When it pours, or a summer afternoon is too hot for the park, these are the indoor spots we head for. Sharks and science for kids who want to see something, trampolines and ball pits for kids who need to burn off energy. Here's what we checked, from the Oceanogràfic to El Tobogán Park. Some sit outside the city, so check the drive before you go.
Oceanogràfic is an aquarium spread across separate buildings in the City of Arts and Sciences, each recreating a marine ecosystem, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic. Kids walk through an underwater tunnel with sharks overhead (the park calls it Europe's longest), see Spain's only beluga whales, and watch the dolphin show.
A 4D cinema, a touch pool and a sea turtle rescue center are paid extras on top of entry.
The Museu de les Ciències fills Santiago Calatrava's long glass-ribbed hall at the City of Arts and Sciences with hands-on science. Kids walk through a forest of giant chromosomes, dance with their own on-screen avatars in the Bailar! exhibit, and join live demonstrations at the Science Theater.
Younger kids head for the Espai dels Xiquets, a play zone with mirrors, real animals and a toy building site to put together.
El Tobogán Park is a 600 m² air-conditioned soft-play center with LED-lit slides, a trampoline zone, a Spider Tower to climb, and a ball pool with air cannons for ball battles. There's also a giant interactive screen for digital games, carousels with light-up panels, and a padded baby zone for under-3s.
Parents stay to supervise, and there's a café on site.
JumpYard is an indoor activity park inside the Bonaire shopping center in Aldaia, about 20 minutes by car west of the city center. Beyond the trampolines there is a ninja course, a Clip 'n Climb climbing wall, a football pitch, Valo TV interactive games and the SkyRider, a zip-line ride that costs extra.
It suits kids who need to burn energy on a rainy or very hot day, teens included.
MadagasPark is a 1,500 m² indoor play park themed as an island, with ball pits, slides, trampolines, climbing structures and ball cannons. Under-3s have their own zone, where staff keep bigger kids out.
A stage hosts shows and character animations, which the park builds around a learning theme. There's a café for parents and a set of themed rooms for birthday parties.
Fun Jump is an indoor trampoline park of more than 2,500 m² with over 70 connected trampolines. Kids bounce between a free-jump zone, a foam pit, an airbag, a basketball dunk court, slides, a climbing wall and a Gran Ninja obstacle course.
Younger kids get their own ball pit zone, and parents can watch from a café that overlooks the jumping floor.
GoGo Jump is a 3,000 m² indoor trampoline park in Torrent's Toll-L'Alberca industrial estate, about 20 minutes southwest of the city by car, split into two zones for different ages. Beyond the open jumping floor there is a foam pit, slam dunk hoops, a professional trampoline, a ball pool, a building-block corner, an inflatable tube slide and bubble soccer.
A rest area with drinks gives parents a seat while kids jump.
Ilusiona Gran Turia is a family entertainment center in Xirivella's Gran Turia mall, about 15 minutes west of the city by car. It has a 16-lane bowling alley with bumpers and ramps for beginners, and a 1,500 m² play park with a ball pit, slides and obstacle courses.
A themed mini golf course, laser tag, VR and an arcade sit alongside, and parents can wait in the café and ice cream bar.
Bimbalü is an indoor ball-pit and soft-play park in the SKY Business Center in Manises, about 15 minutes' drive from Valencia. It is split into zones: a padded baby area with its own ball pit, an adventure frame of tunnels, slides and climbing circuits, a jumping zone, and Mar de Lava, a light-up floor game where kids jump and dodge the glowing tiles. Parents can wait in Forja, the restaurant next door.
Museo Iluziona fills the old Casa Judía, next to the bullring, with about 20 optical-illusion rooms and camera-trick sets, several built around Iberian and Valencian scenes. Kids climb into each scene and pose for photos that only work from the right angle, with guides on hand to help line up the shot.
A 4D virtual reality simulator is an optional add-on, and the full route takes a little over an hour.
