national geographic travel spain

How to spend a long weekend in vibrant Valencia

With fabulous festivals, golden beaches, plenty of parks, gardens and green spaces, as well as multiple UNESCO listings, Valencia is a tough act to beat.

With some 300 sunny days annually, Spain’s third-largest city Valencia is a popular spot for visitors, yet it remains pleasantly uncrowded, making it perfect for a weekend city break. Almost equidistant from its bigger sisters Madrid and Barcelona, this charming city on Spain’s southeastern coast is striking — expect Blue Flag beaches, distinctive neighbourhoods, fragrant orange groves and heaps of heritage.

Recognised for its breadth of natural spaces, from Albufera Natural Park to the Jardí del Túria (Turia Gardens) that snake along its former riverbed, Valencia is proud to promote its commitment to improving the environment. As the city celebrates being the European Green Capital in 2024, add a long weekend in Valencia to your New Year travel to-do list.

Valencia boasts three UNESCO listings for Intangible Cultural Heritage, including La fiesta de las Fallas — a legendary festival that electrifies the city’s streets each March with parties, pyrotechnics and oversized sculptures called ninots . Created from materials like plaster and papier mâché, ninots are true works of art. If you can’t make it to Valencia during Fallas, make sure to visit one (or both) of the museums dedicated to the event — Museo Fallero and Museo del Gremio de Artistas Falleros .

Also claiming a place on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list is the weekly Tribunal de Las Aguas , in which eight robe-clad farmers convene outside the Door of the Apostles in the Plaza de la Virgen to discuss how water should be distributed in La Huerta (a farming area around Valencia noted for its centuries-old Arabic irrigation system). While you’re at the cathedral, take a peek at the agate chalice inside — claimed to be the Holy Grail — and climb 207 steps up to the Miguelete tower to experience Spain’s manual bell ringing , yet another UNESCO treasure.

With gardens aplenty — from Parque Central to flower-filled Monforte and Turia, Valencia’s beloved green lung — plus 120,000sq metres of pedestrianised areas like Plaza de la Reina, this abundantly green city is ripe for wandering. Those who prefer cycling will appreciate around 120 miles of bike routes including the new Anillo Verde Metropolitano (Metropolitan Green Ring), a 35-mile circular corridor that connects the surrounding farmland with the coast, taking in characterful towns and oases like Albufera.

Visiting one of Valencia’s Blue Flag beaches is an ideal way to take advantage of the ample sunshine, too. Cabanyal and Malvarrosa are both within walking distance of the centre.

What to see

Art and design are among Valencia’s top draws — with over 60 cultural spaces, alongside architectural icons like the art nouveau Estación del Norte (North Station), it make sense that the city was named World Design Capital 2022 . Attractions range from the Museo Nacional de Cerámica y Artes Suntuarias “González Martí” , displaying ceramics and other decorative arts in a baroque palace, to architect Santiago Calatrava’s futuristic Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences) and street art tours around the old-town district of El Carmen. Another must-see is La Lonja de la Seda (the Silk Exchange), a lavish gothic-style UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Where to eat

Valencia is full of inviting bars and restaurants, especially in lively areas like Ensanche, where people often dine al fresco among the elegant pastel buildings. In a city-region famed for gastronomy, there are certain places you should make a beeline for — not least Albufera, the birthplace of paella, where restaurants serve up this hearty rice dish (typically with rabbit and chicken, not seafood) inside thatched-roof fishermen’s houses. Afterwards, cycle through vast rice paddies or take a boat ride on one of the country’s biggest lakes.

Spectacular food markets are another culinary cornerstone. Don’t miss the new Mercado de la Imprenta , inside a former printers, or Mercado de Colón , a national monument with echoes of Gaudí — the architect and designer best known for his work on La Sagrada Família in Barcelona. Here you’ll find a branch of Horchatería Daniel , which specialises in Valencian horchata, a sweet drink made from ground tiger nuts that’s traditionally enjoyed with long spongy buns called fartons .

For regional dishes with panoramic vistas, tour provider Sea Saffron ’s unusual dining experiences include tapas and wine on Valencia’s highest rooftop, overlooking La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias.

