If you've done Barcelona and Madrid, make your next mini break Spain's third largest city – Valencia.
Located about three-and-a-half hours' drive down the coast from Barcelona, Valencia has a reputation for being an artistic hub; the street art is abundant, the stylish yet eccentrically dressed millennials are plentiful and the impact of a modern creative sentiment on an ancient cityscape has been handled marvellously.
Obviously, being on the beach, the city is more alive in warmer weather, but don't be put off going in winter, too. As well as the excellent deals you can get on accommodation and flights, the temperature doesn't really drop that low (despite what the puffer-coated locals shivering under the outdoor heaters are saying) and there are plenty of cosy tapas bars to drink all the red wine in.
Valencia is sleepier than Madrid and Barcelona, and it makes for a nice change of pace. Walk slowly, take a nap in the afternoon (everything's closed anyway), and spend several hours lingering over each (unbelievable) meal. In short, Valencia is the city break you need to actually relax.
Getting there
Valencia is super easy to get to, providing you're in the southern half of the UK (Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh airports only offer indirect flights, which seems unfair). Also, it's usually a fair bit cheaper to fly to than Madrid and Barcelona. From Gatwick, British Airways and easyJet fly, while Ryanair goes from Stansted, Bristol, Bournemouth and East Midlands.
Once there, the Metro is a dream to navigate. Find yourself in the city centre in just 20 minutes.
Where to stay
As mentioned, the Metro is super easy, super clean, super cheap and super efficient (well, at least compared to public transport in the UK), so don't panic too much if you don't end up staying right in the area you wanted. Most things in the central areas of Russafa, El Carmen and the main shopping district are walkable, although you're going to want to get public transport down to the beaches and El Cabanyal.
This apartment on Airbnb, which is in a brilliant location, sleeps five people comfortably, has a huge balcony and an owner with great ratings. Even better, it starts from £24, which means it's less than a fiver per night per person. Didn't we tell you it was a great city?
Whole flat from £24
This unbelievably reasonable hotel is just one floor of a beautiful old block right in the heart of the city – just a few minutes' walk away from the shopping district. The staff are super helpful and the beds massive and comfortable.
Rooms from €45
It's actually pretty tough to break the bank in terms of accommodation in Valencia. Even in high summer on a weekend, the five-star Caro Hotel doesn't charge more than €200 a night for its standard rooms, and that's before you start looking for deals. There's a rooftop pool, a restaurant with a former El Bulli chef(!) and it's built in an old palace from the 1800s.
Rooms from around €110
Where to eat
Located in Russafa. Without a doubt one of the finest brunches you'll ever have the pleasure of eating. And that's not a statement we make lightly. Not only does the food look incredible, it's fresher, tastier and more delicious than anything masquerading as brunch here in the UK. The coffee is next level, too.
We're not kidding about how good the food is in Valencia. This newly opened restaurant in El Carmen has menus on Spanish Civil War ration cards and is housed in a minimalist concrete setting. Their motto is "cooking revolution!" and they're not kidding. Get ready for some seriously interesting (and incredible) takes on dishes from around the world.
Valencia is the home of paella and this is the place to go to try it out. Book ahead – this restaurant gets bus-ehh – and it sits in the shadow of the huge medieval arches that were once the gate to the city. The paellas are big enough to be shared by four but tbh, they're so delicious we managed between two.
There are now two locations of this super Instagrammable, healthy eating, organic produce restaurant, as well as a beach bar on Patacona Beach during the summer. Open every day from 8am to 1.30am, there's no excuse for missing the seriously delicious food on offer.
You can't move for tapas in Valencia, but this traditional place is often cited as one of the best. It's the food you'd expect – calamari, frittata, patatas bravas, chorizo in red wine (omg get this), padrón peppers, the best aioli – in exactly the setting you'd expect (cosy, no fuss and traditional) but somehow it's all just better. Order dishes until your waiter panics and says you've gone way too far. It's the best way to do it.
Where to shop
A highly pleasingly designed store filled with work from Valencian artists and others. Great for gifts, artwork, jewellery and more.
A cute Spanish clothing label that originated in Valencia. Their thing is basics with a bit of a twist. Prices are pretty A-OK too.
This space houses all sorts of different vendors each week, from craftsmen to jewellery makers, vintage clothes sellers to whatever.
The vintage revolution is still in full swing in Valencia and Kauf is one of the most famous stores.
Another Russafa-based vintage store, Madame Mim fashions itself as a "secondhand freak shop".
Where to wander
This old riverbed-turned-park that hugs Valencia's centre is marvellous for a leisurely weekend stroll. Or, if you CBA, rent bikes and ride the length of it.
Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias
Located at the end of the Turia Gardens, this very impressive and very (controversially) expensive collection of museums, an aquarium and other spaces might not be worth going into (the aquarium isn't cheap) but it's definitely worth a stroll around. Good for Insta.
Once the city's least desirable barrio, Russafa has Shoreditch-ed itself into becoming one of the city's coolest. Expect concept stores, trendy cafés, cheap eats and street style you'll want to steal immediately.
Rumour has it that developers are edging ever closer to their goal of knocking down this area of rundown but exquisite houses which have traditionally been home to the city's fishermen. Which is a crying shame, not least for the people who still live there. The colourful houses are reminiscent of Havana and, every so often, you come across an achingly cool restaurant or bar to duck into.
Where to drink
Imagine the most eccentric vintage shop you've ever been in, double the amount of bric-a-brac in it, and you're somewhere close to realising the mad genius of La Bella de Cadiz. Excellent cocktails are on offer here, as well as a whole bunch of creepy dolls hiding among the vintage finds.
A restored neighbourhood market which has been turned into a haven of upmarket gourmet shops, wine bars, tapas restaurants and more. Valencia's "it" restaurant, Habitual by Ricard Camarena lies in the basement. It's probably best you sample a glass of wine and/or tapas at every place inside, just to make sure you fully experience the venue.
This cosy café/wine bar/pub/tapas place is pretty touristy – but for good reason. It's the perfect place to duck into when you're traversing between the main shopping area and Carmen.
Worth the trip out to Cabanyal alone, this huge airy warehouse is a converted ice factory which has been filled with plants, old furniture and a bar. The space is used for all sorts of events (so it's worth checking out what's on and planning your trip around that) but is mostly great for getting beers and relaxing after the beach.
Decorated like the inside of your nan's dreams, this café-slash-bar is a great stopping point for a mid-afternoon beer or several.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
The Unreal Beauty Of Australia & New Zealand Is A Thing To Behold
30 Reasons Why China Should Be Top Of Your Travel Bucket List