Book a Valencia Oceanogràfic ticket with access to every exhibition, the underwater tunnel and more than 45,000 marine creatures.
View experienceDaily budget in Valencia
Type of trip | Approximate daily budget | Best suited to
Economy | €55-85 | Guesthouse, hostel or simple room, casual meals and lots of free activities
Mid-range | €110-170 | Decent hotel, standard restaurants, public transport and the occasional paid entry
Comfortable | €190-300 or more | Boutique hotel, good restaurants, occasional taxis and paid visits
Valencia does not require a car for a first visit. In fact, between the old town, Ruzafa, the Turia Gardens, the City of Arts and Sciences and the beach, it is usually more practical to combine walking, public transport and the odd taxi.
How much transport costs in Valencia
Getting around Valencia can be cheap if you do not keep buying single tickets. On EMT, the single ticket/EMTicket is listed at €2, while the 10-journey Bonobús appears with a regular price of €8.50 and a subsidised fare of €4.25 according to the current official table.
On Metrovalencia and SUMA tickets, temporary reductions have been published until 30 June 2026: for example, the one-zone SUMA 10 is shown reduced from €9 to €5.40, although the physical card is paid for separately. After that date, it is worth checking fares before travelling, as these discounts may change.
The Valencia Tourist Card can pay off if you plan to use a lot of transport and want to enter municipal museums or use discounts. The 24-, 48- or 72-hour card includes urban and metropolitan transport, metro, tram, commuter trains in zone AB and the airport stop, and prices start from €17 —or €15.30 with the discount shown on the official website.
How much to spend on food
Valencia can be kind to those who eat simply. A breakfast of coffee and toast or a pastry should not break the budget. Eating in markets, neighbourhood bars or choosing lunchtime set menus makes it fairly easy to keep spending under control. Paella, however, should be treated as a special meal: a good paella cooked to order is rarely the cheapest option, and overly cheap versions in very touristy areas are seldom the best experience.
Food | Approximate cost
Simple breakfast | €3-7
Casual meal | €10-18
Mid-range restaurant | €18-35
Paella or rice dish in a recommended restaurant | €22-40 or more
Dinner with tapas and a drink | €18-35
A common mistake is wanting to eat paella at night, in a hurry and next to the most touristy monument. In Valencia, rice dishes are best enjoyed at lunchtime, with a reservation and without expecting fast-food prices.
In Valencia, rice dishes are best enjoyed at lunchtime, with a reservation and without expecting fast-food prices.
How much visits and activities cost
Valencia offers many free pleasures: strolling through El Carmen, going into the Central Market, walking along the former Turia riverbed, seeing the Silk Exchange from the outside, heading down to the Marina or ending the afternoon by the Mediterranean. Spending starts to add up when you include interiors, museums, the Oceanogràfic, guided tours or trips to the Albufera.
At the City of Arts and Sciences, official tickets show prices from €7.20 for the Museu de les Ciències, from €6.90 for the Hemisfèric and from €31 for the Oceanogràfic, depending on the date, ticket type and combination chosen.
For a first trip, there is no need to pay for everything. Sometimes it is enough to walk around the outside of the City of Arts, go only to the Oceanogràfic if you are travelling with children or are especially interested, and save the rest of the budget for eating better or taking an excursion.
Budget for 3 days in Valencia
Style | Approximate total
Economy | €165-255
Mid-range | €330-510
Comfortable | €570-900
Three days are enough for a first impression: historic centre, Central Market, Turia Gardens, the City of Arts from the outside or with one paid entry, Ruzafa and the beach. The economy budget works if the accommodation is well chosen and you do not plan to do many paid activities.
Budget for 5 days in Valencia
Style | Approximate total
Economy | €275-425
Mid-range | €550-850
Comfortable | €950-1,500
Five days allow you to travel better: a relaxed beach day, a trip to the Albufera, more time for neighbourhoods such as El Cabanyal or Benimaclet and a memorable meal or two. It is the most balanced length of stay if you want to get to know Valencia without turning every day into a race.
Budget for 7 days in Valencia
Style | Approximate total
Economy | €385-595
Mid-range | €770-1,190
Comfortable | €1,330-2,100
A week in Valencia makes sense if you want to slow down: have late breakfasts, return to the market, discover less central beaches, spend time in museums and perhaps take more than one short trip. It can become expensive if you stay in highly sought-after areas in summer, but it can also remain quite reasonable if you book in advance and choose an apartment or simple accommodation.
Where to save without spoiling the trip
The best way to save in Valencia is not to eat badly or stay too far away, but to choose wisely. Staying in a well-connected neighbourhood, buying transport passes, booking rice restaurants carefully and alternating paid visits with free walks can make a big difference.
It is also worth avoiding unnecessary taxis. The city is easy to understand on foot: the light shifts across the façades of the centre, the Turia works like a green avenue, and the arrival at the sea feels like a slow reward. Saving money here does not mean losing out on the experience; often, it means seeing it better.
What can push the budget up
Accommodation is the biggest factor. During Fallas, long weekends, summer and weekends with events, Valencia stops feeling quite so cheap. Spending also rises if you want to do everything: Oceanogràfic, Hemisfèric, museums, organised excursions, fashionable restaurants and drinks every night.
Another mistake is staying very far out because you think you will save a lot. If you then depend on taxis, you lose time and spend more than expected. In Valencia, paying a little more for a reasonable location can be a smart decision.
In Valencia, paying a little more for a reasonable location can be a smart decision.
So, is Valencia expensive or cheap?
Valencia is not a cheap city in the old sense of the word, but it remains manageable. It can be very rewarding for mid-range travellers, couples who want to eat well without excessive luxury, families combining beach time with free activities, and short breaks of a few days.
It may disappoint those expecting small-town prices or cheap accommodation near the centre in peak season. It can also frustrate anyone who improvises a good paella, arrives without a reservation or wants to visit all the paid attractions in two days.
A sensible figure for enjoying Valencia without anxiety is around €110-170 per day per person, excluding the journey there. With less, it can be done. With more, you can enjoy it more comfortably. But the real luxury of Valencia is not always paid for: it lies in a bright morning at the Central Market, in the shade of the Turia, in the salty smell on the way to Cabanyal and in knowing when to stop before turning the city into a list of expenses.