Valencia

Opposite La Lonja, you will find the oldest food market in Europe, located in a fantastic building in a true Valencian style. The market is just as lively now as it was a hundred years ago, as if time stood still. This is a great place to buy some local delicacies and experience Valencia's daily life.

With no visible barriers, visitors to this animal park can immerse themselves in the amazing wild habitats where lions, elephants, hippos, gorillas and many more species live. The emphasis is on the preservation of endangered species and protecting the environment.

Valencia is a vibrant city with the added bonus of being right on the beach. Playa de la Malvarossa is a 1km long promenade with clearn white sands, just a few minutes walk from city centre attractions. In the evening, head to one of the promenade's bustling bars and restaurants.

Spain's oldest centre of modern art, this institute features over 10,000 pieces of art and photography from the 20th century. Temporary exhibitions are housed in the basement - once part of the city's medieval fortifications.

If you only manage to see one sight, it has to be La Lonja, the old silk exchange. It is heralded as one of the foremost Gothic buildings in Europe, and in 1996 it became a UNESCO world heritage site. The actual market is the size of a cathedral, covering 21,420 square feet.

In this museum located in a restored mill you will learn about the procedure of processing rice in the mill's machinery, and understand an interesting part of Valencia's cultural memory.

This renovated art museum is one of the finest in Spain and houses some 2 000 works, most dating from the 14th-17th centuries. Art works by Goya, Velázquez, José Ribera and Sorolla cover its red, peach and green walls.

This small museum’s exhibits focus on Valencia’s huge Las Fallas festival. Las Fallas is a traditional celebration held every year in March, and people use this festive event to ridicule those in power. The term Fallas refers to both the celebration and the monuments created during the celebration. A number of towns in the Valencian Community have similar celebrations inspired by the original one in Valencia.

This botanical garden was founded in 1567 and restored in 2000. It contains an impressive collection of more than three thousand species of trees, palm trees and plants.

The Science Museum Príncipe Felipe is part of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, here you get to use your brain! This is a science museum that will put your brain cells to the test more than once. Three floors with 26,000 square feet of exhibits will definitely keep you busy and fortunately you will not have put a leash on your curiosity - pull, twist and push – you are supposed to!

The Palacio de las Artes Reina Sofia Concert Hall is part of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. This concert hall/opera house has four auditoriums dedicated to music and scenic arts. The great acoustics, location and surroundings are some of the reasons why this is becoming one of the most prestigious opera houses in Europe.

The Umbracle Greenhouse is part of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. At this greenhouse you easily can spend three hours walking along the green promenade. Apart from the plants from all over the world, you will find "The Garden of Astronomy". This landscaped walk is free of charge.