Can you do this cruise port on your own?
Valencia
DIY Score
Easy DIY
Choose old town or the City of Arts; the port is a short ride out.
Tender or Docked?
Docked, roughly 4-4.5 km from the center. You disembark and connect by shuttle, bus, tram, or taxi; the city itself is easy to self-guide.
How to Get Into Town
Shuttle or bus to the center, about 20-30 min, €1.50 by bus. A taxi does it in 15 minutes for around €20.
Main Attractions
The City of Arts and Sciences and the old town lead the day. Add a market, a beach, or paella depending on your energy.
How Much Time You Need
6-8 hours covers a lot. The old town is quick; adding the City of Arts, a beach, or Albufera fills a full day.
Keep in Mind
The sights are spread out. Old town, City of Arts, and the beach are each a few kilometers apart, so pick a focus rather than chasing all three.
Safety & Comfort
A safe, easy big city for first-timers. Great transit and widely spoken English; just mind pickpockets in crowds.
Tips from Cruisers
"took the little bus into town for like a euro fifty and just wandered the old streets. the market smelled incredible. didnt do any…" — by Carla M.
took the little bus into town for like a euro fifty and just wandered the old streets. the market smelled incredible. didnt do any of the big attractions and had a lovely morning anyway.
Caught the shuttle at 9:20, at the Town Hall by 9:40. Did the cathedral, market and La Lonja on foot, taxi to the City of Arts, taxi back to the ship by 3. Ten euros the shuttle, worth it.
Oceanografic ate our whole day and the kids would happily have stayed longer. Book the timed ticket beforehand, the line was already long when we arrived. Beluga tank was the highlight.
We didnt fancy the trek to the old town so we walked to Las Arenas beach instead, sat with a paella and a glass of wine looking at the sea. Flat the whole way. Sometimes the simple plan is the right one.
Walked into the Central Market at half two and it was basically closing. Nobody tells you it shuts at three and not at all on Sundays. Go in the morning or dont bother.