Plaza de la Reina ~ Valencia City Spain

Plaza de la Reina,  is a lovely square in the center of the old historic quarter of Valencia,  just a few yards from Plaza de la Virgin in the Old Town. Surrounded by cafes, tapas bars and restaurants,  this is  a great place to enjoy a drink or a meal.

The Cathedral of Valencia overlooks the square and the entrance is via the baroque door  (Puerta de los Hierros) which you can see in the image below. Originally built on the site of a mosque in 1262,  the cathedral is mainly gothic with a  baroque facade.

The stunning El Micalet bell-tower  behind it  is a must to visit,  with it’s spiral staircase and 200 steps.

If you can make it up the steps,  you will be rewarded with  stunning views of Valencia.

The Cathedral is open daily from 7.15am – 1pm and then from 4.30-8.30pm –  free.  El Micalet is open from 10.30am – 12.30pm and 4.40-6pm – (admission fee).

The square is easy to reach from Plaza del Ayuntamiento via Calle San Vicente Mártir.

Steeped in history, this narrow street is full of tiny shops, cafes and pastelerias.

After a ten minute walk you reach the church and bell-tower of Santa Catalina, the gateway to the Old Quarter and Plaza de la Reina.

Just before the main square is Plaza Santa Catalina, this is where two of the most famous horchatarias in Valencia are located.

The Horchateria El Siglo and Horchateria Santa Catalina  are great  places to sample horchata and a couple of the local  fartons – long iced buns.

Just off the square, and known locally as ‘the Hole’  (el Clot),  is Plaza Redonda.   It has three entrances and from one of them  it’s  just a few minutes walk  down Calle San Vicente Mártir  to Plaza del Ayuntamiento and the tree-lined shopping area of  Calle Colón.

Places to stay near Plaza de la Reina ?

There are many lovely apartments and hotels to stay in this area of town. For example,  Catedral Apartments are 150 meters from Plaza de la Reina, and the  AD Hoc Carmen and  Vincci Palace Hotel are a five minute walk from the Cathedral.

For more accommodation check out ~  Old Town Accommodation.

Plaza de la Reina Car Park

There is a 24 hour underground car park  in the square.

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Plaza de la Virgen ~ Top Valencia Squares to Visit

Plaza de la Virgen is a pedestrianized square just a few yards away from Plaza de la Reina. The Cathedral of Valencia and the stunning bell-tower of El Micalet tower over this lovely square.

If you are coming from Plaza de la Reina there is a tiny street which leads onto a large building on your left .

On your right is a shaded area where you can sit and enjoy the atmosphere.

The beautiful door of the Apostles (Puerta de los Apostoles)  is a little further along on the right . This is where the water tribunal meets  in traditonal dress, every Thursday at 12 noon.

The meeting has been performed every week for hundreds of years. Disputes are aired between farmers over the irrigation of water in the huerta – the surrounding agricultural area around the city.

Plaza de la Virgen

Basilica de Nuestra Señora de los Desamparado

Further along is the 17 century,  blue domed baroque building of the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de los Desamparado (Church of the Virgin de los Desamparados) Patron of Valencia.

The statue of the virgin is loved and deeply respected and kept inside the church.

On feast days and events such as the Ofrenda of Las Fallas,  the statue is paraded through the streets amid a blanket of flowers.

Many other festivals and events are held throughout the year such as the Feast Day of the Patron on the second Sunday in May.

The other side of Plaza de la Virgen is surrounded by cafes and restaurants.

There are open air terraces and at the top of the square is a statue of a man reclining over water fountains which represents the river Turia.

The eight statues have water pouring from jars representing the irrigation channels  of the river.

Leading off Plaza de la Virgen is Calle Caballeros and the trendy area of Barrio del Carmen.

The area is good for nightlife as there are many clubs, bars and restaurants.  The stunning Palau de Generalatit,  seat of the Valencian Autonomous Region government, is behind the square.

Plaza del Ayuntamiento 

Plaza de la Reina

La Cepa Vieja

Address: Calle San Vicente, 209 46007,

• Free wifi
• Cuisine: Mediterranean / Style Gourmet
• Closed: Monday and Tuesday night and all day Sunday
• Metro: Lines 1 and 5, stop Joaquín Sorolla (before Jesus) / Bus: 64, 27, 89 and 90
• Parking: Next to parking AVE (Joaquin Sorolla)

La Cepa Vieja is devoted to wine and gastronomy, matching food and wine and specialises in serving wines by the glass.

