In this blog I will share with you my experience visiting and shooting in Valencia. This blog is based on my own experience spending 4 weeks exploring and shooting in this cool place.

Why Valencia

I visited Valencia in January not only to get away from rainy London but also to see what the city is all about. Valencia is known as the city of light and even on my first day there, I was sold. Coupled with beautiful architecture both old and new as well as a great beach and harbour area to explore, Valencia does seem to offer everything for everyone. I personally loved the laid back attitude and slow pace compared to Madrid or other bigger cities.

When To Visit

I visited in January and found the weather to be very pleasant. At least 2/3 of my stay was sunny and warm enough to wear shorts, although mornings can be very fresh and a jacket is needed. In my experience temperatures averaged between 17C and 23C. In total I only had 3 days of rain the entire month and even when the forecast said it should be cloudy, the clouds were thin and the light was great. The city wasn’t too busy especially on weekdays and the beach was nice and quiet too. I can’t speak from experience but I’ve been told by a few locals that summer can be hot and very busy. I would say shoulder season (mid autumn or spring) is the best for temperatures and swimming while winter is great for photography and exploring.

How Long To Stay

I spent a month there but I also work while on the road. If I were to only shoot and explore, I would say one week is more than enough. You could easily do it in a weekend, while a day trip is also possible especially in the summer months when you have longer days.

Where To Stay

I personally stayed in an apartment / hotel called Mon Suits. It’s located slap bang in the middle of the old town and within walking distance to all the main spots. It also has a great courtyard that is buzzing with life day and night. With that said, anywhere in the old town will be great.

Photography

I found Valencia great to shoot and if you’re in town for a week or so, then you will have plenty to keep you busy. The old town is best in the morning with light flooding the narrow long streets. The Museu De Les Ciencies is just an insane piece of architecture and you can spend hours there finding different compositions. As for gear, I found the 28mm and 50mm (full frame) to be my most used lenses. I also travel with the 135mm but I didn’t find myself using it much at all. In terms of attitude to photographers, I personally didn’t face any issue however I also don’t shoot people up close or focus on faces as my subject. Spain can be tricky for photography and there are some complicated rules around shooting in public.

Safety

Overall Valencia is safe however I didn’t go into known rough areas or walk around late at night. Just like any touristic city, you need to watch out for pick pockets and opportunists. The only area I was advised to be extra careful in is around El Cabanyal - El Canyamelar which is the neighbourhood near the beach. I’ve been there a handful of times and although you can feel it’s a little rough round the edges, at no point did I feel something was off. One morning when I was there for sunrise with a friend we did encounter a scruffy looking guy who was checking us and our cameras out multiple times so we decided to leave. The actual beach area has no issues at all.

Main Town

There are many areas close to each other so for the purpose of this blog, I suggest starting at Catedral de Valencia and working your way out. When you reach the park that looks like a river, turn around and take another road back into town. Basically stay within the confines of the park and you will cover the main parts of the main town. Speaking of the park that looks like a river, this is because many years ago it was a river however it kept flooding so often that they redirected it and turned the original river into a park.

Around Catedral de Valencia is where you will find the really old town and beautiful architecture, amazing light and so much character As you head further south you will walk into the more modern part of town. Although not as charming, it’s still great to explore. Finally I also suggest exploring Russafa.

While in town you must visit the Mercat Central Valencia. A huge market full of amazing food and great characters. Finally make sure to pop down to the Torres de Serranos then climb up for a great cityscape of Valencia.

Snapshots From Valencia

If you want to see even more photos from this trip including those not shared online, then please consider supporting this blog and grabbing the Valencia Zine. This is a digital magazine of all the photos from this trip and the best way to support me and this blog. Thank you.

Snapshots From Valencia

£5.00

Museu De Les Ciencies

The easiest and most scenic way to walk to Museu De Les Ciencies is via the Antiguo Cauce Del Río Turia park (the one that was a river). It’s not a long walk and on a nice day is way better than navigating the busy streets. On the way back you can go through the streets. Museu De Les Ciencies is a giant art complex and museum. There are three main buildings with each one having its own unique and futuristic design. On top of that each building is surrounded by water and on a still day acts like a mirror allowing you to take some great abstract photos. Once you’ve done shooting I suggest exploring the museum itself as it’s interesting.

The Beach

I suggest spending a few hours exploring the beach, pier and El Cabanyal area. Some mornings can get misty which makes for great photos. Failing that, there is a lot of small simple details to shoot here. As for the area near the beach El Cabanyal, there are old houses, plenty of colour and a rough round the edges feel. Personally I enjoyed spending a few hours walking up and down the beach and the pier. I didn’t enjoy El Cabanyal as much.