Valencia: Old Town Tour, Moorish Cave Tapas & Port Return

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Free cancellationExcellent qualityLikely to sell out

1/7

Duration5h

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Valencia’s city walls, tapas in a cave and futuristic icons

You’ll wander Valencia’s Old Town with a local guide, taste authentic paella and regional wines inside an 11th-century Moorish cave, then see the futuristic City of Arts & Sciences before your driver returns you safely to port. Expect stories, laughter, new flavors—and maybe a detail or two you’ll remember long after you’ve left.

Step-by-step itinerary

Valencia Old Town, Tapas, and City Tour

Explore Valencia Old Town architecture
Visit Mercado Central food market
Enjoy tapas and paella tasting
Drink prizewinning regional wines
Tour City of Arts & Sciences
Return to port by transport

The Experience

I didn’t expect to start my day in Valencia with a story about oranges. Our guide Ana handed us a slice right outside the Mercado Central — I swear I could smell the citrus before I tasted it. The Old Town felt alive in that morning light, all uneven stones and faded tiles. Ana had this way of pointing out things you’d never notice alone (like the tiny bat carved over a doorway — apparently it’s a whole thing here). We wandered through winding streets where old men argued softly over cards, and for a second I forgot we were on a cruise schedule at all.

The real surprise was lunch. We ducked into what looked like just another archway but turned out to be part of the original 11th-century city wall — cool stone under my hand, air smelling faintly of earth and garlic. Inside, there was this little patio with sunlight bouncing off old bricks. They served us paella (the proper Valencian kind) and these little tapas that Ana insisted we try with local wine. I tried to pronounce “esgarraet” — she laughed and corrected me gently. It was warm and easy, not rushed like so many group tours can feel.

Later we drove out to the City of Arts & Sciences. The buildings are wild — all white curves against blue sky, nothing like the Old Town at all. Ana explained how Calatrava designed them to look almost like bones or shells; I kept thinking they looked like spaceships waiting to take off. We didn’t go inside (that’s not included), but honestly just seeing them up close was enough for me. On the way back to port, I caught myself replaying that lunch in my head — something about eating in that ancient cave sticks with you longer than you’d think.

What’s included

Your day includes guided walking through Valencia’s Old Town with stories from your local guide, entry into an exclusive 11th-century venue for a full lunch of tapas and paella paired with regional wines, plus comfortable transport back to your cruise port when it’s all done.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearby

Operated by Sea Saffron