Valencia in September doesn't stop for a minute. The endless flow of people filling the streets does not seem to slow down. Hotels keep up their prices, and restaurants are as crowded in the evenings as in the summer.
The beginning of autumn offers sunny and windless weather, dryness and lack of precipitation — perhaps ideal conditions for a trip with children. For the sake of all the weather benefits and the warmest sea, you can put all your business aside and fly to Valencia, if only for a few days. In this article, Kidpassage reveals the little secrets of the big Spanish city in the last month of the high tourist season.
Holidays in Valencia in September: pros and cons
Compared to some other regions of Spain, Valencia is warmer, and the sea is still at a comfortable temperature. There are fewer holidaymakers with children. Beautiful sandy beaches in protected areas and many resort towns near Valencia are gradually emptying, allowing enjoying the sea and the sun.
The ideal holiday programme is as follows: sea, sun and beach in the morning, restaurants, sightseeing, hiking and promenades in the afternoon and evening. In September, it doesn't matter whether you choose to stay closer to the historic centre or the beaches, as the weather is fine and it's easy to enjoy walking, and public transport is well organised.
The pros of holidaying in Valencia in September:
- warm sea and the wonderful climate;
- the ideal time for the beach, sightseeing holidays, and gastronomic tourism;
- less crowded beaches;
- seasonal reduction in food prices.
The cons of holidaying in Valencia in September:
- the weather at sea can be rough;
- relatively high seasonal prices for staying in hotels.
Reviews about holidays in Valencia in September confirm that this Spanish city and its surroundings — one of the best places for a holiday in early autumn: the educational purpose of the trip is easily achieved along with health and entertainment purposes.
Weather in Valencia in September
The weather in September in Valencia is very comfortable, with temperatures close to late spring ones. In October, the mild autumn is slightly rainy, but the warm sun shines for most daylight hours. The weather in early September is sunny, warm to moderately hot, with little cloud cover. The wind blows up to 6 metres per second from the east or southeast.
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Temperatures in mid-September rise to +31 °C during the day and can cool down to +16 °C at night, but more often, the temperature stays above +18 °C. A single thunderstorm or rain is likely. At the end of September, the weather in Valencia is not much different from the middle of the month: it is still warm and comfortable. Clouds sometimes cover clear skies, and rain is rare.
Air and water temperature
The temperature in Valencia in September stays above +25°C for most of the month. The subtropical Mediterranean climate is favourable to health, so locals spend so much time outdoors.
Air temperature in Valencia in September
The average temperature is +28.5 °C during the day and +20.5 °C at night. This makes September one of the year's warmest months, with warm sea water and calm winds.
Sea temperature in Valencia in September
The average water temperature in the bay near Valencia is +25.3 °C. The sea gradually cools down, but summer in the resort continues until the end of the month.
Precipitation
Compared to other regions that are usually rainy, Valencia receives slight rainfall. The city experiences dry weather, with the number of rainy days ranging from 1 to 3.5. The average monthly rainfall is only 10.6 mm.
Sunny, cloudy and overcast days
The sunny resort presents clear, cloudless or low cloudy weather for almost a month. Cloudiness is possible for 3-4 days. The sun shines for about 10.3 hours a day with a daylight duration of 11.8-13 hours.
Tour holidays
The main attractions of the Old Town include the Museum of Fine Arts, Serranos Towers, Cathedral, Queen Square, Silk Exchange and City Hall. Good weather allows you to explore them at any time of the day. Children in Valencia don't have to look for any special entertainment.
After walking or cycling to the Turia River bed, you can easily reach Gulliver's Park, where an unusual children's playground invites you to climb the winding slides, feeling like Lilliputians from the famous fairy tale.
Next on the programme is the City of Arts and Sciences. Here you can visit:
- the interactive Science Museum;
- the aquariums at Oceanogràfic, available in September for viewing until midnight;
- the modern Hemisfèric cinema;
- an arched garden gallery.
At the beginning of September, the peak of the museum season comes to an end. From mid-October to December, there is a "dead time", which will only "revive" at the end of June.
You can find free visiting days or open days of interesting places in the city's playbill.
At the start of the school year, noisy groups of Spanish schoolchildren take the place of tourists on excursions.
Beach holidays
The swimming season continues on Valencia's beaches and will officially end in the last days of September or the first week of October, depending on the water temperature. Sunbathing opportunities abound, with the resort boasting over 300 days of sunshine yearly.
All beach areas are wide, sandy and equipped with showers, toilets, health parks for older people, car parks, water fountains, lifeguard stations, etc. In the middle of September, the beach facilities are slightly reduced.
