Beat the Heat: Valencia’s Best Ice Cream, Pools & Shady Spots
1. Ice Cream Worth Melting For
Gelateria La Romana – Ruzafa
Hands down our family’s go-to, and for good reason. La Romana isn’t just ice cream—it’s creamy, Italian-crafted happiness. Frances swears by the “crema di nocciola,” a silky hazelnut blend that tastes like Ferrero Rocher in gelato form. Evelyn? She’s loyal to mango and strawberry sorbets, always bright and not too sweet. Their artisanal quality is hard to beat, and the lines out the door every weekend back that up.
What makes it extra special? You can get your scoop inside a warm brioche bun. Yes, a warm, fluffy roll stuffed with cold gelato. It’s ridiculous—in the best way. The Ruzafa location is also perfect for a post-dinner stroll, and we usually end up sitting on the curb laughing, sticky, and completely content.
Llinares – Old Town
This place is an institution in Valencia. Llinares is known for its bold experimentation—some flavors lean into the weird (we’re talking jamón ibérico, roquefort, or even gazpacho sorbet), but don’t let that scare you off. Their traditional flavors are beautifully made with a clear dedication to quality. Cory loves their dark chocolate—rich, slightly bitter, and impossibly smooth—and I almost always go for coconut or lemon.
It’s centrally located near Plaza de la Reina, so it’s ideal for escaping the heat mid-sightseeing. Bonus points: they usually let you sample more than one flavor without side-eye.
Véneta Gelato – Cánovas
Véneta feels like a little slice of Venice transplanted into Valencia. They focus on small-batch, high-quality ingredients and it shows. Their pistachio is possibly the best in the city—nutty, creamy, and never artificial. Frances once declared it “the most grown-up flavor ever” and has ordered it every time since. Evelyn likes the colorful fruit options, especially the tangy passionfruit.
We love coming here in the late afternoon. There’s shaded seating outside, so we’ll often just pause, unwind, and let the girls draw or chase pigeons. Tony usually naps under the table while Bobby people-watches like a celebrity on vacation.
Luciano – Ciudad de las Artes
Luciano is our newest obsession. It’s perfectly placed near the City of Arts and Sciences, which means it doubles as the perfect cool-down treat after museum or aquarium visits. Their gelato is bold and decadent, with a silky texture that never gets icy. Cory and I fight over their tiramisu flavor, and Frances loves their cookies & cream so much she’s tried to recreate it at home (blender, milk, cookies... close, but not quite).
They also serve excellent coffee and make their cones fresh in-house—you can smell the waffle batter from halfway down the street. The space itself is modern and welcoming, with indoor seating and great air conditioning, which let’s be honest, sometimes matters more than the ice cream itself when it’s 37°C outside.
2. Pools That Save the Day (and Sanity)
Piscina de Benicalap – Our Family Favorite
This is the one. If I had to bottle up our perfect summer day, it would start with bocadillos, a pile of towels, and a ride out to Benicalap. This place has everything: a full-sized lap pool for Frances, a fantastic splash zone and slides that Evelyn would live in if we let her, and grassy areas with just enough shade for Cory and me to stretch out and supervise/snack/nap.
There’s even a little café that does decent iced coffee and cold tortilla bocadillos. And the best part? It’s rarely as crowded as some of the more central spots, even in peak July. Evelyn calls it our “pool kingdom,” and honestly? She’s not wrong.
Piscina Parque del Oeste
This one’s big, budget-friendly (around 3€ per adult), and packed with family perks. The kids’ section has slides that Evelyn talks about all winter, and Frances swims laps like she’s training for Tokyo 2032. There’s grass for lounging, shade from the palms, and a surprisingly chill vibe for a public pool.
But here’s the twist: come back at night. In summer, Parque del Oeste hosts Nocturnas—evening swim sessions under the stars with DJs, lights, and dancing in the water. Yes, seriously. It's like Ibiza meets community pool. Frances felt very grown-up bobbing in the water while music played, and Cory and I actually danced barefoot poolside while the kids splashed. Pure summer magic.
