Discover Valencia & surroundings with all your senses through its local gastronomy. Unique itineraries & experiences for business events, group trips or private tours to get to know Valencia in a personal and authentic way, off the beaten track and with plenty of room for improvisation.
You discover places that most tourists don't. Varied routes to authentic spots where especially the Spaniards themselves come. Supporting local entrepreneurs!
Over 12 years in Valencia, experienced guide, co-author of 'Discover Valencia through the eyes of locals', hobby chef and former craft beer brewer.
Personal, flexible and easy going. I focus on the needs and interests of the group and they are responded to during the tours.
Ready for a valencian local food experience?
Discover Valencia by bike through its unique gastronomy! We’ll visit the highlights and hidden gems of this beautiful city making several gastronomic stops. With this easy-going ‘tranquilo’ bike tour we’ll tap into local life & gastronomic traditions such as the typical Valencian ‘almuerzo’. The tour starts at the Central Market and will take us through the old city center, the Turia park and the City of Arts & Sciences. A great way to get to know the city upon arrival and discover what local gastronomy has to offer!
Ready to get a taste of Valencia’s local gastronomy? This unique market & tapas experience dives into the Central Market and local life. First, we visit the cathedral of senses—the emblematic Central Market! Explore some of my favorite market stalls, sip coffee, juice or ‘vermouth,’ and sample local ham, cheese, and other seasonal delights. But wait, there’s more! We’re going shopping for fresh fish, seafood & meat for our tapas lunch at a nearby traditional Valencian restaurant. They’ll grill, cook, or fry our market groceries into delicious local tapas and we’ll add some other tapas from the menu!
Prefer a custom or private tapas tour, maybe in the evening? Contact me for the possibilities!
There’s a blooming street art scene in Valencia where creative and gifted urban artists are giving life and color to the most rundown corners of the city. The murals often contain powerful social and political messages, making for a thought-provoking and eye-opening experience. It is simply spectacular to see how the El Carmen neighborhood turned into a 24/7 open-air street art museum! Combined with local drinks & bites we’ll discover the best-kept secrets of urban street art in El Carmen!
Looking for a full program or different activity? There is in fact much more to discover and learn about Valencian gastronomy, culture, nature and history! Below you will find an overview of my tours & experiences, maybe you’ll find a nice option for your group. Would you like something customized for your business event, group trip or private company? Please feel free to contact me, happy to help out!
€100
€85,-
<i
Enjoy a memorable paella cooking class from price-winning chef David and his team!
Both David and his brother run a takeaway paella business in the center of Valencia. In the most important paella competition, David won best Paella Valenciana in 2018 in Sueca, a little village near Valencia. The brothers have a true passion for paella and local gastronomy and so much positive energy! It’s truly unique that they’ve opened their kitchen for a Clandestine Paella Experience, to teach you all the secrets, tips & tricks to become the next great Paella chef!
€120
From €99,-
<i
The countryside of Valencia, also known as ‘la Huerta, is a beautiful agricultural area 6 kilometres from the city.
During this experience, we will take our bikes and discover Valencian rural life! We will cross beautiful bike paths between the alquerías (farms), seeing typical vegetable gardens, artichoke & ‘chufa’ (earth almond) fields. We can stop at a local craft beer brewery or horchatería, to taste delicious local drinks! Finally, we’ll arrive at an authentic Valencian farm for our paella lunch. We’ll participate in the preparation of the woodfire paella, harvest some of the ingredients in season and visit a traditional ‘barraca’ farmhouse nearby. A relaxed day to unwind and enjoy in the Valencian countryside!
€120
€99,-
<i
Enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets in Spain from a traditional fisherman’s boat discovering the Albufera Lake!
During this experience, we will enjoy a private boat trip on a traditional fisherman’s vessel to discover the Albufera Lake and to see one of the most beautiful sunsets in Spain! During the boat trip we will taste two local wines, inspired by the Albufera lake and fisherman’s life. The wines will be paired with local tapas!
Valencia has a thriving craft beer scene with a growing amount of craft beer bars and breweries. During the craft beer tasting, we’ll discover the versatility of beer, learn about beer history, styles, ingredients, the brewing process and how to taste beer like a pro of course! We select different Valencian/Spanish craft beers and pair them with local food, fresh from the nearby market! As a former professional brewer and craft beer enthusiast, my mission is to introduce you to the local beer culture and show you the quality of Valencian craft beer combined with local gastronomy.
