Spend your fall, winter, or spring in Valencia, Spain: Is Valencia a good snowbird location?

Spain's third-largest city, Valencia, is on the Mediterranean Sea approximately four hours to the south of Barcelona and three hours to the east of Madrid. It is recognized as the City of Arts and Sciences with incredible futuristic structures including a Planetarium, an Oceanarium, and several outstanding and interactive museums. The Mediterranean Sea has crystal clear turquoise blue water and white sandy beaches. The neighboring countryside is worth visiting. The sunsets and sunrises are breathtaking. The cuisine is delicious and besides the traditional Spanish food, visitors can also find flavors from all around the world in this city.

Where is Valencia located

Valencia Map

Why should people stay in Valencia during the fall, winter, or spring?

Winter is the perfect season to visit Valencia since there are so many festivities and celebrations taking place. The winters are quite mild and the days are pristine with plenty of sunshine. The nightlife is busy and bright. Winters are also a perfect time to enjoy typical traditions and taste culinary delights. The festivals which begin around Christmas time and lead up to the Las Fallas festival in spring are an experience in itself. The pop-up holiday markets are a shopaholic's dream. The surrounding countryside, the sandy white beaches, and the coastal area make Valencia a perfect destination for visitors.

Climate

Valencia is a Snowbird's dream retreat! It has an amazing Mediterranean climate with winter temperatures (December through February) averaging between 10°C - 15°C (50°F - 59°F) during day time. The mild weather and the sunny days are a perfect combination for an unforgettable experience.

For more climate information visit Meteoblue

Things to see in Valencia

When it comes to being a perfect winter retreat, Valencia has a lot to offer its visitors:

• Hemisferic, Science museum and Oceanografic are the main three attractions of the city of arts and science center and are a must-visit for everyone who comes to Valencia. Built by the famous Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava this stunning masterpiece can be visited during the day or night.
• Turia Gardens is a 9 km (6 Miles) long green belt that has become a favorite spot for Valencians and visitors alike. Besides being an ideal environment for running, cycling or simply relaxing with a picnic under the trees the Turia Gardens are home to must-see tourist attractions and events.
• Valencia Cathedral
• La Lonja de la Seda (The Silk Exchange)
• Palacio del Marques de Dos Agues is the national ceramics museum.
• Bellas Artes Museum
• Bioparc Valencia is a natural habitat made for animals to coexist. It is like a big zoo adventure for adults and kids alike.
• Mercado central is the biggest covered market in Europe. It has more than 300 stalls and is an example of one of the best modernist architecture in the city.

Things to see not far from Valencia

Peniscola is surrounded by many potential sightseeing areas that one can visit. Some of them are mentioned below:

• Russaffa is a neighbourhood in Valencia which is known for its cultural uniqueness. During the Fallas festival, streets such as Literato, Azorin, Cuba, and Sueca are filled with spectacular, award-winning illuminations. But it is after dinner that Russaffa truly comes to life as one of the nightlife hotspots of Valencia.
• Albarracin is a Moorish village in the province of Aragon and it makes for a perfect day trip from Valencia.
• Albufera lake and the gorgeous National park of Albufera is a beautiful place for enjoying the sunsets and bird watching.
• Castell de Xatvia:  Castle in the city of Xatvia is an important historical landmark about 55 km (34 Miles) away from Valencia city.
• Gandia is around 70 km (44 Miles) from Valencia and can be accessed by train or bus. The beaches are the main reason to visit this beautiful city but the green countryside is equally beautiful.

Activities in Valencia in the fall, winter, or spring

There is a lot to do in Valencia during wintertime. Some of the activities which can be experienced are:

• Language classes: Besides visiting the cultural and historical places, visitors who plan to stay longer can even join language courses for beginners in Valencia. There are places that offer two hours of classes a week for only €53 (approx. $57, £45, $77 CAD, $86 AUD) per month. More information can be found on the website understandvalencia.com.
• Sailing adventures: Another great option would be to plan a sailing adventure with other visitors and experience the beautiful sunny Marina. Contact www.indulgespain.com to have a perfect tour of the blue coves of Costa del Levante with onboard special lunch and wine included.
• Food tour: Food tours can be arranged by a similar website that takes you on an extended tour from farms to local markets to gain an understanding of the local produce of Spain.
• Yoga classes: Visitors can also take up monthly traditional yoga classes at Centro Luz Interior for €40 (approx. $43, £34, $58 CAD, $65 AUD) per person.
• Flea market: A tour to the flea markets in the district of Ruzaffa is adventurous
• Walking tour: If you like walking book a city walking tour or enjoy the 9 km (6 Miles) long Green River (Jardi del Turia or Turia Gardens).

