A Football Lover's Guide to Valencia

Top of the to do list is to see Valencia CF play at their home ground, the Mestalla Stadium, one of Spain’s oldest football stadiums; known for having an intimidating atmosphere because of the seats rising high above the pitch on a steep incline. Check the team’s official website (available in English) for match fixtures and book your tickets online in advance if you can. Fans also wanting to see Levante UD matches can find all the details on their official website.

Estadio de Mestalla Valencia CF, Av. de Suècia, s/n, 46010 València

As well as watching a match at the Mestalla Stadium, you can also take the Mestalla Forever tour. You’ll visit the dressing rooms, media room and other normally off-limits areas, learning all kinds of trivia about the team and its history, before walking out onto the pitch through the tunnel to the (simulated) roar of a full-capacity crowd. The tour is pretty popular, so you may want to book tickets through the website in advance of your visit.

There are plenty of sports bars in Valencia where you can watch a game over a few beers, or celebrate after the match – and celebrations here get pretty lively. Some of the most famous bars are in the busy Placa de la Reina square where, in the warmer months, bars and restaurants such as Moltto bring the TV screens outside so you can enjoy the game al fresco. Anyone in your group who isn’t that interested in football might appreciate the views of the Cathedral and its Miguelete bell tower instead. On the same square, Irish bar Finnegans is another popular place for visitors to catch the football. If you’re planning to spend the day at the city’s Malvarrosa beach there’s no need to worry about missing a game, as important matches are shown at beachfront bars like Vivir sin Dormir.

Moltto, Plaça de la Reina, 9, 46001 València +34 960 11 41 55

Finnegans, Plaça de la Reina, 19, 46003 València +34 674 29 07 37

Vivir sin Dormir, Passeig de Neptú, 42 – 44, 46011 València +34 963 72 77 77

If you want to get your hands on some official Valencia CF gear and find some great souvenirs to take home, check out the official merchandise shop at the Mestalla stadium. Or if you’re in the city centre, check out the official megastore on the main city square, Plaza del Ayuntamiento. You can also shop at the official online store (also available in English) so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to pick up some memorabilia on your visit to Valencia.