A route through Valencia’s historic centre with free and essential places to visit
Valencia’s historic centre cannot be understood just by looking at its façades: it also invites you to discover what its streets and squares have to tell. Among golden stone, modernist portals and squares where the sun falls sideways, the old town —especially El Carmen— mixes centuries of memory with neighbourhood life.
Here is a walking route to discover Valencia’s curiosities, places to visit in Valencia for free and a variety of legends. Essential stops when you are looking for things to see in the city while staying in one of our tourist apartments in the centre.
The good news: there are many stops or places to visit in Valencia for free. At the end of the blog, you will find FAQs and practical tips.
For short trips or long stays, our tourist apartments in central Valencia are just around the corner from the legends.
How to get around the historic centre without any hassle.
- On foot: This is the best way to see the old town. Many of the streets are pedestrianised and the main area (Lonja–Market–Cathedral–Towers) can be covered in 2–3 hours at a leisurely pace.
- By bike: If you want to go a little further, we recommend going through the Turia Gardens. It is the green spine that connects the old town, CAC and nearby neighbourhoods.
- The best times to go: early morning and golden hour are magical for photos and mild temperatures. And in the evenings, the city buzzes with atmosphere.
Advantages of staying at Mon Suites when visiting Ciutat Vell
If you are travelling as a couple or with children and staying for several days, renting a tourist apartment in Valencia is the most convenient option. At Mon Suites you will find centrally located accommodation designed for getting around Ciutat Vella on foot, very close to many places to visit in Valencia for free and routes focused on Valencia legends.
1) Silk Exchange — civil Gothic architecture that tells stories and legends in the heart of Valencia.
The Trading Room and its symbolism.
The Exchange is a secular temple of commerce, yes… but also a book made of stone. In the Contract Room, the spiral columns have been interpreted as palm trees supporting a vaulted ‘sky’: the paradise of honest business. In fact, a Latin inscription runs along the top, reminding merchants not to fall into usury if they want wealth… and eternal life. Dogma or moral message for those who signed deals here? Both: it is documented.
Gargoyles, bestiaries and moral messages of civil Gothic
On the outside, gargoyles and ‘risqué’ figures appear: monsters, angels and scenes that border on the obscene. Urban legend has it that this was a ‘forceful reminder’ against the vices of merchants; current studies qualify this: these grotesque images served as a moral plea (and also as a drain, literally), heir to medieval bestiaries. Be that as it may, the message is clear: lust, greed and deceit are not welcome in the temple of commerce.
Tradition and some popular sources tell us about the tower of defaulters.
The tower contained cells for debtors and dishonest merchants. The chronicle refers to it as a ‘defaulter’s prison’; popular tradition turned this into another element of the Valencia legends associated with medieval trade.
- Opening hours & admission
- Monday to Saturday: 10:00–19:00
- Sundays and public holidays: 10:00–14:00
- Last admission: 30 minutes before closing time.
- Closed: 1 and 6 January, 1 May, 25 December.
- Price: €2 (general), €1 (reduced: groups, students, pensioners, large families). Admission is free on Sundays and public holidays.
Always check the updated timetables on the official website, as they may vary due to events or maintenance.
2) Valencia Cathedral and Miguelete: 207 steps steeped in history and legends.
The climb up Miguelete: 360º view of the historic centre.
Climbing Miguelete/Micalet is a ritual: 207 spiral steps and a 360º view. For centuries, a dark legend has surrounded the tower: the bell chronicles record fatal falls in times past. Today, access is regulated and signposted, but the story remains in the local imagination. For details about the tower and visiting it, see the official Miguelete website.
Bell chronicles of the past and the Holy Chalice.
- The hour bell (1539) weighs over 7 tonnes; if it rings while you are at the top, you will feel the vibration in your bones.
- Inside, the Cathedral houses the Holy Chalice in its chapel; if you are attracted by the mixture of history and myth, this is a must-see.
Practical visiting tips and recommended times.
- Miguelete Tower: open all year round with long opening hours every day. Separate ticket from the cultural visit; can be purchased at the ticket office.
- Cultural visit to the Cathedral (interior + museum): normally 10:30–18:30 in winter (last admission 17:30; varies at weekends). May be temporarily closed on special dates. See Cultural visit and Official opening hours and prices.
- Tickets (where and how): can be purchased directly at the ticket office or at authorised points according to official information.
- Avoid peak times (mid-morning on public holidays) and wear shoes with good grip, as the steps are old.
- If you’re looking for the perfect photo opportunity, try the golden hour: the stone takes on a honey tone that you’ll fall in love with.
- Important: Check opening hours and last-minute notices (liturgy/works) on the Cathedral’s website.
3) Plaza Redonda: 19th-century architecture in a perfect circle.
Origin and evolution of the square since the 19th century
Plaza Redonda is one of the most photogenic places to visit in Valencia for free in the city centre. It was designed in the late 1830s and built in 1840 on what was already a very commercial area. The architect was Salvador Escrig Melchor, and his idea was as simple as it was powerful: a ring of four-storey buildings, with ground floors for shops and access from four streets at the cardinal points. For decades it was known by other names: El Clot (‘the hole’), Plaza Nueva, Circular, de la Regencia or del Cid, until it became known as the current ‘Plaza Redonda’.
