The Puente del 9 d'Octubre in Valencia: what to do

9 d'Octubre is the day that commemorates the entry of King Jaime I into Valencia in 1238, when the city passed from Muslim to Christian hands. It is a regional holiday throughout the Comunitat Valenciana, fixed every year on that date. In 2026 it falls on Friday, and since October 12 (Fiesta Nacional) is Monday, it creates a four-day long weekend from the 9th to the 12th, without needing to take time off.

What is celebrated on 9 d'Octubre?

This day marks the surrender of Valencia to Jaime I in 1238, the event that gave rise to the old Kingdom of Valencia. The first documented commemorative procession was in 1338, also held to ask San Dionisio to intervene in a year of famine. Since 1365, the Senyera has presided over the acts. Over the centuries, it became the celebration we know today as Día de la Comunitat Valenciana, official since the Statute of Autonomy.

It's a public holiday across the Valencian Community: shops, public offices and banks close. Museums and monuments are usually open, many with reduced holiday hours, so it's worth checking before you leave home.

What's on in the city today

At around noon, the civic procession sets out from the town hall, carrying the Senyera from the balcony. It makes its way through the historic centre: from Plaza del Ayuntamiento to the Catedral via Calle San Vicente and Plaza de la Reina, then on to Plaza de Alfonso el Magnánimo for the floral offering in front of the statue of Jaume I. In the afternoon, the Embajada de la Conquista is performed beside Torres de Serranos, a theatrical re-enactment of the city's surrender to Jaime I. During the day, free theatrical tours usually leave from Torres de Serranos and recreate the conquest with actors through the streets of El Carmen.

The detailed program —exact times, whether there are added activities that year— is published in the agenda a few days before; the procession and embassy times are repeated year after year in general terms, but it is advisable to confirm them close to the date.

La mocaorà, the Valentine's Day gift

The 9 d'Octubre coincides with Sant Donís, the patron of lovers in the Comunitat Valenciana. On this day, people give mocaorà: marzipan sweets shaped like fruit and vegetables from the huerta, wrapped in a handkerchief (mocador, in Valencian). These sweets include piulets and tronadors, shaped like firecrackers, which originated in the 18th century as a substitute for fireworks, prohibited in public celebrations by the Decretos de Nueva Planta. You can buy them in pastry shops and confectioners across the city, with a greater variety and longer queues at those in the centre in the days leading up to it.

The 2026 long weekend: four days in a row

9 October 2026 falls on a Friday, and 12 October, Fiesta Nacional, is a Monday. That makes four consecutive public holidays from Friday to Monday, so you won't need to take any time off. It's one of the longest long weekends on the Comunitat Valenciana's 2026 work calendar.

With four days in hand, you can fit in more than a day trip: a two- or three-night stay in an inland village, or two separate plans: one in the city on Friday, another out during the long weekend. Since it's a long holiday weekend, book accommodation ahead if you want to stay in the most in-demand villages. In October, prices for coastal accommodation already drop compared with summer, but inland, rural houses with few rooms fill up quickly for these dates.

For anyone working in the Comunitat Valenciana, the long weekend is already a given, so there's no need to take a day off. Elsewhere in Spain, October 12 is the sole public holiday, so you'll need to take the 9th off to get the same four days.

Long weekend breaks near Valencia

October is a good time for the interior: the heat has eased, and the landscape is starting to change color. Here are a few places under an hour and a half from Valencia:

• Chulilla: old town perched over the Turia River, with walkways and natural pools. In October the water is already cold, but the walkways and the castle can be visited all year round.
• Requena: wine region, with the grape harvest ending in October. Cave cellars in the old town and Jewish quarter.
• Bocairent: stone village in the Vall d'Albaida, with the Covetes dels Moros excavated into a ravine next to the village.
• Xàtiva: double castle, Castillo Mayor and Castillo Menor, with long views from the walls; old town with stately homes.

If the plan is to stay near the coast, there are also villages with a beach and old town that can be combined with the mountains in the same long weekend; the guide to pretty villages near Valencia brings together more options by area.

Nature in autumn

With four days, there's time for a long route without rushing back. The guide to hiking trails near Valencia covers sections of varying difficulty, and the one to castles near Valencia is a good way to combine a walk with a castle visit: Xàtiva, Chulilla and Sagunto have a castle and a walking access route.

If you want a short one-day plan without leaving the province, the guide to day trips from Valencia is exactly that: a round trip in a day, no accommodation needed. October usually brings mild days and fewer people than summer on the trails of the Sierra Calderona or around Chulilla, which you'll notice in the parking and at the queues for the best-known walkways.

With children

On the 9th, in the city, the Embajada de la Conquista and the theatrical visits from Torres de Serranos are usually a hit with the little ones because there are actors, period costumes and some action in the street, not just a parade. For the rest of the long weekend, if you end up staying in Valencia, the guide to what to do in Valencia with children and the one on free plans with children in Valencia have options within the city. Outside, the towns with a small, flat old town (Xàtiva, Bocairent) are easy to explore with children because you don't have to walk far to see something.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is celebrated on October 9 in Valencia?

It marks the day King Jaime I entered the city in 1238, founding the Kingdom of Valencia. It's now a regional holiday, the Día de la Comunitat Valenciana, with a civic procession and the Embajada de la Conquista next to Torres de Serranos.

What is mocaorà?

It is the traditional gift of 9 d'Octubre, the day of Sant Donís, patron saint of lovers in the Comunitat Valenciana: marzipan sweets shaped like fruits and vegetables, wrapped in a handkerchief.

Does October 9, 2026 fall on a long weekend?

It falls on a Friday. Since October 12 (the National Holiday) is a Monday that year, you get a four-day long weekend from Friday to Monday, with no need to take time off.

Are shops closed on the 9th of October?

Yes, it's a public holiday, so most shops, public offices and banks close. Museums and monuments usually stay open, many with reduced hours, so it's worth checking before you go.

Which villages should you visit near Valencia for the October long weekend?

Chulilla, Requena, Bocairent and Xàtiva, all less than an hour and a half away, offer a castle, a historic old town or natural scenery, depending on your plans.

Are there activities designed for children that weekend?

Yes. In the city, the Embajada de la Conquista and the theatrical tours on October 9 usually appeal to kids. For the rest of the long weekend, there are specific guides to things to do with children in and outside Valencia.