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Guided tour to Palau de les Arts (Opera House)

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From 5 to 12 years old. Over 65s and / or retirees, pensioners, people with disabilities, unemployed. With supporting document

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Explore its spectacular design and all its backstage secrets.

Whether you love opera or not, a visit to the Palau de les Arts will give you goosebumps. On the outside, Santiago Calatrava's spectacular design looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. Inside, you can feel the impressive acoustics of its halls, marvel at its grandiose stages and see the Les Arts Training Center, where the future stars of bel canto are trained. With any luck, you'll even be able to attend a rehearsal. Sounds great, right? 

Departure time and place 

The starting point is the Ticket Office of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (Av. del Professor López Piñero 1). We recommend arriving 10 minutes before the tour start time.

There are different schedules. Select the time you want to visit during the purchase process. 

The tours are offered in Spanish and English.

Interest info

How it works: .

When you book, you have to specify the day and time you want to visit. 

We will email you the tickets so you can print them out, or download the eTickets on your phone. 

Discounts and special rates 

Children up to 4 free. 

Reduced rates for children ages 5 to 12, retirees, pensioners and the unemployed.  

For 20 people or more, ask about group rates at [email protected] 

If you buy the Valencia Tourist Card at the same time, you'll get a 10% discount on this product (one reduced ticket per card).

STARTING POINT

Tickets can't be cancelled or refunded, but you can request a change of date by writing to customer service at [email protected].  You must provide at least 48 hours' notice. You can check all the information on our refund policy by clicking on the following link: Refund information  

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HOW TO GET THERE

Avinguda del Professor López Piñero, 1, 46013 València, Spain

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Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia

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The Valencia Opera House

A spectacular building, designed by the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava, dedicated to promoting the performing arts. With an extension of 55,000 square meters, the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia will become one of the finest international venues for theatre, dance, opera and music concerts.

From an architectural viewpoint, the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía is equally impressive. Spectacular in size and silhouette, coupled with state-of-the-art equipment and an exciting programme, it is sure to quickly find a place for itself among the mythical opera houses of the world. Opera houses like those in London, Sydney, Vienna and Milan.

Measuring over 70 metres in height, the Palau de les Arts is divided into four separate halls, all boasting the latest technological advances conceived to stage all kinds of opera, musical and theatrical performances. The main Hall is at the heart of the building, both formally and structurally speaking. Designed to seat more than 1800, it will be used for opera, zarzuela, classical ballet, contemporary dance, symphonic music, musicals and theatre.

Opera House Pictures

Complete photo gallery: Valencia Opera House Images

Opera House Spaces

The guided tour of this majestic space not only includes a visit to each of the four venues, but also a walk around the exterior of the building with its panoramic lifts and terrace and garden areas located high up on both sides of the Palau.

Sala Principal This concert hall, which seats 1,412, principally serves as an opera house, but it is also used for ballet and other performing arts.

Auditorio With a seating capacity of 1,490 people, this auditorium is equipped with advanced sound, cinema, and video installations.

Aula Magistral This space, which can seat up to 378 people, is especially designed for performances by small music ensembles and it is also used for recitals, conferences, and educational events.

Teatre Martín i Soler This theatre, located next to the Palau de les Arts, forms the south-west boundary of the complex. With a seating capacity of 400 people, the backstage installations and orchestra pit of this space are perfect for small and medium format opera performances.

Programme and performance hours of the Palau de les Arts

Performance Hours: 8.00 p.m. Sundays and bank holidays: 7.00 p.m. For programming visit: Opera Programme

Tickets Sale

• Box-Office.
• Website: Palau de les Arts
• Saturdays, sundays and bank holidays tickets will only be sold at the Box-Office three hours before the permormance scheduled for that day.

City of Arts and Sciences Guided Tours

If you want a private guided tour to the all complex of the City of Arts and Sciences, please check here.

