Spain’s third-largest city is a star. Valencia is a cosmopolitan, cultural hub that tops many travellers’ lists of their favourite Spanish cities. Urban regeneration has pushed Valencia into the spotlight, and it’s now a great spot for a city break or longer stay. Locals speak both Spanish and Valencian – the latter is a dialect of the Catalan language widely at home in eastern Spain. Make time to wander through the atmospheric centrally located Barrio del Carmen to see the eye-catching modern architecture in the CAC district; the latter rates as one of Europe's major investments in culture and the creative industries.

The city is served by two main railway stations. The old Estacíon del Norte, just south of the city centre, is a charming period piece. Check out the fascinating tile work. A seven-minute walk from the old station, you’ll find the uncompromisingly modern Joaquín Sorolla station – which is served by all high-speed AVE trains (including those from Madrid) and a number of other fast trains. Norte is the place for local services and is used by slow trains from Madrid which dawdle along the old line through Cuenca and Aranjuez – a route which, remarkably, survives even though most travellers nowadays prefer the high-speed option.

Spain’s high-speed rail network was extended to reach Valencia in 2010, bringing the travel time to Madrid down to well under two hours. There are good links up and down the east coast, but speeds are more modest than on the run to Madrid. Alicante is two hours away to the south, while the fastest train to Barcelona takes three hours. If you are travelling from London, Valencia is too far to reach in a single day. You may want to consider breaking your journey along the way.