Day-by-day eating plans for Valencia: weekend classics, family routes, vegan plans, on-a-budget editions.
Day-by-day plans
Valencia weekend: paella and the rice repertoire
- ★ 4.7
- 2 days
- First-time visitor, two days
A Valencia weekend built around the canonical paella, the rice repertoire of La Albufera, the Mercado Central modernist temple and a sundown agua-de-Valencia at the cocktail's 1959 birthplace.
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Day 1Saturday: Mercado Central morning, beach paella lunch, Carmen tapas dinner
- Morning
- Start at Mercado Central from 09:00; coffee and a bocadillo de calamares at Central Bar by Ricard Camarena, then walk the modernist hall.
- Afternoon
- Tram to Malvarrosa for lunch at Casa Carmela: paella valenciana cooked over orange wood, with a glass of Utiel-Requena bobal.
- Evening
- Walk the Carmen quarter from 19:30; aperitif at Café Sant Jaume on Carrer dels Cavallers for an agua de Valencia, then dinner at La Pilareta with clochinas and a cana.
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Day 2Sunday: Russafa brunch, fine-dining lunch, agua de Valencia dusk
- Morning
- Brunch at Federal Cafe Valencia from 09:30; smashed avo and a flat white, then walk Russafa's restaurant strip (ViveVino natural wine bar is closed Sunday but the neighbourhood is worth the stroll).
- Afternoon
- Sunday lunch at Lienzo (Maria Jose Martinez, 1 Michelin star) from 13:30; the honey-and-herbs tasting menu built around Valencian sustainability.
- Evening
- Sundown agua de Valencia by the carafe at Cafe Madrid, the 1959 birthplace of the cocktail; close with a late cocktail at Cafe de las Horas in the Carmen.
Valencia three days: the deep rice repertoire
- ★ 4.8
- 3 days
- Rice-focused, three days
Three days walking through Valencia's full rice repertoire: paella valenciana, arroz a banda, arroz negro, arroz al horno, fideua, plus a day trip to La Albufera at source.
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Day 1Day 1: paella valenciana canon
- Morning
- Mercado Central walk from 10:00; horchata and fartons at Horchateria Daniel inside Mercado de Colon.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at Casa Roberto in the Eixample: the canonical paella valenciana with rabbit, chicken and ferraura beans.
- Evening
- Dinner at Casa Montana in the Cabanyal: esgarraet and a glass of barrel-bobal from the 1836 cellar.
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Day 2Day 2: La Albufera day trip and seafood rice
- Morning
- Take Bus 25 from central Valencia to El Palmar in La Albufera (45 minutes); walk the rice-paddy fringe and the floating-boat dock.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at Casa Manolo south of Valencia in Daimus, the 1 Michelin star rice and seafood kitchen by the beach.
- Evening
- Dinner at La Riua in the old town: arroz a banda with the canonical Cabanyal-style fish stock, plus a glass of natural Bobal.
StopsLa Riua
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Day 3Day 3: oven-baked rice and fideua
- Morning
- Coffee at Bluebell Coffee in Russafa, then walk the Russafa daily market.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at Navarro in the old town: the arroz al horno with chickpeas, blood sausage and the whole-garlic head, baked in the wood oven.
- Evening
- Dinner at Llisa Negra (Quique Dacosta): fire-only kitchen, the arroz seco and the wood-grilled fish from the lonja.
Valencia three days: vegan and vegetarian
- ★ 4.6
- 3 days
- Vegan or vegetarian, three days
Three days walking Valencia's vegan and vegetarian scene, from the Russafa plant-based corridor to the city's vegetarian paella, with Mercado Central produce and natural wine in between.
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Day 1Day 1: Russafa plant-based corridor
- Morning
- Brunch at Almalibre Acai House: an acai bowl with granola, plus a single-origin pour-over at Federal Cafe Valencia.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at Copenhagen in Russafa: full vegetarian tapas tasting with vegan options, a glass of natural orange wine.
- Evening
- Dinner at La Tastaolletes near the centre: vegan and vegetarian creative tapas sourced from Mercado Central.
StopsAlmalibre Acai HouseFederal Cafe ValenciaCopenhagenLa Tastaolletes
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Day 2Day 2: vegan paella and natural wine
- Morning
- Coffee at Blackbird Coffee in the Cabanyal, then walk the Mercado del Cabanyal for produce.
- Afternoon
- Vegetarian paella class at My First Paella in Russafa (vegan option available); cook a vegetable paella over orange wood.
- Evening
- Wine evening at ViveVino in Russafa: orange wine flight, plus a small vegetarian tapas board.
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Day 3Day 3: vegan bao and a long lunch
- Morning
- Coffee at Retrogusto Coffeemates inside the Mercado Central; walk the produce stalls.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at La Lluna on Carrer de Sant Ramon in the Carmen, Valencia's oldest vegetarian dining room with a vegan-option carte and a daily menu del dia.
- Evening
- Dinner at Ricard Camarena Restaurant (vegan tasting menu available, two Michelin stars, Green Star).
Valencia paella day: Albufera lunch, El Carmen evening
- ★ 4.8
- 1 day
- Paella pilgrimage
A canonical Valencia paella day: the Albufera lake lunch at the source, evening tapas in El Carmen.
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Day 1Day 1: Albufera to El Carmen
- Morning
- Coffee at Bluebell Coffee Co in El Carmen at 09:30, then taxi out to El Palmar at the edge of the Albufera lake.
- Afternoon
- Lunch from 14:00 at Restaurante Levante or another El Palmar paella house for the canonical paella valenciana over wood fire (rabbit, chicken, snails, white beans, bomba rice). Walk the Albufera reed beds after.
- Evening
- Back in Valencia, evening tapas in El Carmen from 21:00: Casa Montaña in Cabanyal for the canonical Spanish tapas list, finishing with a horchata at Horchatería de Santa Catalina.
Valencia Mercado Central day: market morning, Russafa evening
- ★ 4.6
- 1 day
- Market lover, single day
A Valencia day on the food markets: Mercado Central morning, Russafa evening with the new-wave Spanish small plates.
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Day 1Day 1: Mercado Central to Russafa
- Morning
- Mercado Central from 09:00 for the morning produce, jamón, cheese; coffee at Central Bar (Ricard Camarena's market counter) for the morning bocadillo.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at La Pepica from 14:00 on the beach front for an arroz negro on the Cabanyal waterfront. Siesta or a walk on the Malvarrosa beach after.
- Evening
- Dinner in Russafa from 20:30: tapas at Tasca Angel and finishing wine at one of the Russafa bodegas.
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Plan the trip
Making a trip of these plans? Where to stay in Valencia, what to book ahead, and a car for the day trips. Prices and availability open on each partner's site.
- Zen HotelsPlaces to stay in Valencia · from USD 58 a nightSee stays
- Minor HotelsPlaces to stay in ValenciaSee stays
- HoliduPlaces to stay in Valencia · from USD 63 a nightSee stays
- GoWithGuideTickets and tours to book aheadSee tickets
- TiqetsTickets and tours to book aheadSee tickets
- GoldcarCar hire for the day tripsSee cars