Guides

Where to Watch the World Cup in Valencia: A Guide to the City's Best Sports Bars

From 14-screen Irish pubs to intimate spots near the Mestalla stadium — La Cotorra rounds up where to catch this summer's matches over a beer and tapas, with notes on late-night licences.

The Best Craft Beer Bars in Valencia: A Local's Guide to 14 Must-Visit Pubs

Tired of Estrella, Mahou, and Dorada? Here's where to find the best local and international craft beers in Valencia — from tourist favourites to hidden neighbourhood gems

Valencia from Above: A Guide to the City’s Best Rooftop Bars

From historic views of the Serranos Towers to modern terraces overlooking the City of Arts and Sciences, discover the best spots to watch the city wake up or wind down

The Story of Café Sant Jaume, Valencia’s "Apothecary Bar"

Step inside a 19th-century pharmacy where the old remedy for freckles has been replaced by the city's best Agua de Valencia.

The Art of the Al Dente: A Guide to the Best Pasta in Valencia

From creamy truffles in Ruzafa to traditional Roman Carbonara in the city centre, discover the top spots for an authentic Italian pasta experience

Valencia’s Signature Sip: The Story and Secrets of Agua de Valencia

Don't let the name fool you—there’s no water in this potent local brew. Discover the artistic origins and the "dangerously drinkable" recipe of the city's favourite cocktail

Bunyols Bienve: Inside Valencia’s Most Iconic Buñuelos Stand

We explain how the iconic fritter stand operates

Japanese sandwich shop in Barcelona

A sandwich with strawberry and white chocolate is our favourite

Wild Atlantic Arches And Boho Balearic Coves: Spain’s 14 Absolute Best Beaches

Galicia’s dramatic tidal cathedrals and Asturian hidden lagoons to the pristine, wind-swept shores of the Canaries—discover the ultimate coastal havens handpicked by La Cotorra

10 Spanish Destinations to Discover This Summer

From the fishing village of Navia to the beaches of Cádiz and the coves of Begur — La Cotorra's broad-brush guide to Spain's best spots for 2026, based on this year's trends

The Lavender Fields Near Valencia — and the Myth About Their Calming Scent

Every summer, hundreds head to Ademuz in search of a "Spanish Provence" — but at the family farm Ecoaromuz, visitors learn that not all lavender is relaxing

Ten Films and Series Shot in Spain That You Can Recognise on Screen

From the Hunger Games filmed in Asturian wilderness to Johnny Depp on Tenerife, Daenerys's gardens in Seville, and Coruscant in Valencia's City of Arts — a guide to Spain's most cinematic locations

Eleven Things in Spain That Can Sting, Poison, or Burn You — and How to Avoid Them

From processionary caterpillars under pine trees to weeverfish buried in the sand, oleander growing in every park, and tiger mosquitoes active all day — a guide to Spain's less-talked-about seasonal hazards

7 Day Trips from Valencia You Can Do Without an Overnight Stay

From a Templar castle on the coast and Europe's longest underground river to thermal baths, cave towns, and suspension bridges over a river canyon — the best escapes within two hours of Valencia

From Coast to Mountains: 15 Scenic Hiking Ideas Near Valencia

Some routes run along trails that aren’t shown on Google Maps, so we recommend installing a dedicated hiking app before you set off — for example, Organic Maps — where all the necessary paths are marked

Where you can throw snowballs, go skiing, or simply stroll along snow-covered streets in Spain

La Cotorra shares a selection of places where you can throw snowballs, go skiing, or simply stroll along snow-covered streets

15 Free Climate Shelters to Beat the Heat in Valencia

From a former 15th-century hospital to a Dalí-adjacent monastery courtyard, Valencia's 38 official climate shelters offer free places to escape the worst of the heat

The Complete Guide to Valencia's Open-Air Swimming Pools for Summer 2026

From the city's mini water park at Benicalap to quiet neighbourhood pools and countryside spots near the Albufera — 10 places to cool off, with opening hours, prices, and what to expect

Port Saplaya: Valencia's "Little Venice" of Canals, Colourful Houses, and Moored Yachts

Just seven kilometres from the city, this 1970s marina district feels like Italy — but behind the postcard lie sand-clogged canals and storms. La Cotorra talks to a yachtsman who lived there

The Complete Guide to Valencia's Oceanogràfic: Tickets, Shows, Food, and Prices

Europe's largest aquarium holds 35,000 animals across 780 species — sharks, belugas, penguins, and the continent's longest underwater tunnel. La Cotorra breaks down what to buy, see, and how much it all costs

The Complete Guide to Valencia: Landmarks, Markets, Beaches, and What to Eat

From the Cathedral's Holy Grail and the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences to the Central Market, Blue Flag beaches, and the real paella — everything you need to explore Spain's third-largest city

More Than Just Swings: A Guide to Valencia’s Best Playgrounds and Parks For Children

From climbing giant literary heroes to navigating miniature cities, discover why Valencia is a paradise for children

Do you know the best place in Valencia to watch the sunset?