This new local modern style restaurant is surrounded by pictures, poems and vinyls providing a friendly atmosphere.

A place to enjoy healthy and tasty food along with the pleasure of drinking a glass of wine with each course.

Whatever clients choose to eat, La Cepa Vieja’s staff will match it with the appropriate wine, whether sparkling, Sauternes or Manzanillas.

All menus include assorted breads and dessert or coffee oils and VAT

Monday to Friday Menu / 12.90 euros

• Three first choice (mainly of vegetables): salads, creams, stuffed eggplant, zucchini noodles with mushrooms …
• Three seconds to choose, usually some kind of meat, fish or pasta and rice from classic seasonal vegetables

Saturday Menu / 15.60 euros

• Two starters to share between two diners and a main course to choose.

Back to Best Valencia Restaurants >>

L’Antina ~ Juan Llorens

Juan Llorens 31
Valencia
Mediterranean Cuisine

L’Antina was conceived from an idea to offer food with a difference in Valencia.

Combining two areas for eating in a single location, with a modern and contemporary décor and strong emphasis on detail.

The first part of the restaurant offers tapas in an informal setting. With a variety of creative and modern pintxos that regularly change, as well as wine by the glass and a variety of cocktails.

The style of food is creative fusion cuisine with influences from the Canary Islands.

In the restaurant area, the ambience changes, and the space unfolds into a relaxing and warm room where the emphasis is on enjoying first class ingredients and the carefully selected wine list.

All of this is complemented by excellent service from the dedicated team of young professionals that help to make L’Antina such a welcoming place to eat and dine.

Restaurants in Valencia
10 Best Things To Do in Valencia
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La Cocina Gallega in Canovas

Galician cuisine at La Cocina Gallega

The restaurant is located on Calle Ciscar in Canovas which is one of Valencia’s most popular areas –  between Antiguo Reino de Valencia and Gran Vía Marqués del Turia.

This informal and slow-paced, deeply rooted in tradition restaurant has en excellent reputation in Spain and abroad. Prices are very reasonable, making this one of the best choices among Valencia’s restaurants.

Using traditional methods, the restaurant offers excellent food based on recipes that are hundreds of years old.  This combined with modern techniques makes La Cocina Gallega a good choice for any type of meal.

Business lunches, dinner with friends, romantic evenings or family lunches can all be perfectly accommodated.

The menu focuses on around 20 Galician specialities and includes Galician classics such as octopus, Orense-style cod, Galician empanada, chargrilled steak, etc. all of which come highly recommended.

The restaurant can serve a maximum of 35 people, creating an intimate and informal atmosphere free of boisterous or large groups.

Tuesday and Wednesday Evenings  

Dinner-show, followed by the traditional Queimada ritual at midnight. According to Galician tradition, the drink must be prepared according to a secret recipe which is handed down from fathers to sons.

This requires the lights to be dimmed and the traditional witches poem to be recited. The basic recipe is widely known, but no two queimadas are the same.

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Plaza del Ayuntamiento – Town Hall Square ~ Valencia City Spain

Booking.com

News! Plaza del Ayuntamiento is to become permanently pedestrianized from the day after next year’s La Fallas festival.

It will be revamped, landscaped with benches, shaded garden areas, trees and flowers, and from  20 March  2020 it will be closed to traffic – including buses.

At the moment there are many buses and bus stops in the square and taxis are available at taxi ranks or you can hail one down in the street.   Xàtiva metro station and  Estacion del Norte  are just a few minutes walk away (see Transport in Valencia).

Similar to Trafalgar Square in London and Times Square in New York, this is where all the major festivals and events are held.

Plaza del Ayuntamiento is at the center of the festival of  Las Fallas with daily firework displays (Mascleta) at 2.00 pm every day. The festival ends with a pyrotechnic orgy of fireworks and the burning of the fallas –  known locally as La Crema.

Restaurants, flower shops and notable landmarks,  such as the stunning post office, are on the square.