Accommodation and Hotels near Valencia Opera House

A selection of hotels near Valencia Opera House, with exclusive discounts and secure online reservations. Search now for great deals and book a cheap hotel in Valencia with no booking fees. Check Availability, book online and save today at Valencia-cityGuide.com!

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Palau de les Arts Opera House

The Palau de les Arts or Reina Sofia Opera House is an impressive landmark in Valencia. Principally an opera house, the Palau also plays host to ballet, jazz and other performing arts.

The Palau de les Arts has played host to numerous international artists including Placido Domingo and esteemed orchestra conductor Zubin Mehta. Operas featured include the famous Madame Butterfly and Les Troyens.

TIP! Guided tours are available from Monday to Saturday, allowing you to explore this magnificent example of architectural excellence and see rehearsals.

With four performance halls, the main hall, used for operas and ballets, as well as the auditorium have a capacity of 1,400. The Magistral Room with seating for 400 people, is used for small musical group performances, as are the Martin and Soler Theatres.

Tour tickets are on sale at the Palau ticket office from Monday to Friday 11am - 18pm, and Saturdays 11am - 4pm, or purchase online or by calling 902 202 383. Contact us for group rates .

Performance Ticket Sales: Ticket office is open on performance days.

Monday to Friday - ticket office remains open up until the time of performance commencement.

Saturday, Sunday and public holidays - ticket office opens three hours prior to performances for same day purchases.

Prices: Performance dependent. Anything from €6 to €175 plus.

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía

Av. autopista del saler, 1; 46013 – valencia.

It is the latest and most spectacular of the buildings in the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences). It has been designed as an all-embracing cultural centre, setting the stage for operas, dance and open-air concerts. The innovative programme is coherent, offering top artistic events. It offers a global vision that uses music as the basis for other artistic and cultural disciplines. El Palau de les Arts is equipped with a stage measuring over 1.500 m² where the latest technology, such as portable platforms, interchangeable sets and simultaneous translation via screens built into the seats, sets the scene for all kinds of opera, musical and plays.

INFO OF INTEREST

OPENING HOURS:

-Guided visits in Spanish / English.

-HOURS: Monday to Saturday, from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm. and from 15.30 h. at 6.30pm.

-Sundays and holidays: from 10.30am to 2.30pm.

HOW TO GET HERE:

BUS : 94, 92, 93, 15, 19, 35, 90, 95

Valencia Opera House Palau de les Arts

Experience the beauty and grandeur of opera in Valencia’s stunning Palau de les Arts!

Valencia's Opera House, or Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, is a stunning architectural masterpiece that has become a must-visit destination for lovers of theatre and culture. Located in the City of Arts and Sciences, this opera house is a true gem of Valencia.

The building itself is an architectural wonder, designed by the famous Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava. The structure is made up of four distinct buildings, each with its own unique shape and style. The main building, which houses the opera house, is a towering structure of glass and steel that dominates the skyline of Valencia.

Inside, the Palau de les Arts is just as impressive. The opera house is a state-of-the-art facility with world-class acoustics and seating for over 4,000 people. The stage is massive, allowing for a wide range of productions, from operas and ballets to concerts and plays.

The Palau de les Arts hosts some of the most prestigious events in Valencia's cultural calendar, including the annual Valencia Opera Festival. This festival attracts some of the world's most renowned performers and is a must-visit event for any opera lover.

If you're not able to catch a show, you can still visit the Palau de les Arts and take a guided tour of the building. These tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at the opera house, including the backstage area and the costume and set design workshops.

In short, the Palau de les Arts is a must-see destination for anyone visiting Valencia. Its stunning architecture, world-class facilities, and top-notch performances make it an essential stop on any cultural itinerary.

Tips and Tricks

• Check the schedule beforehand and book your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.
• Consider taking a guided tour of the opera house to learn about its history and architecture.
• Dress appropriately for the occasion, as many visitors tend to dress up for performances.
• Don't forget to take in the stunning views of the City of Arts and Sciences from the opera house terrace.

