10 Best Food Tours of Valencia

Famous around the world for its high standards and exquisite taste, Valencian gastronomy is one of the most outstanding in Spain. If you are visiting Valencia, you can't miss some of its most classic delicacies, as well as the most innovative options of its most important chefs.

Although there is a lot to see and do in Valencia, taking a guided gastronomic tour of the city is one of the best options to get to know the Valencian culture in depth. From participating in a workshop to learn how to prepare seafood paella, wine tastings, stroll through the best local bars and restaurants, these gastronomic tours will fascinate you.

If you are passionate about seafood, paella and Valencian food, this is your gastronomic tour. Start by walking with your guide through the famous Ruzafa market, where you will shop for all the fresh products that you will later add to your paella. You will get the most out of this experience, since you will also learn all the details and secrets of the real Valencian paella, one of its most characteristic dishes.

A few meters from there you will find the kitchen where you will start preparing a delicious sangria, to get in the mood. Of course, in the process you will be tasting a good amount of patatas bravas, Serrano ham and other tapas, drinks and traditional dishes, in a relaxed atmosphere. After this exquisite start, the chef will teach you all the steps to prepare an authentic Valencian seafood paella.

Undoubtedly this is a unique experience, and that is why it is among the best gastronomic tours in Valencia, an authentic culinary celebration, ideal for alone, as a couple or with a group of friends. Do not miss it!

Details of interest

• Price: from 60 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes in total.
• Means of transport: it starts with a walking tour for shopping.
• Advantages of this option: it is an experience for small groups, so you will receive personalized treatment, both from the guide and the chef.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is not recommended if you are traveling with small children.

Join us on a tour of the most outstanding bars in the El Carmen neighborhood, one of the most picturesque, because it is an area where you can enjoy Street Art. With your expert guide, you will live the authentic experience of going for a drink (also called bar crawl) in Valencia.

You will get to know the most traditional drinks of the Valencian night and you can also enjoy a complimentary shot in each of the bars you visit, guaranteed.

This walking tour is ideal to do alone or with a group of friends. If you are one of those who can not visit a city without knowing its nightlife, this is the tour for you. Keep in mind that the price does not include any food, so it is recommended to have dinner before, otherwise you may feel bad drinks.

Although it can be enjoyed all year round, with warm temperatures I guarantee you will have a much better time, so this tour is one of the best things to do in Valencia in summer.

Details of interest

• Price: from 21 euros per person.
• Duration: the tour is about 4 hours in total, approximately.
• Means of transport: on foot you will get to know the best bars in Valencia.
• Advantages of this option: you will have the chance to know the best places of the Valencian night and enjoy a few hours of pure fun, thanks to the friendly guides.
• Disadvantages of this option: of course, minors are not allowed in this experience. Although all the bars you will visit are close by, you may get a little tired on foot.

In this guided tour you will taste the most typical Valencian dishes and drinks. The tour starts at the horchatería Santa Catalina, where the most delicious and refreshing horchata, a drink made from tigernuts, water and sugar, is prepared. Here you will taste some of Valencia's traditional pastries and cakes.

Then move on to savory flavors on a visit to Valencia's Central Market, a unique place where you will delight in the best local hams and cheeses. Your guide will guide and recommend you according to your taste. From hams to beers, in a visit to a traditional Valencian tavern.

Finally you will visit the Batlia Palace and the Parish of San Valero. In a picturesque local market you will have the chance to drink a glass of wine and taste some ham croquettes, to end a magical evening. The tour includes 10 tastings in total.

Details of interest

• Price: from 109 euros per person.
• Duration: 3 hours in total, approximately.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to taste some of the most typical Valencian drinks and dishes. In addition, the tour includes a good number of options for all tastes.
• Disadvantages of this option: unfortunately, the option does not include pick up and return to the hotel.

On this top-notch tour through the old town of the city, you will not only get to see amazing places, but you will also get to taste the most delicious local wines. Start the tour on Caballeros Street, once one of Valencia's main thoroughfares. Then you will visit the famous Central Market and all the magic of the El Carmen neighborhood.

