Art & Design School Trips to Valencia

Accommodation

Valencia is quite a compact city and so it is quite easy to navigate on foot, meaning all our accommodation options offer good locations across the old and newer areas of the city. We can provide suitable options including hostels using bunk bed style rooms and also popular hotels offering with rooms from 2 to 4 students. These options can provide either bed and breakfast, or half and full board.

Restaurants

We recommend that our groups stay on a Full Board basis however we have selected a few restaurants for lunches or evenings should you wish to enjoy a meal or two outside of the hotel. Our most popular options are;

• Necco – Mediterranean buffet
• Fresco buffet
• Bruselas Restaurant with set menu
• Hard Rock Café
• La Piazza Aaragon (Near Mestralla) 
• Fosters Hollywood
• Dinner at the Flamenco

The City of Arts and Science

An absolute must for all groups visiting Valencia. This iconic and stunning complex occupies a massive 350,000-sq-metre of former Turia River riverbed. This series of spectacular buildings are mostly the work of world-famous, locally born architect Santiago Calatrava. 

There are 5 different sections we can arrange individual or combined ticket entry for. The Hemisfèric (incredible 3-D cinema), the Science & Technology Museum, the Oceanogràfic (Europe’s largest aquarium) and the Reina Sofia Opera House.

• The Hemisferic: The Hemisfèric is a memorising digital 3D cinema, with a huge 900 metre concave screen, which almost envelops spectators. Several films are screened daily, mainly educational documentaries of no more than 45 minutes which are suitable for all audiences.
• Oceanografic: Don’t miss this incredible aquarium and Marine Park – the 3rd largest in the world. Witness 500 different marine species - amongst which can be found sharks, Beluga whales, walruses, sea lions, penguins and manta rays - inhabit nine underwater towers that, structured in two levels, represent the most emblematic ecosystems of the planet.
• 4D: Scientific Film- Don’t forget to add a showing at Spain’s largest 4D cinema and enjoy a memorable science based film as the cinema re-creates conditions like wind, changes of light, aromas, snow, as well as vibration in the seats.
• Príncipe Felipe Science Museum: With the philosophy "Not touching is prohibited" you can imagine what kind of museum this is. With more than 26,000 m 2 dedicated to exhibitions that are renewed periodically, each exhibition, workshop or activity opens a door to knowledge in a modern and fun way.
• Reina Sofia Opera House: If you are a music-lover then the Palau de les Arts is the place for you at the City of Arts and Sciences. From October to November, its programme includes operas, concerts, zarzuela and ballet. When not being used for performances, you can visit the building by booking a tour in advance.
• The Umbracle: This is a landscaped viewpoint covering an area of more than 17,500 square metres, from which to view all the buildings, ponds, paths, and landscaped areas of the complex. It houses the “Paseo de las Esculturas”, an open-air art gallery with sculptures by contemporary artists. Terraza Mya opens its doors at night during the summer months. 

Old Town Art & Architecture Walking Tour

The old part of the city is one of the oldest and best kept in Europe. There you will find stunning examples of Gothic, Neoclassism, Baroque and Modernism styles

See the ‘La Lonja’ (The Exchange), declared as UNESCO World Heritage in 1996. Opposite this is an interesting piece of modernism: the Mercado Central, full of vivacity – and also has been declared as a''Heritage of Cultural Interest’’. The Estación del Norte (main railway station) is another good example of a modernist building, which boasts a beautifully decorated tiled façade.

Visit the Cathedral, a combination of late Roman Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque and the Cathedral Museum. See the Marquis de Dos Aguas Palace with its stunning examples of Valencian Rococco.

You can also visit the parts of the ancient wall of the Town including the Serranos Towers and some hidden gems such as the Plaza Redonda. All walks can of course be tailored to your specific requirements.

Valencian Institute of Modern Art (Institut Valencià d'Art Modern IVAM)

This excellent museum was created to explore and disseminate 20th century art. Situated between the River Turia, and the historic centre of Valencia, the museum’s permanent collection is the epicenter of IVAM. Its unique collection is one of the most outstanding in Spain and it has an enviable artistic heritage with works from different geographies and cultural contexts: Valencian artists, Spanish, European, Latin American, North American.

Today the collection features over 11,000 works across the disciplines of painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, video, and installation.Guided Tours for schools are available for groups between 20-30 people. Closed Mondays Free for pre-booked school groups.

Museum of Fine Arts San Pio V (Bellas Artes) 

Located in a Baroque building recently entirety renovated, this is one of the most outstanding art museums in Spain. Mostly renowned for its collections of primitive Valencian painters, it also houses works by El Greco, Velázquez, Murillo and Goya and exhibits sculptures by Mariano Benlliure.

There is an interesting collection of contemporary art, along with valuable archaeological remains. The complete collection of Gothic panels also stands out because of its quality. The museum also houses one of the most important 16th century Renaissance courtyards: the courtyard of the Vich ambassador. The museum is closed on Tuesdays. Free for school groups.