Shopping + Restaurants. Are they open in the fall, winter, or spring?

In downtown Valencia is the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. The main shopping area is here, together with many restaurants. If one stays near this place, most of the City Center is within walking distance. The most important shopping streets are Colon, Don Juan de Austria, Poeta Querol, Jorge Juan, Cirilo Amoros, and La Paz.

There are numerous restaurants and cafes for great dining and eating in Valencia. It is worldwide recognized known as the birthplace of Paella.

•  Restaurante Navarro Valencia (Calle del Arzobispo Mayoral) is one of the best restaurants downtown. However, you need a reservation because it is so popular.
• Casa Roberto (Calle Maestro Gozalbo, 19 – Tel: 963-951-361).
• Casa Victoria is a four generations family-run tapas bar.
• El Brosquil is a quiet local place to enjoy the amazing paella away from the crowded streets of the city center.

Transport

• Most of the attractions in Valencia are on walking distance from each other except the beach. The Metro in Valencia is the most effective means of transport for locals as well as visitors. Cheap and reliable, it gives you the real taste of living in a bustling Spanish city.
• The purchase of the Valencia Tourist Card (VLC) includes free public transportation and admission to public museums and monuments. The public buses are also a good option and they are always on schedule.
• Renting a bike or a cycle and riding around the city yourself is also recommended for adventure seekers.

Health

Valencia is a large city and there are many private as well as public hospitals there. The big hospitals have English-speaking staff for the convenience of visitors from other countries. The emergency phone number is 112 which is valid and free in the entire Spanish territory. The pharmacies are found easily and there are night pharmacies as well with toll-free numbers displayed.

You can find more information on the hospital's locations at www.valencia-cityguide.com.

Accommodation

• Visitors can also look out for affordable apartments or villas for rent on www.airbnb.com/valenciaaccomodations.Airbnb is an online marketplace that connects people who want to rent out their homes with people who are looking for accommodations in that locale.
• Visitors looking for long term accommodation in the city can visit www.spotahome.com or download the application Spotahome app on their cell phones where they can search for apartments and even guestrooms. The apartments can be from 1 bedroom to 3 bedrooms according to the needs of the guests. The rent for a one-bedroom apartment can be found from around €750 (approx. $809, £642, $1098 CAD, $1229 AUD) per month depending on the location and size.

Winter Camping 

Winter camping is an excellent option for visitors who want to stay away from the main hustle of city life for a bit. There are numerous camping sites in and around Valencia that can be booked online through websites like booking.com and vayacamping.net/spain for convenience and discount offers. Visitors can choose camping sites from beaches, mountains, parks, and the countryside to enjoy this experience.

• Campsite Santa Marta is situated on a hill called Natural Park of Santa Marta with many trees near the urban center and 100 meter (328 feet) from the beach. Find more information about booking and prices from www.santamartacamping.com.
• Camping l'Alqueria is near the exquisite beach in Gandia. Visitors can choose from nine varieties of accommodations to enjoy their stay. They charge according to the season. More information and availability can be found form the website www.lalqueria.com/en/

RV/Campers/Motorhome

There are numerous campsites and campervan sites in Valencia.

• Camping Puzol is a 25-minute drive from the city and is a quiet family site by the sea and charges are around €21 (approx. $22, £18, $30 CAD, $34 AUD) per night.
• Casas Benali is a 40-minute drive from Xativa and one hour from Valencia. It is situated on a working organic farm in a lush valley and charges around €21 (approx. $22, £18, $30 CAD, $34 AUD) per night

Parking facilities for the owners of these camper vans are also available in the city in Camper Park which is nearby the metro station connecting the visitors to the City Center. Camper Park has all the facilities like electricity, pools, and Wi-Fi.