La Hípica Swimming Club
This one’s a splurge, but if you’re here longer-term and want a private club vibe, La Hípica is charming. Nestled in a peaceful, tree-lined enclave between El Pla del Real and Mestalla, this members-only country club is like stepping into an old-school Valencian postcard. The facilities include a pristine pool with lounge chairs, a separate kids’ zone, and a shaded outdoor café where Cory and I occasionally sneak in a quiet cortado while the girls swim.
They also offer tennis, padel, and even horseback riding lessons. Evelyn took a few swim classes there last year and—after weeks of clinging to my neck—she finally floated on her back without panic. Frances sometimes brings a book and reads poolside like she’s 30. It’s calm, family-focused, and a beautiful break from the hustle of the city.
3. Shade, Sweet Shade: Nature’s Air Conditioning
Jardín del Turia
Nine kilometers of green running through the heart of Valencia, and we treat it like our personal backyard. What used to be a river is now one of the most family-friendly urban parks in Europe. It’s full of shaded walking and biking paths lined with olive trees, orange trees, and towering palms, creating the perfect canopy for a midday stroll.
Scattered throughout the park are public water fountains—both the kind you can drink from and the splashy decorative kind that Evelyn always ends up dancing through. Our favorite shady spots: the play areas near the Parque Gulliver, the leafy groves behind Palau de la Música, and the bridges that cast wide shadows in the late afternoon. Pack a blanket, a book, and some fruit, and suddenly you’ve turned a heatwave into a family picnic. Frances even calls it “Valencia’s outdoor living room,” and I couldn’t agree more.
Monforte Gardens
This feels like a secret garden tucked just behind the busy city streets. It’s smaller and more formal than Turia, but that’s part of the charm. Think marble statues, elegant rose-lined paths, and small fountains that gurgle in the background while birds hop between hedges. The whole place is ringed with cypress and orange trees that provide deep, reliable shade—perfect for an afternoon cooldown.
We often go here when the noise of the city feels like too much. It’s quiet, calm, and beautifully maintained. Evelyn likes to play hide-and-seek behind the topiary, and Bobby and Tony trot through the gravel paths like they’re royalty. Frances usually brings a sketchbook. It’s the kind of place that whispers instead of shouts—and sometimes, that’s exactly what summer calls for.
Parque Central
Relatively new and absolutely worth a visit, especially in the early evening when the lighting is dreamy and the playgrounds start to cool. There's a gentle splash pad near the main children’s area with water jets that shoot up from the ground—Evelyn runs through it squealing every time. It’s not a full pool, but when it’s 90 degrees and the pavement feels like lava? It’s pure bliss. Frances usually opts to dip her toes in and people-watch, while Cory and I claim a shady bench and sneak sips of iced café con leche from our thermos.
There are also misting arches, plenty of trees for shade, and modern play equipment that’s clean, safe, and creative. If you're lucky, you'll catch a breeze and some live music drifting from nearby Ruzafa.
A Few Amanda Pro Tips for Summer Survival
Always pack a fan and a frozen water bottle—you'll thank me by noon.
Sunscreen reapplication is a sport—especially with Evelyn’s obsession with rolling in the grass.
Don’t underestimate siesta hours—embrace them. Even Bobby and Tony snooze from 2–5pm like they’re unionized.
Stock up on horchata—from Alboraya if possible. It’s the creamy, nutty, Valencian magic you didn’t know you needed.
Final Scoop (Pun Intended)
Summer in Valencia can feel intense—but with the right rhythm, it becomes magic. Some days we’re pool-hopping with ice cream dripping down our wrists; other days, we’re lying under jacaranda trees, counting cicada songs and catching a breeze. The girls have adapted so beautifully—Frances makes the metro feel like an old friend, and Evelyn keeps asking if we can have a “summer forever.”
If you’re sweating your way through July and wondering how to keep your family happy and cool, I promise you—Valencia’s got your back. You just have to know where to look.
And hey—if you see a slightly sunburned American mom chasing a popsicle-stick trail down Calle Colón with two giggling girls and two ridiculous little dogs in tow... come say hi.
We’ll probably point you to the nearest gelato stand.
In Gratitude,
Amanda Chigbrow
Founder of LaVidalencia
@LaVidalencia | LaVidalencia.com