From May to October, draft horchata is sold on the seaside promenade and in the evening, it is time for sweet and juicy corn on the coals. Sometimes there are those willing to night swimming in the sea, combined with an organised picnic on the shore, fishing, and octopus fishing. Closer to the weekend, young people hand out party flyers.
In autumn, crowds are observed only in some famous places. Many beaches are part of nature reserves, near forests and parklands. They are protected from winds by dunes and trees, and some are more difficult to reach, but the surrounding nature, calm, clear sea and seclusion are worth the effort.
In Valencia, the sea is rough, but small waves are no threat even to small children. Big playful waves are possible and only add to the experience with their "forays" to the beach.
Holidays, events and festivals
Holidays in Valencia in September shift the focus to the province of the same name. At the beginning of September, 30 kilometres from Valencia, in the town of Algemesi, the Our Lady of Health Festival takes place, recognised by UNESCO as one of the most important traditional festivals in the world.
Traditions and different arts have been carefully handed down from generation to generation for centuries, since the 13th century. The culmination of the festival is the street dance "Muixeranga", the final of which is the composing of human towers, on top of which the youngest participants of the performance find themselves. Every year in Segorba, the first week of September opens a series of festival events, from Jamon Week with young wine tasting to the bull and horse race.
Right on the city's narrow streets, people compete in speed against large bulls accompanied by riders. A traditional bullfight crowns the race.
Meanwhile, in Sueca, the best chefs traditionally compete to make paella. The winning recipe must contain a secret ingredient only revealed after cooking.
In addition, the winner must receive maximum marks for the dish's taste, colour, adherence to the culinary proportions, degree of readiness, absence of burnt rice, etc. The fame of the competition has long gone beyond the Iberian Peninsula.
From 16 to 22 September, Spain actively participates in the European Week of Optimum Mobility, which includes Cyclist'Cyclists Day, Roller Skating Day and Car Free Day.
On the last day, there is no charge for public transport (buses, trams, metro).
Cost of vacation
Prices in Valencia in September decreased in many areas, except for hotel room rentals. The situation here is similar to many major cities, where high-end hotels keep their prices high all year round.
Package Tours
September tours are rapidly becoming cheaper: from 5 to 20% depending on the length of the holiday, while hotels, on the contrary, are increasing their rates.
Accommodation
In anticipation of high tourist demand, hotels do not revise their price lists. On the contrary, the average price in comparison to August can be higher by 25-30%, and with October — about 20%.
Airfares
September flights are temporarily cheaper by 10% compared to August, with the estimated increase in October roughly equal to this figure. Compared to the average price for the year, September flights are 15% cheaper.
Food and Transport
Eating cheaply in Valencia means paying €10-12 for lunch for one person. In a mid-range restaurant, a full three-course meal for two people costs around €30-40. An airport transfer by taxi costs around €35 per car, which no more than three passengers can occupy.
A single ticket on public transport costs around €2. Guide services to the city's main museums are estimated at €150 for a group of up to seven people, but entrance fees are low (from €2).
Travel tips for families with kids
Valencia is a big city with a lot of traffic and isn't quiet in September. Therefore, when choosing where to stay, it is better to opt for a hotel located near the city's historical centre, in a room with windows overlooking the courtyard.
Thus, the night noise will not distract from your holiday, and all the attractions will be within walking distance.
If the prevailing goal is beach relaxation, the Valencian province (Cullera, Gandia, Oliva) is the best choice. Valencia and its beaches exist separately, and in any case, to reach the excursion and educational goal, you will have to use public transport or a private car.
In the beautiful September Valencian weather, the wardrobe should consist of summer clothes, a few warmer clothes, and sometimes an umbrella will come in handy. Sunscreen is necessary because the sun is still active.
The city's museums offer a lot of knowledge and fun, even for preschoolers. Kids will be delighted to tell at home about how bees, dogs, and chameleons see, about optical illusions and much more because Valencia's children's museum programmes are aimed at all ages, from kindergarten to teenagers.
Travellers consider Valencia as a more affordable city than many regions of Spain, which can be proved by the cost of accommodation and everyday expenses, including museum entrance fees. The children's facilities are better here, there are plentiful transport routes, and no ticket frenzy. The September weather, sea and beaches are great, quickly bringing back to summer those who missed a good beach holiday or want to extend the season as long as possible.
A healthy atmosphere and climate will benefit everyone. Kidpassage recommends this destination in early autumn as a great gift for yourself and your children.