Av. del Professor López Piñero, 1, 46013 Valencia

Opening times vary depending on scheduled performances. It is recommended to check the official website or contact the box office for specific dates and times.

Performances are typically held from October to June, making this the best time to visit the opera house.

Varies depending on the event and seating location. Prices can range from 10€ to over 200€.

This content was partially or fully generated using AI. Let us know if you have any feedback or spot any errors.

Valencia Tourist Travel Guide

Valencia opera house, valencia opera house ~ palau de les arts, reina sofia.

Valencia Opera House is known as Palau de les Arts and was officially opened on 9 October 2005,  the National Day of Valencia .

As well as opera and classical music, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia offers concerts with top Spanish entertainers such as Rosa, David Bisbal, Jose Merce, Antonio Orozco,  David Bustamante and many more ~  Les Arts Agenda  >>

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia sparkles in the sunlight and is shaped like the helmet of an ancient goddess.  The building is the last piece of the jigsaw  of Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava’s amazing City of Arts and Sciences complex which is located at the end of the Turia Gardens in the center of Valencia .

With a seating capacity of 4,400, only Sydney Opera House in Australia surpases it with a larger seating capacity.

The cost of building this beautiful theatre was 250 million euros and consists of four halls and measures 40,000 m. It contains the most modern technology and open-air auditoriums for  opera performances, dance performances, concerts and recitals.

Valencia Opera House ~ Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia

Main Hall The main hall has a capacity for 1,412 spectators and is used as a venue for opera. It can also  be converted into a stage for ballet and other performing arts.

Auditorium The auditorium has a capacity for 1,490 spectators with advanced sound, film and video facilities.

Master Room The master room can accommodate 378 people and  is specially designed for chamber concerts, recitals, lectures and educational meetings.

Martin i Soler Theatre This theatre is located adjacent to Palau de les Arts and consists of a hall with the capacity for 400 spectators.  The stage is complete with an orchestra pit for opera performances which allows small and medium format.

Flamenco in Valencia City of Arts and Sciences

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UN BALLO IN MASCHERA

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Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia / Upcoming performances

Today Onwards

2005 — Yesterday

69 Performances | 35 Productions

103 Performances | 31 Productions

137 Performances | 30 Productions

116 Performances | 29 Productions

64 Performances | 14 Productions

43 Performances | 11 Productions

33 Performances | 9 Productions

47 Performances | 12 Productions

51 Performances | 11 Productions

40 Performances | 9 Productions

44 Performances | 13 Productions

50 Performances | 11 Productions

65 Performances | 15 Productions

57 Performances | 17 Productions

64 Performances | 10 Productions

57 Performances | 12 Productions

55 Performances | 12 Productions

45 Performances | 14 Productions

2 Performances | 2 Productions

Performance for Today Onwards 10 Productions (30 Performances)

Showing 10 Productions (30 Performances)

Los Elementos ( The Elements ) , Lliteres Literes

Un ballo in maschera ( A Masked Ball ) , Verdi

La Dispersione , Various

Mikko Franck & Richard Strauss , Strauss

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Valencia’s Opera House: Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia

Information

The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia is one of the five spectacular edifices that make up the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències [City of Arts and Sciences] complex. The work of the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava, it opened in 2005, and is a vast cathedral of music with opera, theatre and dance performances.

Its shape resembles the keel of a boat, a reminder that the building is located on an actual riverbed. To many visitors, however, it looks more like the helmet of an Imperial stormtrooper from Star Wars . In any event, there can be no doubt that it seems to float on the 10,000 m 2 of water surrounding it.

Located opposite the Barceló Valencia Hotel (link Interno), it is the largest building in the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències complex—and Santiago de Calatrava’s boldest venture yet. It is 70 metres tall and has a surface area equivalent to four football pitches. Its white concrete structure includes projecting platforms of varying heights accessible via panoramic lifts and stairways inside metal casings. The most remarkable feature is the feather-shaped metal outer-casing which is only attached to the main building at two points, so that the whole area is overhanging. This “feather” is over 230 metres in length.