During the Christmas period the square is transformed into a huge ice skating rink with a Christmas tree and nativity scene.  For New Year, on the sound of the chimes at midnight,  twelve grapes are eaten, washed down with the local Spanish Cava.

Getting Around in Plaza del Ayuntamiento …

Take a stroll down one of many lovely side streets leading off the square and you will find many places to eat.

This is the hub of a very fast and exciting city, so should you get lost, do not despair as the main tourist office is on the square.

The Old Quarter and Barrio del Carme are easy to reach via C/San Vicente Mártir which leads directly to Plaza de la Reina where the Cathedral is located.

Just a few yards away is the beautiful  Plaza de la Virgen.

Shopping  & Sightseeing!

If you’re looking for trendy, classic or avant-garde fashion this is the right place for you.

Shops, departments stores, cafés and restaurants are just a few minutes walk away in C/Colón.

This is one of the most upmarket  areas for shopping in Valencia.

Opening Hours : Monday – Friday 10 am – 13.30 pm
Closed Sat, Sun and last Friday of the month

Where to Stay in Valencia ?

Hotels near Plaza del Ayuntamiento …

The 2 star Venecia Hotel overlooks Plaza del Ayuntamiento and comes with free Wi-Fi in all areas, rooms with balconies and flat-screen TVs.  A buffet breakfast is served in the dining room overlooking the square.

The 3 star Hotel Sorolla is located in a pedestrianized area  surrounded by cafes, bars and shops and just  50 meters from  Plaza del Ayuntamiento.  Free Wi-Fi and a free express breakfast with coffee, tea and biscuits, between 05:00 and 07:00.  Rooms are modern and include air conditioning, heating and satellite TV.

The 3 star Catalonia Excelsior Hotel is just a 2 minute walk to the old town and Colón metro station is a 10  minute walk away.

Facilities include bar / lounge, Business Center, Free High Speed Internet, room service and an air-conditioned restaurant and conference room.

The 4 star Ayre Hotel Astoria Palace is a few minutes walk from Plaza del Ayuntamiento and comes with free WiFi, free mineral water and flat-screen satellite TV.  The Vinatea Restaurant specialises in Mediterranean cuisine and rice dishes.

More Old Town Hotels  >>

Valencia Tourist Card – VLC

24, 48, 72-Hour Valencia Tourist Card

Enjoy free travel on public transport
Get great discounts in museums, shops, restaurants, and tours
Enjoy free entrance to public museums

The Valencia Tourist Card comes in 24, 48 or 72 hour formats and offers:

• Free public transport around the city. Bus, Metro and Tram zones ABCD.
  Including the journey Valencia-Airport-Valencia (L3, L5).
• Free entry to Public Museums and Monuments.
• Discounts of up to 50% on participating tourist and leisure services and
  in shops and restaurants.
• The Valencia Tourist Card is your key to the city with 24, 48, or 72 hours of excellent discounts, free travel, and entrance to museums. Eat in restaurants, shop, take a tour–and get great savings all at once! The card is easy and quick to use.
• Get up to 50% in museums, leisure activities, shops, and restaurants for 24, 48, or 72 hours.
• The free public urban transport is within Valencia city, zone AB, including the traject Valencia-Airport-Valencia (L3, L5).
• The establishments that offer discounts on presentation of the Valencia Tourist Card are identified with a sticker.

Validate Your Card

The card is validated when it is used for the first time on public transport, or with a dated stamp that can be applied at the sales points. If validation is not possible, it can be validated at a point of use by filling in the expiry date in ink.

Identity cards or passports must be shown for children in order to give them the City Card.

Please Note :   You can change the currency displayed by using the drop-down menu at the bottom of the page in the lower left-hand corner of the GetYourGuide website.

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Valencia Events March 2014

Valencia Events March 2014 ~ Fiesta de la Tapa

Starts: 28/02/2014 / Ends: 02/03/2014

The Veles e Vents building will host the Fiesta de la Tapa.

Throughout the weekend there will be 24 restaurants offering a wide selection of snacks at 1.5 euros each.  Drinks – wine,  beer,  soda or water, will be one euro.

A variety of elaborate tapas at extremely affordable prices to suit all budgets.

