You arrive in Valencia expecting to explore its historic centre, feast on paella and take a dip in the sea, but end up discovering the city with Indiana Jones, finding out where the Tooth Fairy keeps all those teeth, sleeping alongside sharks and sailing across Europe’s largest lake. After enjoying these family experiences in Valencia, the hardest part will be explaining to the children why it is time to go home.

Watch dolphins playing in the water, observe a family of beluga whales, delight in finding Nemo — or rather, a clownfish — and marvel at the impressive size of South American sea lions. Located within the City of Arts and Sciences, the Oceanogràfic recreates the world’s most important marine ecosystems in its vast aquariums. You can explore it independently, join a guided tour or book one of its fascinating experiences. The Backstage Tour takes you behind the scenes and includes a visit to the quarantine area, where young animals are cared for before being introduced into the main tanks. Sleeping with Sharks gives you the chance to spend the night in the Oceans tunnel, surrounded by these incredible creatures. You can also take part in The Sea in Your Hands, an activity focused on Mediterranean biodiversity that includes a visit to the sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation area.

Bioparc Valencia covers around 100,000 square metres and aims to showcase the beauty and natural wealth of the African continent, inspiring visitors to help protect it. To achieve this, the park recreates four of its habitats—the savannah, the equatorial forest, Madagascar and the wetlands—where giraffes, meerkats, gorillas, lions, elephants, Nile crocodiles and many other species live side by side. The key lies precisely in this coexistence within multi-species enclosures, designed to reproduce as faithfully as possible the way these animals would live in the wild.

The city of Valencia is crossed from west to east by nine kilometres of green space. Known as the Turia Gardens, this vast urban park was created along the former riverbed of the Turia. Cycle paths, playgrounds of all kinds, fountains, ponds, sports facilities, bars, terraces and 18 bridges line a route that, since 1986, has been one of the city’s favourite spots for families with young children. And as if nine kilometres of gardens were not enough, the park borders Cabecera Park to the west, where you can hire swan-shaped pedal boats and explore its lake.

If you’re visiting Valencia with children, this is one activity you won’t want to miss. The city’s beaches are close to the centre, with plenty of space, wonderfully soft sand you’ll never want to leave and water that practically begs you all to jump in and splash around. Whether you visit in summer for a refreshing dip or at another time of year to let the little ones run free, Malvarrosa and Cabanyal beaches are the perfect addition to a day of sightseeing.

And it is easy to see why. At the Science Museum, for example, there is an entire area designed especially for children. It is called L’Espai dels Xiquets, where they can explore their senses, learn about water and animals, and work together to finish building a house. You can also visit the L’Iber Museum. Located in the El Carmen neighbourhood, it is the kind of place where you know when your visit begins, but not when it will end. That is hardly surprising when more than 95,000 miniature figures arranged in intricate displays unfold before your eyes. Explaining what the Fallas are may be easier at the Fallas Museum, where children can admire the artistry of the pardoned ninots that have escaped the flames and gradually shaped its collection. During your trip to the city, you will also be able to answer a question that occupies many young minds: where do the teeth collected by the Tooth Fairy’s Spanish counterpart, Ratoncito Pérez, actually go? To the Antiguo Almacén de Dientes, located at number 16 Carrer Borrul, which offers theatrical guided tours. Lasting around 50 minutes, the experience is a whirlwind of lights, colours, games and interactive machines.

That is the name given to the traditional boats that take visitors across the lake in La Albufera Natural Park, around 10 kilometres from Valencia. Its 2,800 hectares of freshwater make it the largest lake of its kind in Europe and a habitat for as many as 350 species of bird. The local boatmen who steer these vessels know the lake like the back of their hand. They know exactly where to go to delight younger visitors, gliding through the vegetation and spotting the birds that children find so fascinating. Choosing to enjoy this experience at sunset makes it even more magical.

If the Holy Grail is in Valencia, the most famous archaeologist of all time couldn’t be too far away. You can explore the city alongside him, uncovering its legends and mysteries, on The Last Crusade Tour, a two-hour experience during which Dr Jones will not only tell you about the famous relic and share fascinating facts about Valencia, but will also have to take on challenges such as fire-eating and wielding his legendary whip. Afterwards, a visit to the Chapel of the Holy Chalice inside the Cathedral is practically a must, so you can see it with your own eyes. And should you wish to learn more about it, your next stop has to be the Aula Grial. Located at number 6 Carrer dels Cabillers, this interpretation centre answers visitors’ questions, explores the chalice’s history and explains how it may have made its way to Valencia.