Valencia, Spain’s third metropolis, is a delightful city on the sea, a place where most of the tourists hail from Spain itself, where paella is the real thing, and where the beaches are a revelation. Few city beaches in Europe can compare with the sweep of golden sands that make up Las Arenas and La Malvarossa, stretching from the Port for some 3 km. Overcrowded? Never. Good restaurants fringing the sands? Yes.
What the Beaches Offer
A string of bars and paella places line the paved esplanade offering both indoor and outdoor terrace seating where families on Sundays, enjoy the traditional Valencia dish of paella scented with herbs, yellowed with saffron and chock full of shellfish and chicken. Some of the restaurants have an open plan kitchen where you can watch the chefs prepare the dishes, an always fascinating procedure. One of the best, and my favourite, is La Pepica Restaurant fronting the promenade which serves a great Paella which is best accompanied with an icy cold San Miguel beer or a glass of chilled dry sherry, a La Ina for preference.
All beaches are equipped with sports and play areas so that young and not so young can enjoy fun and games, and during the summer this is a great place to unwind. Even in the evening the beach is bustling and alive with people.
