Overview
Valencia is one of the Mediterranean's most rewarding city breaks and still noticeably better value than Barcelona or Madrid. Spain's third-largest city pairs a compact medieval old town with Santiago Calatrava's space-age City of Arts and Sciences, a nine-kilometre park where the river used to run, golden beaches a tram ride from the centre, and the restaurants that gave the world paella. It is an easy short-haul hop from the UK, which makes a long weekend genuinely doable.
Best time to fly to Valencia
Late spring (April to June) and September into early October are the sweet spot: warm days in the low-to-mid 20s, manageable crowds and a sea that is still swimmable in September. July and August are hot, often the low-to-mid 30s, and the busiest for fares. Winters are mild, roughly 15-17C by day, quiet and cheaper, with a little more rain. March brings Las Fallas (around 15-19 March), a spectacular fire festival, but flights and hotels sell out early. Use the When to book chart above to time your booking.
Airlines and routes
Ryanair, easyJet, Vueling, Jet2.com and British Airways all operate direct flights from the UK to Valencia. From London you can fly from Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and Heathrow, with a typical flight time of about 2 hours 20 minutes. Manchester is served direct and takes around 2 hours 40 minutes, and there are seasonal or year-round direct routes from Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool and Newcastle. In winter, regional travellers can also connect through Madrid, Barcelona, Amsterdam or Paris.
Things to do in Valencia
You can cover the highlights on foot and by bike over a weekend.
- City of Arts and Sciences: a striking complex of futuristic buildings, home to the Oceanografic, one of Europe's largest aquariums.
- Mercado Central: a vast Modernista food market under stained glass, perfect for jamon, cheese and horchata.
- Valencia Cathedral and El Miguelete: climb the bell tower for rooftop views and see the chapel said to hold the Holy Grail.
- La Lonja de la Seda: a UNESCO-listed Gothic silk exchange with soaring twisted columns.
- Turia Gardens: the former riverbed, now a green ribbon linking the old town to the coast.
At Valencia Airport (VLC)
Valencia Airport sits about 8km west of the centre, near Manises. Metro lines 3 and 5 run from the terminal into the city, reaching stops such as Xativa and Angel Guimera in around 20-25 minutes. Metrobus line 150 also serves the airport, while a taxi takes 15-20 minutes and costs roughly 20-25 euros including the fixed airport supplement. Ride-hailing apps operate here too.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Valencia
- Book short-haul European flights around six to eight weeks ahead, and much earlier for March and mid-summer.
- Fly midweek, Tuesday to Thursday, and steer clear of UK school holidays for the lowest fares.
- Use a flexible date search and check the price charts on this page, as shifting your trip by a day either way often cuts the cost.
- Compare the budget airlines against British Airways and Vueling once bags and seat selection are added; travelling hand-luggage only keeps Ryanair and easyJet cheapest.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders do not need a visa for tourism in Spain for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. New EU entry requirements, including biometric registration and an ETIAS travel authorisation, are being phased in, so check GOV.UK before you travel. The currency is the euro, and cards and contactless payments are accepted almost everywhere. Carry a UK GHIC for state healthcare and take out travel insurance; no vaccinations are required.