Where to stay

A variety of boutique accommodation is available throughout Valencia’s enchanting old town, Ciutat Vella. Based in a 19th-century mansion, the five-star Hotel Palacio Vallier is a beautiful base — see the remains of a third-century Roman perfumery discovered during its renovation, savour sweeping views from the rooftop terrace and sip cocktails in a bar inspired by revered Valencian ceramic brand, Lladró.

For a stylish self-catering option that’s closer to the beach, try Apartamentos Barracart , run by the family that operates the popular Casa Montaña tavern. The flats are located in El Cabanyal, an old fishing district that retains an earthy charm despite increasing gentrification, where quirky little museums (including one dedicated to rice) sit among vivid, tiled facades. It’s a short stroll to the beach and a 30-minute bus ride to Valencia’s city centre.

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National Geographic Traveler: Spain, Fourth Edition

By fiona dunlop, category: travel: europe.

Oct 02, 2012 | ISBN 9781426209550 | 5-1/4 x 8-7/16 --> | ISBN 9781426209550 --> Buy

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About National Geographic Traveler: Spain, Fourth Edition

Spain’s vibrancy and passion are brought alive in this colorful, comprehensive guide. Filled with in-depth information and practical travel tips, it features experiential sidebars, insider tips from National Geographic experts, cut-away illustrations, detailed maps (including street-by-street city maps), and sumptuous pictures. Organized into chapters by cities and areas, it guides readers to Madrid and its museums and nightlife, Catalonia and Valencia, Basque Country and the Pyrenees, Barcelona, Castille, Andalucia, the Balearics and Canaries, and to many lesser known places as well. An elaborate introduction to Spanish history and culture provides context. Special in-depth sidebars discuss Spanish wines, Gaudi and modernism, flamenco, and more; while guided tours include a drive among Aragon’s castles and around the Mudejar towns, and a walk around Madrid’s enchanting Plaza Major. An extensive travel planner details practicalities, including where to find the most memorable posadas and best tapas.

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National Geographic Traveler: Spain, 3rd Edition Paperback – October 21, 2008

There is a newer edition of this item:.

• Part of series National Geographic Traveler
• Print length 400 pages
• Language English
• Publisher National Geographic
• Publication date October 21, 2008
• Dimensions 5.38 x 0.85 x 8.42 inches
• ISBN-10 1426202504
• ISBN-13 978-1426202506
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Product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ National Geographic; 3rd edition (October 21, 2008)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1426202504
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1426202506
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.56 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.38 x 0.85 x 8.42 inches
• #4,427 in General Spain Travel Guides
• #8,920 in General Travel Reference
• #14,692 in Tourist Destinations & Museums Guides

About the authors

Fiona dunlop.

Fiona Dunlop is a London-based travel and food writer, specializing in Spain, Portugal and North Africa. She has also traveled extensively in Asia and Central America and written several guide-books to those parts of the world. Bizarrely, although she spent 18 years living in Paris and speaks fluent French, she rarely writes on France today. No special reason other than perhaps it no longer holds a mystery...

Otherwise her priorities in life are: travel, food, wine, art, design and architecture, elements which she nearly always weaves into her writing.

Apart from authoring books, over the years she has contributed widely to the UK press - The Independent, The Guardian, Observer, Telegraph, FT - as well as glossies like the Sunday Times Travel magazine, Harper's Bazaar, House & Garden.

She has worked as a National Geographic expert on expeditions to Spain and Portugal and leads foodie tours to Andalucia.

Check out her blog at www.fionadunlop.com and follow her on Instagram @andaluzfoodandtravel and Twitter @ffdunlop

Fiona Dunlop is a travel and food writer now based in London. After living in Italy and the south of France, she spent 18 years in Paris until the late 1990s. She has travelled widely since her Australian childhood, immersing herself in exotic cultures as well as writing about art, architecture and food.

After authoring a dozen travel guides to countries from Asia to Central America she embarked on cookbooks (covering Spanish tapas, North African home-cooking and modern Mexican). Her latest, Andaluz: a food journey through Southern Spain, focuses on the influence of the Moors from North Africa and the Middle East - who while living in Andalucia from the 8th to the 15th century left an indelible imprint on Andalucian cooking and produce. Fiona's holiday house in the olive groves of Cordoba province was the inspiration for this.

