Valencia sits along the Mediterranean Sea in southern Spain. Although it ranks as Spain's third-largest metropolitan area, its prices generally lag behind those found in the expensive cities of Madrid and Barcelona. From its elegant palaces and cobbled plazas to its sunny beaches and Art Deco architecture, Valencia boasts a wealth of attractions. The city center is small enough that tourists can meander to most sites on their own, though having a guide often enhances the experience. Visitors have several relatively cheap tour options for sightseeing around town.

Walking Tour

Valencia Guias, the city's lone official tour agency, provides organized walking tours of the historical city center. Expert bilingual guides show visitors around Valencia's most prominent attractions including the Plaza de la Reina, the Cathedral, the Plaza de la Virgen, the Palace Marqués de Dos Aguas, the Plaza Redonda, the Central Market and the Lonja silk exchange. Entrance fees to historic buildings are not included. Tours depart from Valencia's city tourist office in the Plaza de la Reina. The walking circuit takes roughly two hours to complete, allowing tourists to catch a quick glimpse of the city's primary points of interest. Valencia Guias Walking Tour Tourist Office, Plaza de la Reina Valencia, Spain 011-34-963-851-740

Bike Tour

Valencia Bikes, also operated by Valencia Guias, runs a bicycle tour for visitors who want to peddle around town rather than walk. The bike tour itinerary consists of the old city center, the Turia Gardens and the City of Arts &amp; Sciences, a futuristic complex with a planetarium, oceanarium, palaces and museums. Admission to these attractions is not included. The tour takes around three hours to complete. Valencia Bikes Paseo de la Pechina, 32 bajo izq. Valencia, Spain 011-34-963-851-740

Segway Tour

The World Travel Guide recommends checking out the Valencia Guias Segway Tour. Segways are modern motor vehicles with a design similar to a scooter. They feature a wheeled-base on which riders stand upright, grasping a set of handle bars to control the speed and direction of the vehicle. The Segway Tour shuttles visitors around the City of Arts &amp; Sciences as well as the Turia Gardens, giving riders a chance to see the drained river bed that cuts through the city. Bilingual guides spend around 15 minutes providing instruction on Segway use at the beginning of the tour. The actual sightseeing lasts for approximately one hour after tourists receive their segway training. Valencia Segway Tour Paseo de la Pechina, 32 bajo izq. Valencia, Spain 011-34-963-851-740

Bus Tour

Another convenient and affordable option for getting around Valencia is the Bus Turistic service. Operated by Viajes Transvia Tours SL, the Bus Turistic runs along three primary routes. The red open-top Bus Turistic features a hop-on, hop-off service that lets riders tour the historic city center at their own pace. Tourists can catch a bus to one attraction, get off to explore the area and then get on another bus when they are ready to head to another destination. The red-line bus tours are available year-round, as is the blue-line Maritime Route which whisks passengers through the city and out to the Mediterranean coast. A third option is the green Albufera line, which transports tourists out of the city to the scenic Albufera Lake and Nature Reserve. The Albufera line runs only between March and December due to weather restrictions. All tour buses feature personal audio systems with information in eight different languages. Tourists can purchase tickets at most hotels as well as at the city's tourist office or when boarding the bus. Valencia Bus Turistic 011-34-963-414-400

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