Spain

We spent a few days in Valencia while traveling between Granada and Barcelona via public transportation - bus between Granada and Valencia and then train to Benecarla (sp!!) - close to Peniscola (a really neat town) where we spent another few days before going on to Barcelona. Back to Valencia - it was a nice city with lots of activities. The market was amazing - stall after stall of beautiful hand made lace linens - table cloths, naphins, towels, etc. We did not regret spending two days there.

We also stopped in Valencia on the way from Barcelona to Granada in April. We only stayed 1 night and wished we had stayed longer. Nice city, great people and a very clean central area. We really enjoyed walking around the old center and had an easy time driving and finding parking. Enjoyed a reasonable and delicious dinner at a cafe on the main plaza. There is some info available that you can access through this web site http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/spain/valencia_chapter2008.htm. We would return to Valencia. You May Receive More Advice With A Different Title to Your Post

A brand new AVE fast train between Madrid and Valencia may mean Valencia will make a new edition. It's my understanding that it takes less than two hours, so Valencia will even be a daytrip possibility out of Madrid. Sorry I haven't been there but I'm also wondering about it.

I queried Rick about Valencia at his travel fest in Edmonds. He replied that although he has visited Valencia and enjoyed it, his guide books & tours are geared for people visiting Spain for about 3 weeks max. Valencia would not be a must see in that amount of time, IHO but not IMO.