Valencia & Madrid, two Spanish cities worth knowing!

Visiting Valencia in March for the Fallas Festival is such a beautiful and adventure packed way to see this city of Spain. The festival runs across two weeks with 5 days from the 15th -19th of March as the main celebration and national holiday. This is a festival that celebrates the end of winter and the coming of Spring, and in doing so, many artists create huge comical and charismatic statues signifying popular events across the last year, often with a satirical and humourous undertone. These beautiful and intricate sculptures are located all across the city, meaning for the days leading up to the closing ceremony, you can walk endlessly around the city, each corner turned revealing a new story to explore. On the final night, all the statues are burned in a city wide festival of fire, signifying the end of one year and the space for new beginnings for the next. I would highly recommend during your stay hiring a bicycle to explore the city and using the extremely useful and safe Jardin del Turia Park that spans the length of the city making getting from A to B on a bicycle very easy, pleasant and good for the environment. This bicycle route also ends at Playa de Las Arenas meaning you can stop for a beer or sangria by the beach to refresh yourself.

Spending five or so days in Madrid allows you to span across the many highlights and beautiful spots to visit in the city. As the city can be very warm at times, and unlike Barcelona or Valencia, there is no beach to cool off, I would highly reccomend booking a day pass to one of the many hotels which have rooftop pools. Personally, I chose Hotel Oscar and here my best friend and I spent the whole day soaking up the rays with the most beautiful 360 views on the balinese beds and loungers. Please note, you have to email ahead to get a reservation as the space is very exclusive and whilst this adds to the charm, means that you need to book ahead of time to not miss your chance. Another fantastic day trip in Madrid is to head to Retiro-Park and hire a rowing boat for a couple of hours to paddle around the beautiful lake. This park has charming historical gardens and architecture and is he perfect way to tap into nature in the cosmopolitan city. Finally, I would recommend heading to Mercado San Miguel for an authentic, charming and visually striking traditional shopping experience. Here you can try all the local delicases, including tapas and sweet treats whilst admiring the 19th century structure.