Tapas, catamaran sailing,  music band concerts, touring photographic exhibitions of the maritime area and participate in educational workshops on major oceanographic research.

Las Fallas

15 – 19 March 2013

This is definitely one of the most popular and noisy festivals in Spain.

The event is held in Plaza del Ayuntamien with an orgy of fireworks and the burning of  satirical figures.

The entire city erupts for 4 days and the streets are closed. Paella and bunyols are sold on street corners and top concerts are held in the Turia Gardens

If you would like to visit Valencia for this amazing international festival book your accommodation and flights as early as possible.

More Info >>

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National Holidays In Spain

There are many national holidays in Spain so it’s a good idea to know when they are.

On our first visit to Valencia we arrived on the 9 October which is the National Day of Valencia and also the equivalent to St Valentine’s Day.

Although most of the shops were closed, many of the restaurants and cafes were open.

Your Vacation Planner

One of the best times to come to  Valencia is at  fiesta time.

Just remember that  if you arrive when there is a National holiday many of the large shops and all the public offices will be closed.

Most museums and art galleries do remain open and only a few of the restaurants and cafes close.

Many of the major tourist attractions such as the City of Arts and Science remain open.

National Holidays In Spain

• Jan 1st: Año Nuevo – New Year’s Day
• Jan 6th: Dia de los tres Reyes
  (Children receive Christmas presents on this day)
• Mar 19th: San Jose – Father’s Day
• Viernes Santo – Good Friday
• Dia de Pascua – Easter Sunday
• May 1st: Dia del Trabajo – Labour Day
• Jun 24th: San Juan – St.John’s Day
• Mid June: Corpus Christi
• Jun 29th: San Pedro y San Pablo
  (St.Peter & St.Paul);
• Jul 25th: Santiago – St.James, patron saint of Spain
• Aug 15th: Asuncion – Assumption
• Oct 12th: Dia de la Hispanidad – Columbus Day
• Nov 1st: Todos los Santos – All Saints Day
• Dec 6th: Dia de la Constitucion – Constitution Day
• Dec 8th: Immaculada Concepcion – Immaculate Conception
• Dec 25th: Navidad – Christmas

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Festivals in Valencia

Puerto Pollensa Hotels Majorca

Puerto Pollensa is situated overlooking a large bay  with a  pretty marina surrounded by restaurants, cafes and hotels.

3 Star Puerto Pollensa Hotels

Llenaire Hotel

The Hotel Llenaire  is situated on top of a hill above Puerto de Pollensa and a 5 minute drive from the beach.

Rates & Reviews : Llenaire Hotel

Hotel Villa Singala

The Hotel Villa Singala is in a prime location just 50 meters from La Singala Beach and the popular Pine Walk.

Features include outdoor swimming pool, terrace bar and restaurant.

Rates & Reviews : Hotel Villa Singala

Hotel Miramar

The Hotel Miramar overlooks the bay and all rooms come with air conditioning, telephone, satellite TV, Internet, bathroom and hairdryer.

Features include free Internet Corner, snack & bistro, restaurantand Private Pier.

Rates & Reviews : Hotel Miramar

Hoposa Uyal Hotel

The Hoposa Uyal Hotel is in a great location opposite the beach and surrounded by pine forests.

Stunning views of the Tramuntana Mountains and  includes  tennis court, solarium, billiards and table tennis.

Indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

Rates & Reviews : Hoposa Uyal Hotel

4 Star Puerto Pollensa Hotels

Hoposa Daina Hotel

The Hoposa Daina Hotel has been updated to a 4 star hotel.

The hotel offers free wi-fi and rooms come with safe, fridge, dressing gowns and tea / coffee making facilities.

Features include Bar/Lounge, restaurant, room service and swimming pool.

Rates & Reviews : Hoposa Daina Hotel

Hotel Illa d’Or & Illa d’Or Club Apartments

The Illa D’or is in a prime location on the seafront just a few meters from the beach. Rooms come with heating and air conditioning, satellite TV and minibar.

Facilities include free WiFi throughout the hotel. Bar/Lounge,  Fitness Center –  indoor and outdoor swimming pools, Jacuzzi and sauna, tennis court and gymnasium.

Rates & Reviews : Hotel Illa d’Or & Illa d’Or Club Apartments

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