Things to Do in Valencia
2026
Fallas, beach concerts, gastronomy festivals, and culture all year round. Coming just for the fireworks? Book one of our guided Las Fallas tours. Visiting in late August, pair it with La Tomatina in Bunol, Spain's famous tomato fight, a short train ride from the city.
Valencia this August
Half the city is on holiday and the other half is at the beach. August is the hottest, quietest month for local life and the busiest for visitors, so plan the outdoor hours early or late. Here is what is worth your time right now.
19-30 August
Fiesta de la Vendimia, Requena
Spain's oldest wine harvest festival returns for its 77th edition, an hour inland on the Utiel-Requena plateau. Parades, tastings and the grape-treading ceremony, though the Bobal itself is not picked until well into September.
Read the guideWednesday 26 August
La Tomatina, Buñol
The tomato fight runs for exactly one hour on the last Wednesday of August, and entry is ticketed with a capped attendance. Buy only from the official channels and take the Cercanias C3 from Valencia rather than driving.
Read the guideAll summer
Beach season on the Malvarrosa
Peak beach month, and the reason August evenings work at all. Malvarrosa and Patacona fill up from late afternoon, and the water stays warm well past sunset.
Read the guideThrough the summer
Open-air cinema nights
Outdoor screenings run across the city through the hottest weeks, in gardens, courtyards and rooftop spaces. A reliable way to be outside once the sun is down.
All month
The August slowdown
Small shops, family restaurants and admin offices close for one to four weeks, and Extranjeria appointment slots get scarcer. Worth planning around if you are mid-move.
Read the guideYear-round
Live Flamenco at Café del Duende
Café del Duende
Valencia CF at Mestalla
Mestalla Stadium
Mestalla Stadium Tour
Mestalla
Santo Cáliz Exhibition
AlmudÃn
The Adventure of Thought at MuVIM
MuVIM
March
Fallas de Valencia
Citywide
August
October
Dia de la Comunitat Valenciana
Citywide
Dia de la Hispanidad
Citywide
December
Christmas Markets and Nativity Scenes
Plaza del Ayuntamiento
Hiking trails near Valencia
Albufera Boat and Bike Tours
L'Albufera Natural Park
Valencia's essential experiences
These are the standout events every new resident should experience.
March 1-19
Fallas Festival
A UNESCO-listed city festival with giant sculptures and the iconic final burn night.
July
Viveros Summer Concerts
Open-air concerts in one of Valencia's most beautiful park venues.
April
Valencia Cuina Oberta
Top restaurants offer tasting menus at special prices for one week.
June 23-24
San Juan Night
Beach bonfires, music, and midnight traditions at Malvarrosa.
April
Mostra Proava
Regional wine and food fair showcasing Valencian producers.
Year-round
Opera at Palau de les Arts
World-class productions in an iconic Calatrava venue.
Last Wednesday of August
La Tomatina (Bunol day trip)
Spain's famous tomato-throwing festival in nearby Bunol, an easy train day trip from Valencia.
Sports in Valencia
From La Liga matchdays to padel, sailing and marathon weekends, the city is built for an active life. Start here.
Year-round, Avenida de Suecia 25
Visit Mestalla Stadium
Mestalla has been home to Valencia CF since 1923, making it one of the oldest top-flight grounds in Spain. Capacity sits at roughly 49,000 and matchdays draw a famously vocal crowd packed into steep, close-to-the-pitch stands. A guided tour runs most non-matchdays and takes in the dressing rooms, tunnel and trophy room. The stadium sits on Avenida de Suecia, a 10 minute walk from Ruzafa and one stop from Aragó on metro lines 5 and 7. The club will eventually move to the new Nou Mestalla, so see the historic ground while it is still in use.
Read the full storyACB and EuroLeague season, Oct to Jun
Watch Valencia Basket at Roig Arena
Valencia Basket is one of Spain's most consistent top-flight clubs and a regular in European competitions. The team moved into Roig Arena in October 2025, a 15,600 seat venue on Avenida de les Corts Valencianes designed by HOK and ERRE and funded by Mercadona founder Juan Roig. The club's long-time home was Pabellón Fuente de San Luis (La Fonteta), a 9,000 seat box famous for putting fans right on top of the floor. Most home games run weekday evenings or weekend afternoons across the long ACB and EuroLeague or EuroCup calendar, with tickets cheaper and easier to get than at most top European basketball clubs.
Read the full storyEating and drinking your way into Valencia
Three guides we wrote for newcomers: real paella and esmorzaret, the wines you will learn to love, and the smaller glasses (vermut, herbero, cremaet) that hold a Valencian week together.
Valencia food guide
Real paella, esmorzaret, Mercado Central, menu del dia and where to eat without the tourist tax. 2026 prices included.
Read the guideValencia wine guide
DO Valencia and Utiel-Requena, Bobal reds, Moscatel sweets and bodegas you can visit in a day. 2026 prices.
Read the guideVermut, mistela, cazalla
La hora del vermut, herbero from the Sierra Mariola, agua de Valencia, cremaet. The drinking rituals that punctuate a Valencian week.
Read the guideMore things to do in Valencia
Cinemas in English
Where to catch original-version English films across Valencia.
Read guideValencia food guide
Paella, horchata, almuerzo and the rituals every newcomer needs.
Read guidePrivate chef in Valencia
Cooking classes or full catering at home, in Korean, Spanish, Italian or Dominican.
Read guideVermut and digestives
The Sunday vermut ritual, mistela and cazalla explained.
Read guideLas Fallas guide
Plan around the city's wildest week of fireworks and ninots.
Read guideVisit Las Fallas
Coming just for the festival? Where to stay, tours and trip-planning tips.
Read guideGran Fira de Valencia
The month-long summer festival: free concerts, fireworks and the Batalla de Flors.
Read guideValencia coffee guide
The best specialty cafes for working, brunch and a slow cortado.
Read guideOceanografic Valencia
Europe's largest aquarium by water volume: ticket prices, hours and dolphin show times.
Read guideTuria Gardens
The 9km park built from a diverted riverbed, plus Gulliver Park and 18 historic bridges.
Read guideValencia oranges history
Why the fruit named after this city was bred in California, and where to find the real thing.
Read guideLa Tomatina day trip
Tickets, trains to Buñol, and what to wear for Spain's famous tomato festival.
Read guidePort Saplaya day trip
Valencia's colorful canal-side Little Venice, 15 minutes from the city.
Read guideTraditional Valencian dishes
Puchero, coca de llanda, mona de Pascua and more beyond paella.
Read guideValencia beaches guide
Cabanyal, Malvarrosa, Patacona, El Saler and the Albufera lagoon.
Read guideThe real sounds of Valencia
Firecrackers, scooters and shutters: an honest, funny field guide to the noise.
Read guidePractical tips for events in Valencia
Book early for Fallas
Accommodation fills quickly for March. Reserve early if family is visiting.
Use public transport
Metro and bus services are usually extended during major festivals.
Expect Spanish-first event sites
Most official pages are in Spanish, though browser translation works well.
Many major events are free
Several flagship events are public and do not require tickets.
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Resident in Valencia since 2016. Founder of BeTranslated. 25+ years in translation, interpretation and multilingual SEO.
Reviewed 10 August 2026 by Michael Bastin