Everything you need to know about Valencia Region
Valencia geography
The Valencia region covers the long strip of coast down the east of Spain. Craggy Iberian mountains dotted with small towns and villages lie inland, while sandy coastal plains such as the Costa Blanca and Costa Azahar line the shores. The major cities include the province capitals Valencia, Alicante and Castellón de la Plana.
Come for the climate, stay for the food!
All the guidebooks shout about Valencia being the birthplace of paella, but as any Hispano-foodie worth their flor de sal knows, the best rice cookery happens not in Valencia province, but further south in the province of Alicante. And while paella might be the most famous Valencian dish, the lesser known clóchina is the real star of the show - a small sweet fleshed shellfish unique to the Valencian coastline that will change the way you feel about the humble mussel.The restaurant scene in Valencia region is bewilderingly good, with 25 Michelin starred restaurants and a further 28 with a Bib Gourmand. Other Valencia food highlights include citrus fruits, olive oil, esgarret - a dish featuring red peppers with salt cod - and bunyols, a deliciously indulgent pumpkin fritter.
Sip, sip, olé
The quality of the orange juice is almost poetic in Valencia, thanks to all those juicy Valencia oranges. Take it to the next level with an agua de València, a potent cocktail of fresh orange juice, gin, vodka and prosecco that’s almost as popular here as sangria. Valencia is an oft-overlooked wine region, thought to produce forgettable wines in bulk, but this is starting to change, as dynamic new wineries spring up all over the region. One wine that’s always hit the spot are Alicante province’s sweet moscatel wines. And of course we mustn’t forget one of Valencia’s stand out products, tiger nut milk (horchata de chufa), made from locally grown tiger nuts.
Fiesta fever
Valencia pulsates with an array of vibrant festivals each year, rivalled only by Galicia as the Spanish region with the most festivals per annum. You may have heard of the world-famous La Tomatina, where revelers engage in a messy tomato battle, or Las Fallas, a dazzling extravaganza of fireworks, parades, and intricate sculptures. We love the lively Feria de Julio in Valencia city, a month-long fiesta featuring music, dance, and street performances, as well as the vibrant Alicante Carnival, with its colourful parades and uber glam masquerade balls. Maritime Holy Week is another banger of a festival to look out for across the region, a nautical themed celebration for Easter, week involving processions and plenty of enthusiastic bell-ringing.
Expat paradise
Expats make up just over 18% of the total population of the region according to 2023 figures released by INE, with 971,429 foreign residents listed as citizens. Valencia is the most popular region in Spain for foreign property purchases on Kyero.com. According to our latest data, expat’s top 10 favourite locations to buy property in Valencia include:
Torrevieja
Guardamar del Segura
Denia
Orihuela Costa
La Marina
Altea
Calpe
Javea
Oliva
Alicante
Natural parks, UNESCO and the legacy of the Knights Templar
There's no shortage of things to do in Valencia region. The tranquil Albufera Natural Park, with its serene lake surrounded by picturesque paddy fields and forests, makes for a wonderful day out with the whole family. Uncover the history at the UNESCO-listed Palm Grove of Elche and Peñíscola castle, with its coastal panoramas. Wander around the Garden of Valencia, or venture into the mountains for snowboarding and hiking adventures.
Explore historic towns and villages like the medieval walled town of Morella, or the picturesque mountain village of Guadelest. Dive into the crystal-clear waters off the Valencian coast for some exhilarating scuba diving experiences, take the kids to a waterpark (there are five to choose from), or tee off at one of the region's renowned golf courses. To top it off, Valencia is home to some of the best birdwatching in the world, think pink flamingos, booted eagles, and marsh harriers.
