Las Fallas Valencia: A Complete Guide to Spain’s Fiery Festival
Come experience one of the most unique festivals in the world – Las Fallas, Valencia.
This annual event brings one of Spain’s most vibrant cities to life even more, and is one of those things everyone needs to experience once. It’s loud, colorful, and full of events to enjoy.
I love Las Fallas so much that I’ve experienced it three times already! It’s chaotic, and can be confusing though if you’ve never gone. That’s why I’m writing this guide – to break down everything you need to know, and help you enjoy an absolutely amazing Las Fallas experience.
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Las Fallas, Valencia: Important Info About the Festival
Las Fallas, Valencia is one of Spain’s biggest and most intense festivals, and it affects the entire city for weeks. Streets close, schedules change, and daily life revolves around the festival calendar. It is exciting, overwhelming, and very loud.
This guide is designed to help you understand what Las Fallas actually is, how it works, and what to expect as a visitor. Knowing the basics before you arrive makes the experience much more enjoyable.
👀 What is Las Fallas?
Las Fallas is a festival held in Valencia each year where giant colorful masterpieces are made by local artists and displayed around the city. The festival period has fireworks, live music, parades, parties, and a variety of events that make it not only a festival, but a full cultural experience. The festivals ends with the most spectacular event – “la crema”.
🔥 What is the main event of Las Fallas?
The main event of Las Fallas is La Cremà, the night when all the fallas sculptures are burned across the city. This happens on March 19th, and marks the official end of the festival.
Each neighborhood burns its own falla, starting with children’s monuments earlier in the evening and ending late at night with the main structures. There is an entire schedule of the burnings, and they’re all at night but also have slightly varied times.
⭐️ Why is Las Fallas so important?
Las Fallas is one of the most important festivals in Spain, and is a core part of Valencian identity and local pride. Each neighborhood spends the entire year planning, fundraising, and building their falla, and it represents a big part of their culture.
The festival is about creativity, community, tradition, and renewal, not just spectacle. Burning the sculptures is symbolic, representing letting go and starting fresh.
Being part of the parades is deeply emotional and exciting for Valencians, and it’s a special moment they get to carry with them. It’s actually common to see many parade participants cry, particularly during the flower offerings.
🤔 What does Las Fallas mean in English?
Las Fallas refers to the incredible monuments you see scattered across the city during the festival. The sculptural monuments that are made of wood and papier mâché, and are placed in the city’s streets and squares to be admired before they are ultimately set on fire.
👵🏻 What is the history of Las Fallas Valencia?
Las Fallas began as a local craft tradition linked to carpenters, who burned leftover wood to celebrate the arrival of spring. Over time, these simple bonfires evolved into elaborate artistic monuments. By the 20th century, Las Fallas had become a major cultural event, combining art, satire, and community celebration.
📍 Where is Las Fallas in Valencia?
Las Fallas takes place across the entire city, not in one central location. Every neighborhood has its own falla monument, often set up in the middle of the street, and you can even find fallas in cities outside of Valencia itself!
There are 9 “main” fallas though, and these are typically scattered around Ciutat Vella and Ruzafa. You can also get a map of them, or pin each one on your own map to have everything more visible when you’re walking around.
Major events like fireworks and ceremonies happen closer to the city center, especially around Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
📆 When is Las Fallas?
Las Fallas officially runs until March 19th, with the busiest days between March 15 and 19. Fireworks, street events, and crowds increase dramatically during this final stretch. March 19 is the most important date, when La Cremà takes place.
While Las Fallas is busiest from the 15th-19th, you can actually experience different events of Las Fallas from January! March is when the real momentum picks up, but the entire beginning of the year starts to transform Valencia into its “Fallas” identity.
The Logistics of Visiting Valencia During Las Fallas
Now that you know a bit of what Las Fallas in Valencia is all about, let’s go over some of the logistics! The first step to enjoying this special celebration is by being prepared, from getting there and knowing where to stay to planning in case there are any unideal alternatives.
✈️ How to Get to Valencia, Spain
Getting to Valencia is easy! You can fly directly there, get a train from another Spanish city, rent a car and drive, take a bus, or travel with Bla Bla Car. In our guide about how to get to Valencia we go over all of the different options, so that you can choose which one makes sense for you!
