The City of Arts and Sciences, a magnificent place in Valencia Hello everyone! Today we are going to talk to you about the City of Arts and Sciences of Valencia, one of the most famous and impressive areas in all of Spain. Many tourists from all over the world come
Hello everyone! Today we are going to talk to you about the City of Arts and Sciences of Valencia, one of the most famous and impressive areas in all of Spain.
Many tourists from all over the world come here to see this futuristic place.
But...What is the City of Arts and Sciences?
It is a cultural complex It is located in the city of Valencia, Spain. It is made up of several futuristic and avant-garde buildings, whose objective is promote culture, scientific education and entertainment.
Who built the City of Arts and Sciences? It was designed by Santiago Calatrava and the engineer Félix Candela.
The works on this mammoth architectural work began in 1994. The year of its completion and inauguration came in 1998.
Santiago Calatrava is a Spanish architect who has created museums, bridges and other infrastructure in Spain and around the world.
The direction of the City of Arts and Sciences is carried out by Antonio Torres, a politician who held the general direction of Relations in Las Cortes Valencianas.
The works of the architect of the City of Arts and Sciences are very recognizable, since his particular avant-garde style With neutral colors and impossible curved lines it is unique.
In fact, the City of Arts and Sciences is such a striking space that it has served as the setting for Hollywood movies and series high level, such as Tomorrowland (2015) or Westworld (2016).
Do you know that the nine series ofStar Wars Is it also filming here? 👌
What to see in the City of Arts and Sciences? Well, many things. The truth. In fact, coming to visit it is something you have to do at least once in your life.
To convince you of this, in this article we are going to describe the buildings of the City of Arts and Sciences and what you will find inside them. These buildings are:
In addition, we also tell you everything about the price of the tickets of these spaces, how to get there and the best restaurants in the city of Arts and Sciences.
If you're wondering how much the City of Arts and Sciences cost, it was really expensive: 1,282 million euros. Many Valencians think that it was a waste of money and that it was not worth so much expense.
We are going to try to convince you to come and see for yourself if it is worth it or not 😉
Let's see all these buildings in detail!
We start with the Valencia Oceanogràfric. In the City of Arts and Sciences, the Oceanogràfic is something you cannot miss.
It is about the largest aquarium in all of Europe 😯
It houses more than 45,000 animals of 500 species and 42 million liters of water. As you can imagine, the aquarium of the City of Arts and Sciences is also one of the largest in the world.
Through its large fish tanks you can observe marine animals of all types, such as sharks, jellyfish, rays, turtles, sea lions, walruses, belugas and many types of fish. There is also a penguin area and dolphin shows.
The aquarium is divided into different thematic areas that represent the main marine ecosystems of the world, such as the Mediterranean, coral reefs, the Arctic and Antarctic or the Atlantic and Indian oceans.
The Oceanogràfic of the City of Arts and Sciences is not only an aquarium for observing marine fauna, it also actively participates in programs for conserve the oceans and marine life.
It does educational activities and programs for all ages and participates in various research projects and helps save the species in danger of extinction.
The Valencia Hemisphere It is one of the most emblematic buildings in the City of Arts and Sciences (it is the name of the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencian).
Its characteristic eye shape It attracts the eyes of all tourists. Every person who sets foot in Valencia poses in front of it to take a photograph and take home a nice souvenir of this iconic location.
¿What's inside of the Hemisfèric of the City of Arts and Sciences?
has a 900 square meter concave screen that projects videos in IMAX in high definition and surround sound.
Visitors experience 3D movies, documentaries, shows and concerts in a completely different way and immersive.
Some of the most recurring videos that are projected in this cinema in the City of Arts and Sciences deal with the universe and science.
The Hemisfèric has a strong educational commitment to disseminate scientific knowledge of Space and other topics. For this reason, it is also known as the planetarium of the City of Arts and Sciences.
Sounds interesting, right? You can see the schedule of current Hemisfèric screenings on their website.
You can also see all the programming of the City of Arts and Sciences by clicking on this link.
One last thing to highlight about the Hemisfèric is its location. This gigantic metallic eye is floating above a extensive swimming pool blue in color.
This is not the only pool. The entire City of Arts and Sciences of Calatrava is surrounded by these pools.
This, plus the white color and the design of its monuments, make this place have a very modern and neat.
In these pools you will see the famous boats of the City of Arts and Sciences.