Valencia Cathedral and the Cathedral Museum

Valencia Cathedral was built on the site of a Roman temple in the thirteenth century before being converted into a mosque. The incredible frescos above the alter were the first frescos in Spain which were rediscovered only in 2004! Throughout the building you can see a range of architectural styles. This is typified by three of the cathedral's main doors: Gothic, Baroque and Romanesque.

Inside the Santo Caliz Chapel you can find a Holy Chalice that the Vatican lists as he #1 mostly likely chalice used by Christ during the Last Supper. Inside the Saint Francis Borja Chapel you will find a famous painting by Goya.

In the museum there are two large canvasses painted by Goya in 1799, depicting San Francisco de Borja. It also has 15th and 16th-century paintings, with works by Rodrigo de Osona, Yáñez de la Almedina, Vicente Masip and Juan de Juanes. 

Highlights of the sculptures on display include original pieces from the 14th-century Gothic Apóstoles door, and the ‘Christ of the Good Deat’h by Alonso Cano. You can also see the processional monstrance and other items in precious metals, such as chalices and reliquaries from the 14th and 15th centuries. 

The Lladró Museum, Almàssera

The fantastic Lladró Museum is the family home of the Lladró brothers in Almàssera, accessible on the metro from Valencia in 15 minutes. It has two permanent exhibits, the Historic Porcelain Museum and the Painting Collection. The Lladro porcelain figurines are the ultimate art of Valencian ceramics. 

WST can pre-book a unique tour where students follow a figurine made from scratch.  Each staff member at his workplace will explain their part of this incredible process. There are also video presentations of the history and principles of Lladro. The complex holds a large exhibition / shop where you can view most of Lladro works currently in production. 

WST can pre-book groups who can enjoy a unique experience including a tour of the handcrafted process of creation of the pieces and a visit to the Lladró Museum & Boutique, where you can see all our current collections.

National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Arts "González Martí

This museum is dedicated to ceramics, porcelains and other decorative arts with prehistoric, Roman, Greek and Arabian items. There are also plenty of contemporary works, including some by Picasso. It is situated in a palace that dates from the 15th century and was refurbished in 1740 in rococo style with a magnificent alabaster entrance. Inside, you can find the 18th century carriages, the 19th century rooms, medieval ceramics and an important collection of tiles made in the Royal Ceramics Factory in Alcora.Closed Mondays. Free for under 18’s.

Las Fallas Festival

Taking place each March, Las Fallas is a celebration of the coming of spring and a chance to say goodbye to winter. Locals say goodbye to the cold nights by building giant ninots (puppets or dolls) out of cardboard, wood, paper machè and plaster, and then burn them! Spectacular fireworks are set off there is plenty of dancing and singing in the streets.

The ninots are made to look lifelike and are topical, poking fun at Spanish politicians and celebrities. Young men wander around the city making little hard-to-spot holes in the Ninots and filling them full of fireworks. Just before midnight the gathered crowds start to chant, the streetlights are turned off, then at midnight the ninots are set ablaze. What follows is an explosion of fireworks, fires and a party to remember!

Take a look at the website for more detail about this fun festival.

Museum of Las Fallas (Museo Fallero)

If you are not in Valencia during Las Fallas, here is your chance to get a very good idea of what it is. The festival, is so spectacular and strange that your visit will be incomplete without having a taste of it! Every year one ninot (a figurine of a falla) is saved from fire and placed into this museum. They are so well made, that it is like being in the wax museum of Madamme Tussauds, only much more amusing (the fallas are traditionally humorous). It is also an interesting insight into the Valencian psyche, as the figures are saved by the popular vote. You will see representatives from the last 80 years of Las Fallas, as well as atmospheric posters, pictures of the best fallas. There are also sections on the history of the festival, and how the fallas are made. A 10 min video will show you all the major aspects of Las Fallas, from assembly and costumes to fireworks and the night of burning. 

Museum of the Guild of Fallas Artists (outside of city centre)

On the Northern outskirts of Valencia lies the City of Fallero Artists - a deeply Valencian district where many of the Fallas are produced in the workshops by the best in the trade. The Guild of Fallero Artists have their own museum there, in contrast to the official Museo Fallero.  This museum houses many more ninots from the Fallas, and more radical ones. A fascinating exhibition of every first prize winner lets you see how the themes of the Fallas have evolved. You can also follow the whole process of making, from sketch to the last coat of paint - particularly awe-inspiring is a full size Falla with all the stages on it - the intricacy of the wooden carcass beneath is a real eye-opener on the mastery of these artists. Plus you can follow how the making has evolved - from the first medieval piles of clothes hanged on a frame to the modern industry. Closed Sat pm, Sunday and July/August.

Museo del Patriarca

A small but excellent religious-art museum featuring highly valuable works by Caravaggio, El Greco and local boys José de Ribera and Juan de Juanes. 

