Valencia

Its accessibility, its spectacular contrasts between tradition and the avant-garde, a unique gastronomy, an excellent quality-price ratio, a vibrant agenda, a green attitude, and a changing, dynamic scene turn Valencia into an irresistible destination for a break.

Early this year, the city opened its gates to the sea with the inauguration of the Marina Beach Club on the beach and the relaunch of the Veles e Vents buildings, where such cutting-edge restaurants as La Marítima can be found – venues with a spectacular location and ambiance.

It seeks sustainability for citizens as well as for events, crystallised in an extensive range of sustainable spaces which the city uses to provide services: Km 0 catering, bike tours, recycled materials, bicycle transport, and venues built of recycled materials or with photovoltaic roofs.

The options for those who seek singular experiences in a privileged climate all the year round include walking or cycling through the Turia Gardens (the former river bed, now turned into a vast eight-kilometre garden that crosses the city), an outing in a catamaran from La Malvarrosa beach, a paella show cooking in La Albufera, or an incentive trip among orange trees in the lush Valencian orchards.

To these attractions is added a range of cutting-edge meeting venues to hold conferences, meetings, and other events. These include the Palacio de Congresos, de Centro de Eventos de Feria Valencia, and various venues in Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, such as the Oceanogràfic and the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia.

It is no wonder that the main hotel chains have come to the city in recent years, providing varied accommodation options that range from luxury hotels, such as the Westin, the Las Arenas, the Marqués de Caro, and the Hospes Palau de la Mar hotels, to comfortable hotels near meeting venues, such as the Meliá Valencia, the Sorolla, the Primus Valencia, and the Ilunion chain, through classics such as the Ayre Astoria Palace and the SH Inglés. The Hotel Reina Victoria has recently opened again – another landmark establishment which has joined the hotel offer of the AC Hotel Colón Valencia.

The potential of this destination is reflected in the air traffic at Valencia Airport, which this year has opened up more than 450,000 international seats, joining the 100,000 seats that are added in 205. Copenhagen and Glasgow are some of the new destinations for 2017. This is all reflected in the fact that, according to European Cities Marketing surveys, Valencia was one of the European cities with the greatest increase in intercontinental passengers.