The Ultimate Guide To Valencia And Barcelona

Valencia has experienced a surge in tourist popularity over the past few years, offering a more affordable alternative to Barcelona. Valencia provides a mix of modern and ancient architecture, beaches and excellent food. On the other hand, Barcelona is a tourist magnet for good reason. In particular, the famous Sagrada Familia a must-see place in the world! Back in 2024, myself and 2 housemates took a mini interrailing trip between these Spanish cities. This itinerary was a 4-day, 3-night short Easter holiday trip with many activities and sights to see! So let’s dive into the planning, cities and highlights…

Valencia

For years I had wanted to visit Valencia. Part of that was due to being a fan of the football team (Valencia CF) and the other part was to see the City of Arts and Sciences. When trying to find possible destinations with my mates for a short 4 day Easter trip, there were many European cities to compare. Valencia has been high on my list and by finding a football match to watch at the Mestalla, it was an easy sell. The weather was looking ideal at the end of March and flying from Gatwick to Valencia was very affordable. Valencia has a mix of history with it’s Roman and Arabic roots to the modern areas. Similar to Barcelona, there is a large beach a stones throw from the city centre. And not to forget, Valencia has a reputation for making some of the best Paella in Spain!

Barcelona

Barcelona is one of the most popular European destinations for good reason. A city located on the coast with plenty to see and do plus beautiful countryside just behind. The main attraction for most is the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece. On top of this, La Rambla for top end shopping is always busy! Barcelona Cathedral situated in the heart of the city is stunning and Park Güell is another one of Gaudi’s famous attractions to visit along with Casa Vicens Gaudí and La Pedrera – Casa Milà. The beach is a must visit to relax and soak up the sun with many food and drink options spread throughout the city. And obviously there is the Camp Nou where Barcelona CF play.

Trip Planning

Flights

Instead of booking a return flight from the same airport, we decided to do a 2 cities trip. After many hours on Skyscanner, we found that flying from Gatwick to Valencia and returning from Barcelona worked out best. We planned for an early Saturday flight to make the most of the Easter weekend and bank holidays. And then had a late Tuesday flight back to the UK from Barcelona. Both Airports weren’t too far from the city centres and were easy to navigate on public transport.

Accommodation

To keep costs to a minimum for this budget trip, we decided to stay at 2 different hostels. In Valencia ,we chose to stay at Cantagua Hostel, a small boutique accommodation costing £23 each a night including breakfast. In Barcelona, we stayed at Yeah Hostel only a Verdaguer metro station and 14-minutes by foot from Basílica de la Sagrada Família. It cost us £30 per a bed with a free welcome drink and roof top bar! Hotels in Valencia on average cost €150/ whereas Barcelona can cost €150 / £125 per a night.

Transport

Overall, the trip didn’t need much transport as both cities are easy to walk around safely. We got a metro (Lines 3 or 5) from Valencia Airport to the city centre which cost us around 6 Euros. Similarly, we got the metro from Barcelona to the airport where a Single ticket was €5.70. The train from Valencia to Barcelona took around 3 hours 20 minutes and cost us each £54 (€63.60). It mainly went along the coast which was very scenic and relaxing.

Other

As this was only a short 4 day trip, I used a stripped back version of my Hostel Packing List. We shared a large Duffel for most the clothes which was checked in on the flight. Then, we each used smaller backpacks for our personal items as carry on luggage.

Day 1 – Valencia

The day started at the crack of dawn with a drive over to Gatwick. I dropped my car off at Purple Parking and we shuttled to the terminal to fly through security and wait for our 7am departure. A 2h20m flight with Vueling went remarkably quickly and meant we got to Valencia Airport by 10am. The plan was to maximise the time we had available in the 2 cities. We hopped on a metro to the city centre and walked in the baking heat to our Hostel. Cantagua Hostel was a small hostel in the city centre which fortunately allowed us to drop our bags off during the day to explore.

First port of call was to head towards the centre and walk around the Mercado de Ruzafa. In search of food, we stumbled upon La Finestra which is a gem! Tiny Tapas Pizza might be my new favourite cuisine with a cosy atmosphere and you can get a random selection of flavours. I would recommend 3 Pizzas per a person which gives a chance to enjoy the different toppings. After we relaxed next to Parroquia de San Valero before finding a Sangria bar in the sun. It was finally time to head back to the Hostel to check in and rest up before the evening.

Football Match

The main event in Valencia was to watch a football game at the Camp de Mestalla. We had pre-booked tickets online for around £25 each which is a bargain compared to Premier League prices. The atmosphere around the stadium was immense and a wall of noise welcomed the team buses. Before Kick-off, we luckily got a table for a quick bite at The Orange Club. We demolished large burgers, chips and enjoyed nice Spanish beer to wash it down. I headed to the Valencia CF club shop and patiently waited to buy a Scarf and then we headed into the Stadium.

