MumAbroad

Recommended by Claire Conway

This amazing complex is definitely one of the most exciting things to do with kids in Valencia. It's also great for the rest of the family!
Prices start from 7.50 Euros for access to the Science Museum only. Alternatively, you can purchase a ticket with access to the Hemisferic + Science Museum + Oceanografic all for 31.60 Euros. An annual Adult pass is 75.00 Euros. Children 0-3 go for free.
Av. Autopista del Saler. 46013. Valencia
Tel. 902 100 031
www.cac.es

Comments
"It's not only highly educational, it's also amazing fun. As well as a high-tech science museum with interactive, hands-on gadgets, there's also an IMAX cinema, a lazerium and planetarium which have a range of child-friendly shows such as a virtual journey into space! All this is available in four languages including English.  L'Oceanografic is the largest aquarium in Europe and the second largest in the world. You get the distinct feeling of being underwater and will see sharks, whales and all kinds of marine life. On ground level you'll find seals, sea lions and penguins. The City of Arts & Sciences is a truly mind-blowing experience for all the family.  I took my son recently and it was great day out for us both. The educational factor is good too. The Hemisferic was brilliant. We watched Dinosaurs Alive! A really interesting film on dinosaurs that was visually entertaining, apart from the screaming that my son was doing throughout!" (CC, July 10)
 
"We had heard that there was a lot to see at the CAC and so decided to go for 2 days and stay for a night in an aparthotel near the complex. I have a one year old and a three year old and they both had the most amazing time. The aquarium is huge (second biggest in the world) with several underwater tunnels and a huge range of fish, however I was far more impressed by the science museum. My 20 month old daughter (who has no attention span!) spent 30 minutes in a virtual forest, chasing fish, butterflies and ladybirds and was able to enjoy several of the exhibits such as drawing in sand, wind machines and watching chicks who had just hatched. There is a fantastic kids area which is built like a construction site where they can construct a house with rubber bricks, load bricks onto a conveyer belt, operate a barrier on a train track and use a small crane. My son was in heaven! After the science museumm we went to see a dinosaur exhibition, which had life sized models, all of which moved and made a sound. All the children there were speechless! Our apartment was five minutes walk away (www.40flats.com) and was very clean with a kitchen and 2 bedrooms. Opposite the apartments was a restaurant with an outdoor playarea for kids. To be honest I think we could easily have stayed another day and still not seen everything. I would highly recommend a trip here for kids of all ages." (Rebecca Laidlaw Oct 10)