With outstanding fine art museums, an accessible old quarter, the newest cultural and scientific complex and exciting dining opportunities, Valencia, Spain’s third largest city, is no longer dwarfed by the capital Madrid or the economic powerhouse Barcelona. Looking out serenely into the sparkling Mediterranean, Valencia is an atmospheric city that is becoming increasingly popular for short-term getaways. HAPPYCAR is here to help you find the best car hire Valencia has to offer so you can take full advantage of this vibrant city, and with convenient pick up locations at the Valencia Airport, you can get your Spanish vacation started once you get off the plane. We check the prices of international and local providers so that you don’t have to check each website to provide you with the best deals to make your money go further on a car hire that fits your specific rental and vacation needs.
General Information
Formerly an industrial center and regarded as something of a provincial backwater to its larger companions, Valencia has since been rapidly developing and extensively renovated and remains one of the wealthiest cities in the country. Its long history has picked up several unique festivals that punctuate the Valencian calendar, among them the Falles, in which the city erupts in a blaze of fiesta inspired fire and color every March. Often seen as a midpoint between the pragmatic north and relaxed south, a car hire in Valencia will be able to open up many beautiful parts of the city that provide different angles of Valencian life, though most of your time can be spent in and around the Old Quarter.
To Do
Much of your time in Valencia is likely to be spent in the old town, El Carmen. This area is the home of important buildings including the Valencia Cathedral, with doors from three different architectural periods, the art deco food market and the Lladró Porcelain Museum. It is also the place to head for a spot of Valencia's famously good shopping opportunities. If you are in the mood for a night out on the tiles, the small streets surrounding the cathedral are jam packed with small bars and clubs. The city is also a great place to head if you fancy relaxing in the outdoors, boasting eight miles of golden sandy beaches and plenty of parks and gardens that cut right through the heart of the city.
Attractions
There are plenty of ancient buildings that have been restored in recent years and shine a light on the true heritage of the city of Valencia. Take for example the La Lonja de la Seda, the Silk Exchangem, the UNESCO World Heritage Site has a beautiful Gothic interior and is the site of the ancient local silk trade. The Valencia Cathedral is a must see and a microcosm of the city’s architecture with its holy chalice often defended as the true Holy Grail. Valencia is also very proud of its dedication to forward thinking architecture and cultural projects and the world famous City of Arts and Sciences has to be seen to be believed. The Valencia Bioparc is a zoo unlike any other, designed to feel as though you have been dropped into the heart of Africa, and is excellent for kids.
Eating
There are over 8,000 bars, cafes and restaurants in the city that cater to all kinds of food, but Valencian food is legendary and is certainly worth your time to seek out some of its more traditional fare. In Spain, paella is considered to be one of many rice dishes, but it is in Valencia is where paella first simmered over a wood fire, and locals are very proud of this fact. Be sure to check out the promenade along Valencia beach to find the best paella around, served best with chicken, rabbit and snails. Pan quemado is another signature item from Valencia, a simple round cake with a hint of lemon and they can be found in abundance during festivals. Look also for horchata, a milky drink made from tiger nuts.
Excursions
A trip to Barcelona is not only recommended, it is the journey along the way that is to be enjoyed. A Valencia car rental can take you along coastal route E-15, a long and scenic roadway very reminiscent to the Pacific Coastal Highway in the western United States. A Valencia car hire is also recommended to visit the many picturesque villages in the region, or to discover the hard to find hot springs 55 miles north of the city. The capital, Madrid, is also just an hour and a half drive away. There is so much to see in this part of the world, and a Valencia car hire can help you discover more.