Are you coming for a boat ride in a place that seems straight out of a science fiction movie? We signed up!
Among the main activities in the City of Arts and Sciences that you can do, one of the most interesting is to visit the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum.
The Science Museum Príncipe Felipe, in Valencian, is a museum whose theme revolves around science and technology.
The fun thing about this museum is that almost all of its works are interactive. In this way, access to science is made more dynamic and easier to understand, especially for children.
The idea of learning while we play is very effective, and it is something that we at Hispania, Spanish school we always try to do in our Spanish classes.
The playful component encourages learning to develop better.
The City of Arts and Sciences museum has a wide variety of rooms and interactive exhibitions, covering topics such as energy, biology, physics, astronomy and others.
Some of the most notable permanent exhibitions they are:
If you like the universe and astronomy, this is your room. You will be able to see original pieces of the famous telescope Hubble or let yourself be carried away by spectacular images of space in motion. You can also take a walk to the International Space Station following the instructions of astronaut Pedro Duque.
This enigmatic pendulum hanging from the ceiling moves 24 hours a day, always forward and backward. It shows that the earth rotates on its own axis.
This is the room dedicated to the human body. Through more than 100 interactive works you will learn how our body and our cells work. There are also some curious tests of balance and muscle strength.
These are just some of the examples of exhibitions you can find. There are many more and new ones are made from time to time. temporary exhibitions that are being renewed.
One of the most popular was, for example, the Lego City of Arts and Sciences exhibition a few years ago, in which more than a million Lego pieces were brought to recreate important events in history such as the discovery of America or the Titanic.
One of the Curiosities of the City of Arts and Sciences are the exhibitions that are done, not only inside the museum, but on the main esplanade, outdoors.
These exhibitions are completely free and very enjoyable if it's a good day, which, since we are in Valencia, that's how it usually is 😁
On this large esplanade they also make music festivals and concerts, such as the Festival de Les Arts in summer, one of the most popular events in the City of Arts and Sciences that attracts thousands of people every year.
By the way, if you are wondering, the capacity of the City of Arts and Sciences is20,000 people.
The Valencia Umbracle, or L'Umbracle in Valencian, it's a garden that serves several purposes.
The first is to offer a nice walk through a garden that houses own vegetation from the Mediterranean region, from the Valencian Community and other tropical countries.
It is also a place where the main sculptures of the City of Arts and Sciences are planted.
These sculptures are renewed periodically and you can see them for free in the so-called Art Walk.
Another point to keep in mind is that from the Umbracle terrace we have the best panoramic views of the entire Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències of Valencia. It is located right in front of the museum, but we can see the rest of the buildings and pools that make it up.
Finally, on summer nights, Umbracle becomes a magnificent disco which offers a prodigious location.
Can you imagine how beautiful Valencia must be with the City of Arts and Sciences at night? Well, if you go out to party at Umbracle in summer you can see it with your own eyes, without having to resort to images of the City of Arts and Sciences of Valencia 😉
So, yes, there is a nightclub in the City of Arts and Sciences, and it is one of the best in the city 🕺🏻
Also, do you know that you can also walk around this futuristic and illuminated environment at night? There is not a schedule in the City of Arts and Sciences.
You can go there whenever you want, it is an open and public space. What does have a schedule are the buildings inside. Each one has its own opening and closing hours, which is usually between ten in the morning and six in the afternoon.
The Reina Sofia Palace of the Arts, or Palau de les Arts Queen Sofia In Valencian, it is considered the auditorium of the City of Arts and Sciences.
Within this monumental building, artistic events are held especially related to the music and dance.
Above all, you will find many concerts of traditional music Valencian and Spanish. Much emphasis is also placed on opera.
Almost every concert in the City of Arts and Sciences takes place in the main room of the Palace of Arts.
The building has 37,000 square meters of surface, and more than 70 meters high. Inside there are four large rooms.
The main room is truly wonderful. Its spaciousness and strange architecture will leave you speechless for a long time.
There is no doubt that this is the building dedicated to the music lovers throughout the City of Arts and Sciences.
Outside, the facade The Palace of Arts is also spectacular. It is said that its shape is a metaphor for a ship stranded in the bed of the Turia River. You have to come see it!
The Agora of the City of Arts and SciencesIt is one of the newest buildings in the area, it was inaugurated in 2009. It is located between the Assut de l'Or bridge and the Oceanogràfic.
