City Hopping - Valencia to Barcelona

Valencia

City breaks in Spain really should include Valencia, often overlooked in favour of it’s more famous rivals.

Home to Spain’s national dish, paella, Valencia is the up-and-coming place to visit. The third largest city in Spain has only recently gained recognition amongst international travellers, and it remains unspoiled by mass tourism. With its grand architecture and labyrinthine back streets, there’s so much to explore here. Valencia effortlessly manages to be both a wonderfully liveable city and one that welcomes tourists, with thriving cultural, eating and nightlife scenes. It feels energetic and authentic, the ancient and modern sitting side by side with ease.

Food is essential to Valencian identity, and so the markets are a must see. See, smell and taste the diverse produce and drinks in Central Market and Ruzafa Market with an emphasis on artisan, fresh and local. And in the home of paella, where better to sample the ultimate expression of Spanish cuisine!

The historic centre is very accessible on foot. Each of the buildings has so much to tell you about the origins of Valencia, perhaps none more so than the silk exchange – La Lonja de Seda. Dating back over five centuries, the building has been authentically and meticulously maintained, and is rightfully listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Head out of the old town and you’ll find yourself at the strikingly futuristic buildings of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, designed by local, and now internationally renowned architect, Santiago Calatrava. 

As an essential relief from the urban built environment, the verdant ribbon of Turia Garden Park weaves its way through the city. Valencia diverted the flood-prone Turia river to the outskirts and converted the former riverbed into a welcome garden of refuge that gives Valencia yet another distinctive edge as a Garden City.



Barcelona

Barcelona’s most famous son, Antoni Gaudí has left his mark all over this vibrant city, but his creations are just one of the more well-known features here.

Set on Spain’s northeast coast with a warm Mediterranean climate, Barcelona is a perfect stopover for a multi-centre holiday. It’s home to centuries of history having been first established by the Romans in the 1^st century BC. Since then, the Moors, Christians and others have left a diverse urban and cultural landscape. 

Barcelona’s Gothic quarter is criss-crossed with a maze of streets that hide some of the city’s oldest restaurants, trendy cocktail lounges, cafes and bars. The centre-piece is the spectacular 13th-century Catedral de Barcelona, but keep wandering and you’ll find Barcelona museum, Plaça de George Orwell, and the Wax Museum bringing Barcelona and Spanish history to life. 

Just beyond the quarter, but well worth the short walk is El Born quarter, and a treat for art enthusiasts. Our favourites are the Picasso museum and the Museum of Modern Art, but there’s plenty to discover.

Running alongside the gothic quarter is La Rambla, the famous tree-lined street full of art and craft stalls, street performers and quite a few bars. It’s a must see, and the shade from the trees is welcome on sunny days. 

You’re in the beating heartland of Catalonia, and the food here is as distinct from the rest of Spain as the language is. Catalans say that no dish is complete without mountain and sea, and you’ll find food combinations here to invigorate your palette. La Boqueria market is a great starting place to discover Catalan food and drink. Look out for fideua, the Catalan tribute to paella, using short noodles in place of rice.

Catalan cuisine, rich cultural history, architectural masterpieces, and one of the world’s most famous football stadia, all in one place makes this a city that ticks a lot of boxes.