Follow her blog on fionadunlop.com, her Instagram accounts @ffdunlop and @andaluzfoodandtravel or her Facebook page, @fionadunlopfoodandtravelwriter. She occasionally tweets @ffdunlop

Her mantra? Savour, travel, reflect

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

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Discover Moorish Spain National Geographic Journeys

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Places You’ll See

• Introduction
• Day 1 Madrid
• Day 2 Madrid (1B)
• Day 3 Madrid/Córdoba (1B)
• Day 4 Córdoba/Granada (1B)
• Day 5 Granada (1B)
• Day 6 Granada/Seville (1B)
• Day 7 Seville (1B)
• Day 8 Seville (1B)

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TRAVEL, ENHANCED National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures are a collection of unique National Geographic tours designed to take you deeper into the cultures and habitats of the places we explore. They offer more inclusions, greater hands-on exploration, interactions with local experts, and the freedom to roam, all within the structure and security of travelling in a small group.

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• Overall Rating Excellent 4.5
• Itinerary Excellent 5.0
• Guide Excellent 5.0
• Transport Good 3.7
• Accommodation Good 4.0
• Food Excellent 4.5
• Tour Operator National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures 4.5
• BM Beverly · October 25th, 2019 Lalo was fantastic!! He added so much to the trip. It would not have been as good as it was without him. He made us feel comfortable everywhere! He obtained local guides that were wonderful. THe accommodations were fine, except for the hotel in Madrid... Show more Trip date: October 2019
• RB RALPH · July 23rd, 2019 Great itinerary and spectacular guide but the exclusive dependence on public transportation resulted in numerous instances of "hurry up and wait." The day trip to Toledo, for instance, involved waits of 30-45 minutes at the bus terminal in both... Show more Trip date: July 2019

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• Currency € Euro Spain

As a traveller from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F.

• These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
• Hepatitis B - Recommended for Spain. Ideally 2 months before travel.
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• Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
• For any tour departing before June 5th, 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after June 5th, 2024, a minimum payment of 20% is required to confirm your booking with National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 65 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
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National Geographic conservationist Maria Fadiman shares sustainable travel and packing tips

T ravel and conservation go hand-in-hand in Maria Fadiman ’s world: She’s a National Geographic conservationist and an expert on National Geographic Expeditions to places like Costa Rica , Spain , and Scotland . 

“My favorite part of my role as a National Geographic Expert and representing National Geographic is getting to be with the guests while we all get to experience new areas,” says Fadiman. “People who choose National Geographic trips are interesting, curious, and fun.” 

One of the biggest parts of her job on expeditions is to lead presentations about the landscape and culture of a destination for guests. “I have a great time telling stories [and] interspersing them throughout the information. I like it when we all have fun while simultaneously triggering new ways of thinking and being where we are,” she says. 

The road to becoming a conservationist hasn’t been the typical path, though. “I always wanted to work in conservation, and I was nervous to learn science. In college, I volunteered as a naturalist guide in the Costa Rican rainforest on the Osa Peninsula. The only problem was, I didn’t know anything about the ecosystem. I had studied Spanish, so I could translate, and that is what got me out there,” Fadiman notes. 

After her first year in Costa Rica, she returned the following year to be a full-time naturalist guide. "In learning all of this, I also realized that the local people were the ones who were teaching me their information. It became clear that if I wanted to work to preserve the forest, I needed to include people. They are a part of the ecosystem.”

For Fadiman, there are three main things that people should consider when it comes to conservation and understanding other cultures: landscapes, people, and food. “I think that exposing ourselves to new regions, continuing to learn about how we are all wonderfully different and still connected, has value. And, as we see new ecosystems and cultures, having an awareness of our impact can actually enhance our experience,” she explains. 

“When we experience different landscapes, we grow in unexpected ways,” Fadiman says. While on a recent trip to Costa Rica with National Geographic Expeditions, the group she was traveling with was able to see a quetzal, a colorful bird that calls the rainforest home. “We then learned that the quetzal has the status of a 'Near Threatened' species, and that habitat is crucial to their continued existence. That fact means more to me than it could have if I had not experienced that moment with that group,” she says. 

Fadiman also says that when people travel and connect with others they become part of each other’s humanity. “The people who are different from me are no longer ‘other,’ they are that person with their name, their life, and now, their connection to me, and me to them,” she explains. “I remember the Quichua girl in the Amazon who took my hand to show me where the palm trees were fruiting and taught me how to collect them without being stuck by the spines. So now, when I hear of things happening in those areas, it affects me differently than if I had never been a part of that world.”

