Things to do in Valencia for foodies
Things to Do in Valencia for Foodies: A Local Guide to Eating Your Way Through Valencia
If you’re a foodie visiting Valencia, you’re in for a treat.
Valencia is much more than paella. From bustling food markets and creamy horchata to Mediterranean wines, local oranges and some of the best rice dishes in Spain, food is one of the best ways to discover the city.
As a local official tour guide, food lover and WSET Level 3 sommelier, I’ve put together my favourite things to do in Valencia for foodies — including some experiences you might easily miss if you only follow the usual tourist recommendations.
1. Visit Valencia’s Central Market
The Mercado Central is one of the best places to start your foodie adventure in Valencia.
Located in the heart of the historic centre, the market is packed with the products that define Valencian cuisine: fresh fruit and vegetables, seafood, cheeses, cured meats, spices, olives and local specialities.
But don’t just walk around taking photos.
Stop, taste and talk to the vendors.
For food lovers, the Central Market is much more than a sightseeing attraction. It’s an introduction to the Mediterranean way of eating and to the local products that make Valencian cuisine so distinctive.
And if you’re interested in discovering Valencia through its food and history, you can also combine the market with a private guided tour of Valencia’s historic centre.
2. Try an Authentic Valencian Paella
You simply cannot visit Valencia without trying paella.
But here’s something important: paella Valenciana is not the same as every rice dish served as «paella» in Valencia.
The traditional Valencian version is associated with ingredients such as chicken, rabbit, green beans and garrofó, although recipes can vary from one family to another.
And if you want to eat paella like a local, remember one golden rule:
Lunch is the time for paella.
Paella is traditionally enjoyed slowly, often with family or friends. It’s not something to rush between sightseeing stops.
For the ultimate experience, head to the landscape where Valencian rice culture developed.
Want to discover where paella comes from?
My Albufera experience combines the natural landscape of the Albufera with a traditional boat ride and the opportunity to enjoy authentic Valencian paella in its place of origin.
3. Taste Horchata and Fartons
One of the most iconic Valencian food experiences is also one of the simplest:
Horchata + fartons.
Horchata de chufa is a refreshing drink made from tigernuts, known locally as chufa. The crop has been cultivated in the area surrounding Valencia for centuries.
Traditionally, horchata is served cold with fartons, long, soft pastries that are perfect for dipping into your glass.
But there’s a better way to discover horchata than simply ordering one in a café.
Go to the source.
Discover the fields where chufa is grown, learn about the traditional drying process and understand how this humble ingredient became one of Valencia’s most beloved products.
Discover the world of Valencian horchata
Discover my Horchata Experience in Valencia and discover the story behind one of the city’s most iconic drinks.
4. Discover Valencian Wines
Valencia may be famous for paella and oranges, but its wines deserve much more attention.
The region produces a fascinating range of wines, from fresh Mediterranean whites to powerful reds and traditional sparkling wines.
One grape you should definitely look out for is Bobal, the signature red variety of Utiel-Requena.
But don’t stop there.
Look for varieties such as:
- Bobal
- Monastrell
- Merseguera
- Moscatel
- Macabeo
And here’s the good news for wine lovers:
You don’t necessarily have to leave Valencia to discover Valencian wine.
Taste Valencia with a sommelier
My Valencia Wine Tasting is led by a WSET Level 3 sommelier and focuses on discovering local wines in a relaxed and accessible way.
Depending on the experience, you can discover wines from Utiel-Requena, including Bobal and Merseguera, as well as premium Cava from Requena and wines from small producers. (Tasting Valencia Tours)
Perfect for foodies and wine lovers who want to understand what makes Valencian wine special.
5. Explore Valencia’s Wine Country
If you have an extra day, venture beyond the city.
The Utiel-Requena wine region, around an hour from Valencia, is one of the most interesting destinations for wine lovers in the area.
This is the home of Bobal, one of Spain’s most fascinating indigenous grape varieties.
Here you can discover vineyards, historic wine-making traditions and small producers while exploring Requena, a historic town with a strong connection to wine.
If you’re passionate about wine, this is a very different experience from simply visiting a winery.
You get to understand the landscape, the grape varieties and the people behind the wines.
Want to discover Valencian wine at its source?
Ask me about my wine experiences in Requena and Utiel-Requena.
