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Things to do in Valencia

Valencia never really stops: street music, exhibitions, flea markets, afternoon drinks by the sea and shows starting within the hour. Finding something to do is easy — finding out in time is the hard part. Here are ideas by time of day and neighbourhood, and the fastest way to see what's happening near you right now.

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WannaNow map of central Valencia with museums, food, music, shows and family activities (interface in Spanish)

Morning, afternoon & night

What to do in Valencia by time of day

A free morning and a Friday night out call for very different plans. These are the ideas that work best at each time of day — and how to find them in WannaNow without wasting time searching.

In the morning

Have breakfast near the Mercado Central or the Mercado de Colón, cycle through the Turia Gardens or visit a museum such as the IVAM or the National Ceramics Museum. In the app, the Monumentos / Museos category puts them on the map.

In the afternoon

Time for tardeo — Valencia's afternoon-drinks ritual — terraces, and weekend markets and fairs. Filter by Tardeo or Mercadillos / Ferias to see what's nearby before the sun goes down.

Tonight

Concerts, theatre, stand-up, shows and live music sessions. Tap NOW to see only what's happening at this moment and let the night surprise you.

Neighbourhood by neighbourhood

Things to do in Valencia by neighbourhood

Ciutat Vella and El Carmen. The Cathedral and the Micalet tower, the Serranos Towers, narrow streets full of street art and small venues where there's almost always something on: an exhibition, an acoustic gig, a book launch.

Ruzafa. Galleries, cafés, design shops and one of the liveliest areas in the evening and at night.

El Cabanyal, La Malvarrosa and the seafront. The beach, modernist houses covered in tiles and the best tardeo facing the sea.

Benimaclet. A student vibe, bars with live music and the huerta (market gardens) just a walk away.

City of Arts and Sciences and the Turia. Architecture, long walks and outdoor activities, especially at weekends.

Free · Now
Shows next to the City of Arts and Sciences on the WannaNow map, with the FREE and NOW filters

Free things to do

Free things to do in Valencia

  • Walk or cycle the Turia Gardens, the old riverbed turned into a 9 km park that crosses the city.
  • Free museums every day they open: the Museo de Bellas Artes (fine arts), the Centre del Carme and L'ETNO (ethnology museum).
  • Sundays and public holidays: free entry to the municipal museums (L'Almoina, the City Museum, the Rice Museum, the Fallas Museum…), the IVAM all day and the National Ceramics Museum from 10 am to 2 pm.
  • The beach at La Malvarrosa and a stroll along the seafront promenade.
  • Street music and street art in El Carmen — and, in the app, the FREE filter to see only free plans near you.

Opening hours and free-entry times can change on public holidays. Check before you go.

Weekend & plan B

This weekend, or if it rains

Things to do in Valencia this weekend

Saturday is the day for markets, fairs, family activities and long afternoons on a terrace. Sunday is calmer: the Rastro flea market (Sunday mornings), the beach, a walk along the Turia or a trip to the Albufera to watch the sunset from El Palmar. With the WannaNow calendar you can check what's scheduled for Saturday and Sunday before making plans.

What to do in Valencia when it rains

When it rains, the city moves indoors: museums, theatre, cinema, workshops and covered markets such as the Mercado Central. The Science Museum and the Oceanogràfic are a classic with kids. Filter by Monumentos / Museos, Espectáculos or Familia and pick whatever is closest.

Right now

How to see what's on in Valencia right now

Guides and agendas tell you what was planned. WannaNow shows you what's happening, on a map and in real time.

  1. Open the map and you'll see the plans around you, each with its category icon.
  2. Tap NOW to keep only what's happening already, or FREE if you want free plans.
  3. Switch between Eventos (events with a date and time) and Lugares (places worth a visit any day).
  4. Before going, check whether other users have tapped «Sigue ahí» (“still there”) so you know the plan is still on.

Want today's highlights? See things to do in Valencia today, updated every morning.

Still on?
Event page in the WannaNow app with time, address, price and ratings (interface in Spanish)

🇪🇸 Heads-up: The app is in Spanish for now — but it is essentially a map with icons, colours and two filters (NOW and FREE), so it is easy to use even if you don't speak Spanish. More languages are planned.

FAQ

Things to do in Valencia: quick answers

What is there to do in Valencia today?

It depends on the day and time: markets and museums in the morning, exhibitions, workshops and tardeo in the afternoon, and concerts, theatre or bars in Ruzafa and El Carmen at night. Our today page has a daily pick, and the WannaNow app shows everything happening near you on a live map.

What are the best free things to do in Valencia?

Walking or cycling the Turia Gardens, the beach at La Malvarrosa, strolling around El Carmen, and museums that are always free such as the Museo de Bellas Artes, the Centre del Carme and L'ETNO. On Sundays the municipal museums are free too. In WannaNow, the FREE filter shows only free plans.

What to do in Valencia at night?

Concerts, theatre, stand-up and live music, mainly in Ciutat Vella, Ruzafa and Benimaclet. In WannaNow, filter by Música or Espectáculos and tap NOW to see what's starting.

What to do in Valencia when it rains?

Museums, theatre, cinema, workshops and covered markets such as the Mercado Central. The Science Museum and the Oceanogràfic are popular with families.

Which are the best neighbourhoods to go out in Valencia?

El Carmen, Ruzafa and Benimaclet for nightlife, and El Cabanyal and La Malvarrosa for afternoon drinks by the sea.

Is there an app to see what's happening in Valencia right now?

Yes: WannaNow, a free app created in Valencia that shows events in progress and open places on a live map. The app is in Spanish for now, but its map and NOW/FREE filters are easy to use in any language.

So, what now?
Check the map.

WannaNow is now free on iPhone and Android. Open it and see what's going on around you. App in Spanish for now

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