Going to Valencia with kids: 6 good travel reasons for the autumn season.

“Calmer” than Madrid or Barcelona, and just as much an Eldorado for foodies. Whether you travel with or without a baby: Valencia, Spain’s third largest city, is simply a dream. Plus, many kilometres of city beaches at the mouth of the river Turia make Valencia especially attractive for us as a family.

In addition, a dear friend recently moved from Austria to Spain with her Chilean husband. It is the two of them who ultimately make us go, diving into a sea full of travel adventures with our two young children.

Hola, Valencia: Unterwegs mit unseren Freunden Michi & Alejandro (erster und dritte von links); die Kids schlafen dankenswerterweise Siesta in ihren Reisekinderwägen.

Hola, Valencia: Out and about with our friends Michi & Alejandro (first and third from left); both kids are on siesta mode in their prams.

 

In general, the trip is very pleasant with the support of our local friends; naturally, they have many practical tips for us.

Thanks to the support of our local friends and their practical tips, the journey is much easier on us naturally.

 

Flying with kids “made easy”: The most important tips for relaxed kids (and parents).

So how, as parents, do you go about ensuring peace right from the start, making those arrival and departure days with (very young) children as stress-free as possible? One important tip is, of course, preparation: Does everyone have a valid passport, for instance? Babies and toddlers also need their own passport when travelling (at least here in Austria). Who carries which item of luggage (and child), other than a carrier, pram, nappies, baby food, toys – clothes?! What goes into our bags, whether hand luggage or checked luggage?

Take a look at the photos below and find out how we organised it all! Here are also a few useful links for you:

 

Preparing for the week-long flight to Valencia: My husband and I are friends of our large travel backpacks, in which we also each divide the clothes for the children - this leaves our hands free when "navigating" with the two of them.

Preparing for the flight to Valencia: My husband and I love our large travel backpacks, in which we also divide up the clothes for the children – this leaves us “hands free” when navigating around with the two of them.

 

In the aircraft itself, the baby is given its own small harness and is thus "attached" to the harness of a parent. I recommend - from twofold personal experience - breastfeeding (or giving bottles) during the climb and descent to prevent possible earaches for the baby.

In the aircraft itself, the baby is given its own small seat belt and is thus “attached” to the seat belt of a parent. I recommend – from personal experience – breastfeeding (or giving bottles) during the climb and descent to prevent possible earaches for the baby.

 

On the spot, it proved useful to borrow a second travel pram for our three-year-old. The one on the right is our own, bought especially for use as hand luggage on the plane.

On the spot, it proved useful to borrow a second travel pram for our three-year-old. The one on the right is our own, bought especially for use as hand luggage on the plane.

 

Another good tip for travelling with (small) children: Book a family-friendly AirBnB that, like ours here, even has toys, a baby bath, a high chair, etc. It makes everything much easier for the parents on site. Makes everything much easier for the parents :)

Another good tip for travelling with (small) children: Book a family-friendly AirBnB that, like ours here, even has toys, a baby bath, a high chair, etc. It makes everything much easier for us parents ..!

 

Valencia travel tip #1 : Beach, beach, beach – and mild autumn vibes.

We booked our AirBnB accommodation not only because it was family-friendly, but also because it was close to the city beaches of Valencia, El Cabanyal and Malvarosa. This seemed to be the best choice for travelling with children: in the sand, fun and games are guaranteed without much effort. Once, I went to the beach with my older son, while daddy and baby Levin were resting: Liam even dared to go into the sea, which offered surprisingly mild water temperatures despite the time of year (end of October).

Check this out.

Blick auf den Strand von Valencia Richtung Norden.

View over the massive beach in Valencia city. On Saturday morning, we greet the fishermen!

 

Liam und ich sind derweil beschäftigt ...

Liam and I are busy elsewhere (all the toys that you can see here are from our AirBnB, so cool!) …

 

... auch unsere Freundin Michi war mit am Strand ...

… our friend Michi also joined us on the beach …

 

... für Levin war es nach Malta sein zweites Mal mit Füsschen im Sand ...

…  and for little Levin, it was his second time ever on a beach after Malta …

 

... große Empfehlung für den Strand von Valencia, egal für einen (halben) Tag oder nur eine Stunde!

… we loved our beach time here: Do make sure to check it out when you travel to Valencia!

 

Valencia travel tip #2 : Visit a very cool sea world.

This tip came early on from our local friends Michi & Alejandro, as well as from a parents’ travel community on Facebook. The layout of the aquariums, the quality of the food on site, the guided tour of the diverse and varied grounds: in the end, the €33 admission fee per adult (children under four are free) seemed justified to us.

Blick auf das "Oceanogràfic" in Valencia ...

View of the “Oceanogràfic” sea world in Valencia …

 

... das "Fischehaus", wie Liam es liebevoll nennt. Und tatsächlich waren beide Buben wieder einmal restlos fasziniert ...

… both my kids were absolutely thrilled …

 

... von der Unterwasserwelt ...

… of the mighty underwater world …

 

... vor ihren Augen.

… in front of their eyes. We all especially loved the large aquarium tunnels.

 

Liam mit Blick auf eine Schar Flamingos im Außengelände des Oceanogràfic in Valencia.

Above ground, Liam checks out a bunch of flamingos at the Oceanogràfic in Valencia.

 

Valencia travel tip #3 : Learn to prepare your own Spanish Paella!

Learning to prepare a real Spanish paella where it originally comes from, is I believe a must when visiting Valencia! This has been a declared gourmet goal of mine for a long time, as I have been cooking paella for my family in Austria for years (following the recipe of a friend from Madrid).