The museum is within the Patriarca architectural site, which was built in the 16th century and comprises the Corpus Christi Royal College, the seminary and the church. The different buildings and rooms are set around a large Renaissance cloister. The museum has a pictorial collection from the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as works by Juan de Juanes, El Greco, and the early Flemish painters. Furthermore, you can see Ribalta's ‘Last Supper’ on the church's main altar, as well as various Flemish tapestries in the La Comunión Chapel. Most surprising is the manuscript that Thomas More was writing while awaiting his execution in the Tower of London.  There is possibility of guided tour on request. Closed on Sundays. 

L'Iber, Museum of Lead Soldiers

L’Iber, the Toy Soldiers Museum, is the world’s largest private collection of toy lead soldiers. Its aim is tell the history of Valencia, as well as Spain itself, through toy soldiers.

L’Iber collection is composed of about one million individual pieces. It is located in an old Gothic palace located in Caballeros Street. It’s one of the most interesting places of the city.

Operation Freddy Ipad Challenge (2 hours)

A fantastically fun way for school groups to learn about and explore Valencia. 

The virtual Freddy will guide you through Valencia (in small groups each with own ipad).  He’ll ask all kinds of interactive questions and assignments; it’s up to you and your team to find the right answers and be creative.

Along the way, you learn more about the highlights of the city, with text and pictures. The route and questions can be tailored to match your needs. There’s even a prize for the winning group!

The Target: Town Trail Game (2 hours)

A second exciting and unique interactive game around Valencia. “The Target” is like a real life game, played with tablets with GPS and the historic centre of Valencia is the playground.

A dangerous gangster has escaped from prison, police teams (the students) are in pursuit armed only with tablets and satellites hanging above the city.

Can the agents catch the gangster before he reaches his ‘target’ of stealing £100,000?

Do not miss this exciting tablet game in the city of Valencia!

La Albufera Natural Park - with optional boat trip

La Albufera is a wonderful escape from the bustling city of Valencia, a great place to soak up some beautiful landscapes and be at one with nature.

The natural park of the Albufera is just 40 mins south of Valencia city and home to an enormous freshwater lagoon with some incredible nature, dunes, wetlands, birds, fauna and the beaches of El Saler. which is surrounded by rice fields- perfect Paella territory!

Take a boat ride in a typical Albufera boat for the perfect views of the park including the rice fields, traditional Valencian houses and fishing techniques established 750 years ago.

Tour Valencia FC's football stadium (Mestalla)

The Mestella stadium is home to the Valencia Football club team. This is a legendary stadium that has lived many important games and all the important teams of Europe have in some occasion or other, in some competition or friendly matches have played over here.

A unique visit to a Mestalla is full of history and emotions. Take a tour in Spanish or English (or a mixture of the two).Visit the most relevant places, including the changing rooms and the pitch. Take a seat on the benches where the best players in the history of football have been. Take a look at the private and presidential boxes, visit the press room where the players are interviewed. 

La BulfÍa Flamenco Show (with evening meal Option) Fri & Sat only 

The venue offers authentic performances for an experience which embodies the magic and charm of this ancestral part of Spanish culture. La Bulería presents flamenco shows on Friday and Saturday nights with options for the show with drink, tapas or dinner menus.

The show in La Buleria is approximately seventy minutes long  and features four to five artists. The performance includes several of the most representative styles of flamenco. La Bulería continues to be one of the most important flamenco venues in Valencia, offering a unique combination of a show with quality artists and typical Spanish gastronomy, two of the most valued treasures of Spain.

Bioparc

This innovative zoo, in which the barriers are practically invisible and the animals feel right at home, covers some 100,000 square metres and is located in the Parque de Cabecera within the former Turia Riverbed. Contrary to traditional zoos, this park has the unique feature of bringing the visitor totally into the habitat of the animals. This is known as zoo immersion.

Bioparc’s main objective is to promote respect for animals and make the general public aware of importance of protecting the environment through a commitment to education and the preservation of the animals. Leopards, lemurs, hyenas, lions, giraffes, gorillas, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, porcupines, ostriches, elephants, otters… all coexist in this zoological world.

Paella Workshop

Valencia is the undisputed home of paella. As one of the largest natural ports in the Mediterranean it has been one of the most important rice-producing areas in Spain since rice was introduced by the Moors over 1200 years ago.

Make your own paella and bring back home the taste of Spain, sign up for a paella cooking workshop with a master chef. Valencian paella is not made with seafood but with rabbit, chicken, beans and some secret ingredients.

You just need some ingredients to get started, a cup of fun, a dash of enthusiasm, the tips from the Chefs!  

Aquopolis Water Park

This park has something for everyone whether you like to faster slides or just to float along in relative tranquillity.  The attractions are divided into three categories, “moderate”, “high emotion” and “children. The rides are well supervised and height restrictions apply. It around 45 minutes south of Valencia and is typically open Mid June –end August.

Terra Mítica Theme Park

This theme park is located in Benidorm, approximately 90 minutes’ drive from Valencia.  The park is divided into 5 themed zones: Egypt, Greece, Rome, Iberia, and the Islands. It is typically open mid-May until the end of summer, and most weekends in September and October too. We can also pre-arrange lunch if required.