It was an evening game under the flood lights against Mallorca. In typical fashion, the weather turned to rain where we got a little wet in the exposed stands. The game was not a classic but I was happy to experience a Spanish football match. The final result was a fairly boring 0-0 draw. As we had woken at 3am to get to the airport we walked back to the hostel for a much needed sleep.

Day 2 – Valencia

Valencia Walking Tour Part 1

We enjoyed a quick breakfast at the hostel where we met a fellow backpacker from Australia, called Jordan. He asked our plans for the day and whether he could tag along. The trio had become a quad and off we went to explore the city. The plan for the morning was to do a Free Walking Tour to learn about the origins of the city. Unfortunately, the weather had not cleared up so we had several hours of walking in the rain. The tour started around the Cathedral at Plaza de la Virgen where the oldest parts of the city explained the Roman and Arabic history. Basilica of the Virgin, Turia Fountain and Palau de la Generalitat helped explain the floral offerings to the Virgen de los Desamparados and the meetings of the Water Tribunal. On top, the religious and political importance of this heart are discussed.

Valencia Walking Tour Part 2

And then we walked our way over to the famed Serranos Towers. It was interesting to learn about the Jardín del Turia urban park that surrounds the old city and leads to the City of Arts and Science. The food and drink scene are given in doses as we wander through the streets. Next stop was Lonja de la Seda, a gothic style building which is a must see. The Silk Exchange is Unesco Heritage site and the central hall is stunning to visit after the tour. My curious question based on the football team, was why was the bat associated with the city? There were several local legends including one of Jaume I the Conqueror which was unfortunately not to do with Batman.

The last stop was the Central Market of Valencia where the local cuisine and Paella was talked about in detail. Overall it was a very informative tour for Shaun, Liam and I where we tipped 10 euros each to our tour guide. After we finished the tour, we rushed back to the Silk Exchange (only €3) to see the impressive stone work and orangery. At the end of the tour, we went for a quick lunch with Jordan at a café before we all went over towards the City of Arts and Sciences.

City of Arts & Science

The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias modern architecture is like anything I have seen! The Gallery, the Hemispheric, Aquarium, Garden and Science Museum all have futuristic styles surrounded by beautiful aqua-pools and tropical plants. We had booked into the Hemispheric, an IMAX planetarium, where we watched a short film about the solar system. It was so relaxing we almost all fell to sleep! We met up with Jordan again before paying to get into the Science Museum. The museum had 2 main exhibitions on DNA and Space Exploration. The Space travel and Astrophysics was more of interest to myself with links to pop culture as well as future advances in science. We spent the afternoon around complex however we didn’t pay for the Gallery or Aquarium with the pre-booked ticket.

After we walked back towards town in search of a bar for some drinks with Jordan. We found a sports bar for a few beers and sharing travel stories. The last call for the day was dinner where we managed to find a well rated and quiet Spanish restaurant. We couldn’t leave Valencia the next day without trying Paella so ordered a large portion for us all to share along with a jug of sangria. We had a wonderful evening before returning back to hostel via the illuminated city centre. The lads got chatting to our roommates and were persuaded to go back out to go clubbing. However, with less motivation and a run planned for the morning, I chose the sleep without regrets.

Day 3 – Barcelona

Valencia Run

Whilst my housemates got to the hostel in the early hours, I woke up fresh the next morning and snuck out. Because I was training for a half marathon, I packed my running kit. I managed to get a 13.5Km run around the city in before breakfast. I didn’t plan on taking my keys, just my watch, headphones and memory of the route. The route ran through the town to the City of Arts and Science then along the Jardin del Turia for some greenery. Up towards the Mestella Stadium and back into the Jardin del Turia before I started to get lost on the way towards the train station. I eventually found the hostel after adding on 1Km. But I loved the run so much, I try to get a running tour in most cities I visit now!

Train Journey

The hostel provided a free breakfast which aroused the troops and we got packed before the warm walk over to the train station (Valencia Nord). A peaceful 3 hour train along the coast and through the countryside would offer my hungover friends some rest. In contrast after my run, I was fully awake and took the time to reflect and appreciate Valencia. The train was smooth and not too crowded travelling on a Monday which was a relief.

Arriving in Barcelona

We lugged out heavy shared duffel bag in the Barcelona heat from the metro to our hostel- Yeah ( Fantastic name). In comparison to Valencia, this was a much bigger hostel with a roof top bar and complimentary welcome drinks. Fortunately, we could check into the room early and had some downtime before heaving out to explore Barcelona. The guys were feeling the effects from the previous night whereas I was eager to see the city. First port of call was to get some lunch where we luckily got a table at Billy Brunch. It’s a must visit with incredible savoury and sweet options for everyone but be prepared to wait!

