Valencia Christmas
& New Year 2023

Valencia Christmas & New Year 2023

Valencia is the perfect escape for those looking to celebrate a Christmas full of traditions while enjoying mild Mediterranean temperatures, superb cuisine, vibrant nightlife and a fairytale atmosphere. Events typically begin in late November – awaiting dates for the individual markets.

• Are you visiting Valencia for Christmas? Stay at the Hotel Puerta Serranos, rated “Exceptional” by guests, steps from the old town with spacious rooms and exceptional service.

The Christmas Lights

• Typically from the first week in December – Valencia’s Christmas lights are pretty impressive and often make the national news in Spain for their elaborate designs.
• Calle San Vicente Martir, Calle La Paz,  Plaza de la Reina and Plaza Ayuntamiento take on a magical atmosphere throughout December.
• Enjoy a stunning video mapping light show on the façade of the Town Hall right before Christmas Eve through to the Epiphany.
• Take the Christmas train and enjoy the festive lights and beautifully decorated shop windows.

Plaza de Ayuntamiento

• Plaza de Ayuntamiento hosts the main Nativity Scene, a long-standing city tradition, the Christmas Ice Rink and the Christmas Carousel.
• Reward yourself with a perfect winter treat of Chocolate and Churro at Chocalatería Valor.

Plaza De la Reina

• From end of November – Plaza De la Reina – Browse from over 30 different Christmas stalls offering a range of handmade gifts.
• Discover authentic items right by the Cathedral of Valencia, including clothing, jewellery, toys and artisan decorations.
• Open from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm, and from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm, the market is located in El Carmen, in the heart of the old town of Valencia.
• Climb the steps of El Micalet, the tower next to the Cathedral and take in the stunning city views.
• Upgrade your Valencia Christmas experience with a stay at the “Superb” rated Palacio Santa Clara Autograph Collection, offering guests luxurious amenities, beautifully decorated rooms and perfect location.

Mercado de Tapineria

• From Late December – After you visit Plaza De la Reina, head to the nearby Mercado de Tapineria, a creative market surrounding two pedestrian squares offering a range of gastronomic delights and pop-up shops with a different theme each week.
• Take advantage of the Antique Market, which takes place on the third weekend of the month.

Mercado de Colón

• From mid December – Mercado de Colón – An iconic 1916 former market set in a grand modernist building is now a dining & shopping hub.
• The market hosts the annual “Colón Market Craft Show”, offering ceramics, jewellery, wooden toys and leather goods.
• Featuring more than 900 stalls, Mercado Central is the biggest market hall in Europe.
• Stay close to the market at the AC Hotel Colón Valencia by Marriott, featuring stylish rooms, delicious buffet breakfast, modern gym and charming roof terrace. 

City of Arts and Sciences

• From mid December until the Epiphany – The City of Arts and Sciences hosts its annual classic Christmas market in December.
• The market is full of unique gifts, gourmet food trucks and exhibitions of traditional trades, such as glassmaking, pottery and carpentry.
• Show off your skating skills at the Ice Rink near Hemisfèric, the famous 3D cinema or take in the magical journey of light and water at the Oceanogràfic.

Mercado de Reyes

• Three days leading up to the Epiphany – As part of the Three Kings (Epiphany) Celebrations, grab some last-minute gifs at Mercado de Reyes.
• The market is open each day from 9 pm until 10 pm and features more than 200 stalls in the surroundings of the Mercado del Cabanyal.

New Year’s Eve

• The place to be on New Year’s Eve is Town Hall Square. Valencia’s biggest New Year’s Eve party takes place right in the heart of the city, where the Town Hall balcony becomes a stage for DJs.
• Lights, music, and fireworks will all begin at 10:30 pm to see the new year’s arrival.
• At each stroke of midnight, you can eat each lucky grape and then dance until 1.45 am.

Gay Christmas and New Year Parties

• Deseo 54 – Popular gay club with two floors and international guest DJs.
• The Muse – Popular meeting point for those heading to the Deseo 54 party in the Sagunto District.

Ruzafa District

• Ruzafa – Hip district Russafa is filled with coffee shops, American-style bakeries, cafes with terraces, late-night bars and clubs, and restaurants
• Cómic Café – Calle Sueca, 33. Popular bar with a large terrace to watch the world go by. Very busy at weekends.
• La Boba y el Gato Rancio – Calle Cuba, 59. Stylish gay café-bar with an open-air terrace. A great starting point for a night out.

El Carmen District

• El Carmen –  The buzzing old-town district of El Carme is the site of medieval gates Torres de Serranos and Torres de Quart, once part of the old city walls. Its narrow streets are home to cafes, tapas bars, fashion boutiques and souvenir shops, and revellers crowd the terraces and dance floors of its many late-night bars. Museums include the Institut Valencià d’Art Modern, displaying 20th-century international works.
• Café Trapezzio – Plaza del Músico López Chávarri 20. Gay-friendly café with a large terrace in the heart of the historic district of El Carme.
• Cross Meeting Bar C/ Juan de Mena, 7 – A late-night bar for mixed age groups. Occasional live entertainment.
• Café de las Horas – Conde de Almodóvar, 1 Combines old palatial stables with a baroque design in a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Cocktails, teas and homemade cakes.

The Three Kings Parade

• January 5th – When the holiday season ends for most of Europe, the Three Wise Men (Los Reyes Magos) take centre stage on the evening of January 5th every year in Spin.
• In Valencia, the Three Kings arrive by sea in Valencia Marina at about 4:30 pm, followed by a magical parade, locally known as Las Fiestas de Reyes, from 6 pm.
• The parade goes from Paseo de la Alameda through city streets to Plaza del Ayuntamiento, accompanied by dancers, music, and live entertainment.
• Throughout the night, the three kings (Melchor, Gaspar & Baltasar) hand over their presents to Spanish children.

Recommended Hotels in Valencia

Here are the hotels we recommend that have good reviews and keep you close to all the action

Hospes Palau,    Zenit Valencia,    Vincci Palace,    Catalonia Excelsior