Saturday morning, the sun is shining as usual and I’m going for a walk! It is easy to find the hustle and bustle of city life in one of the most vibrant spots of Valencia. I’m talking about the Central Market and its surroundings where the old Silk Market is, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In there you will see how tourists and locals wander equally around one of the biggest fresh product markets in the whole Europe. If you have been in Barcelona, you have most likely visited la Boqueria. A charming market that has changed over the years by the mass amount of tourists that visit so most of the stalls are orientated to that sector.

This market of Valencia is a true market,
where locals and owners of the nearby restaurants buy there every day.

The market is a great place to soak up the smell, and if you are open to it, you´ll get a true taste of the mediterranean lifestyle. I tell you this because as a tour guide I’m used to guiding groups of tourists and see how they get surprised by the architecture of this jewel of the Valencian art nouveau from 1914. A space with more than 8,000 square meters and more than 1,200 stalls. But they seem too easily out of ideas. So let me bring some, cause as a foodie, I love spending the whole morning going from one stall to the other.

For those who are discovering the old town and just passing through, you can take something to bring with you. A fresh juice of many flavors for just 1€ and a sandwich from one of the many bakeries you will find there.

If you wanna behave as a local, then you should maybe go for the spanish “fritanga”. A classic squid sandwhich with mayonnaise and a draft beer
in one of the many bars outside the market.

Vermouth is back in fashion in Spain. Whether you’re feeling modern or hipster you will find a nice stall where you can have a local vermouth plus cod croquette for just 2,5€. And I can’t forget to mention one of the places you’ll find in any city guide of Valencia. I’m talking about the Central Bar from the Michelin star Ricard Camarena. This market is a kind of tapas bar that truly captures our Spanish and Valencian culture in the quality of their food. It is true that you must have strong elbows to fight for a place at the bar, but for a very good price this is surely the best plan for the appetizer before lunch.

And so, you have infinite options for enjoying Valencia, like tasting the local drink “horchata“, local wines like “mistela”, spanish ham, pickles, oysters and all of the beautiful site seeing and history to explore. If you wanna know more secrets about the beauty of Valencia, follow Guided Valencia or send us an email hola@guidedvalencia.com because we are filled with thousands of ideas and wouldn’t want you to miss the opportunity to discover the very best of Valencia.

Mercado Central // Plaza del Mercado // Mon-Sat 8am – 15pm