Turns out that Miguel, through his Horta Viva business, provided just the right offer: Outside the main city, we could learn how to cook a paella for twelve people at his home together with a group from the Netherlands – including vegetables freshly harvested from the family garden.

It was Miguel who finally taught me that the real secret “among the thousand different paella recipes” is to get the flavour of the meat and vegetables into the rice through the broth first – so that the rice doesn’t need to be seasoned at all. And it’s not just any rice they use here in Valencia, of course, it’s the original round grain rice grown especially here around Valencia.

Enjoy our cooking demo through the photographs below.

Our pleasure trip to Spanish paella starts with ... the rubbing of a special "pear tomato variety" to get strained tomatoes for the paella (Photo (c) Michaela Valle) ...

Our foodie trip to cooking a Spanish paella starts with … straining a special type of “pear tomato” (picture (c) Michaela Valle) …

 

... Miguel hat natürlich auch schon ein bisschen was vorbereitet, so

… Miguel has prepared many ingredients already, such as veggies from his own garden, meat and olive oil …

 

... während Michaela und ich rühren ...

… while Michi and I stir …

 

... darf Liam den Salat aus der Schüssel hier an die Hühner hinter den Gemüsebeeten verfüttern.

… Liam is happy to learn that he can feed the salad leaves to the chicken behind the house.

 

Danke für das schöne Familienfoto, liebe Michi! (Foto (c) Michaela Valle).

Thank you for the beautiful family picture, Michi! (picture (c) Michaela Valle).

 

Nach über einer Stunde Magie ist die Paella für zwölf Personen fertig!

After a good hour’s work, the paella for twelve is finally ready!

 

Mahlzeit aus dem "Horta Viva" - ein Paella-Erlebnis, das wir nur empfehlen können!

We love it – including Liam. All digging in. I can only recommend you to check out Miguel’s food travel experiences!

 

Valencia travel tip #4 : Enjoy the city’s old town district.

The old town of Valencia is well worth a visit. Michi and Alejandro told us a little bit about the history of the city. However, naturally when travelling with young children, any longer stretches of sightseeing will have to wait until they are a bit more grown …! But even so, just strolling around (in our case: pushing the prams) is very very nice in Valencia.

"The Walking Dad" ...

“The Walking Dad” …

 

... auf durch eines der beiden mittelalterlichen Stadttore in Valencia.

… off we go through one of Valencia’s medieval gates.

 

Die Innenstadt gefällt uns wahnsinnig gut ...

We love the inner city …

 

... die schmalen Altstadtgässchen haben was ...

… full of typical small streets and tall, narrow houses …

 

... die historischen Bauten ...

… many historical sights …

 

... und, da beide Babys im Kinderwagen schlafen, ein wenig Zeit nur für die Eltern.

… and even some time to us as parents, while both kids happen to nap at the same time (jackpot!).

 

Tip: In the immediate vicinity of the old town, the dried-up (because diverted) riverbed of the Turia meanders, which today is popular as a nearly 10-kilometre-long recreation centre in the middle of Valencia. Next time we visit, we want to cycle along here! (Photo (c) Michaela Valle).

Another travel tip is this: In the immediate vicinity of the old town, you can cycle or walk through the dried-up (diverted) riverbed of the Turia river, a nearly 10-kilometre-long recreation centre in the middle of Valencia. Next time we visit, we want to cycle along here too! (picture (c) Michaela Valle).

 

Valencia travel tip #5 : Discover the modern face of Valencia.

Nothing like visiting la “Ciutat de les Arts i Sciències” (the “City of Arts and Sciences”). In 2022, Valencia has been known as “World Capital of Design” – well deserved, I’d say!

Obligatorischer Fotostopp in Valencia (Foto (c) Michaela Valle).

Natural Valencia photo stop (picture (c) Michaela Valle).

 

Nur einen Katzensprung vom "Oceanogràfic" ...

Only a few steps away from the “Oceanogràfic” …

 

... we discover extremely exciting buildings here, such as the modern opera house of Valencia, which is spanned by a huge "leaf" - an architectural and constructional masterpiece!

… we discover extremely exciting buildings here, such as the modern opera house of Valencia, which is spanned by a huge “leaf” – an architectural and constructional masterpiece!

 

This is another must-see area when you're in Valencia! Tip: Don't forget Horchata (typical regional soft drink). It's doubly refreshing after long walks. (Photo (c) Michaela Valle).

This is another must-see area when you’re in Valencia! Also, don’t forget to order Horchata (typical regional soft drink). It’s doubly refreshing after long walks. (picture (c) Michaela Valle).

 

Valencia travel tip #6 : Tapas, Tapas, Tapas!!!

What would a trip to Spain be without trying tapas? We have tasted our way through many of them, not spurning an extra kilo or two from the trip, and can only recommend the following temptations to you …

Easy beginnings: Überall gibt es Oliven ("aceitunas"), die auch meinem dreijährigen Liam gut schmecken ..!

Easy beginnings: Juicy olives (“aceitunas”) are served as tapas everywhere, also appealing to our son Liam..!

 

... Tapas-Abendessen im Restaurant "Pintxo i Trago" in der Altstadt von Valencia, auf der Plaça Redonda ...

… Tapas dinner at the local bar and restaurant “Pintxo i Trago” at Plaça Redonda …

 

... dieses Gericht, genannt Fideua, kenne ich schon von meinen Besuchen an der katalanischen Costa Brava etwas weiter nördlich von hier ...

… now this meal, called Fideua, is still known to me from my time living in Costa Brava …

 

... und natürlich gilt: Alles und überall in Spanien ist extrem kinderfreundlich, auch und gerade beim Essen.

… and everywhere we go is very child-friendly, too. A great city destination when travelling with young ones!

 

Fancy going to Valencia? If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to comment here. Buen viaje!

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