10.30: Rise and shine late at Hospes Palau de la Mar, Navarro Reverter 14 (00 34 963 162 884; hospes. es), the swankiest five-star boutique hotel in Spain's lively third city. Set across two former 19thcentury grand palaces, the design is a modern affair in hues of white. Double rooms start at 189 at weekends and 294 in the week.

For sale: all you ever wanted. . .

12.00: Wander up the road taking in the excellent shopping on Calle Colon where you will find Spanish brands Camper, Zara, Mango and Adolfo Dominguez, which are cheaper than at home. Continue on to the Mercado Central, Plaza de Mercado, an art nouveau glass-andgirder-covered market with over 1,000 stalls selling everything from live eels and ostrich eggs to vegetables and cheese.

Don't leave without sampling the paella.

Where the top tapas is on tap. . .

14.30: Time for lunch . . . you have endless choices. You could stop off at any of the cafes near the market for some tapas or head up to A Fuego Lento (00 34 963 371 956), Calle Caballeros 47, which serves the very best tapas and wine.

Here you'll find the Holy Grail. . .

15.30: Take a stroll to the cathedral, Plaza Reina, which towers above the square. Make for the museum, which claims to be home to one of the three Holy Grail chalices.

Something to build up to. . .

16.30: Visit the futuristic City of Arts and Science (www. cac. es), Calle Arzobispo Mayoral 14. Forget walking: you have done enough of that at this stahe in the day.

Pick up a cab and prepare for the jawdropping design by Santiago Calatrava.

Puncturing the skyline like bleached cathedrals, the complex houses interactive exhibitions, an Imax cinema, galleries, a concert hall, a science museum, oceanographic park and Europe's largest aquarium.

Mine's a cool cocktail, thanks. . .

21.00: Dressed to impress in your party gear, head back to the Barrio del Carmen, nightlife central. Down cocktails and tapas at any of the bars that line the Calle Caballeros.

Spanish eating practices. . .

22.30: Time for dinner. Try Seu-Xerea, (00 34 963 924 000, www. seuxerea. com), Calle Conde de Almodovar 4, which serves up creative Mediterranean cuisine.

Booking ahead is recommended.

Anyone for a little bit of salsa?

Midnight: Retrace your steps to the Calle Caballeros to party into the night with drinks at the disco salsa bars Johnny Maracas and Carmen at 38 and 39.

Dance till the small hours. . .

02.30: The best disco is out of town at Bananas (00 34 961 781 706;

www. bananasmaxidisco. com), Carretera Valencia-Alicante, where five floors pump out beats till dawn.