.If you haven’t had the chance to fall in love with Valencia during the wintertime, you’re about to in a minute…

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1.Oranges

That’s right! Maybe it’s not the first thing you were thinking we’d mention but Valencian oranges and mandarins are actually renowned worldwide! They are absolutely delicious and in winter they are in abundance in all local grocery stores and supermarkets. Not to mention zumo de naranja is a must-try if you are visiting Valencia at this time of year.

You’ll see the streets lined with orange trees during the fall and winter seasons but you mustn’t try to eat the ones in the street! These are not like the oranges sold in the stores and are seen more as ornamental oranges which have a very bitter taste to them. The sweeter oranges you’ll want to try are actually grown in the fields outside of Valencia city.

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2.Sunshine

It’s no surprise that Spanish winters are much more pleasant than wintertime in other countries. The east coast of Spain has a very comfortable climate at the end of the year and is a great location if you want to escape the harsh winters of northern Europe! To get a better idea of the temperatures, the months of December, January and February in Valencia offer an 15°C in the daytime and lows of between 5-7ºC.

Although we don’t get snow here in the city you can absolutely find snow if you venture inland to mountainous areas like Teruel and Morella. Here in Valencia we usually get blue, sunny skies and rarely get rain. This makes it a great place to sit outside and enjoy the sun during the daytime without the need for excessive layers. A word of warning though, the temperatures can drop at night and in the morning so it’s recommended to carry a warm coat with you!

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3.Ruzafa

One of the best areas to go out over the winter months, Ruzafa is vibrant, easily accessible and a really fun part of town! It’s just a 5 mins walk from the city center and is home to many cafés, bars, book shops, restaurants and markets. In the winter it is definitely the center of Valencia’s nightlife and really has something for everyone!

You can find art exhibitions, street markets and buzzing cafés during the day and at night, there are so many restaurants with varied types of cuisine to choose from as well as many local bars too. Wandering through this part of town you’ll see the local and friendly atmosphere it beholds and the relaxed seating out on street corners. Plus the Christmas lights giving it a festive feel. Ruzafa neighborhood is one of our top recommendations during the winter season!

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4.Hiking & Nature

Valencia’s climate drops nicely at wintertime which makes it perfect to hit the mountains and surrounding nature trails to make the most of the fresh, cool weather! The great thing about the region of Valencia is that it is full of mountains with great trails and small villages to pass through.

For a very accessible nature route, the Turia gardens offer 9km of trees, flowers, and beautiful nature right here in the city. If you want to venture out of the city we highly recommend the Albufera nature reserve, the Garbí mountain trail and the Parque fluvial del Turia.

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5.Sunsets

Winter sunsets are absolutely stunning in Valencia! We recommend capturing them from the City of Arts and Sciences, rooftop bars across the city and most of all, the Albufera freshwater lake.

The Albufera lake is about 15km south of the city, only 10mins by car. It offers stunning lookout points where you can see the vast lake amongst nature and enjoy the exquisite sunsets Valencia offers. What’s more, you can even take a boat ride out onto the lake in a typical traditional boat from this region. It’s a unique and wonderful way to behold the beauty of Valencia and in the wintertime there’s even a chance you’ll spot some flamingos out on the lake! The Albufera is also very accessible by bike and by bus too.

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To discover more of Valencia’s secrets and best bits, don’t hesitate to check out our Euroace Blog.