Created by The Telegraph Updated On: September 6, 2013
The long beaches and the busily beautiful heart of Spain’s third-largest city kick up a festival storm in March, but why wait that long, says Annie Bennett.
The Telegraph: Special treat: The Hospes Palau de la Mar has a beautifully-designed, modern Mediterranean style in a 19th century building. Doubles from £100. Read a full review here http://bit.ly/XI8TJA.
The Telegraph: Special treat: Also try the elegant Caro hotel in an old palace. Doubles from £122, including breakfast. Read a full review here http://bit.ly/11aAb2N.
Plaza Rodrigo Botet, 5, València, Comunitat Valenciana
Hotel · Ciutat Vella · 29 tips and reviews
The Telegraph: Mid-range: The Ayre Astoria Palace is in the centre with comfortable rooms and great views across the city from the top floor. Doubles from £58. Read a full review here http://bit.ly/T5OlOJ
The Telegraph: The Cathedral is a riotous hotchpotch of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque extravagance, worth climbing the Micalet bell-tower for great city views (0034 963 918127; catedraldevalencia.es; €4.50/£3.70).
Pl. del Negret, 1 (C. Calatrava), València, Comunitat Valenciana
Pub · Ciutat Vella · 38 tips and reviews
The Telegraph: Soak up the scene at one of the pavement cafés in the Plaza de La Vírgen and get a beer or a gin and tonic at Café Negrito (Plaza del Negrito 1; 0034 963 914233).
C. Guillem de Castro, 118 (C. Na Jordana), València, Comunitat Valenciana
Museum · El Carme · 62 tips and reviews
The Telegraph: There are always a few exhibitions worth seeing at the Valencian Institute of Modern Art (Guillem de Castro 118; ivam.es; €2/£1.70), where there is also a good bookshop.
Pl. del Mercat 30 (Vella de la Palla), València, Comunitat Valenciana
Historic and Protected Site · El Mercat · 59 tips and reviews
The Telegraph: Wander the streets of the old town to La Lonja, the 15th-century silk exchange, one of the best examples of Gothic civil architecture in Europe which has World Heritage status (Admission €2/£1.70).
Pl. del Mercat (Av. Baró de Càrcer), València, Comunitat Valenciana
Market · El Mercat · 208 tips and reviews
The Telegraph: Opposite La Lonja, pick up a freshly-squeezed orange juice outside the art nouveau Central Market, where the fabulous local produce is sold at more than 1,000 stalls.
Spanish Restaurant · Ciutat Vella · 110 tips and reviews
The Telegraph: Vuelve Carolina is run by top chef Quique Dacosta. Downstairs is a gastrobar while upstairs is the more formal El Poblet (vuelvecarolina.com; €25/£21 in the gastrobar and €50/£42 in El Poblet) .
Av. Pio Baroja 3 (Av. Vall de la Ballestera), València, Comunitat Valenciana
Zoo · Campanar · 146 tips and reviews
The Telegraph: Explore the Bioparc (0034 902 250340; bioparcvalencia.es; admission €23.80/£20), Valencia’s very 21st-century version zoo. You might even get to see Ebo, the gorilla born there last October.
Carrer Sant Pius V 9 (Carrer Alboraia), València, Comunitat Valenciana
Museum · Trinitat · 27 tips and reviews
The Telegraph: Or visit the Museo de Bellas Artes (San Pío V; 0034 963 870300; museobellasartesvalencia.gva.es; free), which is one of the most important art museums in Spain.
The Telegraph: The family-run Casa Ripoll (Módulo 7, Paseo Marítimo, Playa de Malvarrosa; 0034 963 550022; casaripoll.com; around €20/£17) is popular with locals and is right on the beach.