Guide to Valencia in Winter

Most tourists like to visit Valencia, Spain in spring or autumn. For many, summer is too hot and they think winter is too cold. I love Valencia all year around, but my favorite season is winter! In this three-day guide to Valencia in winter I will give you a lot of tips to get the most out of your stay in Valencia. For best use of this guide, it is best to stay in the central Ruzafa District or near this neighborhood.

Guide to Valencia in Winter: Day One

Get up early and have a full and sweet breakfast at Dulce de Leche, a boutique cafe and pastry shop. 

Walk in direction of the city center and visit some of the most interesting nativity scenes in town. Take a look at the nativity scene these spots:the Salón de Cristal in the town hall, the town hall square, the Plaza de la Reina, in the Diputación de Valencia on Plaza Manises (for a very special 40 figures scene inspired by the Neapolitan work of the painter and sculptor Pedro Arrúe) and the nativity scene in the Mercado Central.

Have lunch next to the central market at Vaqueta Gastro Mercat. If it is a sunny day, enjoy of their outdoor terrace; if not, don’t hesitate to enter this beautiful restaurant.

Take a little siesta after lunch to rest before you go out and do some Christmas shopping in the Calle de Colón.

After a long day, you can rest and go in for a drink and to have some tapas at Lotelito, a modern restaurant cooking "creative Mediterranean" food. 

Guide to Valencia in Winter: Day 2

Have your healthy breakfast at Bluebell Coffee Roasters with whole wheat bread, fresh pressed orange juice and the best coffee in town.

Rent a bike at Passion Bike Ruzafa and take your bike to the Turia gardens. Take your time to bike along the City of Arts and Sciences and see the little Christmas market next to the parking at the Umbracle. Go out of the park in direction of the beach.

For lunch, I suggest you go to Hotel Líndala. It only opened its doors a few months ago, but they have a great lunch menu with some spectacular dishes.

After lunch, you can take your bike and go even further to the beach. Park your bike and have at least a one hour walk along the coastline. Have a drink at Sunset Gabbana and head back to the bike shop.

Go and see a dance or musical performance in the Edifici Olympia or the Teatre Principal de València. At the restaurant Vinotinto you can have some modern tapas before or after the show.

Guide to Valencia in Winter: Day Three

Do a before-breakfast run or walk in central park next to the Ruzafa neighborhood. Have a breakfast or brunch at Café ArtySana consisting of yoghurt with fresh fruit, a sandwich and ginger and lemon tea.

Put on your ice skates and skate your way in the sun with 20+ degrees Celcius on the skate rink at the town hall square.

After this great winter in Valencia experience, have some hot chocolate with churros or a Horchata at the Horchateria Santa Catalina.

Walk to the Torres de Serranos and take the bus to the Bioparc. Visit the wonderful zoo with animals from the continent of Africa. You can have a simple lunch in the zoological park.

For diner, you should make a reservation at the restaurant Racó de Turía. This traditional restaurant has great fish and meat dishes, but you can also order a typical Paella Valenciana. Valencia is the birthplace of paella. 

The winter days are short, so make sure you get up early and enjoy the sun as long as it lasts. Luckily for you, winter is not the rainy season in Valencia. On a sunny day, the temperature at noon can be 20-25 degrees Celsius, while at night it can get chilly 5-10 degrees Celsius. This guide to Valencia will hopefully help you to have a wonderful time in Valencia.

If you want to stay in Valencia even longer - how about permanently - check out the Spain cost of living guide below: