Valencia

Valencia is at its most rewarding when you allow its different identities to share the itinerary. The old centre offers a dense sequence of churches, small squares and mercantile buildings, with the Silk Exchange and Central Market making a particularly strong pairing. Beyond it, the Turia Gardens create room to walk or cycle towards the sculptural architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences. The Mediterranean is another part of the same visit, with the maritime neighbourhoods and broad seafront offering a slower afternoon. Food provides the thread between these worlds. Ambitious kitchens turn the surrounding market gardens and coastal waters into contemporary tasting menus, while a rice lunch in El Palmar places a familiar dish back in its landscape. Our hotel selection reflects the same variety: intimate historic houses, sociable city hotels, a substantial beach resort and the golf-focused Parador at El Saler. Give the city several unhurried days, choosing a few substantial experiences rather than filling every hour. Valencia rewards the space between reservations, especially when a morning of art can give way to a long lunch and an evening near the sea.