It has a surface area of more than 5,000 square meters and a capacity to accommodate more than 6,000 people.
This bluish building remains the same design futuristic of its neighboring buildings. It has a glass and steel roof supported by two inclined arches that rise into the sky, giving the building a streamlined and pointed appearance.
Until now, the Agora had been a space with many functions in which different events such as concerts, exhibitions or fairs were held.
However, in this last year Ágora became CaixaForum Valencia, a space dedicated to culture and art through exhibitions, art galleries, film screenings or conferences that are updated every month.
For example, right now you can see the exhibition Apollo 11, which demonstrates with images and text what man's arrival on the Moon was like.
Seeing an exhibition like this in such an impressive and modern building must be an interesting experience, don't you think?
L'Assut de l'Or It is the bridge of the City of Arts and Sciences.
It was inaugurated in 2008 and is one of the most beautiful bridges from all over Valencia.
has a height of 125 meters which stands above the Turia Garden. Its design resembles a giant harp, with a sloping central mast and several cables extending from it to support the bridge deck.
The bridge is white and made of concrete and steel. The bridge deck has a length 180 meters and has two lanes for vehicles and a pedestrian lane.
Without a doubt, it is a bridge that can be recognized from miles away and is worth crossing.
This was Calatrava's last great architectural work in Valencia. Now you know how to visit the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia and what you can see in each building.
Do you already have your tickets for the City of Arts and Sciences? Don't know how to get them? We help you😉
Tickets to the City of Arts and Sciences are very easy to get. We tell you everything you need to know about prices, discounts and more in each of its buildings.
All tickets can be purchased online or at the box office.
The general admission for the Oceanographic it costs 36 euros. For children from four to twelve years old, the price is reduced to 26 euros. This price is the same for retirees, pensioners, people over 65 years of age or people with functional diversity.
If you want a guide to take you around the aquarium and give you information about the different animals, you can purchase entrance with tour for 48 euros. Also the ticket with tour is reduced to 38.80 for children, retirees, etc.
There are also Oceanogràfic packs plus other events which would be more expensive if you bought them separately.
For example, one of the most popular is the aquarium + The sea in your hands. In this interactive experience you will learn about the biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea, delving deeper into sea turtles. This pack costs 43 euros for general admission and 33 for a reduced price.
You can also buy the ticket Oceanogràfic + Science Museum, which has a price of 38.20 in general and 28.70 in reduced price.
As you can see, it is much more profitable to buy this pack than the simple aquarium ticket, since for only 2.80 euros more it includes admission to the museum.
These same prices are repeated in the pack of the Oceanogràfic + Hemisfèric.
You can also buy the complete pack: Oceanogràfic + Science Museum + Hemisfèric. This has a general price of 44.20 euros general and 34.70 reduced.
Without a doubt, they are the best discounts from the City of Arts and Sciences. If you intend to enter multiple buildings, keep an eye on them!
IMAX and 3D screenings at the Hemisfèric cinema cost 8.70 euros each one. The price for children, adults, retirees or people with functional diversity is 6.70 euros.
The price of the tickets to the Science Museum It is exactly the same as the Hemisfèric: 8.70 general admission and 6.70 reduced price admission.
The time to access CaixaForum Valencia is from 10:00 in the morning to 20:00 in the afternoon.
General admission is valid 6 euros. With this entry you can see all exhibitions, both permanent and temporary.
And, you know what? If you are a CaixaBank customer, entry is completely free. This is one of the few cases where you can find free tickets to the City of Arts and Sciences.
In CaixaForum there is also reduced prices for groups of more than 10 people.
Tickets to concerts are usually sold for 10 or 15 euros.
Prices for shows at the Reina Sofía Palace of Arts vary according to the concert and depending on the area where you buy the ticket.
To give you an idea, in the main room there are 6 zones. Most concerts and opera sessions are held here.
The zones go from furthest to closest. Number 6, which is the furthest, can cost between 8 and 16 euros.
From here, the price goes up. Zone 1, which is located right in front of the stage, can cost between 40 and 145 euros.
Right now there is an offer called «Young Flat Rate». This rate offers 5 shows for only 50 euros for people up to 28 years old.
These shows include an opera, a symphonic music concert and a theater, among others.
If you want to see more than one quality concert in the City of Arts and Sciences, this rate may be appropriate.
