Hotels
The best hotels in Valencia: nine places to stay, old town to beach
Where the River Turia once flowed, cyclists now glide through a nine-kilometre park of orange trees, football pitches and running paths. At one end lies the old town with its cathedral and market hall, at the other the gleaming white curves of the City of Arts and Sciences. A little further on is the beach. Valencia is Spain's third city, and one of the easiest to fall for.
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Valencia is home to around 800,000 people and sits halfway down Spain's east coast, with an airport twenty minutes from the centre and a beach of its own. The old town, the Ciutat Vella, is one of the largest in Europe. It holds the cathedral, the silk exchange of La Lonja and the Mercado Central, an art nouveau market hall worth a whole morning. Around it curve the Turia Gardens, laid out in the old riverbed after a great flood in the 1950s.
The city is the home of paella, born in the rice fields around the Albufera lagoon just south of town. Of Las Fallas in March, when giant figures are burned in the streets. Valencia is less touristy than Barcelona and cheaper than Madrid, and you can combine city and beach in a single weekend. Flights from the UK take around two hours. We have chosen nine hotels across the old town, Eixample, the gardens and the beach. Links go to Hotels.com, and we always choose the hotel before the link.
In short: where to stay in Valencia
On a first visit, stay in or near the Ciutat Vella, within walking distance of the cathedral, the market and most restaurants. Eixample and Ruzafa are calmer and more local. For the beach every day, Las Arenas by Malvarrosa is right, with a tram or bus into the centre in a little over fifteen minutes.
Our first choice: Only YOU Boutique Hotel. Check availability and prices
Best for romance: Caro Hotel
Best for families: Barceló Valencia
Best for a first visit: Only YOU Boutique Hotel
Best for value: Vincci Lys
Best for design: Hospes Palau de la Mar
How to choose a hotel in Valencia
City or beach: the beach is about four kilometres from the old town. Stay in the centre and you will take the tram, bus or a bike out, and vice versa.
Las Fallas in March: from about 15 to 19 March the streets fill with fireworks, music and bonfires, and hotels fill with them. Book early or avoid the week.
Cycling is easiest: the city is flat, and the Turia Gardens are a cycle path right across town. Many hotels lend or rent bikes.
Old town noise: the bars of Barrio del Carmen stay open late. Ask for a courtyard room if you stay there.
Summer heat: July and August are hot and humid. Choose a hotel with a pool or near the beach if you travel then.
The lobby
The lobby at Caro Hotel.
The Ciutat Vella and centre: cathedral and market
The old town is Valencia's historic heart, with the cathedral, Plaza de la Virgen, La Lonja and the Mercado Central. Around it run the modern shopping streets and the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, the city's grand town hall square.
Caro Hotel: Roman walls inside a palace
Caro Hotel occupies an old palace in the old town, close to the cathedral. In its rooms and public spaces you can see remains of walls from Roman and Moorish times. The decor is modern and moody, with concrete, timber and soft fabrics around the ancient stones.
This is our romantic pick, like sleeping in a museum but with a good bed and a quiet room. It is a good fit for couples and lovers of hotels with a story. There is no pool, and some rooms are dark because of the thick walls. Plaza de la Virgen and the old town's restaurants are a couple of minutes away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Caro Hotel
The balcony
The view from one of the balconies at Only YOU.
Only YOU: colour and a buzzing bar in the centre
Only YOU Boutique Hotel Valencia stands on a small square between the old town and the shopping streets, with a colourful, playful interior, a lively bar and a roof terrace. Rooms are comfortable and well equipped.
It makes an easy first choice, central, close to the market and cathedral, and a hotel where something is happening in the evening. It is mainly one for couples and friends. The bar and restaurant are popular, so the public spaces can be busy. The roof terrace is a good spot for a drink after a day in the city.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Only YOU
The terrace
The terrace at Vincci Lys.
Vincci Lys: central and good value
Vincci Lys sits on a side street close to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, with modern, simple rooms. It is an easy walk to both the old town and the Estació del Nord railway station.
It gets our vote as the value pick, a tidy, central hotel at a sensible price. It is made for couples and families who spend their days out. There is no pool and not much personality, but the location makes it practical. The market hall and old town are ten minutes on foot, and trains to Madrid leave from the station nearby.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Vincci Lys
The lobby
The lobby at Palau de la Mar.
Eixample and the Turia: elegant streets and the park
East of the old town lies Eixample, a calm, elegant district of wide streets, cafés and shops. Along the Turia Gardens stand some of the city's best hotels, close to both the old town and the museums.
Palau de la Mar: two palaces by the Parterre
Hospes Palau de la Mar occupies two old palaces in Eixample, close to the Parterre gardens and fifteen minutes from the cathedral. The interior is crisp and elegant in white, black and marble, with a small pool and spa.
