The 15 Best Paella Experiences in Valencia

1.Paella Cooking Class, Wine Tasting & Central Market in Valencia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,150 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $84Our pick

Start near Valencia’s MYR Hotel Palau Vallier with a guided visit to Central Market, then cook paella step by step with hosts such as Daniel, Victor, Reyes, or Juan. You’ll share tapas, wine, and your finished dish in a small group of up to 14 people.

“I learned how to make authentic Valencian Paella with Chef Daniel. He gave us a historical tour as we walked and shopped at Valencia's Central Market. We learned about the history of Valencia and the ingredients that comprise this classic dish of Valencia. The cooking studio offered equipment for each pair or trio to have their own paella cooking pan and heating element. We were given a glass of wine and fed delicious tapas while creating our paella masterpiece, step-by-step. I had an enchanting evening. I met some friendly and convivial people that made my New Year's Eve festive and memorable. This was my fourth paella class, including my second…”

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2.Valencian paella cooking class, tapas and visit to Ruzafa market.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 828 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $78

Meet guides such as Ana and Jose at San Valero Parish, shop for paella ingredients at Ruzafa Market, then walk to a kitchen for tapas, sangria making, and hands-on chicken-and-rabbit paella. The 3.5-hour class ends with a full Valencian meal and local drinks.

“Had an excellent experience at My First Paella. We were served delicious tapas and sangria. Then we got hands on with the cooking of the meal. Finally the group sat and ate our delicious lunch. We got lots of interesting information about València and the tradition of paella.”

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3.Paella Cooking Class with Central Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 721 reviews · 4 hours · from $82

Meet your English-speaking guide near Plaza de la Virgen, shop for ingredients at Central Market, then cook paella at your own station with a professional chef such as Daniel, Reyes, or Victor. Tapas, wine, dessert, and a market visit are included, with evening and Sunday changes.

“Reyes and Emma were brilliant, we had so much fun with them. After a great introduction tour to Valencia and the market we were treated to delicious wine and tasty tapas while mastering the art of paella. Cannot recommend enough to others visiting Valencia. Thank you!”

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4.Catamaran Cruise, Paella Lunch and Swim Stop

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 445 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $41Best value

Spend about 2.5 hours on Boramar's catamaran off Valencia, with a salad, chicken paella, fruit, and one drink. After lunch, you can jump into the Mediterranean near Port Saplaya. English and Spanish hosts, a modern boat, music, and no hotel transfer.

“Nice activity! You start with eating the paella and after that you get to swim in the sea.”

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5.Valencian paella workshop and visit to the Algiros market

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 338 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $82

Visit Valencia’s Algirós market on morning sessions, then cook Valencian paella, potato tortilla, and coca en llanda with milk ice cream at Valencia Club Cocina. English-speaking chefs such as Carlos, David, William, John, and Zaher lead hands-on classes with wine, sangria, and a recipe to take home.

“When you come to Valencia do not miss the opportunity to join in this cooking class. Our host had such a great personality, did a great job showing and explaining how to make a great paella. So delicious, everything. I loved the sponge cake as well. Great hosts and a wonderful time”

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6.Seafood paella cooking class, tapas and visit to Ruzafa market.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 328 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $78

Meet near San Valero Parish at 11 a.m. for a guided visit to Ruzafa Market, then walk eight minutes to the kitchen. Ana, José, Cristina, Valentin and other chefs may lead you through sangria, tapas and hands-on seafood paella cooking in English.

“Great experience cooking Paella as a group, we each were able to do parts of the process with the chef watching to make sure it turned out amazing. We did the seafood paella and worked side by side with the normal paella team. The trip to the market was interesting to see all the fresh fish, vegetables and fruits.”

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7.Evening Guided Paella Workshop, Tapas, and Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 326 reviews · 3 hours · from $77

Spend three hours with local cooks such as Ana, José, Cristina, or Guillermo, learning Valencian or seafood paella from the sofrito to the final rice. You will make sangria, taste tapas and local drinks, then sit down with the group for paella, coca de llanda, fruit, coffee, and mistela.

“Absolutely fantastic evening! Anna was just fabulous and we had a really great time. From the moment we arrived we felt very well looked after and And was so knowledgeable, with a great character! We were a small group and thoroughly enjoyed the tapas, the sangria, learning all about the paella and having a lot of fun along the way! I would highly recommend, don't hesitate, book today!”

