Explore the magic of the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia
An educational adventure for the whole family
Welcome to the article about the Città delle arti e delle scienze di Valencia, a futuristic architectural complex that provides an educational and enjoyable experience for both young and old.
n this article, we will guide you through the wonders of this extraordinary place, where science, technology, and nature come together to create a unique and stimulating environment.
We spent several hours online before our visit to understand the cost of the different attractions, the various combo tickets available, the opening hours, and especially what was actually inside each pavilion. In this article, we want to summarize everything you need to know to organize your trip to the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia.
The Structure of the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia
The entire area was designed by the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava. It is a complex of scientific and cultural leisure to visit with family or friends, occupying about two kilometers of the old Turia Riverbed.
Inside the City of Arts and Sciences, you can find:
- Oceanografic, tickets are €34.70 for adults and €25.75 for kids aged 4-12.
- Museu de Les Ciencies, tickets are €9.00 for adults and €6.90 for kids aged 4-12.
- Hemisferic, tickets are €8.70 for adults and €6.70 for kids aged 4-12.
If you want to visit the entire complex or more than one of the structures, there are various combo tickets available for savings.
The ticket for all attractions is €42.80 for adults and €33.85 for kids aged 4-12.
City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia: The Oceanogràfic
Immerse yourself in the depths of the sea at the Oceanogràfic, the largest aquarium in Europe. Here, kids can encounter a wide range of marine creatures, from whales to penguins, and learn through interactive experiences and thrilling shows. Don’t miss the opportunity to stroll through the underwater tunnel and participate in educational workshops for a deeper understanding of the marine world.
The Oceanogràfic has recreated various marine ecosystems to help animals adapt to their natural living conditions. These habitats are designed to best represent the environments in which different species can thrive. The Oceanogràfic hosts recreations of approximately 15 different habitats.
While our animal rights stance is not very favorable to such facilities, it still remains the largest aquarium in Europe; kids will undoubtedly love it.
City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia: The Prince Felipe Science Museum
Due to our reluctance towards aquariums because of the conditions of many animals, we opted for the Prince Felipe Science Museum.
At the modest cost of €9 per person, we spent an extremely interesting and educational afternoon.
If your kids are curious, this is definitely the place for you.
Explore the world of science and technology at the Prince Felipe Science Museum, an iconic building designed by architect Santiago Calatrava. Here, kids can enjoy interactive experiments, simulations, and thematic exhibits covering a wide range of scientific topics, from biology to physics. Be sure to visit the soap bubble laboratory and participate in hands-on activities for fun and engaging learning.
A very dynamic and interactive area is the section dedicated to the world of Pixar, where kids can see with their own eyes how cartoon characters are created and come to life. A moment of great instruction, useful even for adults to understand how much can be learned from cartoons and video games.
City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia: The Hemisferic
Enjoy a show under the stars at the Hemisferic, a state-of-the-art planetarium that offers immersive projections of scientific and astronomical films. Here, kids can journey through deep space, explore distant planets, and uncover the secrets of the universe in a comfortable and stimulating environment. Don’t miss the nighttime sky observation sessions, where you can admire the stars and planets through powerful telescopes.
City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia: The Pont dels Fusters
Conclude your visit to the City of Arts and Sciences with a stroll on the Pont dels Fusters, a pedestrian bridge that offers a spectacular view of the architectural complex and the surrounding waters. Here, you can capture unforgettable photos and admire Calatrava’s architectural masterpiece from a unique perspective.
A Free Stroll at Umbracle
The Umbracle, with free admission, is a vast garden spanning over 17,000 m2 where you can take leisurely walks while admiring typical Mediterranean plants or contemporary sculptures. In the summer evenings, the Mya terrace opens its doors, allowing you to enjoy a drink under the moonlight. Directly beneath the Umbracle is the public parking lot for the City of Arts and Sciences.
Visit to Bioparc
An environment that allows you to immerse yourself in different natural habitats, giving the feeling of becoming an integral part alongside the animals that inhabit them.
The Bioparc is a next-generation zoo where the barriers separating the animals seem to disappear. It naturally replicates various wild environments, with particular attention to vegetation, to promote the perfect adaptation of the animals. During the visit, you traverse an extensive savannah inhabited by antelopes, giraffes, and rhinoceroses, discovering hyena dens, walking near buffaloes and leopards, wandering through dense forests where gorillas hide, or following the elephant trail. Additionally, various activities are scheduled throughout the day, such as bird and mammal shows, presentations about zoo animals, or storytelling performances.
Organizing Your Visit to the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia
The City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia is much more than just a tourist destination: it is an educational and stimulating experience that leaves a lasting impression on the minds of all who visit. With this guide, we hope to have inspired you to explore this extraordinary complex with your kids, opening the doors to a world of scientific discoveries and wonders.
The Advantages of the Valencia Tourist Card
Valencia is a city that offers many attractions but can be relatively expensive, especially for a family. If you plan to visit everything Valencia has to offer, it becomes essential to purchase the Valencia Tourist Card 72-hour package, which will allow you to move freely around the city.
Purchase the Valencia Tourist Card 72-hour package online, including entry to the City of Arts and Sciences and Bioparc, specify the dates and times you want to visit the various attractions. We will send you the tickets via email, and you can pick up the physical Valencia Tourist Card at any of our Tourist Offices, at the 24/7 active airport office or at the kiosks in Plaza del Ayuntamiento and Joaquín Sorolla station. Alternatively, you can request delivery to your hotel or even your home. Please note that delivery times are 3-5 working days in Spain and 10-20 days abroad.
The card activates when used for the first time and is valid for 72 hours from that moment.
Use the card on bus, tram, metro, and train readers for travel, and at museum, monument, and attraction ticket offices for free entry or the corresponding discount. You can also get discounts by showing it at affiliated shops and restaurants.
Here is the link for all the updated ticket prices on the official website: VisitValencia
What is Worth Visiting at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia?
This is a very personal question that is difficult to answer; what I would suggest is to choose carefully what might interest your family: not all kids love animals or science. Visiting everything, in my opinion, is a mistake because it would become very overwhelming, considering that each structure deserves at least 3-4 hours of visit. The risk is to dampen the enthusiasm of both the little ones and the adults.
Personally, we chose to focus on the City of Science, as we are not big fans of zoos and aquariums for ethical reasons.
With this article, I hope to have clarified any doubts about one of the most important educational places in Europe.
If you are planning a visit to Valencia, I leave you the links to all the articles about the city:
Digitally Yours
☀️ Sara ☀️
