Quick answer: Valencia runs about EUR 110 per day mid-range - noticeably less if you eat local and walk. Cheapest window: March-June and September-October - warm but not scorching; mid-March brings the Fallas festival and its crowds.
What things actually cost
| espresso at a bar | 1.40 EUR |
| menu del dia lunch | 14 EUR |
| metro single (zone A) | 1.50 EUR |
| horchata with fartons | 4 EUR |
| paella per person | 20 EUR |
| Oceanografic ticket | 35 EUR |
Eat well for little
- Paella valenciana (chicken and rabbit) at Casa Carmela or La Pepica - lunch only if you want it done properly, about 20 EUR per person
- Horchata with fartons at Horchateria Santa Catalinaabout 4 EUR
- Esgarraet and other tapas at bars in El Carmen3-5 EUR per plate
- Agua de Valencia at Cafe de las Horasa pitcher to share runs about 18 EUR
- Menu del dia at a neighborhood bar in Ruzafaabout 14 EUR for three courses
Money mistakes to avoid
- Ordering paella for dinnerit is a lunch dish, and kitchens serving it at night are usually reheating for tourists
- Skipping the Turia Gardensthe 9 km park is the best free walking and cycling route across the whole city
- Basing yourself at the beachMalvarosa is quiet off-season and far from the sights; stay in El Carmen or Ruzafa instead
- Planning shopping for mid-afternoonmany smaller shops close roughly 14:00-17:00, so do sights then and shop around it
Transport without the tourist tax
Metro lines 3 and 5 run from the airport to the center in about 25 minutes for roughly 4.90 EUR. The city is flat - walk the old town and use Valenbisi rental bikes or the metro/tram (single about 1.50 EUR) for longer hops.
Planning the full trip? Start with the 4-day Valencia itinerary.