Valencia
wine tasting tours and winery visits

The bustling port city of Valencia sits prettily on Spain's eastern coastline. Beloved by travellers the world over, Spain's biggest port city and third-largest city overall is a beguiling mixture of Spanish history and modern culture framed against the backdrop glorious blue Mediterranean sea. It's a bustling, cosmopolitan city with all the charm and energy of bigger cities Madrid and Barcelona, but with a wonderfully unique character that means that this city truly is a place to fall in love with.

Everything and anything is possible here - whether you are seeking the finest of gourmet dining and five-star accommodation or a simple, authentic Spanish experience, Valencia has something for everyone underneath the glorious Spanish sunshine. The city is a pleasing blend of history and modernity, with the uber-futuristic Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias striking an impressively futuristic profile (the building houses various attractions including an aquarium and a 3D cinema), in sharp comparison to the magnificent architecture of the ancient Catedral de Valencia, which dates back to 1238. There are a huge selection of museums, exhibitions, cathedrals and churches to visit and enjoy, and there is also a very popular zoo called Bioparc which specialises in African animals housed in an interestingly innovative landscape.

The culinary scene in Valencia is also excellent, with an abundance of fresh produce constantly available thanks to the huerta, a flat, fertile agricultural plains which surround the city. Rice is an important part of the Valencian diet, with incredible seafood paella the ultimate lunchtime dish. Local specialities such as rabbit and langoustine feature heavily on menus, and as with many other parts of Spain the tapas scene is vibrant and exciting, with bustling bars full of cheery locals around every corner.