Pedal into the storied heart of the city and pause outside the 13th-century cathedral, home to eclectic Gothic-Baroque façades, the famed Holy Grail, and the bell tower locals call El Miguelete.

Glide a block to this UNESCO-listed “Silk Exchange,” where soaring twisted columns and merchant tales reveal Valencia’s golden age of Mediterranean trade.

Cruise the leafy avenues of the former Royal Gardens district, now a laid-back residential quarter dotted with university life, secret courtyards and neighbourhood cafés only Valencianos know.

Stop beneath the imposing twin towers that once guarded the medieval walls. Climbable battlements (optional) reward with skyline views and a perfect group photo spot.

Roll down a gentle ramp into Europe’s longest urban park — a dried riverbed reborn as nine kilometres of greenery. Section VIII treats us to aromatic orange trees, bike-only lanes and plenty of local joggers to high-five.

Follow the park’s ribbon straight to Santiago Calatrava’s futuristic masterpiece. Your guide decodes the space-age architecture while you snap reflections of the Hemisfèric and the vast blue pools.

Cross the “Bridge of Flowers,” lined with thousands of blooming geraniums that change colour with the seasons — a living symbol of Valencia’s year-round sunshine.