 

 

 

Mercado de Colón:

This is another superb building in the city. It is a former market designed in the Valencian Art Nouveau style. Mercado de Colón has been completely refurbished and now offers a contemporary space with shops, restaurants and concerts. What is in it for children? They can enjoy a delicious, refreshing orxata de València (or horchata) with a pastry. It is a drink made from tiger nuts, known locally as chufa. The children will also ask you for a ride on the little merry-go-round!

Wander through the old town:

Valencia’s old town is full of charm, with must-see landmarks including the cathedral, the Quart Towers and the Serranos Towers. As we were staying in the El Carmen neighbourhood, just a short walk from the cathedral, it was ideal for enjoying the beauty of the city without making the children walk too far. Of course, we stopped for fruit juice and tapas on café terraces to rest their little legs, as well as taking a break in Glorieta Gardens to split the walk into two.

 

Our favourite family-friendly places in Valencia:

Restaurants

• Orio: this is a Basque restaurant, but pintxos are great fun for children. We had already tried Orio in Barcelona. How does it work? You choose small tapas served on skewers. With 80 varieties, there is something for everyone! We also shared a plate of monkfish — delicious! Orio, c/ San Vicente Mártir, 23, Valencia
   
  
   
  
   
• La Casa de l’Orxata : a place to try this typical Valencian drink (C/ Jorge Juan s/n — Mercado de Colón, Valencia).
  

• La Pepica: a Valencia institution for eating authentic paella on the seafront promenade. The service was very friendly. The restaurant is huge and has a lovely terrace. We tried Valencian paella, made with chicken and green beans.
  Hemingway himself ate here! La Pepica, Paseo Neptuno, 2-6-8, Valencia

Where we stayed in Valencia

Hotel Adhoc Carmen: modern décor in a historic building. The children slept on a mezzanine level. The welcome was very warm, and the hotel was comfortable and excellently located. In short, it is a great base for exploring Valencia with the family! (Samaniego, 20, Valencia)

 

Valencia with kids: practical information

Weather: in mid-July, it was 32°C, which already feels extremely hot in full sun. We came at this time for our friends’ birthday celebration, but generally I would recommend spring or autumn instead. The advantage of summer, of course, is that the sea is lovely and warm. I think the water must have been around 30°C!

Length of the trip: one week in the region, including 2 days in Valencia. You could easily stay for 4 or 5 days to avoid packing too much into each day.

Flight: Paris –> Valencia (1 hour 30 minutes).

Car hire: To leave Valencia, explore the region and visit our friends, we picked up a hire car at Valencia Airport for €20 per day at the time. If you would like to travel along the coast, you can also take the train from Valencia to Alicante or Benidorm.

Equipment for children: none, although I admit that Titpuce was difficult to motivate on long walks around the city. We therefore used buses and taxis quite a lot. If your children are younger, a pushchair is a good choice.

Luggage: 2 cabin bags for the four of us, as usual!

The Valencia Tourist Card: For access to all the city’s public transport and discounts on many attractions, consider buying a Valencia Tourist Card. It is available for 24, 48 or 72 hours. The card quickly pays for itself because it includes all public transport and admission to municipal museums, as well as offering numerous discounts on attractions, museums, leisure activities, shops, car hire and more.

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Would you like to visit Valencia?