6. Discover Valencia’s Orange Culture
The name says it all: Valencia is inseparable from oranges.
But there is a big difference between drinking orange juice at your hotel and experiencing Valencia’s citrus culture first-hand.
The countryside surrounding Valencia is full of orange groves, and citrus has played a fundamental role in the region’s agriculture, economy and landscape.
During the right season, an orange experience allows you to discover:
- How Valencian oranges are grown
- Different varieties of citrus
- How oranges are harvested
- The history of citrus cultivation
- The relationship between Valencia and its most famous fruit
And, of course, you get to taste them where they grow.
Go beyond the postcard
Discover my Valencia Orange Experience and discover the citrus culture behind Valencia’s most famous fruit.
7. Eat Rice — Not Just Paella
Here’s a secret for foodies:
Valencia is a rice destination.
Paella is only the beginning.
The Valencian region has an enormous rice culture, with different dishes depending on the town, the ingredients and the occasion.
Look out for:
- Arròs a banda
- Arròs del senyoret
- Arroz negro
- Arroz al horno
- Rice with all i pebre
If you love rice, Valencia could easily become one of your favourite food destinations in Spain.
And if you want to understand the connection between rice, landscape and Valencian cuisine, the Albufera experience is a great place to start.
The Albufera is surrounded by rice fields and is deeply connected to the culinary traditions of Valencia. The experience includes a traditional boat ride and the possibility of enjoying authentic Valencian paella in El Palmar. (Tasting Valencia Tours)
8. Try All i Pebre
If you want to discover a dish that tells a very different story about Valencia, try all i pebre.
Traditionally associated with the Albufera, this dish is made with eel, garlic and paprika, often accompanied by potatoes.
It might sound unusual if you’ve never tried it, but it is deeply connected to the traditional food culture of the lagoon.
For foodies, this is exactly the kind of dish worth seeking out:
local, distinctive and connected to the landscape.
And that is one of the things I love most about Valencian gastronomy: the food often tells you where you are.
9. Explore the Albufera Through Food
The Albufera Natural Park isn’t only a beautiful place to visit.
It’s fundamental to understanding Valencian food.
Rice fields, fishing traditions, the cultivation of rice and dishes such as paella and all i pebre are all connected to this extraordinary landscape.
My Albufera tour takes you away from the city centre to discover the lagoon, rice fields and the village of El Palmar.
You’ll also enjoy a traditional boat ride and have the opportunity to taste Valencian paella in its place of origin. (Tasting Valencia Tours)
It’s one of my favourite ways to understand that Valencian cuisine isn’t just about recipes — it’s about landscape.
10. Discover Valencia With a Local Food & Wine Expert
And finally, my favourite recommendation:
Don’t just eat your way through Valencia. Let a local show you how.
A good food experience isn’t simply about trying several dishes.
It’s about understanding why people eat them, where they come from, how they are produced and which places locals actually love.
That’s exactly what I want to share through Tasting Valencia Tours.
I’m María, an official local guide, WSET Level 3 sommelier and author of Guía Foodie de Valencia. I created my experiences to help visitors discover Valencia through its food, wine, producers and local traditions.
I work with local businesses and want tourism to have a positive impact on the city I call home. (Tasting Valencia Tours)
Ready to Discover Valencia Through Food?
Whether you’re passionate about wine, obsessed with paella or simply want to discover the flavours that make Valencia unique, there are plenty of ways to experience the city like a local.
Explore my food & wine experiences:
🍷 Valencia Wine Tasting
Discover Valencian wines with a WSET Level 3 sommelier.
🌾 Albufera & Paella Experience
Discover the rice fields, take a traditional boat ride and taste paella where it was born.
🥛 Horchata Experience
Discover the story of chufa, horchata and fartons.
🍊 Valencia Orange Experience
Explore the orange groves and discover Valencia’s citrus culture.
🍇 Utiel-Requena Wine Experience
Discover Bobal and Valencian wine country.
👣 Private Valencia Tours
Create a personalised experience around your interests.
Food is the best way to understand Valencia
Valencia isn’t just a destination to see.
It’s a destination to taste.
From the markets of the historic centre to the rice fields of the Albufera, from horchata made with local tigernuts to Mediterranean wines and freshly harvested oranges, every product has a story.
And I’d love to share those stories with you.
Come hungry. Leave with a deeper taste of Valencia.
