( CNN ) -- It 's not as achingly hip as Barcelona and it 's more manageable than Madrid : Spain 's third city has plenty of flavor , an urban edge and uniquely Valencian oddities . From medieval cathedrals to Calatrava 's futuristic City of Arts and Sciences , Valancia packs in plenty . Where else could you glimpse the Holy Grail in the morning , gorge on paella on a Mediterranean beach for lunch and then wander along a old river bed transformed into a park and visit architectural blockbusters that look like a Star Trek vision of a colonized planet ? After an early morning shot of coffee and , depending on your sugar tolerance , churros , the Cathedral in the heart of the old city is the best place to start the day . Located on the Plaza de la Reina , the cathedral is an impressive mix of gothic , baroque and Romanesque architectural styles . As striking as the many parts of the cathedral are , the sight of the Holy Grail my leave you underwhelmed -- to the unenlightened it resembles something closer to a plastic mug circa . 1973 . If you 're in town on a Thursday , catch the enactment of a tradition almost as old as the grail . The Tribunal de las Aguas , or Water Court , is the meeting of the city 's elders , who gather outside the cathedral 's Plaza del Palau for around twenty minutes . It generally involves a number of old men sitting down not doing very much , while one pronounces what has been decided , and it 's a bit of a tour-group hot spot . On the other side of the plaza is the octagonal Miguelte Bell Tower , where you can climb 207 steps for a panoramic view of the low-rise old city . Not far through the old city 's happy tangle of narrow streets is the Lonja : a fifteenth-century trading house , studded with a fine collection of mugging gargoyles now preserved under UNESCO Heritage status . Bringing yourself out of the city 's medieval landmarks , you can feast on modern culture at IVAM , the city 's cheap and excellent modern art gallery . But for a vision of the future as designed by local superstar architect Santiago Calatrava , wander along the city 's old river bed towards The City of Arts and Sciences . It 's made up of four gleaming white architectural confections , including the Palau de Les Arts Reina Sofia concert hall , which is covered in cracked white tiles that glisten in the sunlight . A few minutes away is the final piece of the architectural dreamscape , the Oceanografico -- one of the world 's biggest aquariums . With two shark tunnels , beluga whales , walruses and thousands of fish it should sate anyone looking for a glimpse of the life aquatic . The Mediterranean Sea itself is not far away , and public transport in Valencia is a convenient way to get around town when things get out of comfortable walking distance . To get to the beach from the center of town hop on a tram on line 5 from Colon towards Neptu . When there you 'll find a beachside strip of hotels and paella restaurants offering versions of the city 's most famous culinary dish . The area was scrubbed up when Valencia hosted the Americas Cup , sailing 's blue riband event , in 2007 . Beyond the rice and seafood delights and the anodyne redeveloped area by the docks , the beach bar of Hotel Neptuno offers some choice classy cocktails . To be extra chilled , snag one of the massage therapists walking along the promenade for a bargain 10 euro beach massage or reflexology session . Back in town , the covered market of the Mercado Central is a must , not just for foodies , but for people-watching . The beautiful modernista building was constructed in 1928 -- look out for the green parrot weathervane . Eating and drinking in the city is a rich experience . Tapas is ubiquitous , but make sure you try horchata -- a sweet local specialty made from a mix of water , sugar and ground tigernut . Among the city 's numerous specialist bars serving the cooling drink , the Horchataria de Santa Catalina provides some fine mixes in a traditional tiled interior . For late night drinks the bars and cafes around Barrio del Carmen are popular with locals and visitors -- San Jaume , housed in an opulent old pharmacy , is a prime spot for people watching at any time of day or night and a little further away , Café Lisboa is buzzy and friendly on the Plaza Dr Collado . Summers in the city are blistering , with mid-autumn and spring the best seasons to visit . But it 's every March that Valencians exhibit the Spanish love for a street party during the Las Fallas festival . Its origins are a bit murky , harking back to pagan rituals , but today it 's a noise fest , with daily processions and ear-splitting fireworks set off through the city 's streets , even during the daytime . The biggest daily barrages take place in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento -- the city 's main square . Out of season some of the effigies and floats built during previous festivals can be seen year round at the Museum of Las Fallas on Plaza Monteolivete . CNN 's Linnie Rawlinson contributed to this report .
Santiago 's third city has a unique mix of culture and leisure . Palace of Arts and Sciences is Santiago Calatrava 's architectural masterpiece . Old city walls can be reached by foot ; city 's river was transformed into a park . Chill out with a walk on the beach ; light up at the Las Fallas festival .