Valencia & Mallorca

Valencia was an unexpected surprise. There was never shortage of things to do or Spanish culture to experience. I learned to appreciate the European way of life much more and to enjoy the moment.

Accommodations:

I highly recommend using Airbnb to book a place to stay in Valencia. A lot of locals own apartments used solely to rent out throughout the year. We stayed in a beautiful modern high-rise apartment with a balcony overlooking the Rio. The space was around $264 per night and included WiFi, air-conditioning, and access to the public pool. Our balcony views included the aquarium, Rio, and a touch of the Balearic Sea beyond. We took our trip in September, which was perfect weather and temperature for all of the activities we had planned.

Mallorca Airbnb

The Rio:

Valencia’s biggest park and outdoor pathway is the Rio. It contains several smaller parks within for skateboarding, outdoor exercise, and playgrounds for children to run around. There are walking paths, as well as routes for bike riding, which is the easiest way to see most of the park.

A company called Brisa rents out bikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters in Valencia. They also offer several guided tour options, including walking tours to experience the local tapas. 

If you have children, then Gulliver Park is a stop you must make. The park is based on a story by Jonathan Swift from 1726 about a traveler named Gulliver. The park depicts Gulliver lying flat on the ground bound by ropes. This sculpture is 70 meters of climbing, slides, ramps, and stairs to run all over.

Towards the end of the park, you will find Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias as well as L'Oceanogràfic. L'Oceanogràfic contains several habitats within and around the aquarium. The habitats are categorized by animals that live within a certain climate. You can see everything from jellyfish and sharks to seals and mysterious fish of the sea. My favorite section of the aquarium was the tank shaped like a dome that you walk through, where sharks and fish could swim overhead.

Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias and L'Oceanogràfic lay side by side. It’s a short walk from one to the next, along a beautiful pool of sculptures by various artists. The City of Arts and Sciences contains many interactive exhibitions and workshops for learning. I felt like it was geared more toward a younger audience.

L'Oceanogràfic

Places/ Landmarks:

1. The first landmark I recommend visiting is called El Micalet; it is the bell tower of the Valencia Cathedral. The bell at the top is one of the largest in Spain, and radiates a magnificent sound over the city. To the top it is a steep and narrow path with 207 winding stairs. This makes it pretty snug especially if you are going up while other visitors are coming down, but the view is definitely worth it. It allows for a bird’s eye picture of the city and Plaza de la Reina.

2. Not only does the bell tower have amazing views, the inside of the Valencia Cathedral (Chapel of the Holy Grail) is spectacularly ornate. The marble floors and stained-glass windows are mesmerizing, as well as the Los Angeles Musicians. These are ornately painted angel musicians in the main chapel of the cathedral. The silver and gold details on a deep blue background really make the angels and their instruments vibrant.

3. Another place to see is the Plaza de la Virgen. It is right near the cathedral and an easy walk from El Micalet. In the plaza is la Fuente del Turía, a popular water fountain built in 1976, which depicts the Rio Turía. There are also a ton of outdoor cafés and eateries in the square. We stopped for lunch one day to have crepes and espresso, and were lucky to have some entertainment from a local violinist as well.

4. Mercat de Colón is a beautiful host to many of Valencia’s finest cafés, restaurants, and shops. The marketplace is an open floorplan with incredibly high ceilings that create a nice overhead space. Certain aspects of the architectural design were made to mimic the works of Gaudi. The ceramic tiles, dome-shaped windows, and outer brick work make this building a standout in Valencia. The restaurants within offer luxury dining and drink options. I highly recommend stopping by.

5. Finally, the last place you should make sure to visit is a restaurant called Las Lunas Soul Kitchen. This was my sister’s favorite spot to grab a late dinner during her study abroad. The owner is so welcoming and passionate about the food he prepares and the customer service he provides. The meals we had consisted of three courses. You can choose between 5 starters, 5 main courses, and a dessert. Their menu offers vegan and vegetarian options as well, which made our dining experience super easy.