Like most travelers, Fadiman loves indulging in the cuisine of other cultures while she’s exploring new places. “Food is a key form of living cultural expression. And in terms of conservation, it is good for us all to stay aware of what is sustainable in reference to consumption,” she explains. “Although something may be a delicacy or special to the region, if it is an endangered plant or animal, or grown in a way that lends to deforestation or raised in inhumane ways, we may want to refrain from consuming that dish.”

What's in your travel bag, Maria Fadiman?

For those who are looking to travel more sustainably, Fadiman has a  few tips. The first is to walk wherever you can while traveling. This allows you to truly soak in the experience. The second is to seek out local conservation groups and see how you can get involved by donating or learning about the work that they do. 

The biggest way to travel more sustainably is to do volunteer work, according to Fadiman. “Much of my early travel was through volunteering. When I walked behind a curandero in the forest as I took notes on the plants he showed me, I felt a part of his culture and the forest for that moment,” she says.

Lastly, Fadiman says to think about the products that you’re bringing with you on trips. Consider bringing biodegradable soaps and shampoos. She also says packing lightweight bags that can be reused for shopping instead of single-use bags. 

So what’s Fadiman packing in her carry-on? The top seven things may surprise you. Note that we’ve pulled the top-selling products in each category. 

Duct tape may not be on your packing list, but according to Fadiman, it should be. 

“Duct tape is simply the best travel companion. I roll some around a pen as a way to carry it. Duct tape can hold almost anything together for the rest of a trip, and so many things suddenly seem to need holding together. You can then mend something, instead of buying a new one to replace it,” she says. 

Reusable rain poncho  

A rain poncho is a necessity for Fadiman and anyone else who wants to visit the rainforest. “We never know when rain will burst forth, and I like to pop it on and have a moment of feeling like I just may stay dry,” she says. 

This option has a hood, which is great for keeping your hair dry and the little visor piece keeps rain out of your eyes. The poncho comes in eight different colors and comes with a reusable bag to store it in. It can also double as an emergency shelter or a cover for backpacks or other gear if needed. 

A small backpack

This 25-liter backpack is ideal for day trips and hiking. The body and lining are made from recycled materials, so you can feel good about wearing this one. There is an integrated rain cover, along with plenty of pockets and pouches for storage. The side pocket is made from a mesh material allowing you to grab water bottles or phones quickly. 

Fadiman uses her backpack to carry essentials like water, a camera, and her poncho. 

A light scarf

Fadiman loves a light scarf in her travel bag. “If I am cold, I can wrap it around my neck or lay it over my legs as a little blanket. If [it’s] sunny when I land, I can whip it out and drape it over my shoulders for sun protection,” she explains. 

This option comes in eight different colors and is made from a soft jersey-like material that has UPF 50+ integrated into the material. The shawl can be used as a scarf or a wrap on a plane or while exploring a new destination. 

Chemical-free sunscreen

“When I do use sunblock, I try [to] choose chemical free. It is important that I protect myself while simultaneously protecting the region I am visiting.  Even if not swimming, I want [a] sunscreen that if rain or sweat washes it off, it will not then damage the soil where I am walking. And, I have to remind myself that what I use goes into the groundwater, even though I may not see that process,” Fadiman says. 

For a chemical-free sunscreen, consider the Sun Bum Mineral SPF 50 sunscreen. The zinc-based lotion is vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free, and reef-friendly so you can feel good about wearing it on your next adventures. 

A reusable water bottle

“It is important that I stay hydrated when I travel. Using my reusable bottle means that I don’t have to buy single-use bottles,” says Fadiman. 

If you’re looking for a new reusable water bottle, the Iron Flask option is ideal. The bottle comes in six different sizes ranging from 12 ounces to 64 ounces and over two dozen colors. The insulted bottles come with three different types of lids: a straw lid, a flip lid, and a handle lid. 

A trusty headlamp

The last necessity for Fadiman is a headlamp. “I never know when I will want to go on a night hike or an early morning exploration,” she explains. 

This option has a 1200-lumen white light. The rechargeable headlamp has 12 light modes that can be switched from strong white to low light and even red light. The light can be adjusted by 60 degrees so you can point it directly at whatever you’re trying to see with ease. 

