LANGUAGE

Valencian

CURRENCY

Euro

BEST TIME TO VISIT

March to August

NEAREST RAILWAY STATION

Estació Nord

NEAREST AIRPORT

Valencia Airport (VLC)

EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER

112

INTERNET ACCESS

Data speeds are quick, so the best way to get online is to buy a local SIM card. Wi-fi is also widespread in cafes and bars and ubiquitous in hotels. Internet cafes are increasingly rare.

VISA

Generally not required for stays of up to 90 days per 180 days (visas are not required at all for members of EU or Schengen countries). Some nationalities need a Schengen visa.

Spain is one of 26 member countries of the Schengen Convention, under which 22 EU countries (all but Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the UK) plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland have abolished checks at common borders.

The visa situation for entering Spain is as follows:

Citizens or residents of EU & Schengen countries No visa required.

Citizens or residents of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand & the USA No visa required for tourist visits of up to 90 days out of every 180 days.

Other countries Check with a Spanish embassy or consulate.

To work or study in Spain A special visa may be required – contact a Spanish embassy or consulate before travel.

HOTEL

The top tourist attractions in Valencia are in two areas, with most of the historic sites around the cathedral and Plaza del Ayuntamiento. In a broad park that was once a river, the stunning new City of Arts and Sciences is a complex of museums and arts venues, most designed by Santiago Calatrava. Fortunately for tourists, these and other attractions (including the beach) are connected by an excellent transit system. These highly-rated hotels in Valencia are convenient for sightseeing:

LUXURY

Caro Hotel

Westin Valencia

Hotel Las Arenas Balneario Resort

MID-RANGE

Belle Epoch Melia Plaza

Petit Palace Bristol

SH Ingles

BUDGET

Catalonia Excelsior

NH Valencia Las Ciencias

COST OF LIVING

Even though it has an enviable location on the Mediterranean, Valencia is a relative bargain within Spain and Europe. Hotel and hostel prices are more modest than in Barcelona, and most other things can be a bit cheaper as well. Valencia is known as the home of paella, so that dish is easy to find, although you have to be careful if you want to get the authentic stuff rather than the version just made for tourists. It’s usually a lunch meal, so places that feature it in the evening should be suspect.

As with most of Spain, you can find appealing prices on food and drinks if you look around a bit and follow the locals rather than visiting the places with big English signs out front. August is a slow month when most of the locals are on vacation. If you’re ok with a smaller selection of hotels to choose from, this is a great time of year to visit if you’re looking to save a few dollars as hotel prices are generally pretty low during this time of year. During the fall and spring, prices go up a bit as the locals and visitors alike enjoy the great weather.