THE TOP 10 MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOTS IN VALENCIA CITY
The online world has brought with it a great deal of unexpected ‘side effects’ as some may call them. The good and the bad, the painful and the wonderful. Analysis aside, social media has turned us into a generation of keen eyes, that scan every scape and skyline for the beauty, or perhaps just the perfect instagram picture. Whether this is a good or bad thing, it has certainly brought me pleasure and enjoyment to experience some of worlds’ wonders through a screen as well as being on the other side of that and bringing my friends, family and followers on my own adventures.
Having lived in Valencia in Spain with my boyfriend Tom for 3 months now, while I am doing a year abroad through my university, we have discovered that the city is the ultimate haven for photo opportunities with such an enormous range of sights. So if you’re an avid instagrammer or simply just out treat your eyes to some splendour, this is the list for you.
Port of Valencia
The port of Valencia is a gathering place for sunbathers, picnickers, skaters and instagrammers alike. It’s numerous unoccupied docks that stretch out into the blue waters, amidst the fish and million euro yachts have been one of our favourite places to snap a few photos but also relax for hours on end, watching the world go by. A large abandoned market that perches on the harbour has also been repurposed by locals into the likes of an ice rink- minus the ice- where crowds often congregate to watch the impressive tricks being pulled off. You could even make a day out of it and rent a bike from one of the many shops in the city centre and with just a 10 minute cycle down the old riverbed, you reach the port. The evening sunset views from the marina are unmatched, the experience amplified even more with a sangria in hand from one of the surrounding bars. So if you can, try to be there to catch the purples and golds that melt over the water and onto Valencia.
Ciudad de los artes
If you know of Valencia, you’ve definitely heard of this spot. This is the Big Ben, the Empire State Building, The Eiffel Tower of Valencia, although unlike these attractions, the City of Arts and Sciences (La Ciudad de los Artes y las Esciencias) is a far more recent build, despite looking as though it were built a century into the future. Completed in just 2009, the city attracts millions of tourists every year, desperate to roam around the blinding blues and whites of the heaven-like setting. Known as one of the 12 treasures of Spain, this place is an absolute goldmine for instagrammers. There’s no need to set up your camera in any specific way, no need to hunt for that perfect spot or angle. Every turn of the head- or rather, lens- reveals more outstanding backdrops.
Plaza de La Virgen
Located deep in the old town of Valencia, Plaza de la Virgen lures all the influencers in with its 360 views of white marble and exquisitely-detailed cathedral edifices. A place couldn’t possibly feel more European. You can grab a café con leche and pastry from a selection of different cafes, wander around the prehistoric museum for a sight into the city’s rich history, replenish your water bottle from one of the many fountains dotted around, get through a few pages of that novel in one of the adjacent gardens and marvel at some of the most breathtaking church ceilings that the city has to offer. This really is the perfect place to get a wide range of different pictures that will be sure to have everyone believing you’ve trekked through the whole city in one day, when in fact you’ve only been making your way around the one plaza.
Church San Nicholas
Speaking of churches, that brings us to the next spot on the lost which is only a short 5 minute walk from Plaza de la Virgen. Church San Nicholas is known as the Valencian Sistine Chapel which I’m sure says enough about how much of a spectacle this place truly is. As you make your way through a narrow passageway between two seemingly mundane buildings, you could never anticipate the sheer scale of size and beauty that opens up as you pass into the cathedral. It is a sensation that can only be described as stepping into a wonderland filled with such immense artistry you could tear up at the sight of just one of the thousands of paintings that trim the interior. It almost feels blasphemous to pull out a camera and snap a picture, but as we were assured upon entering, you are allowed to film and capture as much as you’d like so long as the flash and sound are kept off. You do need to purchase tickets for this spot, but considering to overwhelming feeling of magnificence that the cathedral evokes, it’s worth the 8$ entry fee. Make sure to double check the Visit Valencia website, however, to plan your trip around worship times.
