Start your day early with a quick, budget-friendly transfer from Düsseldorf Hbf to Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) via the S-Bahn, arriving with time to check a compact hand-luggage bag and grab a light breakfast at Bäckerei Junge in the terminal. Board the cheapest direct or one-stop flight option to Valencia Airport (VLC), then take the metro line 3 or the C-3 train into the city centre to stroll past Plaza del Ayuntamiento and sip a cortado at the local favorite Café de las Horas before continuing your afternoon plans.
After a relaxed stroll near Plaza del Ayuntamiento, head for a bite at Mercado Central, sampling fresh horchata and local tapas from inexpensive stalls while soaking up the market's vibrant atmosphere. Then walk or take a short bus to Jardín del Turia for a gentle bike ride or riverside pause, finishing with panoramic views from the modern Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias exterior before catching a cheap metro back toward your accommodation and early evening plans.
As twilight falls, wander toward Barrio del Carmen to soak up its lively lanes and street art, then settle at an affordable tapas bar like La Pappardella for a relaxed plate of patatas bravas and a glass of local vino. Finish with a gentle stroll along the nearby Playa de la Malvarrosa promenade to catch the sunset and enjoy a budget-friendly horchata from a seaside kiosk before heading back to your accommodation.