I am getting so excited for our upcoming trip this summer, but it reminded me that I still haven’t finished sharing about the trip we took in December. In case you missed it, I’ve already shared my Paris Travel Guide and Rome Travel Guide from this trip. Our time in Spain was somewhat more relaxed because we spent a lot of time enjoying family during the holidays. But the rest of our time in Spain was jam packed visiting some amazing places. I’m sharing below our trip’s highlights from Valencia and its coast, Madrid, and Segovia.
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Valencia
Valencia is where my husband’s family lives. I love this city so much! There’s plenty to do without it being too crowded. The primary place we love visiting is the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. You definitely can’t go to Valencia without seeing it. The architectural design alone is so impressive and amazing to walk through. The complex houses the Hemispheric (IMAX cinema), Science Museum, Oceanographic (aquarium), and Palace of Arts (opera house). We visited the Oceanographic during this trip and had the best time! You can definitely enjoy a few hours there with or without kids.
Benidorm/Calpe
During our time in Valencia, we took a day trip to visit the a more southern portion of the coast that I had never been to. We first stopped in Benidorm to walk along the beach and boardwalk. Even during the winter months, the weather was beautiful and the area was lively. We then took the most scenic drive to Calpe. Putting it lightly, this town was breathtaking! We strolled the streets and ended the day with a dinner overlooking the beach. Visiting the coastal area was one of my favorite parts of our time in Spain and I would love to return in the future. We ordered paella for dinner which is a must any time you are in Spain!
Madrid
We traveled by train with my in laws to Madrid so I could have the opportunity to see a new city. The last time we visited Spain, I only visited Valencia and Barcelona. Being the capital of Spain, Madrid was a much more crowded and lively city. Since I had never been to Madrid, we made sure to hit all of the tourist highlights such as El Retiro Park, Puerto de AlcalΓ‘, Temple of Debod, and the Royal Palace of Madrid. We also made sure to visit Museo Nacional del Prado to spend a few hours admiring some artistic masterpieces, including a studio copy of the Mona Lisa from Leonardo da Vinci’s studio. It was so fun to see both the original Mona Lisa in Paris and a copy from a student of Da Vinci’s while on this trip. We spent 2 nights in Madrid and although we were able to do a lot, we definitely could have stayed longer! There is plenty of history, sightseeing attractions, and restaurant to keep you entertained for days.
Segovia
During our time in Madrid, we allocated a full day to visiting Segovia. You can get here by train in under an hour and for a very affordable price. I definitely recommend checking out this cute town! Segovia is probably most known for its ancient Roman aqueduct, but the rich history of the town does not stop there. We spent a great deal of time leisurely strolling the cobblestone streets. Additionally, we took a tour of the town’s medieval castle, AlcΓ‘zar of Segovia. We finished with a sunset dinner of a traditional Segovian pig roast and it was so good!
I was so thankful to not only be able to spend time with family in Valencia, but also have the opportunity to explore Benidorm, Calpe, Madrid, and Segovia on this trip! If you enjoyed this post, definitely check out my Valencia and Barcelona blog posts from our last time in Spain.