It takes our design pick and a good base for anyone who wants to stay somewhere calm yet central. It is ideal for couples and lovers of historic hotels with modern style. The pool is small and indoors, so do not count on sunbathing at the hotel, but the Turia Gardens and museums are close by.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Palau de la Mar
The pool
The pool at The Westin.
The Westin: a garden in the middle of the city
The Westin Valencia occupies a historic building by the Turia Gardens, set around a large courtyard garden with trees and a fountain. Rooms are classic and spacious, and there is a spa and pool.
It is right for travellers who want a grand hotel, peace and a green garden to come back to. It works well for couples and families. The fine arts museum and the park are nearby, and the old town is ten minutes' walk. The garden is one of the quietest places in the centre for a morning coffee.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Westin Valencia
The terrace
The terrace at SH Valencia Palace.
SH Valencia Palace: by the Alameda and the park
SH Valencia Palace stands on the Paseo de la Alameda, along the Turia Gardens, with large rooms, a pool and spa. Many rooms look over the park and the city.
It is a strong pick for families and anyone who wants a big hotel with a pool, close to both the old town and the City of Arts and Sciences. The style is more classic business hotel than boutique, and the best-known sights are a walk away. The rooms are big and the pool is welcome with children.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at SH Valencia Palace
The pool
The pool at Barceló Valencia.
The City of Arts and Sciences and the beach
At the south-eastern end of the Turia Gardens lies the City of Arts and Sciences, with the Oceanogràfic aquarium and the science museum. By the sea are Las Arenas and Malvarrosa beaches, with a promenade and paella restaurants.
Barceló Valencia: next to the City of Arts and Sciences
Barceló Valencia occupies a modern glass tower beside the City of Arts and Sciences, with bright rooms, a roof terrace and a pool. From many rooms you look straight across the white buildings.
It earns our family pick, because the aquarium and science museum are on foot and the hotel has a pool. It also suits couples who enjoy modern architecture. For the old town, take a bus or taxi, or cycle through the park.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Barceló Valencia
The pool
The pool at Las Arenas.
Las Arenas: an old bathhouse on the beach
Hotel Las Arenas Balneario Resort stands right on the beach, in a restored historic bathhouse with columns and white facades. There are several pools, a spa and gardens running down to the sand.
It appeals to travellers who want beach and grand hotel in one, with the city a short ride away. It works well for couples and families in summer. Rates are high, and the surroundings are more seafront than city, but the paella restaurants along the beach are right outside.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Las Arenas
The beach
The beach at Hotel Neptuno.
Hotel Neptuno: small and modern on the promenade
Hotel Neptuno sits on the seafront promenade at Las Arenas, with modern rooms, sea views and a restaurant known for its rice dishes. It is small and simple, with the beach across the road.
It is well suited to couples and friends who want to stay by the sea without paying grand hotel prices. In the evening the promenade fills with people and restaurants. There is no pool, but the sea is right outside.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Neptuno
When to book
Spring and autumn: April to June and September to October are the best months, warm and not too crowded.
Las Fallas: the week before 19 March is packed and loud, with fireworks every day. Book very early.
Summer and winter: July and August are hot and humid, eased by the beach. Winter is mild and quiet, with low rates.
Our first choice in Valencia
Only YOU Boutique Hotel
We recommend Only YOU Boutique Hotel because it puts you in the centre, on a small square between the old town and the shopping streets. The interior is colourful and playful, and the bar and restaurant are popular with locals too. The market and the cathedral are a short walk away.
Hotels in Valencia: frequently asked questions
Where is the best area to stay in Valencia?
The Ciutat Vella or the centre for a first visit, Eixample for calm and elegance, and Las Arenas for the beach. Ruzafa suits anyone who wants bars and restaurants where the locals go. The centre is flat and easy to walk, and most sights are within walking distance.
How far is the beach from Valencia city centre?
About four kilometres. The tram and buses take around fifteen minutes, and cycling through the park takes about the same. The beach is Malvarrosa, and at Las Arenas the hotels sit right on the sand. The park follows the old Turia riverbed through the whole city.
How do you get from Valencia airport to the city centre?
The metro runs from the airport to the centre in about 20 minutes. A taxi takes roughly the same time. Metro lines 3 and 5 run from the airport, and you can change to the tram if you are heading for the beach. Book a taxi in advance if you land late.
When is Las Fallas in Valencia?
The main festival runs from 15 to 19 March, with fireworks daily and the great bonfires on the final night. The city is full of people, music and gunpowder throughout, and hotels fill up long in advance. Book early and expect higher prices than usual.
Where can you eat the best paella in Valencia?
By the beach at Las Arenas and in the villages around the Albufera south of the city. Paella is traditionally eaten at lunch, often on Sundays with the whole family. Choose a restaurant that cooks the paella to order, and expect it to take half an hour. That is a sign it is made from scratch.