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8.Valencian Paella Cooking Class, Tapas & Sangria – Evening

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 303 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $78

Meet at a kitchen in Valencia’s Quatre Carreres at 5 pm for tapas, sangria, and a hands-on Valencian paella lesson. Guides such as Jose, Ana, Lilli, and Guillermo explain local customs, ingredients, and technique before you share paella, wine, dessert, and coffee with the group.

“Fun and delicious! The instructors are very charismatic, fantastic chefs, and care about their guests. They prepared appetizers, which included the best mussels I’ve ever had, and ensured everyone’s sangria was full while we cooked! We had an amazing meal and it was fun to learn how to cook paella! I highly recommend this company and any tour they provide!”

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9.Paella Workshop and Algiros Market Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 291 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $73

Join Valencia Club Cocina for a 2.5-hour English-language class led by local chefs such as Carlos, Carles, Joan, or Adana. Visit Algiros Market on morning tours, prepare paella, tortilla, and coca de llanda, then sit down with wine, sangria, and your finished meal.

“Our structure was fabulous. The foods we made topped the same dishes we’d tried in restaurants.”

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10.Real Paella Cooking Class – Market Visit & Sangría Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 291 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $77

Meet at San Valero Church for a guided Ruzafa Market visit, then cook meat and vegetable or seafood paella with chefs such as Anna, José, and Guillermo. You will make sangria, share tapas, learn the secret of socarrat, and finish with dessert, coffee, wine, and mistela.

“the whole experience was amazing. the chef Anna was really nice and fun. we had a great time, recommended”

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11.Authentic Valencian Paella Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 283 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $83

Meet Rafa and his team in Valencia, then ride about 30 minutes to a farmhouse near Albufera. Cook Valencian paella outdoors among orange groves and rice fields, with help from an English and Spanish translator. Tapas, wine, dessert, and transport back to the meeting point are included.

“The afternoon was absolutely beautiful, the food was incredible. Make sure to come hungry and ready for some vino. Highly recommend this day! Best paella of our lives!”

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12.Authentic Valencian Paella Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 99 reviews · 4 hours · from $81

Meet Rafa, Juliette, and the cooking team near Valencia for a four-hour paella class at a country home by Albufera. You will prepare your own Valencian paella, taste tapas and homemade dessert, and enjoy sangria, wine, mistela, or soft drinks in a relaxed outdoor setting.

“One of the best thing in Valencia! Thank you again for this activity!”

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13.Vegetable Paella cooking class, tapas and Ruzafa market visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $78

Start at San Valero Parish, shop for paella ingredients at Ruzafa Market, then walk to a kitchen for sangria, tapas, and hands-on vegetable paella. English-speaking hosts including Anna, Jordie, Guillermo, and Cristina guide the class, which ends with wine, dessert, coffee, and mistela.

“The entire experience was wonderful! Visiting the market and then cooking the entire paella from scratch made me feel confident that I could do it again on my own! Very organized and detailed.”

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14.Valencia Paella & Tapas Home Cooking Class with Local Chef Jose

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $115

Meet chef José at Valencia’s IVAM, walk through the old town to his home, and learn to make sangria, two tapas, and traditional paella. You’ll share the finished meal with him, try horchata mousse and cremaet, and leave with a recipe booklet.

“Every moment of this experience was fabulous! Jose is a wonderful gourmet chef as well as having a great personality! He immediately made us feel at home as we talked and helped create delicious tapas with a new twist. We loved making the traditional paella with him and enjoyed trying some new drinks and a delicious dessert that was a creative twist on horchata, a typical Valencian drink which he turned into mousse with chocolate shavings. I can’t recommend this experience highly enough. Jose is a star and cooking with him was the highlight of our week.”

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15.Private Paella & Tapas Cooking Class in a Local Chef’s Home

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $97

Meet José near Valencia’s IVAM Museum and walk with him to his home kitchen for a private cooking class. Prepare sangria or Agua de Valencia, two tapas, and one of four paellas, then finish with dessert, cremaet, and a recipe book. English and Spanish instruction is available.

“What a great activity! Jose is a great chef and host. He coordinated with us to find a time that worked for us and took us to his home where we had a phenomenal time making paella and learning its history alongside some great tapas and drinks. I highly recommend this activity for folks interested in learning how to make paella and connect with a cool person while in Valencia.”

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