🛌 Where to Stay in Valencia During Las Fallas
The best area to stay in Valencia if you want to be near all the action is either in Ciutat Vella (the heart of it all) or in Ruzafa, a trendy neighborhood that has a lot of the main fallas and some fun nightlife.
We booked our accommodation last minute, and the hotels were through the roof expensive. It’s important to book in advance to ensure you can stay in the city and walking distance from all of the events happening.
🚗 Getting Around Valencia During Las Fallas
If you are booking your hotel last minute or just prefer to stay outside the city, it’s important to know options for getting around Valencia. In our case, we stayed 30 minutes from the city, and rented a car. This was necessary since there was no public transportation from where we were staying, and while we didn’t need a car for Las Fallas, we definitely utilized it for some day trips.
Something important to note is that during Las Fallas Valencia has different schedules for public transportation, and many of the streets are blocked off for events like parades and being able to access some of the main fallas. This makes getting around with a car that much more challenging, alongside the parking prices and congestion that the festival brings.
If you’re able to stay inside the city, then getting around by foot is absolutely the best option!
🎫 Important Info for Booking Tickets for Las Fallas, Valencia
One of the great things about Las Fallas is that it’s all over the city, and available to the public. You can enjoy seeing all of the Fallas for free, as well as all of the parades, offerings, and other events celebrated.
There is a VIP ticket though – this is what we purchased, and it’s a very affordable ticket that gives you access within the barrier to visit each of the larger Fallas. It allows visitors to really enjoy the finer details of each masterpiece, as well as to get some better pictures.
How to Prepare for Las Fallas, Valencia
Now that you know the logistic of transportation and accommodation, let’s get you ready to pack your bags for Las Fallas, Valencia!
💃🏻 What to Wear for Las Fallas Festival
Unlike La Feria de Abril in Sevilla, tourists do not dress in festival attire. There are a lot of locals who will have a special type of dress, but these are reserved for locals, and tourists simply stay in their normal everyday wear.
One thing that you will see everyone wear are bandanas – they’re typically blue and have patches on them, and you can find them all over the streets being sold, as well as in souvenir shops.
Valencia is typically sunny and pretty warm during Las Fallas. Last year was the first time the city saw that much rain in decades!
🧳 What to Pack for Las Fallas
When packing for Las Fallas you’ll want to bring all the basic travel essentials for a city getaway like comfortable shoes, a cross-body bag, and a reusable water bottle.
Experiencing Las Fallas, Valencia: Events & What to Expect
Now you’re ready to experience Las Fallas! Valencia has so much to offer at this time, and here are some of the highlights you should plan for.
🤩 Visiting the Fallas
There. are over 800 Fallas scattered throughout the city of Valencia, and each one is unique in its own way! The art oftentimes has interesting messages that portray political, economic, and social debates, along with beautiful expressions of love for ourselves. and the planet.
You could spend days simply walking around and admiring the art, and we absolutely recommend seeing as many as you can.
Each year there is a list of the biggest ones, and we made sure to see all of them when we went, because these are the ones that will truly blown your mind.
🎆 Watching the Fireworks
Fireworks are an essential part of Las Fallas in Valencia, and there are a few different displays throughout the week to look forward to. Just remember to get to Plaza Ayuntamiento very early (or wherever they are being shot).
✨ Attending the Mascletas
Mascletàs happen every day at 2:00 pm in Plaza del Ayuntamiento and are one of the most intense parts of Las Fallas. This is not a visual fireworks show. It is about sound, rhythm, and vibration, and you will feel it through the ground and your chest.
Arrive early if you want a spot anywhere near the square, especially after March 10th. If loud noise is not your thing, stand farther back or watch from nearby streets. Ear protection is common, even among adults, and highly recommended.
🤩 Checking Out the Parades
Valencia is full of parades during Las Fallas. Some are on the main schedule, while others may seem to appear out of nowhere. There are the main parades where locals are specifically picked and go around the main squares, while others are smaller and feature bands. Some groups of people will randomly start their own parades, and you’ll see people in costumes and confetti thrown everywhere
Parades are a major part of Las Fallas, and Valencia comes alive with every one that happens.