Geometry, traditional commerce and transformation of space.
The inner circle measures 37 metres in diameter and, surprisingly, was built in sections, which makes it even more remarkable that the result was so precise for its time. From the inside, the ring of façades forms a yellow cylinder that opens up to the sky with a historic central fountain. If you look through the ‘eye’, the bell tower of Santa Catalina is beautifully framed.
The square was designed to accommodate small businesses from the outset. At the beginning of the 20th century, a ‘temporary’ roof was erected for permanent stalls — it even housed shops while the Central Market was taking shape — and the temporary became permanent. Over time, the stalls specialised in lace, embroidery and yarns, as well as pottery and popular souvenirs.
Where to take the best photo in the Plaza Redonda
- Best time: mild morning or last light. The circular shadows are beautiful.
- Star shot: right next to the fountain, wide-angle lens and looking up: perfect circle, balconies and sky. And if you take the photo at an angle, you can also frame the bell tower of Santa Catalina.
- Don’t forget to take a stroll: enter at one end and exit at the other; you’ll understand why it’s an urban ‘micro-theatre’.
4) Casa de los Gatos: the most famous miniature in the Carmen neighbourhood
History and creator of this urban curiosity in the Carmen neighbourhood.
Right in the heart of Carmen, this mini façade is one of the neighbourhood’s most beloved curiosities, as well as one of the most unique places to visit in Valencia for free.
At Calle Museo, 9 (El Carmen), at ground level, there is a miniature façade: a door, a coat of arms, a fountain, tiles and even a tiny ‘flower box’. It is not just any ornament: the piece was created in 2003 by the craftsman and sculptor Alfonso Yuste Navarro on the wall of a neighbouring plot.
The ‘four cats’ and their historical link to the neighborhood: inscriptions, nods and microelements
- The ceramic inscription on the fountain: a tribute ‘to the memory of the four cats…’ who, according to one of Valencia’s legends, remained in the neighborhood after the year MXCIV (1094) —the year El Cid entered Valencia. It is an ironic way of saying ‘there were only four cats left’.
- The ‘Chaplin’ detail on one of the windows, the ‘fire safety’ panel and other nods that turn the work into a small urban ‘comic strip’.
- Watermarks next to the piece: a plaque commemorates the 1957 flood (and, according to some tours, another symbolic warning of future flooding).
- The mini-facade acts as a cat flap to the adjacent plot, associated with the neighbourhood’s cat colony; some sources indicate that the cats were relocated to safer areas, but the ‘house’ remains as a symbol and tribute. Opposite it is the Centre del Carme (CCCC), so it is easy to include it in any walk around the neighbourhood.
The best way to visit the cats’ house.
When visiting and taking a photo, crouch down, look for the plaque with the text and mini-details (Chaplin, fountain). Take the photo quickly and try not to block the entrance, as it is a narrow and very busy street. If you like hunting for ‘details with history’, note that this is one of the curiosities of Valencia that best sums up the humour of El Carmen.
5) Civil War shelters: underground memories in the historic centre.
How they were built and what they were used for
Beneath the streets of El Carmen lies a network of air-raid shelters built during the Civil War to protect the population from bombing. Not all of them can be visited, but some can be seen inside with a guide; others leave clues on the surface: signs, blocked entrances, old ventilation shafts.
In 1937, the Passive Defence Board standardised the construction of shelters with two common types: vaulted and linteled. Dozens were documented in Valencia (many in Ciutat Vella). Upon entering, you can see that they are simple constructions but created with a very clear intention: to protect the population.
The shelters are also places to visit in Valencia for free that allow you to get to know the city from another historical perspective.
Which shelters can be visited today (downtown and El Carmen area)
- Shelter on Calle Serranos, 25: Free guided tours for the general public, usually Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. (except August). Reservations/inquiries by email or municipal telephone. Address: C/ de Serranos, 25.
- Town Hall Shelter: Open with free admission and extended hours (Tues–Sat 10:00–14:00 and 15:00–19:00; Sun/holidays 10:00–13:30; closed Mondays). You need to bring identification to enter, so remember to bring your ID card. Ideal if you want to understand the museography before going down to a more ‘neighbourhood’ shelter.
Safety and experience tips for your visit
- Arrive early: the spaces are small and tours start on time.
- Wear shoes with good soles; the floor is uneven and damp.
- Notice the contradiction: upstairs, squares full of life; downstairs, spaces designed for silent protection. That tension is part of the experience.
- Check the opening hours on the official website: public holidays, events and maintenance work may change the opening times without prior notice.
FAQs
What should I see in Valencia if I only have one morning?
La Lonja next to the Central Market, the Cathedral (without going up) and the Plaza Redonda. If you have time, take a look at the Serranos Towers.
Is it worth climbing the Miguelete?
Yes. After those 207 steps you will find a 360º view. Avoid rush hour; bring water and a charged mobile phone.
Can I do a free tour of Valencia’s legends?
No problem! If it’s Sunday, many of the sites have free admission. And during the week, you can still enjoy the shelters, the Casa de los Gatos and all the urban art in El Carmen and the monumental exteriors.
An ideal route if you are staying in tourist apartments in the centre of Valencia, especially if you want to get around Ciutat Vella on