Montford Gardens
Stepping into Montford Gardens is like stepping into a time portal and a sound vacuum all at once. This Neo-classical orchard inspired by the romantic era and borrowing styles from both French and Italian art, is a tranquil little hideaway that feels more like your sat in some remote Tuscan yard as opposed to on the skirts of a bustling city. With each step, you find yourself uncovering new gems that the garden has to offer, from statues of mythical and heroic figures, rows of aromatic rose bushes and ornamental ponds filled with vibrant fish, to willow tunnels, hedge mazes and hidden bench spots, you could get lost here for hours, losing track of time. The gardens are free entry and open every day until 6pm, so if ever you’re looking for a spot to unwind or, of course, to take some magnificent pictures, Montfort gardens is the place to be.
Torres de Serranos
Our next spot on the list is one of Valencia’s most renowned and visited attractions, for reasons that are obvious. Torres de serranos which in English loosely translates to ‘Towers of the Mountains’ is a gothic style city gate that previously functioned as the main entrance into Valencia while it was a walled city. The building is amazing enough in itself but the views are really what makes Torres de Serranos worth the visit and also a top ten indtagrammable spot! It’s 3€ entry on weekends but on weekdays it’s completely free to scale the tower’s many steps and gaze out onto the whole of Valencia buzzing below you. You are also able to walk through the arch and feel, for a moment, as though you were some noble traveler about to set foot into this large and fortified city of wonders.
Pont de Los Flors
Pont de las Flors hangs above Valencia’s Turia river and with the changing of seasons brings whole new colour palates to the area. The more than 25,000 flowers that bloom on the bridge are changed three times a year, so don’t worry about catching them wilting, they are, without fail, always looking luscious and picture perfect. Whether you are picnicking on the riverbed below or relaxing on one of the brightly painted benches on the bridge, the dazzling colours are definitely going to energise you and add some magic to your day.
Mercat de Colon
From the outside, the Mercat de Colon appears as your typical Valencia market, but such appearances are promptly found to be deceiving. However, if you appreciate beautiful buildings, this spot on our list should be your first as its lavish and distinctive decor, reminiscent of the works of Gaudí, gained the architectural feat its title of National Monument. Upon entering you are not met with the traditional open stalls of typical foods of the region but instead an interior lined with high-end cafe’s, bars and restaurants, all adopting a sort of tropical theme. The whole place instantly comes across as an influencer’s haven and is the perfect setting to spice up your ‘foodstagram’.
Del Carmen Cultural Centre (CCCC)
This modern art gallery found in the rustic El Carmen neighbourhood accommodates a series of vast open spaces and little hideaways, all packed with wonderful art that is truly characteristic of modern Valencian culture. The recently restored convent still maintains much of its traditional architecture, including two of the original courtyards, which when hit by the sun at the right angle, illuminates the surrounding beamed arches creating a spectacular scene. This is enough of a reason to visit alone but for us, we thought it had so much opportunity for amazing pictures. This instagrammable spot is also free admission so you might find yourself returning time and time again for the various exhibitions.
Plaza de Ayuntamiento
The Plaza de Ayuntamiento is pretty much the hub of Valencia’s city centre, surrounded by your typical array of shops, restaurants, cafes, bars and book stores. Market stalls line the plaza, of which the majority are floristerías, forming a lusciously-colourful backdrop for your pictures. This is a great spot to grab tapas and sit in the sun, on a terrace that faces out onto the fountain and the beautiful traditional architecture of the town hall and the post office which is surprisingly also a great instagrammable location. The historical building centres around its huge, ornate, dome ceiling that stretches high up into the heavens, letting through that distinctive ever-blue Valencian sky. Who ever thought you could be in awe at a post office?
In such a wildly-vast and beautiful city, it’s hard to narrow down its most impressive sights. Valencia is full of wonders that have to be discovered beyond some online list. One must roam the narrow avenidas and stumble through the garden gates on their own to truly capture the spirit of the city, encounter its little quirks and oddities. And when you do, perhaps it’s better to just bathe in the moment, observe, enjoy, and leave instagram out of it.
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