Flight from London (LON) to Valencia (VLC) from 161 £

Enjoy your flight to Valencia from London where you can enjoy the sun and the sea, but also unparalleled art and architecture. Compared to other cities in Spain, Valencia is relatively young, the founding of the town by a Roman Consul happened in 138 B.C., long after the successful war against Carthage. The location on the mouth of the River Turia was perfect for trade across the Mediterranean and with the areas upriver.

A history in silk

One of the most impressive sights in Valencia is the Catedral de Santa María de Valencia. It is built on the foundation of a Moorish mosque, which itself stood on the ruins of a Roman temple. Built from the 13th to the 15th centuries, it is an intriguing mixture of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque features. In a side chapel of the Cathedral called Capilla del Santo Caliz, there is a small stone chalice on display that has a good claim on being the actual Holy Grail. For a good view over the city climb the octagonal bell tower of the Cathedral, called El Miguelete. The most famous building, though, is the Silk Exchange, La Lonja de la Seda. Often cited as the best preserved example of profane Gothic architecture in Europe, it is the true emblem of the Golden Age of Valencia. Silk weaving was the main force behind the glory of 15th century Valencia, and “La Lonja” shows this without sparing any costs.

From Medieval to Futuristic

The people of Valencia love their town and keep many local traditions alive. Most important is the Fallas, a festival in honour of Joseph in March. Each city quarter builds high figures made from wood, there are fireworks every day for a week and on St. Joseph day, 19th of March, all the big wooden figures are burnt. When the River Turia flooded their beloved town in 1957, the Valencians diverted the course of the river and built a park on the fertile soil of the former riverbed. If you walk down the park, you find playgrounds and sports areas, fountains and art-themed gardens. At the end is the City of Arts and Sciences, a gigantic futuristic centre with museums, an opera house, the biggest aquarium in Europe, an IMAX cinema and a planetarium. Try the most famous specialty of Valencia, Paella. While it has become a staple in other parts of Spain as well, in Valencia you can have the original, usually done with chicken, rabbit and beans. Be aware that dinnertime is quite late in Valencia, usually between 9 and 10 p.m., but the following night out may as well last until the next sunrise. Have fun in Valencia!

What else to see in Valencia

• Plaza del Ayntamento, biggest square in Valencia
• Torres de Serranos, Gothic city gates from the 14th century
• Mercado Central in a great Art Nouveau building

Information Airport Valencia

• Name: Aeropuerto de Valencia
• IATA Code: VLC
• Distance to downtown Valencia: 8 km
• Transportation: metro, bus, rented car, taxi

Which airports are in London?

• London Heathrow (LHR)
• London Gatwick (LGW)
• London City (LCY)