Things to do in Valencia in spring: Fallas, terraces and 10 plans

For many, spring is the best time to discover Valencia. The mild winter gives way to warm, ever longer days, the city explodes with Fallas in March, the seafront neighbourhoods celebrate their Holy Week and the terraces fill with people enjoying the first good weather.

This guide covers the key dates of spring in Valencia, 10 plans to enjoy it and, at the end, Palau Alameda's spring agenda, which updates automatically.

The essentials in 30 seconds

• Weather: from 18-19 °C in March to 23-24 °C in May.
• March: Fallas, from 15 to 19 March, with a daily mascletà from 1 to 19 March.
• March or April: the Semana Santa Marinera, in the seafront neighbourhoods.
• May: the feast of the Virgen de los Desamparados, on the second Sunday.
• The plan: terraces, the Turia, the beach for a stroll and the Albufera.

The key dates of spring

Fallas

From 15 to 19 March, Valencia celebrates Fallas, UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2016: papier-mâché monuments in every neighbourhood, the Flower Offering to the Virgin, the Nit del Foc fireworks and the Cremà, on the night of the 19th, when the fallas are burned. From 1 to 19 March, every day at 14:00, there is a mascletà in the City Hall square.

The Semana Santa Marinera

In the seafront neighbourhoods of El Cabanyal, El Grau and El Canyamelar, Holy Week has a character all its own, with processions near the sea, centuries-old brotherhoods and the Resurrection parade on Easter Sunday. It falls in March or April, depending on the year.

The Virgen de los Desamparados

On the second Sunday of May, Valencia celebrates its patron saint. In the morning, the Traslado carries the image from the basilica to the cathedral through a crowd trying to touch it, and the Plaza de la Virgen is covered in flowers.

10 plans for spring in Valencia

1. Walk through the Turia Gardens, nine kilometres of former riverbed, now green. Here are things to do near the Turia Gardens.
2. Get lost in the old town: El Carmen, the Silk Exchange, the cathedral and its squares.
3. Stroll along the beach: the water is still cold, but the promenade is perfect for walking in the sun.
4. Have a rice dish outdoors, on a terrace without the summer heat.
5. Join an afternoon session: spring is high season. Here are afternoon sessions in Valencia.
6. Explore the City of Arts and Sciences, with soft light and less heat.
7. Take a bike ride along the Turia cycle path to the sea.
8. Visit the markets: the Central Market and Mercado de Colón. More in Valencia's historic markets.
9. Escape to the Albufera at sunset, by boat on the lake.
10. Open terrace season: the first vermouth or the first dinner outdoors of the year.

Terraces in spring

Spring is terrace season: neither winter cold nor summer heat. On Paseo de la Alameda, Àtic, Palau Alameda's rooftop terrace, opens for lunch, Sunday vermouth and dinner with sunsets that in May are already after 21:00. Here are more ideas for lunch in Valencia and for a weekend in Valencia.

Music and the agenda

Spring is one of the busiest seasons for concerts and afternoon sessions. At Palau Alameda, the programme is in the agenda at the end of this article; you can also see the concert agenda and live music in Valencia. And for when the heat arrives, things to do in Valencia in summer.

Tips for spring

• During Fallas, book well in advance: accommodation and restaurants fill up.
• Bring a jacket: March and April nights are still cool.
• Check the Easter dates, which change every year.
• Make the most of the afternoon light on terraces.

Frequently asked questions

What to do in Valencia in spring?

Experience Fallas in March, see the Semana Santa Marinera, walk along the Turia and the beach, visit the Albufera, eat outdoors and enjoy the terraces and afternoon sessions.

When is Fallas in Valencia?

From 15 to 19 March, although the mascletàs in the City Hall square start on 1 March, every day at 14:00. The Cremà is on the night of the 19th.

What is the weather like in Valencia in spring?

Mild: highs of 18-19 °C in March, about 21 °C in April and 23-24 °C in May. March and April nights are still cool.

What is the Semana Santa Marinera?

Holy Week in the seafront neighbourhoods of El Cabanyal, El Grau and El Canyamelar, with processions near the sea and the Resurrection parade on Easter Sunday.

When is the feast of the Virgen de los Desamparados?

On the second Sunday of May. In the morning the image is carried from the basilica to the cathedral in the Traslado, and the Plaza de la Virgen fills with flowers.

What is on at Palau Alameda in spring?

The spring agenda is at the end of this article and updates automatically, with whatever is scheduled from March to May. Àtic also opens its terrace for lunch, vermouth and dinner.