Looking for a fun and original teambuilding activity for your group or business? This might be it! Our Culinary City Game in Valencia combines teamwork with sightseeing and local gastronomy. A great way to connect with your colleagues, friends or family while exploring Valencia old town enjoying typical local food & drinks! And the best part, it’s mostly GPS based and you can explore Valencia at your own pace!
Discover rural Valencia by visiting a family-owned olive grove in Macastre, surrounded by the beautiful mountains around Buñol. During the year we will realize different activities, such as an olive marinating workshop, olive harvest or monumental tree route through Macastre including a delicious lunch with local dishes. These activities depend on the season, therefore specific dates will be published on this page.
¡Muchas gracias! for your interest in my free gastronomic guide. Valencia has an incredibly rich gastronomy! To help you find your way around, I have listed 7 typical Valencian dishes that you should definitely try. Fun facts and tips with of course a few authentic addresses to enjoy these traditional dishes among the locals! Leave your name and e-mail address and you will immediately receive a download link in your mailbox, enjoy Valencia!
I'm passionate about connecting people through local gastronomy
Hola! My name is Koen Mateboer and I emigrated to beautiful Valencia about 12 years ago for love. Over the years I have only grown to love this city more and developed a strong passion for Valencian life! My mission is to connect people with local life and gastronomy in its most authentic form while enjoying and exploring the beautiful city and its surroundings. I do this by connecting with people through personal attention, a healthy dose of humor and lots of enthusiasm. Let’s create a memorable experience together!
Tasty & healthy food and drinks in good company! Gastronomy fascinates me and I like to brew and cook myself, including of course the Valencian paella! I also like to combine dishes with local craft beers and wines.
Discover new places, get to know new people, enjoy nature, gastronomy, culture and history! Distant cultures and other ways of living always inspire me.
Sport
Sport has always been an important part of my life. I am very energetic and have practiced many sports. I’ve been doing Taekwon-Do since I was a kid. I also enjoy running and cycling/walking in nature!
Music
I am a huge music lover and can totally lose myself in it! I play a little guitar, have been taking drum lessons and DJ regularly as a hobby. I also have quite a vinyl record collection, just love it!
Valencia, the radiant third city of Spain with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, is a lovely, friendly town on the Mediterranean coast. In combination with the rich culture, history, architecture, gastronomy and beautiful nature, it is the ideal city to enjoy the outdoors! Its location next to the Turia river and relatively short distances also make it the ideal cycling and walking city. There is so much to discover, especially if you also include the beautiful surroundings with the beaches, vineyards, mountains and Lake Albufera!
What you are looking for is experiencing Valencia in an authentic and personal way. Valencian life and where it takes place, that’s what it’s all about! I believe that enjoying the local gastronomy is a great way to get to know a city, the local culture, nature and the people. While dining, people enjoy being together, all important celebrations include large meals and people usually meet on the terraces. Mostly outside and around the eating moments, that’s ‘La vida Valenciana’. This way of living is key to my experiences and I would like to take you along the ride!
Focus on one group of like-minded people that easily connect. I love to create personalized experiences for groups, businesses and families & friends. I avoid mixing large groups that move unwieldy and slowly and have diverse needs and interests. Personal attention comes first!
A local experience during creative, original gastronomic itineraries in Valencia! You have come to the right place to discover real local places and sights, we go off the beaten track! During the experiences we dive into non-touristy parts of the city and the surroundings of Valencia to get a taste of the authentic outdoor life. Original stories with fun facts & anecdotes and a flexible route to fully enjoy an authentic experience of the Valencian gastronomy, culture and nature!
My mission is to let you experience authentic Valencian life by breaking the culture and language barriers and immersing you into the local life. Energetic, enthusiastic guidance with a pinch of humour to end up at authentic spots, so that you can taste the best local dishes! Relaxing & enjoying are paramount, I’m happy to be the bridge between the different cultures!
Do you have a question or would you like to make a reservation? Please contact me via the contact form below or send a message to +34 652 609 405!
koen@valenciawithkoen.com
+ 34 652 609 405
© 2024 Valencia with Koen - All Rights Reserved
