Valencia — Spain's third-largest city on the Mediterranean coast, where futuristic architecture, a medieval old town and golden beaches meet. This is where paella was born, and where one of Europe's most beautiful futuristic complexes stands — the City of Arts and Sciences. Cheaper and less crowded than Barcelona or Madrid, Valencia is ideal for a traveler from Georgia. Let's see how to get there from Tbilisi and what to see.
✈️ Flights from Tbilisi
- There is no direct TBS → VLC flight — the route is with a connection
- Turkish Airlines: via Istanbul (IST), about 8-11 hours total
- Wizz Air / Pegasus: from Kutaisi (KUT) or via Istanbul, connecting at a European hub — the budget option
- Ticket price: $280-560 round trip depending on season
- Valencia Airport (VLC/Manises) — about 8 km from the center, metro (lines 3 and 5) ~20 minutes
- Travel365 price calendar — find the cheapest dates
🛂 Visa: Schengen rules
Spain is in the Schengen zone. A Georgian citizen with a biometric passport can enter Valencia visa-free under the 90/180-day rule.
From the second half of 2026 you'll need ETIAS — a €7 online authorization valid for 3 years. Details are in the ETIAS 2026 guide and the Schengen visa guide.
📅 Best time to visit
- March: the famous Las Fallas festival — fire, fireworks and giant figures (19 March)
- April-June: ideal — warm weather (20-27°C), fewer crowds, moderate prices
- July-August: hot (30-33°C) and beach season; the most crowded
- September-October: warm sea, much calmer and cheaper
- November-February: a mild winter (15-18°C), still pleasant for sightseeing
🏛️ Top attractions
- 🔬 City of Arts and Sciences (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias) — a futuristic complex: the Oceanogràfic (Europe's largest aquarium), a planetarium and a science museum
- ⛪ Valencia Cathedral — where, by legend, the Holy Grail is kept; the best view from the Miguelete bell tower
- 🏰 La Lonja de la Seda — the silk exchange, a Gothic masterpiece and a UNESCO site
- 🥘 The Central Market (Mercado Central) — one of Europe's largest modernist markets
- 🌳 The Turia Gardens — a 9 km park laid out in a former riverbed through the heart of the city
- 🏖️ Malvarrosa beach — golden sand and the paella restaurants it's famous for
🥘 Paella and gastronomy
Valencia is the birthplace of paella — the real valenciana is made with chicken, rabbit and beans, not seafood (that's the tourist version). It's eaten at midday, not for dinner. Be sure to try the local horchata (a chufa-nut milk drink) with fartons.
Valencia connects easily to Spain's main destinations — Madrid by high-speed train (AVE) ~1.5 hours, Barcelona ~3 hours. Combine it with the Madrid or Barcelona guides in one trip.
💶 Budget and practical tips
Valencia is cheaper than Barcelona and Madrid. Budget guide: 3★ hotel — $60-120/night; a menú del día lunch — $12-22; a metro ticket — $2-3; a museum ticket — $8-16. A bicycle is ideal for exploring — the Turia park is flat and safe.
Get an eSIM for internet on arrival, and search and compare flights on the Travel365 price calendar.
At the City of Arts and Sciences, tickets are sold for individual venues (Oceanogràfic, museum, planetarium) and as a combo — the combo ticket is much cheaper. Buy online in advance and skip the queue.
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