Spain itinerary advice (1 week): Valencia ending, 3+ cities, some quiet beach time

My partner and I are heading to Spain in early June for about a week. We’re in our early 30s.

I did a solo trip in Spain about 8 years ago (Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Seville, Cordoba, Barcelona). I really enjoyed Andalusia, with Granada being a standout. My partner is visiting Spain for the first time.

I’m open to revisiting places, but we’re also happy to focus on new ones.

The constraint: I need to end the trip in Valencia because I’ll be attending a week-long event there. My partner will be flying back to our home country separately from a major hub.

We’re trying to figure out the best way to structure the week.

What we’re hoping for:

• Explore ~3ish cities
• A bit of Mediterranean beach time (a couple of slow, relaxed days with swimming)
  • Quieter, calmer beaches (not overcrowded or party-heavy spots)
• Still very much a city + culture trip, not a beach holiday

So our questions:

1. Is it worth spending a few days together in Valencia before my event starts, or should we prioritize other cities given our limited time?
2. What would your ideal 1-week itinerary look like given these constraints (starting in a major airport city and ending in Valencia, at least for one of us)?

Would really appreciate any route ideas or personal recommendations.