Basílica de la Sagrada Família

To start with, we walked the 15minutes over to the main attraction of Barcelona. Basílica de la Sagrada Família is Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece is iconic and slowly getting closer to completion. We had left it too late to book tickets to visit the inside but honestly, the exterior views are so spectacular from every angle, I didn’t feel we missed out. It’s worth mentioning that this is a tourist hot spot so keep your possessions close in case of pickpockets. But don’t let that deter you from witnessing an architectural beauty which has a stark difference to Valencia’s ultra modern City of Arts and Science.

Gaudi Architecture

After we walked over to see 2 more Gaudi architectures in La Pedrera – Casa Milà and Casa Batlló along Pg. de Gràcia. Then walked down towards Plaça de Catalunya before getting tired and wanting ice cream. We returned to make the most of the free drink token at the Hostel bar with it’s icy cold pool. Before long we got ready to head out for dinner without a reservation. After a few failed attempts to get a table, we got into Can Codina where we shared various small plates over some wine too (not much for my house mates). It had a more traditional style, a bustling atmosphere and was reasonable priced.

The night was still early so we returned to the hostel in hopes of meeting more people but not everyone was vibing. We bumped into the French girl and then 3 of us headed out to find a bar. The Original Old Fashioned – Cocktail House is a dark, cosy and speak-easy style bar with classic and creative drinks. We were blown away by the quality of the drinks and enjoyed the privacy from the busy bars around the area. It had been a long day so we retreated to hostel for a nice nights sleep in the 6-bed dorm with only Shaun, Liam and I in it (win).

Day 4 – Barcelona

Barcelona Run

Similar to Valencia, I woke up early and went for a morning run down hill to the beach. It was a refreshing change to run along the beach promenade compared to town running I’m used to. But it was stop start heading over all the traffic lights and a decent uphill on the second half. Another great training run in a much hotter environment and a nice way to see the Cathedral before the day kicked off properly. I returned to the hostel where we had enough time to grab breakfast from Bicioci Bike Café. This small bicycle inspired café was ideal with fast service and great combo deals for a pastry and coffee.

Barcelona Walking Tour

Instead of a pre-booked tour, we joined a walking tour run by the Hostel Staff. To speed up the tour and reduce walking, we hopped on the metro and headed to the old town. The tour started in the gothic quarter with the early Roman city walls. Like all walking tours, the origins of the city were talked about as we wound our way through the narrow streets. We saw Basílica de Santa Maria del Pi, Pont del Bisbe and Pl. de Sant Jaume over the tour. After we walked to Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya where the history of the Cataluyna and Spain conflict was explained. Finally, the tour ended at Cathedral of Barcelona for it’s impressive Gothic style and décor. We didn’t fancy visiting inside so went off for lunch before a trip to the beach.

Beach

Our spot for lunch was a cute quiche café (can’t find the name of it unfortunately) but there are many delicious and cheap eateries in the city! After a walk through the shopping district and fought our way through the crowds, we could almost smell the seaside. Initially, we walked up to San Sebastian Beach before settling on a nice spot on Barcelona beach itself. It was a peaceful way to finish the day as our French hostel friend joined us for some sun tanning and relaxation. It was all over before we realised, the hours slipped away and we had to fetch our bag from the hostel luggage store. We jumped on a metro to Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport and headed back to the UK after a re-energising Spanish trip.

Budget

The goal for this trip was to be a short 4 day budget holiday. And in the end it was pretty successful with a total cost of just over £600. The Hostels averaged around £34 a night with Barcelona being more expensive yet offering more places to stay. And the total transport was just over £200 for return flights, a 3 hour train and metros, we mainly walked everywhere to save on public transport. Half the budget was on attractions, walking tours (£10 each) and dinning out.

Food & Drink

As expected the food was top class in both cities! In Spain, the Tapas is a must try with the Barcelona dishes being so fresh and flavoursome, it was enjoyable to share many dishes and there being vegetarian options too. I was most looking forward to trying Paella in Valencia, often celebrated for the Valencian style Paella, which did not fail to impress! Overall, the food was affordable for a major city but due to popularity we often had a short wait or had to walk to find other places without table reservations.

Final Thoughts

This 4 day itinerary was a short but sweet trip to 2 amazing cities. It gives the minimum time needed to see the main attractions whilst keeping the budget low. Upon reflection, I preferred Valencia as it was easier to navigate and much quieter than Barcelona even with worse weather. I know Barcelona has the bigger attractions and we spent less time there, but the atmosphere around Valencia was more welcoming. I would happily re-do this itinerary over 1 week with more relaxation days and a few exploring the cathedrals, museums and galleries.

What is your favourite Spanish destination to visit? I cant wait to explore more of this amazing country in the future and always appreciate recommendations. Please share this post with anyone you knowing looking to travel to Valencia or Barcelona.