Valencia with kids in 3, 5 or 7 days

In the morning. Go into the Central Market with one task: find three orange-coloured foods. Then cross over to the Silk Exchange and look for the strangest stone face.

In the afternoon. Walk towards Plaça de la Reina and Plaça de la Mare de Déu. If there’s energy left, continue through El Carmen to the Serranos Towers. If it rains, shorten the walk and visit L’Almoina.

In the morning. Go to Gulliver Park if it’s open. If the slides aren’t a good fit, walk through the Turia Garden towards the City of Arts and Sciences.

In the afternoon. Choose the Science Museum or a Hemisfèric screening. If Oceanogràfic is the priority, give it the main part of the day and save Gulliver for another time.

In the morning. Walk a few streets in El Cabanyal. Each person picks a tiled façade and sketches their favourite detail.

In the afternoon. Head to El Cabanyal beach or Malvarrosa. If it’s warm enough for a swim, check the flag. Otherwise, a walk and a horchata make a lovely afternoon.

In the morning. Visit the Central Market and the Silk Exchange. Before going in, download the gargoyle challenge and decide who’s bringing the pencil.

In the afternoon. Have lunch in the centre and choose between L’Almoina and the Serranos Towers. If anyone still feels like drawing, sit down and sketch the outline of a tower.

In the morning. Start at Oceanogràfic and let each child pick an animal to look for. Check the programme before you go for any activities you’d like to catch.

In the afternoon. If there’s energy left, walk around the outside of the City of Arts and Sciences. Save the museum experiments for another day if you’ve spent several hours at the aquarium.

In the morning. At BIOPARC, choose two animals to compare. How do they move, where do they hide and which parts of their bodies can you see?

In the afternoon. If you still feel like walking, take a short stroll by the lake in Cabecera Park. If it rains, consider the History Museum and check its opening hours.

In the morning. Walk through El Cabanyal looking for façades in two colours. For a short indoor visit, check out the Rice Museum.

In the afternoon. Finish at the seafront. In good weather, pick a beach. On a cool day, take your snack down to the sea and draw an imaginary boat.

In the morning. Head to El Palmar with time to walk and eat. If Racó de l’Olla fits your schedule and access needs, start there with a bird hunt.

In the afternoon. Ask about the boat trip and confirm your journey back before booking. If the boat isn’t running, walk through the village or try a short stretch in the park if conditions allow.

In the morning. Visit the Central Market and cross to the Silk Exchange. Start the challenge in the square, then find a column inside that opens up like a palm tree.

In the afternoon. Continue to Plaça de la Mare de Déu and El Carmen. Choose the Serranos Towers or L’Almoina, depending on the weather and whether you’d rather climb a tower or go beneath the city.

In the morning. Head into the Turia Garden and stop at Gulliver if it’s open. Pick a bridge as your starting point to keep the walk manageable.

In the afternoon. Continue to the Science Museum. For a seated break, choose a Hemisfèric screening and check the age guidance, language and time.

In the morning. Enter Oceanogràfic with a little checklist: one animal that swims, one that hides and one that surprises you. Everyone can add their own.

In the afternoon. Stay at the aquarium if you still have areas to see. If you’ve finished, I’d take a short outdoor walk and give everyone the afternoon off.

In the morning. Start at BIOPARC if you’re up for another morning with animals. For a quieter day, go straight to Cabecera Park with a snack.

In the afternoon. Walk along the lake for a bit. If it rains, save the walk for another day and visit the History Museum after checking its opening hours.

In the morning. If the opening times work, start at Racó de l’Olla to watch birds. Continue to El Palmar for lunch and ask about boat departures.

In the afternoon. If the boat runs, see how many changes of colour you can spot on the water. If the wind or timetable gets in the way, walk around El Palmar a little longer and head back before dark.

In the morning. Check the Cercanías trains before you leave. Walk up from the old town to the Roman theatre and let the children imagine what people could hear from the seats.

In the afternoon. If you’re up for more climbing, explore part of the castle and look down over the city. If it’s hot or legs are tired, finish at the theatre and eat down in town. If you’d rather see Xàtiva, give it the whole day.

In the morning. Walk through El Cabanyal and look for three different tiles. If you’re short on time, stick to the seafront and a horchata.

In the afternoon. In good weather, pick a city beach and check the flags. If it rains, end your trip at L’ETNO or Centre del Carme if their opening times suit you.