Valencia is an attractive city for international tourism. It is the third largest city in Spain, located on the Mediterranean coast. Its old town, with its narrow streets, contrasts with the modernity of the City of Arts and Sciences. Valencia, with its vibrant colours and pleasant temperatures, is an ideal place to visit. The Fallas festival is also a major attraction in the coming spring. To get the most out of your visit, we recommend starting with a free walking tour of Valencia or GuruWalk. These tours, led by local guides called “gurus”, take in the most emblematic sites as well as hidden gems, offering an authentic insight into Valencian culture and history.
There are different free tours available, each with its own thematic route, some focusing on history, others on gastronomy, etc.
On GuruWalk you can check out reviews and opinions from other travellers about the tours and guides working with this international platform in Valencia.
The free walking tours are offered at different times, morning, afternoon and evening, the latter being a highly recommended option during the summer, when there are many more hours of sunshine.
Some highlights of the free walking tours include:
- City of Arts and Sciences: With buildings such as L’Hemisfèric, the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum, L’Umbracle, the Oceanográfico, the Palau de les Arts, the Ágora and the L’Assut de l’Or Bridge.
- Old Town: Plaza de la Virgen with the Cathedral and the Basilica of the Virgin, the Town Hall, the Lonja, the Central Market, the Serranos Towers and the old medieval gate of the old town.
- Turia Gardens: A stroll along this ancient riverbed is a relaxing experience.
- La Albufera: A freshwater lagoon where you can appreciate the diversity of flora and fauna.
All you need to know about GuruWalk free walking tours
1. What kind of free walking tours are available in Valencia?
Valencia offers a variety of free walking tours covering topics such as history and conflict, gastronomy, sport and lifestyle, and mysteries and legends. You can explore the old town, the City of Arts and Sciences, the Turia Gardens and more. There are options for different interests and tastes.
2. How do I know which tour is right for me?
On the GuruWalk website, you can find detailed descriptions of each tour, along with reviews and opinions from other travellers who have been on the same tour before. In addition, you can also filter tours by language, duration, start time and landmarks included.
3. How much does a free walking tour cost?
Free walking tours are based on what the traveller feels is fair to pay, which means there is no fixed price. At the end of the tour, you can give whatever amount you feel is fair to your guide based on your satisfaction with the experience. However, GuruWalk’s recommendation is that the guide should be paid from €10 per person.
4. Do I need to book in advance?
To enjoy your free walking tour of Valencia you need to book in advance, even if it’s just a short one. Booking is free through the GuruWalk website and app and cancellation is also free.
5. In which languages are the tours offered?
Free walking tours in Valencia are offered in several languages, including Spanish, English, French, Italian, Russian and Catalan. You can filter tours by language on the GuruWalk website.
6. What is the typical duration of a GuruWalk tour?
Tour lengths vary, but most tours last between 2 and 3 hours. You can find the specific duration of each tour in the tour description on GuruWalk.
7. What should I bring on a free walking tour?
Comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a hat and water are recommended, especially if you are going on a day tour. You may also consider bringing a camera to capture the unforgettable memories you will create there.
8. Are there free walking tours available for families with children?
Yes, there are free walking tours designed specifically for families with children. These tours tend to have shorter routes, more frequent stops and a focus on keeping children entertained. You can find family-friendly tours on the GuruWalk website using the ‘Family tour’ filter.
9. Is there a possibility to do a bicycle tour?
Free walking tours are also open to the world of cycling. Although their name indicates that they are on foot, the reality is that nowadays in Valencia you can also find many free guided tours on two wheels. There are bike tours around the Albufera, the city centre, the Turia Gardens and the Cabanyal neighbourhood.
10. What is a free walking tour?
A free walking tour is a historical, cultural or gastronomic tour guided by an expert in which travellers are the ones who, at the end of the tour, decide how much to pay for the experience that the guru has given them. Generally, these tours go through the historical city centres visiting the essentials, although there are also tours of legends, tours that explore an architectural style, tours that focus on the traces of a war event such as the World War and many other themes.
Founded in Valencia in 2017 by Juan Castillo, GuruWalk is currently the platform with the world’s best Free Tours or Free Walking Tours guides. GuruWalk provides access to guided tours in more than 800 destinations and 120 countries with a common goal: to allow travellers to discover the best of the places they visit with the help of specialised local guides passionate about their work. GuruWalk has a mission: to democratise access to culture through free walking tours, offering every traveller the chance to understand the value of the cultural, architectural, and historical heritage of every corner of the world with the most expert guides. To date, GuruWalk has served more than ten million walkers (travellers) worldwide, connecting them with over 3,000 gurus (local guides). In total, more than 300,000 people trust GuruWalk’s free walking tour services each month.
For more information, contact:
Carolina Martínez
GuruWalk Communications
Report by ‘24/7 Valencia’ team
Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’
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