Valencia has it all. There’s History and plenty of stories to satisfy your curiosity, beaches to cool off on, neighbourhoods that feel like home, great food to tempt your taste buds and scenery that feeds the soul. And yes, it also has that larger-than-life confidence that only comes from celebrating everything in style: with plenty of fire and fireworks, as if to say, “Here I am.” Because there it is, and these experiences are proof.

Step inside Valencia Cathedral and you won’t want to leave until you know everything about it. Especially if you’re a die-hard Indiana Jones fan and discover that the Holy Chalice is kept here. Looking at it inspires admiration and scepticism in equal measure, so we’ll leave it up to you to decide, based on the evidence, whether it’s the real thing. Many visitors are also drawn to the cathedral by the Micalet, the bell tower with some of the best views of Valencia. You’ll need to climb around 200 steps to reach them.

Choose the cultural fix you need each day. Valencia has just about everything, including a museum dedicated to toy soldiers, so when it comes to art, you’re guaranteed variety and plenty of unusual discoveries. In this part of Spain, there’s a museum dedicated to rice, a couple devoted to the Fallas and another dedicated to ceramics. The last of these, the National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Arts González Martí, is housed in the Palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas, a fine example of Spanish Baroque architecture, and contains works by none other than Picasso. Be sure to visit the Bancaja Foundation, where Sorolla takes pride of place, and check out the exhibitions at Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporània. It’s such a lively, dynamic place that you might find a performance, books, performing arts or music.

See for yourself why neighbourhood life is the best life. Ruzafa is proof. For years, it’s been making headlines as Valencia’s Soho, the city’s hipster hotspot or the neighbourhood everyone’s talking about. Its streets are lined with restaurants where you can travel the world without leaving Valencia, design shops that show you why it’s worth surrounding yourself with beautiful things, cafés where you can pop in for breakfast and stay all day, and an energy that makes the whole neighbourhood feel constantly on the move, with new projects taking shape.

Discover that life happens between esmorzaret and paella. Esmorzaret (a late-morning snack) is an almost sacred ritual in Valencia, usually enjoyed between 9 am and midday. It means making the most of life with an aperitif, a cold beer or wine mixed with fizzy lemonade, all kinds of sandwiches and a cremaet to finish. There are plenty of places to try it, but if one is famous for its enormous sandwiches, it’s La Pascuala. Paella needs less explaining, although some people may need to learn that rice with stuff in it isn’t always paella. A great place to find out what real paella is all about is Casa Carmela, where they’ve been making people happy with a plate of paella since 1922.

Find your place in the world if you’re curious to learn. The sweeping curves of the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències have become part of the city’s collective imagination, for residents and visitors alike. A must-visit for science, technology and culture lovers, this complex has something for everyone: from the famous Oceanogràfic, with its recreated marine ecosystems and around 500 animal species, to the performances hosted by the Palau de les Arts. There’s also the Umbracle, a garden spanning more than 17,000 square metres, home to typical Mediterranean plants.

Visit the Valencian Sistine Chapel. Yes, you read that right: the Valencian one. Since the Church of San Nicolás de Bari and San Pedro Mártir, in the city’s historic centre, was restored in 2016, many people have given it that nickname. Why? Its frescoes by Antonio Palomino and Dionís Vidal, painted around 1700 to depict the lives of the church’s two patron saints, have regained their rich colours and luminosity following the restoration. Stepping inside this church also means entering one of the city’s first twelve Christian parishes and a building that combines a 15th-century Gothic structure with 17th-century Baroque decoration.

Climb to the top of a pair of medieval towers. Beneath your feet are the Serranos Towers, a reminder of the time when the city needed defensive walls. In front of you lie Trinitat, Benimaclet and the sea. Behind you are the rooftops and façades of El Carmen. The neighbourhood has become something of a curiosity. In fact, some people visit just to take a photo on Moret Street. It’s known as the Street of Colours, thanks to the 60 metres of graffiti covering its walls. One mural stands out in particular: an anonymous couple kissing at London Bridge station in London.

Treat yourself to a feast of beautiful sights, enticing aromas and delicious flavours at the Central Market. Here, the best is truly inside. Around 250 stalls brim with fresh fruit and vegetables, spices, fish, seafood, meat and cheese, inspiring you to brush up on your cooking skills and make the most of them in your recipes. And when the colourful displays let you tear your eyes away, don’t forget to look up and admire the glass, iron and ceramic domes of the Modernist building you’re in. It’s warmly lit, spacious and absolutely beautiful. Time seems to stand still here, even though the building is more than 100 years old.

And then, suddenly… the sea. Few things are more enjoyable than dipping your toes in the water, with a swim just ahead and your towel waiting for you on the sand. Of all the stretches of fine, golden sand in Valencia, the urban beaches of Cabanyal and Malvarrosa are the perfect way to round off a day spent exploring monuments and museums, thanks to their proximity to the city. Follow the promenade until you find your perfect spot, put up your parasol and feel the sea breeze.

Watch the sunset over l’Albufera. Located 10 kilometres from Valencia, this natural park is just the change of pace you need on any trip. The sightseeing gives way to miles of rice fields and market gardens, and the charming houses of El Palmar, where a few traditional barracas still stand. There’s always a boatman ready to take you across a lake that’s home to numerous birds and the setting for one of Spain’s most beautiful sunsets.

Para alojarte cerca del centro y disfrutar del ambiente de uno de los barrios más animados de la ciudad, puedes elegir el Sercotel Valencia Ruzafa. Frente al Palacio de Congresos y bien conectado con el centro, Sercotel Sorolla Palace es otra opción cómoda para descubrir Valencia.