We've just booked a short break to Valencia at the end of September (cheap Ryanair flights from Malaga - 40€ for the two of us, return, including all charges).

As we'll be there for 4 days and I'm not sure there will be enough to see in Valencia itself, any suggestions for places within 2 hours' travelling distance (by train or bus) for days out, please?

There is so much to see in and around Valencia that I doubt very much whether you will be going far a field. Have a great time.

Rosemary

I was just about to say the same thing.

Valencia has so much on offer-you wont run out of things to do.

Since you're only there for 4 days, I suspect the same thing. There are some good places around Valencia to visit eg Sagunt, Albufera, Xativa, but if you feel like a complete change from the Mediterranean, take a trip inland to Teruel (I fear it's still a slowish train connection still, as the fast AVE line hasn't opened quite yet - does anyone here know the opening day?). If you stay until nightfall, take a sweater or jacket, as the temperature change can be quite dramatic.

Teruel













And nearby Albarracin

This in Valencia well worth a visit or two.

http://www.spanish-living.com/palace...ience-valencia

While we're talking about Valencia, does anyone know what the new building is next to the Oceanographic? The clam shaped one? I've googled but haven't found an answer.

Its called something like "the umbrical".

Anyway it does sports events and concerts etc.

The "egg" as we call it is a great place to visit in Valencia city.

You could incorporate it with a hired bike ride in the dried up riverbed.(best done in the evening at the mo).

Malvarrosa beach is beautiful and worth a visit.Some lovely bars/restaurants there too.

Get a metro bono and visit different parts of the city in one day.

City centre is great.Lovely architecture and def something for everybody.

I could go on.We love it here.

Sorry. L"umbracle is actually an exotic garden at the arts and sciences so dont know the name of the other clam building.

The old town and castle in Peniscola (2 hrs north) are well worth a visit ...
JC

The Hemispheric?
I think thats the one you are refering to as a clam....



All part of The City of Arts and Sciences...



http://www.cac.es/?languageId=1

and then their is also the biopark

http://www.bioparcvalencia.es/en/

Nope, not the Hemispheric but your diagram had what I was looking for - ta. It's the Agora. I looked it up on Wiki but there's not much info but I found a picture. BTW, for anyone with kids that love dinosaurs there's a dino exhibition at the Umbracle.

Brilliant photos, Mitzy.

according to their website here its a conference center

It's certainly a different world to Valencia and the other Med cities. I just hope Aragon's charm isn't affected too much by the new developments eg the new motorway, and isn't there a huge casino planned?

Edit - here's some info on the Gran Escala complex (due to open 2012). At least it will provide much needed work for some, the link states 26,000 employees will be needed.

http://www.granescalacasinos.com/