🛍 Shopping at the Markets
During Las Fallas, temporary markets pop up all over Valencia selling food, souvenirs, fireworks, and festival gear. You will find everything from roasted nuts and churros to Fallas-themed scarves and traditional sweets.
These markets are busiest in the evenings and near major falla monuments. Prices are generally reasonable, but it is worth carrying cash, as some stalls do not accept cards. Even if you are not shopping, wandering through them is part of the Las Fallas experience.
🍻 Partying in the Tents
If you like to party, then you’re going to love this part of Las Fallas! Valencia sets up Fallas tents, called casales, that are created by by neighborhood associations and act as social hubs during the festival. Inside, you will find long tables, loud music, drinks, and a mix of locals and tourists celebrating late into the night.
Some tents are private, but many are open to the public, especially earlier in the evening. Expect crowded spaces, plastic cups, and a very social atmosphere. This is where Las Fallas feels the most local and least curated, and is the perfect insight to how wild the social scene in Spain is.
🔥 Watching the Fallas Burn
This is the grand finale of Las Fallas – Valencia’s most awaited moment. All of the fallas are set on fire one by one, and the entire city is up in flames (controlled of course).
Las Fallas, Valencia: A Breakdown of What Actually Happens During the Festival
Las Fallas, Valencia is not a single event or even a single week. It is a months-long build-up that slowly transforms the city, ending in one of the most dramatic festival finales in Europe. From early fireworks in winter to the final night when every monument burns, Las Fallas follows a very specific rhythm.
If you are planning to visit, understanding how the festival unfolds makes a huge difference. The experience changes drastically depending on when you arrive, and what feels manageable one week can feel overwhelming the next.
Below is a clear breakdown of what happens during Las Fallas, in the order it actually unfolds.
😍 January & Early February: When Las Fallas Officially Begins
Las Fallas technically starts in January, long before most visitors arrive. These early events are ceremonial and local, focused on tradition rather than spectacle.
During this period, Valencia hosts official presentations of the Fallera Mayor and Fallera Mayor Infantil, along with formal galas and the first fireworks of the season. These moments matter deeply to locals, but the city itself still feels calm and fully functional.
If you visit in January or early February, you will notice occasional fireworks and cultural events, but daily life continues as normal.
🥳 Mid to Late February: The Festival Switches On
By mid to late February, Las Fallas becomes visible to everyone.
This is when major public events begin, including the opening of the Ninot Exhibition, where individual figures from the fallas are displayed and voted on. One of these figures will be spared from the fire later in March.
Late February also brings:
💃🏻 Early March: Daily Mascletàs and Constant Fireworks
From March 1st onward, Las Fallas becomes part of daily life in Valencia.
Every single day at 2:00 p.m., the city hosts a mascletà in City Hall Square. This is not a visual fireworks show but a powerful sound experience designed to be felt through the ground and your body.
Evenings bring frequent fireworks displays, traditional dance performances, vintage car parades, and cultural exhibitions. Restaurants start filling up, noise levels rise, and sleep schedules start to shift.
This is when visitors begin to feel the intensity of Las Fallas, even though the monuments are not yet installed.
🌈 March 15th–16th: The Fallas Appear Overnight
Mid-March is when Las Fallas becomes visually overwhelming.
During La Plantà, all fallas monuments are installed across the city, often overnight. By the morning of March 16th, Valencia is filled with hundreds of massive sculptures, some several stories tall, standing in intersections and plazas.
These days also include:
From this moment forward, moving around the city takes planning.
🥳 March 17th–18th: Peak Festival Days
These are the busiest and most emotional days of Las Fallas.
One of the most important traditions, the Flower Offering, takes place over two days. Thousands of people in traditional dress walk through the city to offer flowers, which are used to build a massive floral statue of the Virgin of the Forsaken.
At the same time, fireworks escalate, culminating in Nit del Foc, the largest fireworks display of the entire festival. Street parties run late, fallas tents are packed, and the city barely sleeps. Crowds are the heaviest at this time, but it’s also the most exciting time to experience Las Fallas, Valencia.
🔥 March 19th: La Cremà, the Final Night
The final day of Las Fallas is dedicated to Saint Joseph and ends with La Cremà, the burning of all fallas.
