A Sun‑Soaked Week in Valencia: Beaches, Architecture, and Food

Birthplace of paella and home to a wide, golden coastline, easygoing Valencia blends modern architecture with old‑world charm — all wrapped in Mediterranean sunshine.

We rarely travel during the May half‑term. It usually comes right after our long‑haul Easter adventures to places like California, Bali, or St. Lucia. But when Kenz mentioned he had business in Valencia, a lightbulb went off. Why not turn a work trip into a sunshine‑filled family escape and finally explore a Spanish city that had somehow escaped my travel map?

I’ve wandered through many of Spain’s greats — Barcelona, Madrid, San Sebastián, Sevilla, Granada, Málaga/Marbella — yet Valencia had always been the one that got away. That made the idea of visiting this under‑the‑radar Mediterranean gem even more exciting.

From the moment you arrive, Valencia greets you with warmth and light. It’s a city made for relaxed days, delicious meals, and gentle adventures — made even better by the chance to reconnect with dear friends against a charming coastal backdrop.

Friends Rolling In From Barcelona

There’s something special about meeting friends on holiday. Valencia is just a few hours’ drive from Barcelona, making it an easy weekend escape. Our friends once lived in our London neighbourhood, where our kids went to nursery together, before relocating to Barcelona for an incredible job opportunity. We miss the impromptu coffee walks and epic BBQs, but reunions in new places have their own magic.

A Lovely Stay at Hotel Las Arenas Balneario Resort, Valencia

We based ourselves at the beautiful Hotel Las Arenas Balneario Resort, a beachfront haven that feels tailor‑made for families. With sweeping sea views, spacious rooms, and peaceful gardens, it offered that rare mix of luxury and ease. The hotel buzzed with holiday‑makers, First Holy Communion parties, weddings, and conferences — lively but never overwhelming.

The kids rotated happily between the indoor and outdoor pools (though the main pool was a touch chilly), leaving the adults to enjoy quiet corners, sun‑lounging, and morning coffees overlooking the Mediterranean. I loved my sunrise runs along the beach, taking advantage of the cooler early hours.

Long, Wide Beaches & Warm, Shallow Waters

Just steps from the hotel sits Playa El Cabanyal, one of Valencia’s most family‑friendly beaches. Its long, wide stretch of golden sand gives kids endless room to run, dig, and build. Ours spent hours constructing sandcastles and burying the dads, while the shallow, warm water made swimming blissfully stress‑free.

It’s the kind of beach where time slips away unnoticed — people‑watching, chatting, and soaking in the slow Mediterranean rhythm.

Eating Around El Cabanyal

The El Cabanyal neighbourhood is packed with great food. A few favourites:

• Hundreds Burger — Named the best burger in the world, and honestly, it lived up to the hype. This branch inside MerCabanyal has a casual beach vibe, juicy burgers, great fries, and craft beers. Lady Yeya loved it so much she asked to return even after our friends left.
• El Cabanyita — After Casa Carmela cancelled our reservation, we stumbled upon this gem serving eclectic European dishes with a Spanish twist. Relaxed, retro‑meets‑boho vibes make it perfect for a laid‑back lunch and drinks.
• La Pepica — One of the oldest seafood restaurants on Playa Malvarrosa and arguably the best place for classic Valencian paella. Since 1898, it has hosted royalty, artists, politicians, musicians, and writers like Ernest Hemingway. Book early for a terrace table overlooking the beach. We feasted on mussels, Arroz La Pepica, and a gorgeous Valencian tomato salad.

City of Arts and Sciences 

Whilst Kenz was at the office, Lady Yeya and I spent the afternoon at Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe, the science and technology museum located in the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences — a filming location for Star Wars: Andor. Its gleaming white curves and glass reflections make it feel like stepping into another world. We wandered around three floors of exhibition space ranging everything from space to human anatomy to physics. 

One of the weekend’s highlights was our visit to L’Oceanogràfic, Europe’s largest aquarium. We met up with our SE13‑based friends, who also happened to be in Spain for half‑term, and turned the day into a full adventure: shark tunnels, playful dolphins, beluga whales, sea turtles, and wide‑eyed kids everywhere. The dolphin show was a huge hit.

Afterwards, we headed to Los Gomez in Old Town for classic Spanish tapas — fideuà (paella’s noodle‑based cousin), whitebait, pulpo, and artichokes. Then we wandered through the Old Town’s maze of narrow streets, sun‑washed plazas, and historic buildings, stopping for aguas de Valencia, a cocktail of orange juice, cava, gin, and vodka, in the plaza by the Mercado. A perfect day with my SE13 crew.

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Valencia is easygoing, beautiful, and full of surprises. Whether you’re lounging on the beach, wandering through historic streets, or exploring City of Arts and Sciences, the city invites you to slow down and enjoy the moment — ideally with a glass of cava in hand.