Valencia with kids: a day out
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 0 of 2 free; paid: City of Arts and Sciences, Bioparc Valencia
- Duration
- 8 h 30 min · 09:30–18:02
- Start and finish
- City of Arts and Sciences → Bioparc Valencia
- On foot
- ≈ 0 min in total
- Transport
- 1 ride, ≈ 32 min
- Lunch
- around 13:30
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn; in summer, Bioparc at opening time and the aquarium in the heat.
The plan, stop by stop
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Valencia09:30–18:02 · 2 places · 8 h 30 min
City of Arts and Sciences
· 4 h · Grounds free, venues paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 32 min · transport or taxi
Bioparc Valencia
· 3 h · Paid
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
0 of 2 are free; 2 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | City of Arts and Sciences | 37 | 4 h | Grounds free, venues paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Bioparc Valencia | 29 | 3 h | Paid |
| Total | 7 h | 0 of 2 free |
Tips for each stop
- 1
City of Arts and Sciences. Calatrava's white buildings above turquoise pools: aquarium, science museum and planetarium. The grounds are free; venues are ticketed.
- 2
Bioparc Valencia. An African zoo without cages: elephants, giraffes, hippos seen underwater and lemurs right by the path. Ticketed, cheaper online.
Who this route is for
- Children aged 3 and up
- A family trip to Valencia
- Animal lovers
- Under-2s: keep the day short
- The cathedral and tower are in the adult plan
Spring and autumn; in summer, Bioparc at opening time and the aquarium in the heat.
How the family day works
Children are freshest and animals livelier in the morning, the perfect time for Bioparc, which takes about three hours. From there it's around 20 minutes by bus or taxi to the City of Arts and Sciences at the other end of the Turia gardens.
After lunch, pick one venue: the aquarium with its underwater tunnel or the science museum with its experiments. Between them are pools and bridges where children can run about while parents rest in the shade.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, add something nearby, and the timings update.
Where to eat with kids
Bioparc and the City of Arts and Sciences have cafés, but queues build in high season, so packing snacks helps. Children usually like chicken paella, patatas bravas and sweet fartons with cold horchata.
Spaniards have lunch late, around 2pm, and dinner after 9pm, but kitchens in tourist areas open earlier. High chairs are almost everywhere, and cafés are very welcoming to children.
Tips for travelling with kids
Buy Bioparc and aquarium tickets ahead on their official websites: it's cheaper and you skip the queue. Summer afternoons are very hot, so bring hats, sunscreen and water, and spend midday indoors.
The Turia gardens are a great place for children to let off steam, with playgrounds, lawns and the huge Gulliver park, where kids climb all over a giant figure. The paths are flat and buggy-friendly, and bikes with child seats are for hire.
More for kids
Children enjoy a boat ride on the Albufera lagoon, Malvarrosa beach with its gentle shallows and a trip to Sagunto, where they can scramble over the hilltop ruins.
How to do it right
- Bioparc at opening time.
- Tickets online.
- Aquarium in the heat.
- Spain uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. Book the Sagrada Família, Park Güell and the Gaudí houses ahead on their official sites, which list entry times and closing days.
Questions
What is there to do in Valencia with kids?
Bioparc, the aquarium and science museum at the City of Arts and Sciences, the Turia gardens and the beach.
Is Valencia buggy-friendly?
Yes, the centre is flat and the Turia gardens cross the whole city.
How long do you need at Bioparc with kids?
About three hours.
Where can we eat with kids in Valencia?
At the cafés in Bioparc and the City of Arts and Sciences, or picnic on the Turia lawns.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Valencia tourism portal, visitvalencia.com
