Attractions in Valencia & Costa Blanca
Home of paella, sun, and future science 🥘☀️
Showing 53 attractions · Sorted by importance
Albufera Natural Park
📍 Valencia
⛱ BeachA stunning freshwater lagoon and coastal nature reserve where families can enjoy boat trips and view diverse bird species.
Aqualandia
📍 Benidorm
🧗 AdventureOne of Europe's largest water parks featuring high-speed slides, wave pools, and water-based adventure circuits.
Barranc de l'Infern (The Cathedral of Hiking)
📍 Fleix
🥾 Hiking & Cycling14.5km challenging circular hiking trail with 800m elevation gain, taking approximately 6-7 hours. Known as the 'Cathedral of Hiking' due to its 6,800 ancient stone steps carved into the mountainside. The route traverses the rugged Vall de Laguar canyon system.
Bioparc Valencia
📍 Valencia
🦁 ZooAn innovative zoo using immersion techniques to transport families into African habitats without visible barriers between humans and animals.
Castillo de Peñíscola
📍 Peñíscola
🏰 CastleAn iconic Templar castle and historic village perched on a rocky peninsula, famously used as a filming location for major fantasy films.
Castillo de Xàtiva
📍 Xàtiva
🏰 CastleA sprawling double fortress following the contours of a mountain ridge, offering a walk through centuries of Iberian, Roman, and Moorish history.
City of Arts and Sciences
📍 Valencia
🏛 LandmarkA futuristic architectural complex featuring a science museum, aquarium, and opera house that offers an immersive world of discovery.
El Castell de Guadalest
📍 Guadalest
🏛 LandmarkA picturesque cliffside village and castle ruins accessible through a rock tunnel, overlooking a stunning turquoise reservoir.
IVAM - Institut Valencià d'Art Modern
📍 Valencia
🖼 Art GalleryA leading contemporary art museum featuring a vast collection of 20th-century paintings, sculptures, and installations in a modern urban setting.
Jardín Botánico de la Universidad de Valencia
📍 Valencia
🌿 GardenA historic university garden featuring a vast collection of exotic plants and iconic 19th-century iron-and-glass greenhouses.
La Lonja de la Seda
📍 Valencia
🏛 LandmarkA UNESCO World Heritage site showcasing stunning 15th-century Gothic architecture and magnificent spiraling stone columns.
La Tomatina
📍 Buñol
🎭 EventLast Wednesday of August, 1-day event, approximately 22,000 international participants, world-famous mass tomato fight where over 100 metric tons of tomatoes are thrown in the streets. The main event is high-intensity and better suited for adults, though the town hosts a 'Tomatina Kids' version for families earlier in the week.
Las Fallas
📍 Valencia
🎭 EventMarch 1-19, 19-day cultural celebration, over 1 million annual visitors, features the installation of hundreds of massive artistic monuments (fallas) which are burned on the final night. Includes daily pyrotechnic shows (Mascletà), flower offerings, and street parties; highly family-friendly with dedicated children's monuments and parades.
Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe
📍 Valencia
🔬 ScienceAn interactive science museum within a futuristic architectural masterpiece, offering hands-on exhibits for all ages.
Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia
📍 Valencia
🖼 Art GalleryOne of Spain's most important art galleries, housing works by Goya, Velázquez, and El Greco in a stunning historic building with a blue dome.
Oceanogràfic
📍 Valencia
🐠 AquariumEurope's largest aquarium featuring distinct marine ecosystems and a stunning underwater tunnel through a shark habitat.
Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas
📍 Valencia
🏰 CastleKnown for its incredible alabaster facade, this rococo palace houses the National Ceramics Museum and showcases the opulent lifestyle of 18th-century nobility.
Palmeral de Elche
📍 Elche
🌿 GardenA UNESCO World Heritage site consisting of over 200,000 palm trees integrated into the urban landscape of the city.
Peñón de Ifach Natural Park
📍 Calpe
🏔 Scenic ViewA massive limestone outcrop rising from the sea, offering scenic hiking trails and spectacular views of the Costa Blanca coastline.
Ruta de los Castillos del Vinalopó
📍 Novelda
🚗 Road TripApprox. 100km paved route (1-2 days) traversing the Vinalopó valley. Highlights include the medieval castles of Novelda, Petrer, Sax, Villena, and Biar, representing the highest concentration of fortresses in the region.
Santa Bárbara Castle
📍 Alicante
🏛 LandmarkA massive medieval fortress perched on Mount Benacantil offering expansive views over the Mediterranean coastline.
Terra Mítica
📍 Benidorm
🧗 AdventureA major Mediterranean-themed park with adventure rides and shows based on the ancient civilizations of Greece, Egypt, and Rome.