You will visit the Lonja de la Seda, the Santa Catalina Church, the Plaza de la Reina and the Plaza de la Virgen, one of the current axes of the city. You will learn from your guide about the past of Valencia, the years of Roman and Muslim occupation, until the arrival of Christianity. You will be able to notice the features of its architecture, where this cultural mix becomes as evident as it is captivating.

Finally, finish this tour with an international wine tasting in a place with centuries of history, located in the heart of the historic center. The tasting includes pairings with local seasonal flavors. This 2-hour gastronomic experience includes tapas, appetizers and dessert. An excellent tour that perfectly combines history and gastronomy. Not to be missed.

Details of interest

• Price: from 64 euros per person.
• Duration: about 4 hours in total.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: the price of the excursion includes all drinks and meals.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you are looking for a gastronomic experience only, this tour may not be ideal.

On this guided tour of Valencia you will get to know the imposing City of Arts and Sciences, an architectural space created by the architect Santiago Calatrava. Learn all about these 7 futuristic structures that have given the city of Valencia a new look.

Then, access the highest terrace of the city, where you can enjoy an exclusive wine and tapas tasting, with the best panoramic views. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best tours in Valencia, since the City of Arts and Sciences is one of the most important architectural landmarks of the city. Thanks to your guide you will learn the details of its construction and striking design.

The tasting includes local and international wines, paired with the most exquisite tapas, to end this experience in the best way.

Details of interest

• Price: from 87 euros per person.
• Duration: about 4 hours in total.
• Means of transport: walking tour, return to the lodging is included.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to enjoy the best views of the city from an elevated viewpoint. The wine and tapas tasting is included in the price of the excursion.
• Disadvantages of this option: not recommended if you suffer from vertigo.

Always, the best way to book an excursion is through the internet, as you can check the references of the company offering the tour, as well as having the possibility to read reviews and opinions of other travelers.

When you buy online you have the guarantee that you will be choosing the option that best suits your interests. If, on the other hand, you hire a tour on the street, you may get an unpleasant surprise, or it may simply not be what it seems. If you book in advance you can get unique experiences such as a private gastronomic tour with 10 tastings or a walk through the old town of Valencia with an exclusive wine tasting, and more.

The average time of these tours is around 4 hours, some are longer and some are shorter. Keep in mind that these are experiences that include, in many cases, purchase of products or walks through markets, tours and tasting, preparation of dishes, and that usually takes time. Besides, in order to taste properly, one cannot be in a hurry because of the clock, one must give oneself to enjoy and live the experience with all 5 senses.

It will depend on the tour you choose. You can do a bar crawl through the best bars in the city, you can take a tour with 10 different tastings throughout the city's bars, restaurants and street markets, do a seafood paella workshop, or take a walk through the most touristic places in the city and finish with a wine and tapas tasting on the rooftop of the City of Arts and Sciences. As you can see, the options are varied and one more interesting than the previous one, you just have to choose the one that best suits your interests and enjoy!

Here are some practical tips:

• My first tip is to see all the gastronomic tour options available and choose according to your desires, that way you will be guaranteeing an experience tailored to you and yours.

• Another thing to keep in mind in this type of tours is that if you have any kind of preference or limitation in terms of drinks or food, you should inform the tour organizers so that they can take it into account.

• All gastronomic tours in Valencia are done on foot, so I recommend that you wear comfortable shoes. You will spend several hours on your feet or walking from one market to another, so you should be light and comfortable.

• My last recommendation is that this type of gastronomic tour is not recommended for children. Although there is no prohibition in this regard, it is not a type of activity that can entertain them, both for its duration, as well as because several areas are covered on foot. If you are traveling with your children, I advise you to opt for one of the many things to do with children in Valencia.

There are options for all budgets, the prices of these gastronomic tours in Valencia start at 21 euros per person, to tour some of the best bars in the city, and then you have options with tasting or tasting between 60 and 109 euros per person. As you can see, everyone can do this type of tour, and live an authentic Valencian culinary experience.

Gastronomy is a very important and representative part of the Valencian culture. From its classic paella, famous around the world, to its many varieties of seafood dishes, the flavors of Valencia are those that conquer the heart and the stomach.

That is why taking a gastronomic tour in this city is so recommendable, not only will you be tasting unique flavors, but you will also be getting to know part of the cultural legacy of this region of Spain.