The two frameworks that hug the building consist of 3,000 tons of laminated steel clad in a mosaic made from fragments of glazed ceramic—the trencadís technique previously used by Gaudí and the Modernist movement. This huge building is at the same time both loved and hated by Valencia’s citizens, as it incurred a budgetary overspend of 45 million euros, and in its short life it has suffered structural problems.

Barceló Valencia

• Opposite the City of Arts and Sciences
• Ideal for business or leisure trips
• Ultra-comfortable B-Rooms
• Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel

The project started out as a telecommunications tower, and with this in mind, work began to lay its foundations and base. The work was then stopped, and it was decided to build in its place a temple of music, using the foundations that had already been laid.

Inside, the space is divided into four large areas, with a 530 m 2 stage and a capacity for 1,800 spectators. There is a restaurant at the top of the building.

This is reached by a long walkway that leads to the foot of a staircase. The information desk and the box offices are at the main entrance. From here, two side corridors lead to the great vestibule of the Main Hall . The stalls are equipped with screens showing the text in different languages, so the spectators can follow the performances. The orchestra pit can accommodate 120 musicians.

The Aula Magistral provides a space for chamber music performances and social events. This space, on the building’s west wing, has a capacity for 400 spectators.

The Anfiteatro or Sala Superior is used for all kinds of shows. It has modern audio systems and large screens, and it holds an audience of up to 1,500. It was originally planned to be open to the air, but now has a roof.

The Teatro Martín y Soler , devoted to experimental performance, can seat up to 400 people, and is located in the south-west section of the building, which is devoted to the Applied Arts.

Guided visits of the Palau

Guided tours of the inside of the Palau are available, which include access to the areas where each season’s major performances take place. Visitors can also see the Centro de Perfeccionamiento de Plácido Domingo , one of the most important training centres for opera singers. The tour ends at the Galeria dels Arcs , which is the latest space to be opened, and is used to host performances. The tour will give you all the technical information about what goes into making this huge edifice a unique performance venue.

If you’d like a deeper insight you can, during your visit, watch a 30-minute rehearsal of the current operatic production. Consult the programme to check whether a rehearsal is scheduled during your planned visit to Valencia.

Dining in a unique setting

The Palau provides various dining facilities for both audiences attending shows and for those just visiting. Without the shadow of a doubt, a visit to the Contrapunto les Arts restaurant on the top floor will prove an unforgettable experience. For either lunch or dinner, you can enjoy the creative cuisine based on a fusion of local produce with dishes from around the world—all served on the stunning terrace.

The great city of the future

The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia was the latest building to be added to the great Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències project, a group of five centres that collectively make up the largest urban cultural and educational complex to be built in Europe during recent years. This vast initiative—developed by the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava in collaboration with Félix Candela—has changed the face of Valencia forever. The first building was the Hemisfèric (link Interno), which opened in 1998. It was followed by the Museu de les Ciències Príncep Felip Science Museum (link Interno), the Umbracle in 2000, and the Oceanogràfic (link Interno) in 2003. The latest space to be added was L’Àgora—the large covered square—in 2009.

Information of interest

Guided tours.

• Schedule: Monday – Friday, at 11:30 AM and at 1:00
• Duration: 1 hour
• Price: Adults from €10.90, children from €8.50.

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Palau de la Musica in Valencia Announces 2022-23 Season

The Palau de la Música in Valencia, Spain has announced its 2022-23 season.

The president Gloria Tello, director Vicent Ros, and Artistic Director Alexander Liebreich announced the program which will consist of 30 concerts at the sala Auditori de Les Arts and the Teatro Principal in València.

Raquel Lojendio and Josep Ramon Olivé perform alongside Miguel Á. Gómez-Martínez in a program of music by Mozart, Menotti, and Rimsky-Korsakov.

