Valencia with kids

Day 1: The Old Town to the Turia Gardens

• 6Sights
• 2Kid stops
• about 2.5 kmDistance
• 2 hoursWith play time

This walk is about 2.4 km and links six of Valencia's sights: the Estación del Norte, Plaza del Ayuntamiento, the Mercado Central, La Lonja de la Seda, the cathedral with its Miguelete bell tower and the Torres de Serranos. It starts at the station and heads north through the Old Town to the Turia Gardens.

Two playgrounds break it up: a small one just north of Plaza del Ayuntamiento, and one in the Turia Gardens beside the Torres de Serranos, at the end. One family guide calls Valencia flat and easy to navigate with kids, even in the Old Town, and says many central roads are pedestrianised.

1. 

   Estación del Norte

   The Modernist station façade with its orange-tree tiles.

   Photo: Smiley.toerist · CC BY-SA 4.0

2. 

   Plaza del Ayuntamiento

   The City Hall and the flower stalls on the square.

   Photo: Demiannnn · CC BY-SA 2.5

3. Playground north of Plaza del Ayuntamiento Playground

   A small playground with a slide, a swing, a basket swing and two spring riders, just north of Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

   On the map

4. 

   Mercado Central

   The modernist market hall with its dome and ceramic roof.

   Photo: Felivet · Public domain

5. 

   La Lonja de la Seda

   The Gothic silk exchange and its twisted columns' façade.

   Photo: Felivet · Public domain

6. 

   Valencia Cathedral and Miguelete

   The octagonal Miguelete bell tower beside the cathedral.

   Photo: Fernando Pascullo · CC BY-SA 4.0

7. 

   Torres de Serranos

   The fortified gate towers beside the Turia gardens.

   Photo: Javier Gzz Zapatero · CC BY-SA 3.0 es

8. Playground in the Turia Gardens by the Torres de Serranos Playground

   A playground in the Turia Gardens, a short walk from the Torres de Serranos.

   On the map

Tips for parents

• One family guide calls Valencia a flat city that is easy to navigate with kids, even in the Old Town, and says many of the central roads are pedestrianised.
• One family guide says children ride public transport in Valencia for free, which helps for getting to the Turia Gardens and Gulliver Park on day 2.
• OSM maps free public toilets with wheelchair access about 90 m from the cathedral.

Public toilets

• About 90 m from Valencia Cathedral and Miguelete · On the map
• About 90 m from Valencia Cathedral and Miguelete · On the map

Day 2: Along the old riverbed to Gulliver Park

• 4Sights
• 1Kid stops
• about 2 kmDistance
• 1.5 hoursWith play time

This walk is about 2.1 km and follows the Turia Gardens, the old riverbed, from the glass-roofed Palau de la Música to the white mast and cable fan of Calatrava's Pont de l'Assut d'Or. On the way it passes the Hemisfèric, with its giant eye reflected in the pool.

Two stops are for the children. Gulliver Park comes first: a giant Gulliver lying on the ground, about 70 m long according to one guide, with ramps, slides and stairs made from his clothes and hair. A second playground in the gardens follows, south of Gulliver, before the walk reaches the Hemisfèric.

1. 

   Palau de la Música

   The glass-roofed concert hall beside the Turia riverbed.

   Photo: Sento from Valencia, Spain · CC BY-SA 2.0

2. 

   Gulliver Park

   The giant Gulliver sprawled across the park, tied down by the Lilliputians.

   Photo: frankblacknoir · CC BY-SA 3.0

3. Playground in the Turia Gardens south of Gulliver Park Playground

   A playground in the Turia Gardens, south of Gulliver Park.

   On the map

4. 

   Hemisfèric

   The giant eye of the Hemisfèric reflected in the pool.

   Photo: Diego Cosenza from Roma, Italy · CC BY 2.0

5. 

   Pont de l'Assut d'Or

   The white mast and cable fan of Calatrava's bridge.

   Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0

Tips for parents

• One family guide says Gulliver Park isn't shaded, so it can get very hot, and that Gulliver himself is slippy to climb and not suitable for toddlers.
• Visit Valencia says the Turia Gardens run for more than nine kilometres along the old riverbed. It promotes them for cycling on flat terrain away from urban traffic and mentions scooters and tandems too.
• The same family guide lists cafes and kiosks among what the Turia Gardens have, along with playgrounds, so there are places to sit down between stops.

Public toilets

No public toilets are mapped close to this walk.