Best Free Walking Tours in Valencia

• Urban Reinvention. The Turia Garden is a massive 6-mile greenway reclaimed from a former riverbed, weaving together the city's historic and futuristic quarters. 
• Cultural Spirit. Las Fallas is an event that happens once per year. Still, its roots run deep within the community as a whole — the workshops, the neighborhood associations, and the satirical edge that runs through everything.
• Gastronomic Authenticity. Real Paella Valenciana is made of rabbit, beans, and possibly snails and is cooked over wood fire. Understanding where this dish originates from (the l'Horta de València) and the farming practices used in this region will help diversify your dining experiences while in Valencia.
• Modern Layers. Many of the buildings found in the old town have been decorated with some of the best street art. While many tourists pass these works of art without even realizing they are there, they miss a vital part of Valencia's modern subculture.
• Connected Routes. There are several different options to take a free tour in Valencia. They are categorized by subject (history, food, or street art), so you will follow a narrative instead of checking off items from your travel list.

Valencia Through Four Forces

Water: The City Rewritten by the Turia

The city of Valencia suffered a devastating disaster with the Great Flood (La Gran Riada), which occurred in October 1957 and claimed the lives of many. For years, the river had flowed right through the heart of the city. Officials decided to bypass the entire urban area and create a new river course. The eastern end would then be used as a site for the future City of Arts and Sciences complex, while the majority of the former river bed was converted into a lush greenway that runs throughout the city.

Walking that corridor is the best way to understand why free walking tours in Valencia insist on covering this ground on foot. From medieval cobblestone streets, you suddenly find yourself strolling along Turia Garden, created out of an abandoned river bed. 

Fire: The Emotional Core of Las Fallas

Every March, Valencia burns. It might seem ominous to say this until you understand the Fallas Ninots. For months, people have spent time creating large-scale satirical sculptures or ninots (often with sharp political messages) at a 10-meter scale. In one evening, these works are burned as part of a festival designated by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. This same designation was assigned to the Water Tribunal — a unique open-air court that has been meeting weekly at the Cathedral's Gothic gateway for over a thousand years.

Guides don’t simply explain how or why there is fire. They also explain the eleven-month lead-up to it. That includes explaining how ninots are built all year long through local workshops, the pride and politics that exist among neighborhoods, and how the entire city comes together around something it eventually intends to burn. The festival itself lasts for seven days. 

Stone: 2,000 Years of History in El Carmen

Barrio del Carmen is where Valencia's layers compress into something walkable. Beneath the medieval tower are remnants of the walls constructed by the Arabs. At their original heights stand Serranos Towers, which formed the northern entry point into the city. Within walking distance from these towers stands the Lonja de la Seda — the Gothic Silk Exchange. 

The Valencia Cathedral is the focal point of this quarter. In one of its chapels located on the side, there sits in an agate cup that Vatican documentation suggests could be the actual Holy Grail used by Jesus and his disciples during the Last Supper. Most people who visit it are surprised when they find out how much credence is given to that theory.

Rice: The Local Taste That Defines Valencia

In Valencia, paella is a matter of regional pride and strict tradition. It is made with rice from the areas surrounding the Albufera Lagoon, with rabbit, chicken, ferraura beans, garrofó, and rosemary. No seafood or chorizo. 

A good guide will take you through the Mercado Central, one of Europe’s largest covered markets (and an authentic work of art of Valencian Modernism) and explain exactly what your eyes see: the rice varieties, the seasons’ offerings, who to trust among the vendors. Then they point you towards the bar where you can get Horchata & Fartons. It is cold tiger nut milk paired with a small sweet pastry, which should be eaten while standing at a counter. 

Choose the Valencia That Fits Your Trip: Custom Storylines

We have structured routes according to the interests of visitors:

• First-Time Visitors. It is focused on orienting tourists as quickly as possible within the historic center and surrounding area of towers, cathedral, and market before focusing on other aspects of the trip.
• For Travelers Seeking Modernity. We have created tours that follow the story of how the river was diverted and show the evolution of architecture in Valencia.
• For Culture & Nightlife Fans. Those who enjoy nightlife will be able to experience some of the best jazz concerts in El Carmen, explore the local bars, and get an idea of the unique creative energy that runs through this area after dark. 
• For Food-First Travelers. Foodies who want to learn about the culinary traditions of Valencia can take a walking tour in Valencia that focuses primarily on markets. It will help you understand how various dishes are prepared. 

Why Valencia Feels More Balanced Than Other Spanish City Breaks

Unlike other Spanish destinations where you have to choose between history and lifestyle, Valencia allows you to walk through it all in one day. In fact, you can see the Gothic buildings, beautiful parks, the ancient medieval gate, and modern design all within an easy stroll of each other. The rhythm of the city is laid back, like many cities along the Mediterranean coast. 

The Real Story of Valencia Is Movement, Not Just Monuments

You can see for yourself how old and new blend together by simply taking a walking tour around Valencia. In some areas, an old Roman wall will be adjacent to other parts of the city with architectural styles unlike what you have seen before. Then there is the riverbed that has become a beautiful green space. And then some buildings appear as if straight out of a science fiction movie. It doesn’t seem possible, but it works. The city successfully builds its future without erasing its past.

Practical Rhythm: How Free Tours in Valencia Work Best

FREETOUR.com offers a large number of walking tours in Valencia in different languages, and the length can vary from approximately 90 minutes to half a day depending on the route. 

A few other things that make a difference:

• Route variety. Walking tours cover a wide variety of subjects, including the history and architecture of Valencia's medieval past, food culture, and urban street art. Choose the one you are really interested in. 
• Wear the right shoes. A significant portion of the historic center of Valencia has cobblestone streets and uneven surfaces. For this reason, we strongly encourage all participants to wear flat soles.
• Tip-based model. Our tours work on a gratuity-based model. You will determine how much money you would like to reward your guide.