Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia

what is it not amazing effffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff

Absolutely beautiful. You don't have to be an architecture student to be moved by the design and enormous scope of this place. (One thing: pack a lunch, because it's in the middle of suburban nowhere.)

I love it. We spent 3 day and still we could not see everything. Is amazing! They have a complete building full of every single invention. You can try and see videos, how it works. You can play and asist to small displays and conferences that give you a great backgroung infromation. The kids have a lot of activities to play with, and then you can go to the oceanographic, where everything is like going to sea world and you have a huge teather where you can see amazing science movies. As I said before. We love it!!!!

The Oceanographic- although expensive (22 Euros) is well worth a look if you haven't been to- say Sydney aquarium which the interior resembles although they haven't quite got the variety of fish they have in Sydney and the sharks and Rays are much smaller. The Walruses are great mind you. I wouldn't bother with The Science Museum unless you have little kids - it's a wonderful building with not a great deal inside and pales badly when compared with The Science Museum in London. Still some of the most stunning modern architecture on earth.

I was blown away by the architecture. The design of each building is unique - yet they all fit together beautifully! This centre was one of the highlights of my entire trip to Spain. It was definitely the highlight of my two days in Valencia. I agree that these building are from another world - but I'm not sure if it's the future or the past - or Atlantis uncovered. One of the buildings looks like an eyeball floating in water! Another looks like a skeleton from a gigantic whale. And what's up with the building that looks like helmet from outer space?! My boyfriend had fun walking around trying to identify the resemblances to nature in the outer spacey creations. We didn't have to spend a single euro. Oh, and the sculptures in the park along one side of whale skeleton building, by local scupltor, Lucas Karrvaz, added to the whimsical atmosphere. I'm including some of my photos - so you can see what I mean.

I had seen photos of the buildings and I had seen the prices. The decision was simple. I would go and see the buildings from the outside but not pay the high price of entrance. Once I got there I maintained that resolution for all of ten seconds! They must have a person-magnet. Over four hours later, I left having htoroughly enjoyed just about everything at the Oceanografico - I Know they use the Valenciano spelling without the O but when a word's that long, why not give it as many syllables as you can? I really latched onto the place. I believe even in that country across the Atlantic, where everything is grand, you don't have many aquaria better than this and by European standards, it's a marvel. The splendid 21st century architecture - OK, I know -but it almost is - combines well with the excellent design of the outdoor area and it's great just to sit and enjoy. Perhaps a sign of impending senility but I was totally delighted by the dolphin show.

I recommend walking the gardens up the city of arts and sciences. It provides a wonderful view and these buildings are truly amazing from the outside. The Oceonographic and the IMAX are wonderful. If you have been to an aquarium in the US we see a lot of stuff from the Mediterranean so naturally they have a lot of stuff foreign to them from the tropics and the Caribbean. The setup is very nice with lots of tunnels under the tank for you to walk through. For the IMAX check to see if they are showing movies, a laser show, or running the planetarium. When we were there they had movies. I would have loved to see the planetarium. If you not fluent in Spanish ask at the ticket counter they usually have 1 or 2 movies a day that are in English. Skip the Science museum unless you have kids. They had a couple of nice displays but it is a totally hands on place designed for kids. Some things have English translations but others didn�t. I wouldn�t go into this building again.

The three main parts to the Ciudad de Artes y Ciencas (City of Arts and Sciences) are all amazing. The Oceanographic was interesting to walk around but not much more than an aquarium and other animal spaces. They have a dolphin show that was cute. The Science center is a lot of fun with many hands on activities and the building inside is even more spectacular. The Imax is one of a kind, and I believe they are also building a new opera house across from it. You can buy seperate tickets for each attraction or one for all three but they are someone expensive (especially for a student traveling) It would be worth the money for a family or someone not on a tight budget. Even if you don't go inside, go down there and see the reflections and enjoy the area. There is a large skelleton white metal dome structure that is filled with native plants of Spain that is great to sit in and enjoy. Its right next to the main mall of Valencia.

I rode by the Ciudad my second day living here for a semester in Valencia and was blown away... The buildings look amazing with lines and architecture that'll leave you smiling just thinking about it days later. So I would defiantly say everyone has to see it. As for actually paying and going inside to see everything, that's up to you. For entrance into the three sections listed in the other review, it was 29 euros. And for a student traveling Europe, I'd call that a bit much for a two day event... The Oceanographic was beautiful and kinda fun, but the big museum left me desiring I'd brought a little kid with me to play with. There were a couple of interesting exhibits like one on the human genome, but other than that, it was a bunch of activities for little kids. My friends and I joked about having to battle the waist high munchkins to get the chance to see anything... Oh and defiantly don't go Sunday! The only things open in the city really are the museums, so that's where everyone is at! So to avoid the crowds, pick another day!

Walking up to this was like being in the set of star trek Who ever designed this has a fantastic visual mind. it is well worth a visit (it is a must)