Performance Date: Nov. 10, 2022

Ramón Tebar conducts Anna Lucia Richter a program of music by Zemlinsky, Tchaikovsky, and Ravel.

Performance Date: Nov. 17, 2022

Chen Reiss and Alexander Liebreich join together for a piece by Abrahamsen, Strauss, and Beethoven.

Performance Date: Feb. 16, 2023

Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion” will star Raphael Hohn, Zsuzsi Toth, Alexander Chance, Florian Sievers, Sebastian Myrius, Gwendoline Blondeel, William Shelton, Raffaele Giordani, and Felix Schwandtke.

Performance Date: April 3, 2023

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The sci-fi wonder of Valencia's opera house

Valencia, Spain, is home to some incredible architecture, not least the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia. Here's a look inside.

It's a spaceship. I'm sure of it. Aliens landed here in Spain and didn't want to leave because the food's so good. Can't blame them. On closer inspection, it seems to be an actual building, but certainly not like any I've ever seen. There are gentle curves on what look like floating panels far too large to lack support. Wait, there are portholes. Definitely a spaceship. A spaceship with signs about… opera? Surely aliens would be more into EDM .

I finally get around to the front, if such a structure could claim to have one, and decide it looks more like a helmet. Something Darth Vader would wear to a particularly stern wedding. Then I see the sign: Palau de les Arts . Thanks to Google I'm a polyglot , so I can translate that from Valencian into "Palace of Arts." So rather then a spaceship (allegedly), it's one of the most impressive concert halls in the world, and I've been to several .

As luck would have it, there's a tour leaving right as I walk up. Turns out, amazingly, the inside is just as beautiful as the outside.

Check out Valencia's sci-fi ultramodern opera house

Palace of sound

The Palau, or to go by its full name, the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, was designed by world-famous architect Santiago Calatrava , who was born in Valencia. In the US his most famous buildings are probably New York's Oculus train station  and the Milwaukee Art Museum . The Palau opened in 2005, and is still the tallest opera house in the world. A mix of concrete, ceramic and metal inside and out, it has four auditoriums and multiple spaces for gathering during intermission or for other events. The Sala Principal, which translates literally as "Main Hall," seats 1,412, while the Auditori, used primarily for symphonic concerts and movie premieres, seats 1,490. The smaller Martí i Soler Theatre and Aula Magistral hall each seat around 400.

The tour brings us all over the Palau, taking a circuitous route that seems to maximize what we get to see while minimizing the time needed. We visit each of the halls, ending with the magnificent Sala Principal. 

There's an organic flow to the spaces of the Palau. The Auditorium's ceiling is reminiscent of a rib cage, while the walkways outside the Sala Principal seem as if carved from a shell. Calatrava's projects may be notorious for going over budget, and being maintenance nightmares, but damn can he design a building.

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City of Arts and Sciences

The Palau is not an isolated piece of incredible architecture. It's situated in the City of Arts and Sciences , a reclaimed riverbed that is also home to several other amazing buildings, gardens, and shallow pools. The hemispherical L'Hemisfèric houses an Imax theater. The science museum's building looks like a real-life version of Battlestar Galactica's Cylon Resurrection Ship. The purple Ágora is an event space, and the wavy Oceanogràfic is, fittingly, an aquarium.

It's the type of area you'd want every city to have. A gorgeous public space enjoyed by tourists and locals alike. At night, the buildings light up inside and out for a stunning display.

As far as the Palau goes, you can get a ticket for whatever opera is being performed, or for various smaller-scale concerts in one of the other halls. Or, if you're not a big opera fan, there are several tours throughout the day most days .

As well as covering audio and display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines , aircraft carriers , medieval castles , epic 10,000-mile road trips and more.

Also check out Budget Travel for Dummies , his travel book, and his bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines. You can follow him on Instagram and YouTube .