Valencia Plaza del Mercado

The basics

Valencia’s huge modernist-style Central Market is one of the highlights of any trip to the city. Foodie visitors should make a beeline for the Plaza del Mercado (Plaça del Mercat in Valencian) to explore the market and marvel at the many unusual items available here, from enormous ostrich eggs to canned lamprey fish and alien-like goose barnacles. When you need a break from all the tempting (and extraordinary) sights on offer, you can head to a café in the square for the traditional Valencian refresher of horchata (a cold, sweet milk-like drink made from tiger nuts) and fartóns (sweet bread fingers covered in icing).

Also on the square is the 15th-century former Lonja de la Seda, or silk market. With unique twisted columns in the huge trading hall, a shaded orange tree courtyard, and opulent rooms on the first floor, the silk market offers a fascinating look into Valencia as a thriving commercial hub 500 years ago. The top floor was once used as a prison for residents of the city who could not pay their debts. You can learn more about Valencia’s fascinating historic center by joining a guided walking or bike tour.

Things to know before you go

• Entry to the Central Market is free.
• The Central Market is wheelchair accessible, with a ramp.
• Keep your eye out for the opulently decorated domed ceiling in the Central Market.
• The silk market has a small entry fee; also note that it has two steps up to access the entrance.

How to get there

The Plaza del Mercado is in the center of Valencia’s Old Town. It’s best to get here on public transportation, on foot, or by bike, since driving access is limited. Guided walking and bike tours often stop at the market. The number 7 bus stops at the market square, and the nearest metro station is Xativa, on lines 3 and 5.

When to get there

The plaza is open to the public 24 hours a day, year round. Most restaurants and cafés in the area are open daily. The Central Market is open from early morning to mid-afternoon Monday to Saturday, and the silk market site is open daily, with shorter opening hours on Sundays.

Visit the Valencia Institute of Modern Art (IVAM)

On the edge of the Old Town, the Valencia Institute of Modern Art was the first contemporary art gallery in Spain. It has an extensive collection of works from the 20th and 21st centuries, including paintings, photography, and sculpture, and often hosts special exhibitions on renowned artists such as Julio González, Anni and Josef Albers, and Fernand Léger.