When Casa Fran opened in 2022 as a hole-in-the-wall hangout, it was exactly the kind of laid-back, quality-driven coffee spot the city had been waiting for. Fast forward and the flat whites and homemade sea-salt cookies have moved to a bigger, more comfortable and design-focused site in the city centre. Just outside sits the towering Gothic fortress, Torres de Quart, one of the original doorways to the city. Climb to the top for just €2 to catch the brilliant views.

Tucked into the narrow streets of El Carmen, the Centro del Carmen de Cultura Contemporánea (CCCC) is one of Valencia’s most elegant galleries. Hosting contemporary exhibitions and local talent, it stages retrospectives on graffiti artists alongside performances of Valencian folk dance. Spread across a 13th-century monastery, the building emanates the unhurried calm of its former life. Even on the hottest days, the mossy Gothic cloisters remain cool, while families retreat to the free playroom, complete with mirrors, cushions and toys.

Get a hands-on history lesson by joining a fridge magnet workshop in Plou Estudi, a compact but colourful studio on a quiet street behind Institut Valencià d'Art Modern. Inside, Elena López does a brilliant job of coaxing the best work out of her students, sprinkling a little of her Joan Miró-esque colour palette over everything. She will glaze and fire creations ready to be collected; the handmade lemon and flower magnets make cute souvenirs.  

There's a friendly competition between bars to see who can make the best mid-morning sandwich (the ritual of almuerzo), and Kiosko La Pérgola often comes up trumps. The greasy spoon-style kiosk sits beside a busy roundabout, and people queue down the street to secure a terrace table.  Order the superbombón: a chewy baguette stuffed with pork, cheese, mushrooms, mayo and chips. Beers are customary, as is finishing on a cremaet, a coffee made with lemon and cinnamon-infused rum.