Shopping:

Valencia is littered with cafés and tapas bars, as well as local and designer shops. The main shopping street, and one of the busiest, is called Calle Colón.

Valencia has so many unique boutiques and place to buy art. We stumbled upon a store that sold beautifully hand-painted tiles from historical architecture. Most of the pieces came with certificates of authenticity, were in good condition, and were from all over Spain.

We also came across a lot of shops that sold pottery and ceramics. The shops carried everything from teacups and saucers, to platters and olive oil dispensers. The ceramics were ornately painted with lemons and oranges, or brightly colored flowers and geometric patterns.

The place I was most excited to venture into was a toy store called Flying Tiger. The store had everything from little knick-knack games to fun office supplies. We bought a frisbee and ping pong set for the Rio. Fun fact, there’s one in New York City too.

There is no shortage of variety when it comes to shopping in Valencia. Whether you are a fan of designer and high-end fashion, or smaller boutique clothing and jewelry, there is something for everyone.

Mallorca:

I really recommend renting a vehicle while on the island; it’s bigger than it seems and there are a ton of castles and coves to visit!

Accommodations:

The place we stayed at in Mallorca was also through Airbnb and had a wonderful private deck with a view of the boardwalk and sea. It was refreshing and relaxing to come back from a long day of sight-seeing and lounge on one of the reclining chairs. We were within walking distance from restaurants and shops, one being a café where we would grab morning espresso and biscotti.

Alcúdia Airbnb

Sites:

Our stay in Mallorca was less than a week, so we only spent a day or so simply wandering by the coast and enjoying the beach. We stayed in a town called Alcúdia in the northeastern part of the island. The city is well known for its clean beaches, museums, golfing, and eateries.

1. The streets are lined with brightly colored Renaissance-styled houses called “casals”, that make for great architectural photography. There are also a fair number of basilicas and Medieval castles to visit near the town as well. The castle we ventured to was called Castell de Santueri, built in the 14th century. The drive up to the castle is a bit steep, but absolutely worth it. You are able to wander in and out what’s left of the stone castle walls for a small fee. It was interesting to see which parts of the castle’s foundation have held up over the years and how the stones were stacked. The top of the mountain is very peaceful, and looks over the rest of the town.

Another castle I wish we had the time to see, is Castell de Capdepera. It was also built in the 14th century and has amazing views of the coastline. There are several options of castles to choose from depending on which part of Mallorca you decide to stay.

2. If you are more geared towards natural attractions, then the Cuevas del Drach in Porto Cristo are a must see! Hidden within the caves are beautiful stalagmite formations reaching towards crystal blue water. Some of the stalagmites have formed pillars leading all the way to the bottom of the lakes. One of those lakes is Lake Martel, one of the largest underground bodies of water in the world. The Diana Baths accompany Lake Martel, and are the crystal-clear turquoise bodies of water. The contrasting colors and textures in the caves is mesmerizing.

There are a few options of things to do in the caves as well. We chose to take the hour-long tour of them by foot so we could capture photos and video at a more leisurely pace. There is another option to explore by paddle boat, and the attraction offers a concert as part of the tour, where you can hear how an orchestra’s sound echoes and reverberates throughout the cave.

Cuevas del Drach

3. Lastly, I want to recommend visiting one of the many calas in Mallorca. These are hidden coves along the coastline where you can swim, cliff dive, or relax on the beach and enjoy the views. They are much smaller than other beaches on the island, which make for a more intimate experience. On our way back to our Airbnb one afternoon, we stopped at Cala Ferrera. The sand was smooth and soft, and the water a lush turquoise blue. There was a fee to use the beach chairs, but it was well worth it. There were no docks or boats pulling in and out, and there were not a lot of people either. It was a relaxing way to end our evening.

Cala Ferrera

Spain is one of my favorite countries to visit. I always feel a little bit at home during my trips to this magnificent country. The people are so kind and helpful, and the landscape is gorgeous. Everything from the man-made architecture to the naturally created caves and beaches, there is so much to see and never enough time.