Valencia

March-May and September-November bring mild weather, ideal for walking and beach visits without summer's peak heat. Mid-March brings Las Fallas — a spectacular but extremely crowded, loud festival with daily fireworks that may not suit families with young or noise-sensitive kids.

• City of Arts and Sciences - a futuristic complex with the Oceanografic (Europe's largest aquarium), the Science Museum, and the Hemisferic dome
• Turia Gardens - a 9km green park in a former dry riverbed, great for walking and cycling, home to the popular Gulliver Park for kids
• Malvarrosa Beach - a family-friendly sandy beach with a long promenade and restaurants, minutes from downtown
• Central Market - a historic covered market hall, one of Europe's finest, great for sampling local produce
• La Lonja de la Seda (Silk Exchange) - a UNESCO World Heritage Gothic building
• Valencia Cathedral and the Miguelete Tower - said to house the Holy Chalice, with panoramic city views from the tower climb
• Bioparc Valencia - an immersive zoo replicating natural African habitats, great for families
• Albufera Natural Park - a half-day trip to the rice paddies where paella originated, with a traditional sunset boat ride

Families: near Turia Gardens or the edge of the old town, or close to Malvarrosa Beach for pool/sea access; Ruzafa is also practical, safe, and walkable. Couples: the historic El Carmen quarter for atmosphere, or trendy Ruzafa. Budget: Ruzafa or around the Central Market, with affordable apartments and hostels well connected by metro and tram to the main sights.

Watch out for restaurant hawkers standing outside doorways around Plaza de la Reina to lure tourists in - usually overpriced with mediocre food, so head to side streets where locals eat. Authentic paella is a lunch dish, not dinner, and Valencia's traditional version is chicken, rabbit and beans, not the seafood version often pushed on tourists. The city is completely flat and easy to walk or cycle, and the Valenbisi bike-share system is popular and convenient. Most shops close on Sundays like the rest of Spain, so plan shopping ahead. Public transport is free for kids up to age 6, and the Valencia Tourist Card saves a lot if you're hitting several sights and museums.

2-3 days

Suggested plan:

1. Day 1: Old town - Cathedral and Miguelete Tower, La Lonja de la Seda, lunch at the Central Market, evening stroll around Plaza de la Reina and Plaza del Ayuntamiento
2. Day 2: Full day at the City of Arts and Sciences (Oceanografic, Hemisferic, Science Museum), followed by a relaxed evening in Turia Gardens
3. Day 3: Morning at Malvarrosa Beach, then Bioparc or a half-day trip to Albufera Natural Park for the sunset boat ride