Are you over 28 years old? No problem, there is an offer for you too, although you will have to cough up a little more money. If you are under 36 years old, you can enjoy the same 5 shows for 100 euros.
As you can see, in the City of Arts and Sciences there are very good offers 👌🏻
Now you have an idea of the budget of the City of Arts and Sciences of Valencia that you need to enter its facilities.
Maybe you are wondering: How can you access the City of Sciences? ¿What is the best means of transportation to go??
Below we count all forms of transportation one by one so that you can choose the one that best suits you.
It is possible park in the City of Arts and Sciences. There is fair parking below the Umbracle.
The price of parking at the City of Arts and Sciences for cars and buses is 2.30 euros per hour. The maximum rate is 24 euros per day.
If you go to the City of Arts and Sciences with tickets to enter any of its infrastructures, the price of parking will be 7 euros per day, being able to leave the car until the buildings close.
Is there free parking inside the City of Arts and Sciences?
Unfortunately no. If you don't want to pay money, you can also try parking near the City of Sciences.
It is possible to find parking on the nearest streets, if you are a little patient and don't mind walking a little further.
Is there a metro stop in the City of Arts and Sciences? Yes, the stop Ciutat Arts i Ciències – Justícia.
It can be a good option if you don't have a car or don't feel like driving.
The drawback is that this metro stop can only be reached from a single point. That point is line 10, which comes from the Alicante stop, very close to the North Station.
Therefore, unless you live in the heart of Valencia, getting to the City of Sciences by metro will mean make transfer and long journey time, from 40 to 60 minutes.
You also have the possibility of going on bus to the City of Arts and Sciences.
In fact, andWe like this option more than the subway because you have direct lines that they take you and you will save a lot of time, without having to be so aware of when to get off to transfer.
The EMT lines (that is what the red urban buses are called in Valencia) that go to the City of Arts and Sciences are: 1, 13, 15, 19, 24, 25, 35, 40, 94, 95 and 99.
For the City of Arts and Sciences thevisit time Estimated can be a whole morning or a whole day, it depends on the amount of activities you want to do.
If you are going to spend a long day, it is normal that at some point you will get hungry and want to eat.
Is there good restaurants to eat inside the City of Arts and Sciences? Of course there are. Inside the complex you will find several restaurants. We tell you the most popular ones.
This restaurant is inside the Palacio de Les Arts.
If you want to eat in an attractive place, with seafood and curious tapas, this is a good place.
In addition, you can eat on a terrace in the City of Arts and Sciences to soak up the sun and enjoy incredible views.
If you prefer, you can also go to this restaurant to dine in the City of Arts and Sciences and observe this beautiful futuristic landscape with its swimming pools and illuminated monuments.
This restaurant is inside the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum.
It is Italian food and here you will find typical dishes of this cuisine.
The aquarium is where you will find the most restaurants. If you want something cheap you can eat a hamburger at the Dolphinarium Burger or a meat and potatoes dish at the restaurant Oceans.
If you prefer high-end food in a luxurious place, try going to the restaurant Submarine.
Have you never eaten with large fish tanks of marine animals around you? Well, in this restaurant in the City of Arts and Sciences you can do it.
These are the restaurants within the City of Sciences. However, near it there are neighborhoods where you will find restaurants of all kinds.
These restaurants are concentrated in the neighborhood Penya – Red, which is less than 5 minutes walking, or, in the Saler Shopping Center, which is right next to the City of Arts and Sciences of Santiago Calatrava.
By the way, if you wish, you can also stay in hotels near the City of Arts and Sciences. There are many, here are some:
In some of these hotels you can find hotel offers + tickets to the City of Arts and Sciences at a good price.
The City of Arts and Sciences is one of the most emblematic places of Valencia that you can't miss. But, yes, in order to fully enjoy all its cultural attractions it offers, which are not few, you need to have a foundation in the Spanish language.
If you think you need to improve it, we will always welcome you with open arms at Hispania, Spanish school. We are also in Valencia! 😉
We offer face-to-face Spanish courses and online Spanish courses in which you will learn to understand and speak Spanish in a very short time.
Now you know everything you need to know about the City of Arts and Sciences. Let's quickly review everything we have learned about this beautiful part of Valencia.
Of all the buildings we have seen, if you had to choose just one of the buildings, which would it be?
Leave us a comment with your reasons and we'll talk 🙌🏻
Article written by Charles Martinez for Hispania, Spanish school.
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