When it pours, or a summer afternoon is too hot for the park, these are the indoor spots we head for. Sharks and science for kids who want to see something, trampolines and ball pits for kids who need to burn off energy. Here's what we checked, from the Oceanogràfic to El Tobogán Park. Some sit outside the city, so check the drive before you go.
Oceanogràfic is an aquarium spread across separate buildings in the City of Arts and Sciences, each recreating a marine ecosystem, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic. Kids walk through an underwater tunnel with sharks overhead (the park calls it Europe's longest), see Spain's only beluga whales, and watch the dolphin show.
A 4D cinema, a touch pool and a sea turtle rescue center are paid extras on top of entry.
The Museu de les Ciències fills Santiago Calatrava's long glass-ribbed hall at the City of Arts and Sciences with hands-on science. Kids walk through a forest of giant chromosomes, dance with their own on-screen avatars in the Bailar! exhibit, and join live demonstrations at the Science Theater.
Younger kids head for the Espai dels Xiquets, a play zone with mirrors, real animals and a toy building site to put together.
El Tobogán Park is a 600 m² air-conditioned soft-play center with LED-lit slides, a trampoline zone, a Spider Tower to climb, and a ball pool with air cannons for ball battles. There's also a giant interactive screen for digital games, carousels with light-up panels, and a padded baby zone for under-3s.
Parents stay to supervise, and there's a café on site.
JumpYard is an indoor activity park inside the Bonaire shopping center in Aldaia, about 20 minutes by car west of the city center. Beyond the trampolines there is a ninja course, a Clip 'n Climb climbing wall, a football pitch, Valo TV interactive games and the SkyRider, a zip-line ride that costs extra.
It suits kids who need to burn energy on a rainy or very hot day, teens included.
MadagasPark is a 1,500 m² indoor play park themed as an island, with ball pits, slides, trampolines, climbing structures and ball cannons. Under-3s have their own zone, where staff keep bigger kids out.
A stage hosts shows and character animations, which the park builds around a learning theme. There's a café for parents and a set of themed rooms for birthday parties.
Fun Jump is an indoor trampoline park of more than 2,500 m² with over 70 connected trampolines. Kids bounce between a free-jump zone, a foam pit, an airbag, a basketball dunk court, slides, a climbing wall and a Gran Ninja obstacle course.
Younger kids get their own ball pit zone, and parents can watch from a café that overlooks the jumping floor.
GoGo Jump is a 3,000 m² indoor trampoline park in Torrent's Toll-L'Alberca industrial estate, about 20 minutes southwest of the city by car, split into two zones for different ages. Beyond the open jumping floor there is a foam pit, slam dunk hoops, a professional trampoline, a ball pool, a building-block corner, an inflatable tube slide and bubble soccer.
A rest area with drinks gives parents a seat while kids jump.
Ilusiona Gran Turia is a family entertainment center in Xirivella's Gran Turia mall, about 15 minutes west of the city by car. It has a 16-lane bowling alley with bumpers and ramps for beginners, and a 1,500 m² play park with a ball pit, slides and obstacle courses.
A themed mini golf course, laser tag, VR and an arcade sit alongside, and parents can wait in the café and ice cream bar.
Bimbalü is an indoor ball-pit and soft-play park in the SKY Business Center in Manises, about 15 minutes' drive from Valencia. It is split into zones: a padded baby area with its own ball pit, an adventure frame of tunnels, slides and climbing circuits, a jumping zone, and Mar de Lava, a light-up floor game where kids jump and dodge the glowing tiles. Parents can wait in Forja, the restaurant next door.
Museo Iluziona fills the old Casa Judía, next to the bullring, with about 20 optical-illusion rooms and camera-trick sets, several built around Iberian and Valencian scenes. Kids climb into each scene and pose for photos that only work from the right angle, with guides on hand to help line up the shot.
A 4D virtual reality simulator is an optional add-on, and the full route takes a little over an hour.