Valencia Cathedral
📍 Valencia
🏛 LandmarkA historic gothic cathedral housing the claimed Holy Grail, featuring the Miguelete tower with panoramic city views.
Via Verde de Ojos Negros
📍 Barracas
🥾 Hiking & Cycling70km (Valencian section) easy cycling route with a gentle descent, typically covered in 1-2 days. This is the longest 'Greenway' in Spain, following a converted old railway line from the interior highlands down toward the coast at Sagunto. Bike rental: Do You Bike (doyoubike.com) or Mediterranean Bike Tours (mediterraneanbiketours.com).
Guadalest Valley Scenic Drive
📍 Benidorm
🚗 Road Trip25km paved mountain road (CV-70/CV-755) taking approx. 45 minutes. Highlights include the dramatic ascent into the Aitana mountains, views of the turquoise Guadalest reservoir, and the iconic cliffside village of El Castell de Guadalest.
L'Albufera Scenic Drive
📍 Valencia
🚗 Road Trip20km paved coastal road (CV-500) through the L'Albufera Natural Park (30-45 minutes). Highlights include passing through Mediterranean pine forests, sand dunes, vast rice paddies, and the scenic lagoon, famous for traditional boat trips and sunsets.
Canelobre Caves
📍 Busot
🏔 Scenic ViewOne of Spain's highest cathedral-like cave systems, featuring impressive stalactite formations and a unique interior microclimate.
Island of Tabarca
📍 Alicante
⛱ BeachA protected marine reserve and the only inhabited island in the region, famous for its crystal-clear waters and snorkeling.
MACA - Contemporary Art Museum of Alicante
📍 Alicante
🖼 Art GalleryLocated in a 17th-century granary, this museum holds a premier collection of 20th-century art including works by Picasso, Dalí, and Miró.
Montgó Natural Park
📍 Dénia
🏔 Scenic ViewAn iconic mountain known for its 'elephant trunk' shape that provides a dramatic backdrop to the coastal towns and numerous hiking paths.
MUBAG - Gravina Museum of Fine Arts
📍 Alicante
🖼 Art GalleryAn elegant museum situated in the 18th-century Gravina Palace, showcasing Alicante's fine art from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century.
Mundomar
📍 Benidorm
🐠 AquariumA popular marine life park offering interactive experiences with dolphins, sea lions, and penguins in a scenic hillside setting.
N-232: Morella Maestrat Route
📍 Vinaròs
🚗 Road Trip60km paved route (1 hour) climbing from the Mediterranean coast into the rugged Maestrazgo mountains. Features a dramatic final approach with panoramic views of the medieval walled city of Morella perched on a limestone outcrop.
Sagunto Castle
📍 Sagunto
🏰 CastleA massive hilltop complex with over 2,000 years of history, featuring a mix of Roman and Moorish fortifications and a nearby restored Roman theater.
Terra Natura
📍 Benidorm
🎢 Theme ParkA themed wildlife park utilizing 'zoo-immersion' concepts to showcase animals from the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
Torres de Serranos
📍 Valencia
🏰 CastleOne of the best-preserved medieval city gates in Europe, families can climb its massive stone steps for bird's-eye views of the historic center.
Altea Old Town
📍 Altea
🏘 Town / VillageA charming historic district of whitewashed houses and cobblestone streets leading to an iconic blue-domed church and scenic sea overlooks.
Aquopolis Cullera
📍 Cullera
🌊 Water ParkThe primary water park serving the Valencia metropolitan area, featuring a volcano-themed attraction and extensive splash zones.
Aquopolis Torrevieja
📍 Torrevieja
🌊 Water ParkA comprehensive water park offering high-adrenaline slides like the Kamikaze alongside dedicated zones for younger children.
Coll de Rates Cycling Climb
📍 Parcent
🥾 Hiking & Cycling6.5km challenging road cycling climb with 350m elevation gain and an average gradient of 5.5%. A legendary route for professional and amateur cyclists in the Costa Blanca region, often used as a benchmark for fitness. Typical duration is 20-45 minutes. Bike rental: Blanca Bikes (blancabikes.com) or Ciclo Costa Blanca (ciclocostablanca.com).
Multiaventura Elche
📍 Elche
🧗 AdventureA diverse activity center in a UNESCO palm grove offering high ropes, zip lines, climbing walls, and boating.
Peñón de Ifach Ascent
📍 Calpe
🥾 Hiking & Cycling5km moderate-to-challenging out-and-back hike with 332m elevation gain, taking about 2.5-3 hours. The first half is a well-maintained path, while the final ascent to the summit involves steep rocky scrambles through a tunnel. Offers panoramic views of the Costa Blanca. Access requires prior booking during peak season.
