Valencia: Paella Cooking Class & Ruzafa Market Tour

Summary

Valencian paella class plus market stroll and tapas with locals

You’ll shop with locals in Ruzafa Market, learn every step of making authentic Valencian paella (with chicken and rabbit), sip sangria over tapas, then share your own creation for lunch in good company—with dessert and coffee to finish. It’s not just cooking; you’ll feel part of something warm and real.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect to care so much about tomatoes. But there we were, just inside the Ruzafa Market in Valencia, sniffing herbs and poking at fat red tomatoes while our guide—her name was Marta—explained why they matter for real Valencian paella. The place smelled like oranges and raw fish and something sweet I couldn’t place. Marta waved to a butcher who grinned at us, and I realized she knew half the people here. It felt less like a tour, more like tagging along with someone’s grocery run.

We picked out chicken and rabbit (I hesitated—rabbit isn’t my usual), then wandered past stalls stacked with little green beans and saffron packets. I tried to say “garrofón” right; Marta laughed kindly at my accent. She told us about Sunday family lunches in Valencia—how paella is more than food here. The walk to the kitchen was quick, maybe eight minutes, but it was hot out and I could smell bread baking somewhere nearby. My shirt stuck to my back by the time we arrived.

Inside, there was cold sangria waiting (thank god), plus plates of jamón serrano and manchego cheese. The chef showed us how to make sangria too—mine was heavy on fruit because I got distracted talking to a couple from Madrid about football. Making the paella itself was surprisingly hands-on; stirring rice over that wide pan felt weirdly calming. There were jokes about whose rice would stick first (it was mine). When we finally ate—paella with tomato salad, wine from Valencia—I remember thinking it tasted different because I’d helped make it. Maybe that’s cheesy but it’s true.

Dessert was simple: sponge cake dipped in sweet wine. We lingered over coffee until someone started talking about their grandma’s recipe back home. That part sticks with me—a bunch of strangers swapping stories around an empty pan. Not sure I’ll ever look at supermarket rice the same way again.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Valencian paella cooking and tasting

• Meet at San Valero Parish door
• Visit Ruzafa market and buy fresh products
• Learn about paella origin and Valencian culture
• Walk 8 minutes to cooking kitchen
• Attend sangria workshop with tapas
• Chef explains paella preparation step by step
• Taste paella with tomato salad and wine
• Enjoy seasonal fruit, Valencian cake, sweet wine, and coffee

Top questions

Is this Valencian paella cooking class suitable for beginners?

Yes, the class is designed for all skill levels and includes step-by-step guidance from local chefs.

Does the tour include a visit to Ruzafa Market?

Yes, you start by shopping for fresh ingredients together at Ruzafa Market before heading to the kitchen.

What kind of paella will we cook?

You’ll make traditional Valencian paella using chicken and rabbit as main proteins.

Are drinks included during the class?

Yes, sangria, wine tasting, beer, water, soft drinks, sweet wine with dessert, and coffee are all included.

Is lunch part of the experience?

Yes, you’ll eat the paella you cooked together along with tapas, salad, dessert, and drinks.

How long does it take to walk from Ruzafa Market to the kitchen?

The walk takes about eight minutes.

Is this activity wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the experience is wheelchair accessible.

Can children join this cooking class?

Children can participate but must be accompanied by an adult.

What’s included

Your day includes meeting at San Valero Parish before shopping for fresh ingredients at Ruzafa Market with a local guide; then you’ll enjoy a sangria workshop plus tapas on arrival at the kitchen; hands-on preparation of authentic Valencian paella (with chicken and rabbit); lunch featuring your own dish alongside tomato salad and regional wines; followed by seasonal fruit dessert, Valencian cake with sweet wine and coffee—all drinks provided throughout.