Onboard Obsession: Snorkeling With Manta Rays on an Expedition Cruise to Palau's Rock Islands

By Scott Bay

Onboard Obsession is a new series that explores the can't-miss highlights of the best-loved cruises—from the shore excursions to book to the spa treatments too relaxing to pass up.

As soon as my head dips beneath the warm waters of Indonesia’s Bunaken National Marine Park , I hear a mysterious tick-ticking, pop-popping sound that I haven’t experienced before while snorkeling . I quickly kick my flippers to rise. When my ears breach the surface, I hear a Lindblad Expedition leader explaining to some fellow passengers of the National Geographic Resolution that the faint sounds are signs of an extremely healthy coral.

I’m on a 12-day journey from Vietnam to Palau aboard the 138-passenger Resolution , purpose-built to access waterways that would otherwise be impossible without dynamic positioning technology , an X-bow construction, and a team of expedition leaders who negotiate “dockings” like this one, floating within a protected marine reserve with no other vessels in sight.

I dive again beneath the surface to the undersea equivalent of Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing . Several green and hawksbill turtles are darting in and out of a vibrant coral cliff with seemingly millions of species, from sculpins to sun coral and everything in between. I strain my eyes and urge my brain to take in every detail and somehow lodge each scene into my memory bank. Often I repeat characteristics of sea life to myself while snorkeling so that I can later identify the species back on board, with help from the expedition team and dedicated science center. One kick after another I spot a fish that I never thought I would see outside of a nature documentary: to the left are clownfish in their bubble-tip anemone homes, plus a lionfish, a porcupinefish, an octopus, a school of thousands of Niger triggerfish fluttering their fins like butterflies.

After what feels like hours of playing a marine version of Where’s Waldo, I realize that I have drifted away from the group. I decide to turn and float on my back before catching up in one last-ditch effort to take everything in. The sun-soaked, tropical scene feels like slow motion suddenly, disorienting me in a way that I haven’t felt since I was a child.

The Coral Triangle in the western Pacific is home to nearly 600 coral species and over 2,000 different types of reef fish.

“That was the most varied snorkeling I’ve ever seen,” says Brett Garner, one of the National Geographic Resolution's expedition team , as we ride the zodiac back to the ship. That’s a lot coming from a marine biologist who has spent years of his life in a mask and fins. In fact, most of the expedition team had never snorkeled the center of the Coral Triangle due to its extremely remote nature, and were similarly gobsmacked.

As I settle into the hammock on my room's balcony later that night, savoring a housemade shortbread cookie shaped like a parrot fish, I feel especially reflective. I grew up as a water baby, snorkeling and diving the Caribbean with my family—almost every vacation was somewhere that could take us underwater. But I haven’t really been snorkeling since then, for almost 16 years. Looking out at the mushroom-shaped limestone formations sticking up out of the sea, each with a drapery of vegetation, it's bittersweet to realize that my renewed wonder for the activity was probably the best I’ll ever experience.

Walking into breakfast the next morning, I spot marine biologist Heather Denham and assistant expedition leader Alexandra Kristjánsdóttir and grab an empty seat at their table. I share my melancholy with them—that I am freshly impassioned but feel like I’ve already seen the pinnacle of snorkeling. They both let out laughs and assure me that there’s always a surprise beneath the surface.

Boy were they right. A few hours later, in Palau’s Rock Islands , I am swimming with fellow passengers aged mid-20s to high 70s, seeing black tip sharks, psychedelic brain coral, giant clams, and playing with stingless jellyfish. At one point, the speed boat captain spots a manta ray. Even though we had been snorkeling all day , we move faster than I’ve seen in the previous 11 days, quickly donning our masks and fins and jumping into the deep blue. The current immediately pulls us as we try to stick close together on the hunt for the ray. “HERE!,” Heather shouts, and I turn around to see an 11-foot manta ray directly in front of me. I’m frozen in movement as it turns up to the surface in a big circle, showing me its underside, before diving deep.

I am greeted at the surface with the hooting and hollering of involuntary happiness brought on by seeing such a magnificent creature in its natural habitat. Heather leans over to me on the boat ride back to the ship, “See, it doesn’t get much better than this, does it?” And as someone who has a difficult time staying present, I can only smile and realize I haven’t felt so in the moment in years.

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