Throughout the evening:
Firefighters supervise each burn while crowds gather around their neighborhood monuments. Once the final falla burns, the festival ends immediately.
By the next morning, cleanup begins, streets reopen, and Valencia starts returning to normal.
Amenities During Las Fallas in Valencia
Now that you know all about what to expect at Las Fallas Festival, we’re going to share a bit about what to expect in terms of food, drinks, and bathrooms around the city.
🥘 Food & Drink
The city of Valencia is a foodie paradise, and even more-so during Las Fallas. You can find find plenty of street food to enjoy, and all of the restaurants are still in full service. Just keep in mind that if there are specific restaurants you’re looking to eat at, then it’s highly recommended to make reservations in advance!
🚽 Bathrooms
During Las Fallas, Valencia sets up portable toilets around the city. They’re free of charge, but definitely get into a less ideal state each day. We recommend using the bathroom anytime you’re in a restaurant or bar, and to bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer for whenever you do need to use the portable ones.
FAQ For Las Fallas, Valencia
What is Las Fallas in Valencia?
When does Las Fallas take place?
Is Las Fallas free to attend?
How loud is Las Fallas?
Is Las Fallas safe for visitors?
Can you sleep during Las Fallas?
Are children allowed at Las Fallas?
What is the best day to visit Las Fallas?
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Is Las Fallas worth visiting?
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Attending Las Fallas, Valencia: Final Tips & What’s Next
Now you know almost everything you need to know for visiting Valencia during Las Fallas! Before you go there, here are a few final things to keep in mind.
👮🏻♀️ Safety & Etiquette During Las Fallas
Las Fallas is a special celebration in Valencia, and even though it’s loud and a ton of fun, it’s also a deeply meaningful time for locals. Make sure during parades you are respectful, and that you are also following all rules by security and traffic control – especially during La Crema. The fires are all controlled by the local firefighters, but it’s important you keep a safe distance.
While Valencia is a pretty safe city, it’s also important to note that any big festival brings all types of people – and with big crowds and parties all night long, petty theft can still occur. Always have a bag that zips, and pay attention to your belongings.
✅ Tips for Attending Las Fallas in Valencia
🤔 Is it Worth Visiting Valencia for Las Fallas?
Las Fallas is one of the most epic festivals around the world! We absolutely love it, but it also is very chaotic and not for everyone.
If you are sensitive to noise or suffer from loud sounds then you may want to rethink Las Fallas. It’s highly sensory – with frequent high-level sounds and large crowds.
If you don’t mind a bit of chaos, love partying, and enjoy unique cultural experiences, then you will love celebrating Las Fallas in Valencia!
👀 What’s Next?
Now that you know everything about experiencing Las Fallas, Valencia is ready to show you what else it has to offer!
Here are other guides we have about Valencia, Spain:
✈️ How to get to Valencia
🚗 How to get around Valencia
🤩 24 Top things to do in Valencia
🪂 48 Unique Things to Do in Valencia
☔️ 22 Things to Do in Valencia When it Rains
🍴 Valencia food guide
🍅 Experiencing Tomatina festival
Here are also some other Spain guides we have:
💃🏻 Celebrating Feria de Abril in Sevilla
☀️ Things to Do in Sevilla
📖 Granada Travel Guide
📸 Most Instagrammable Spots in Barcelona
📖 Barcelona Travel Guide
🌊 Places to Visit in Costa Blanca
📖 Madrid Travel Guide
Here are our Canary Islands Guides:
🌊 El Hierro Travel Guide
🌋 La Palma Travel Guide
🌳 La Gomera Travel Guide
🌄 Gran Canaria Travel Guide
🏖 Fuerteventura Travel Guide
🏝 Isla de Lobos Travel Guide
🍷 Lanzarote Travel Guide
🤩 50 Epic Spots in Lanzarote
⛴ La Graciosa Travel Guide
🌅 Tenerife Travel Guide
📖 The Ultimate Canary Islands Travel Guide
So are you ready to enjoy Las Fallas Festival in Valencia? We hope this guide has helped you understand exactly what to expect, and how to prepare for your visit to Valencia during this special time.
Want to learn more about visiting Valencia? Don’t miss out on our other Valencia guides or other Spain travel guides. Also, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to be up to date with our newest articles.
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