La Cotorra visited a family who live by the lake and run a tourism business there, and tells the story of what life is like on Albufera.

A guide to Valencia’s bookshops: 12 places with English-language books

It is easy to buy books in major European languages in Valencia, especially in English

What to Do in Madrid This July: Festivals, Concerts & Open-Air Cinema

From Mad Cool and Río Babel to Bruno Mars, ballet, open-air film screenings, and must-see exhibitions — La Cotorra's guide to the month's biggest events in Madrid

Spain Celebrates San Juan: Bonfires in Valencia, Firecrackers in Barcelona, and Horses in Menorca

On one of the shortest nights of the year, the country marks Saint John's Eve in wildly different ways — from Alicante's giant burning figures to Galicia's herb-infused water and Valencia's midnight beach wishes

Events in Valencia This Weekend 18-19 July

From giant screen viewings of the Spain vs. Argentina World Cup final to free Gran Nit open-air concerts, late-night museum openings, and beachfront food trucks—discover the ultimate plans in Valencia

Barcelona in June 2026: Primavera Sound, Sónar And Sagrada Família's Final Tower

Twelve events worth a trip — from The Cure and Doja Cat at Primavera to Pope Leo XIV blessing the world's tallest church on the centenary of Gaudí's death, plus the fires and fireworks of Sant Joan.

Madrid in June 2026: Pope Leo XIV, BTS, Linkin Park, OneRepublic, and Free Museum Night

Ten events worth a trip to the Spanish capital — from a papal visit with 15 museums open free overnight, to Arkady Volodos at the Auditorio Nacional and live World Cup screenings on Plaza Colón

International Museum Day in Valencia: Free Entry, Night Tours and Workshops — Full Programme

On 16 and 18 May, dozens of museums open their doors for free. The city's 19 municipal museums are free on both 16 and 23 May — no booking required

Rock, Raves, and Road Trips: Your Ultimate Guide to Europe’s 2026 Summer Festivals

We’ve curated the top 11 must-visit festivals across the continent this season

The Spanish Cup of Floral Art will take place in Valencia

The country's best florists will compete for three days

Your Guide to the Trendiest Bikinis of Summer 2026

You can never have too many swimsuits — La Cotorra scoured dozens of online stores to find the most stylish bikinis and bandeaus currently in stock at great prices

Louis Vuitton boutique has temporarily changed its location in Barcelona

The new store is located at 71 Passeig de Gràcia

Top 9 Mercadona products everyone loves (and you will too)

La Cotorra has been studying Mercadona’s range for years and is happy to share its own price-to-quality favourites

From 17 Euros to 15,000: A Valencian Fan Workshop

La Cotorra visited Abanicos Carbonell, the oldest fan workshop in Valencia, where traditional Valencian fans have been made for more than 160 years

5 Viral Beauty Products Everyone Can Afford — And Yes, They’re from Mercadona

We look at five viral beauty products that bloggers can’t stop talking about.

Choosing a Paella Pan with a Valencian Señora

A paellera is a consumable item, which is why every local can buy one without walking further than a few streets from home.

Why Feeding Kids in Spain Means Surrendering to Sugar — A Russian Mum's View from Valencia

At the playground, treats fly between families faster than you can track them, and restaurant kids' menus rarely stretch beyond chips and nuggets. But after years in Valencia, one mother is rethinking what really matters.

La Cotorra Exclusive: How Mila from Valencia Made It onto La Voz Kids

The eight-year-old Russian-speaking Valencia resident took the stage after just six months of singing lessons. Her mother shares the castings, the filming, and meeting star coaches Luis Fonsi, Ana Mena, and Antonio Orozco

Emigrating with Kids: A Child Psychologist on Choosing Schools And Helping Teens Adapt

How do you pick a school after moving abroad? Do children really adapt so easily? La Cotorra asked child psychologist Svetlana Pron about everything from "I'm not going!" tantrums to bullying and withdrawn teenagers

The Best Schools in Valencia: State, Semi-Private, Private, and International — Ranked and Compared

From top-scoring state schools and Catholic semi-private institutions to IB programmes, British curricula, and the French Lycée — a data-driven guide to Valencia's best schools based on PAU results, Forbes and El Mundo rankings, and parent reviews

Navigating Schools in Spain: A Comprehensive Guide to Systems, Costs, and Integration

From free public schools with local immersion to elite international institutions, choosing an education path in Valencia is about more than just grades—it's about choosing a lifestyle

Head Lice: What to Do If an Outbreak Is Detected at Your School in Valencia

“Dear parents, some children in the class have been found to have head lice.” This polite yet unwelcome message is received by almost every parent of a schoolchild in Valencia