Valencian Community

The Valencian Community runs along Spain's Mediterranean coast and is made up of three provinces: Valencia, Alicante and Castellón. It combines long sandy beaches, orange-scented countryside, big festivals and some of the country's best seafood dishes. Its official languages are Spanish and Valencian.

Start with Valencia, the regional capital, where the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences sits beside a medieval old town and the Turia gardens, and where paella comes from the nearby Albufera wetlands. Further south, Alicante and the Costa Blanca offer a castle above the harbour and a lively old quarter. Benidorm is Spain's best-known high-rise beach resort, easy to reach and easy to plan around. In the north, Castellón opens the Costa del Azahar with quieter beaches and mountain villages.

The calendar matters here. Valencia's Fallas in March, the Hogueras de San Juan in Alicante in June and the Tomatina in Buñol at the end of August all shape when to visit. Browse our city guides below.