Hi we will be in Moraira next week and would like to have a day out in Valancia, have been told the best way is to go by train and to get free addmission to various places, is this true? Where do we catch the train from thanks

Drive up to Xeraco (N332 or A7) as there is plenty of free parking there. The journey is about 40 minutes into Central Valencia.

There is a tourist info place on the station, they will give you a free map with loads of info on places to visit.

Enjoy your visit it is a wonderful city. I avoided visiting for the first 18 months that we were here because I hate cities but I loved Valencia immediately and visit often.

Rosemary

Just done a search and found the thread that I started prior to our first visit to Valencia. http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=496145

We used the route suggested by Derek with a few extra detours and it was great.

Make sure that you look at the top of buildings and spend some time in the town hall square just looking around you it is gorgeous.

Rosemary

There's no train directly from Moraira, I think there's a bus but it takes around 3 hours to get here!! My friend's family is from Moraira and she always goes by car to Gandia and then takes the train to come here.
Maybe renting a car for the day and parking it once in Valencia would be an option... but I don´t know prices.
Don't forget to visit Mercado Central and Lonja and the surrounding area.

Do not visit on a Monday, some of the "must see" are closed.
Graham

Hi there,

I am from VLC - so am a bit biased when I say you will enjoy the visit!
Make sure to visit La Lonja and Mercado Central as others say. If the weather is still nice, do sit outside in one of the many cafes/bars - I would recommend Horchateria Santa Catalina (have a look inside at the beautiful tiling) to taste the traditional tiger nut milk (not to everybody's taste, but it's an experience) and the 100 Montaditos cafe in Plaza de la Reina.
If you arrive by train, do spend some time looking at the train station itself, which is beautiful. Also the Correos (Post Office) building in Plaza del Ayuntamiento (the main town hall square), which was renovated a few years ago and is very impressive. 5 mins walk from there it's Neco, a Mediterranean buffet restaurant, always busy but great and a good price, ideal if you want to try little bits of different types of paella, fideua, etc.
There is a tourist office in Calle de la Paz if you get stuck and need directions, etc.
If you visit with children, you could visit the River (there is a Gulliver park with slides, etc), the Bioparc (pricey but a truly 21st century habitat zoo), los Viveros (they've got a bit which imitates roads for kids to learn about riding a bike safely, traffic lights, etc) and the beach (trip on the tram), plus kids are welcome in many places.
Be careful if you wander into Barrio del Carmen after dark.

Ms Giraffe (yours in envy from Yorkshire)

PS. You just missed on the Regional Day per excellence which was today - fireworks, parade, etc.

It is a great city - easy to walk around and see lots, even the 'Holy Grail' in the cathedral museum or check out the city of Arts and Science. Enjoy.

From experience, I would recommend driving to Xeraco slightly north of Gandia where there is lots more parking availability and the town far easier to navigate.

I have been in the Barrio del Carmen after dark. Is it a dodgy area?

Good idea, we always do that when visiting the city.

yes, I reckon xeraco is the best option.
Barrio del Carmen is not really dodgy (I am from there), it was years ago, but not now. Barrio del Pilar is probably the dodgiest (prostitutes, drug dealers...). Problem is people does'n distinguish one from another as they are very close.

I will have to take that risk as I love El Barrio del Carmen.

Don´t worry, as I told you, I live there, never had a problem. You'll find thousands of tourists and pubs around...