This is autumn in València

Autumn arrives and in València life still happens out on the streets, thanks to the fine weather and that incredible golden light that bathes the city.

And as if that weren't enough, a non-stop programme of food and culture unfolds too.

Shall we tell you what a Valencian's autumn pleasures are so you can step into their shoes?

Enjoy the local food and get to know it 

In València, eating well is part of everyday life.

The Valencian pantry changes with every season, and autumn is no exception, with persimmons from La Ribera, pomegranates, the first mandarins and roasted chestnuts. Yes, this is what autumn tastes like in València.

And all this local produce fills the municipal markets, where you can taste and buy it, and it also features in these plans you shouldn't miss:

Try our esmorzaret, one of our star traditions 

The esmorzaret is the classic Valencian mid-morning meal, consisting of a generous sandwich, olives, cacaus, a drink and a delicious cremaet to round it off. You have to try it at the bar or a table in a neighbourhood café to feel like a true Valencian.

Find a table on a terrace in your favourite neighbourhood 

If, as well as the food, you want to enjoy another of València's pleasures, you need to grab a table on an open-air terrace and raise a glass of Agua de València or try some tapas.

Where can you go? Head to the streets of Russafa or the Carmen neighbourhood, or take a look here.

Have lunch or dinner with the Mediterranean breeze on your skin 

The seafront promenade at Malva-rosa, El Cabanyal and La Marina are the perfect setting to enjoy fresh fish or seafood by the waves at places like Vlue Arribar, Tridente and La Alegría de la Huerta.

Let them cook you a rice dish in its birthplace 

With the arrival of the new rice harvest, heading to El Palmar and the restaurants of L'Albufera to share a paella cooked over a wood fire, an all i pebre or a marinated llisa (mullet), is the quintessential Valencian ritual.

Free rein to lose yourself in nature 

In València, green spaces and nature are part of everyday life, so you can do whatever takes your fancy: go for a stroll, swim, cycle, sail, have a picnic, photograph birds or read in the sun.

All you have to do is choose where.

On the sand

In autumn, Malva-rosa and El Cabanyal beaches become wonderfully inviting for walking barefoot by the water, doing sport at sunset, or simply sitting or lying down to breathe in and enjoy the sea breeze.

In the Turia Gardens 

In the Turia Gardens people go running, meet friends for an afternoon snack on the grass, play football, walk the dog or read a book in the shade.

Cycling through these nine-kilometre gardens that cross València from end to end is the best way to discover them. You'll pass under centuries-old bridges such as the Trinidad and Mar bridges, and alongside the Palau de la Música and Gulliver Park, until you reach the cutting-edge architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences.

All without a car in sight.

Escaping to L'Albufera to watch the sunset 

Mediterranean woodland, dunes, rice fields, old barracas (traditional cottages) and the largest freshwater lake in Spain make up a landscape that changes colour with the rice cycle.

And autumn is its best moment! More than 300 bird species choose this wetland as a refuge, and this is the time of year when they're easiest to spot. Herons, flamingos and cormorants fly over the water, and from the viewpoints at Racó de l'Olla you can watch them up close.

There are many ways to discover L'Albufera: on foot, by bike from the city or by boat. And without a doubt, sailing on the lake at sunset is the most magical and unforgettable plan of all.

Make some cultural plans 

Music, art, traditions and a touch of local design are also part of the city's DNA and of the season's events calendar.

That's why this autumn you too should make a point of enjoying some of these plans.

Let yourself go with the rhythm of the city

Few things beat enjoying a great voice or a band with the breeze and the Mediterranean as a backdrop.

This is how autumn kicks off at “Love to Rock”, the festival that on 2 and 3 October fills La Marina with indie, rock and artists and bands such as Lori Meyers, La M.O.D.A. and León Benavente.

And the music goes on, because the city's events calendar is packed with shows of every genre.

Feed your curious side in galleries and museums

The city's museums and galleries host international and local creators with exhibitions across every discipline.

This autumn, the Centro de Arte Hortensia Herrero is hosting the first Anselm Kiefer exhibition in València, featuring the spectacular work Danaë, over 13 metres long, and only until 25 October.

And just a few steps away, IVAM remains the leading reference for modern and contemporary art. But there are many more.

Shop with a Valencian seal

Shopping in València is also a way of getting to know the city, because each neighbourhood has its own style.

In the centre, streets such as Colón, Jorge Juan and Poeta Querol are home to big names and international brands. In Russafa, vintage shops, design studios and boutiques by local creators rule, while El Carmen hides craft workshops, historic bookshops and long-established shops.

And if you're looking for an authentic souvenir, go for something made here: Valencian ceramics by Lladró, hand-painted fans by Vibenca or local produce such as L'Albufera rice or saffron.

Are you coming? 

After all these plans, one thing is clear: the best way to experience autumn is in València.

It's not just a destination to tick off a list, it's a way of living and enjoying life that makes you feel part of the city.

Are you packing your bags?