Are you looking for the best neighborhoods in Valencia, Spain, to live in?
Valencia is quickly becoming a popular city for people to move to. Whether it’s expats, retirees or digital nomads, Valencia seems to have an appeal to people from all over the world.
I currently call Valencia home myself and I often hear people who are thinking about moving to Valencia ask what the best neighborhoods are to live in.
Of course, where to live in Valencia largely depends on your own preferences and your budget.
But, there are certain neighborhoods that are particularly popular. Those neighborhoods I want to share here, to hopefully help you decide where you would like to live in Valencia.
Note: if you are only planning a short visit to Valencia, then read the article Where to Stay in Valencia – the Best Neighborhoods & Hotels instead. I recommend slightly different areas for a short visit than for a longer stay or permanent move.
Where to Live in Valencia: 6 of the Most Popular Neighborhoods
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1. Ruzafa
I still remember how Ruzafa (Russafa in Valencian) was a neighborhood most people avoided. Only a number of years ago it was a poorer, grungy, and less safe part of town.
Today Ruzafa is probably the most gentrified part of Valencia, packed with cute coffee shops, trendy bars and restaurants, and quirky boutiques.
Ruzafa is located just south of Valencia’s city center, very close to the central train station, and only a 15-minute walk from the popular Turia park.
Ruzafa is a young neighborhood with a lively nightlife scene. This is something to keep in mind when you are thinking about where to live in Valencia.
Ruzafa does have quieter streets (I myself live on one) but many streets in this neighborhood of Valencia are packed with bars and can get quite noisy on weekends.
And during the annual Fallas festival Ruzafa gets particularly noisy and crowded.
What I love about Ruzafa is its multicultural feel and its wide range of bars and restaurants. Whether you are looking for inexpensive tapas or a fine dining restaurant, you can find it in Ruzafa.
Only a few years ago I, and many others, complained about how few restaurants there were in Valencia offering international food. And how few good coffee shops there were. That has changed all over Valencia, but more in some areas than in others. Ruzafa is a great example of this.
Now packed with great cafés to work from, Ruzafa is especially popular with digital nomads.
Unfortunately, prices in Ruzafa are going up quickly. Investors from all over the world have moved in and that does make me wonder how far this gentrification will go…
But, for now, especially people in their 20s and 30s find Ruzafa one of the best places to live in Valencia.
Tip: if you are only moving to Valencia for a few months or want to test it out before you rent something long term, Uniplaces.com is a cheaper option to rent a room or an apartment than Airbnb. Use promo code UA25SPENDLIFE for a 25% discount on the Uniplaces service fee.
2. El Carmen
El Carmen, or Barrio del Carmen, is Valencia’s beautiful historical district.
It’s located in the city’s old quarter, the Ciutat Vella, and is Valencia’s historical center.
With narrow streets, cool street art, cute boutiques, and small bars and restaurants, it’s one of the most popular places for tourists to visit.
This means that El Carmen does get crowded and if you choose to live in this neighborhood of Valencia you have to be ok with that.
But at the same time, there are still enough streets in El Carmen that most tourists seem to overlook, offering a quieter place to live.
If you love historic buildings and easy access to everything Valencia’s city center has to offer, then El Carmen is the place to be.
Before I moved to Valencia I frequently stayed with a friend who lived in El Carmen and I loved being in the city center. But, she eventually decided to leave El Carmen and says some of the main reasons were the noise and the higher rent.
Another downside to the narrow streets here is that many apartments get very little sunlight.
Many people who are thinking about moving to Valencia underestimate how cold houses get in Valencia in winter. And that is when that lack of sunlight really does make a difference!
Lastly, more than any other neighborhood in Valencia, El Carmen gets extremely loud during Valencia’s annual Fallas celebrations.
And yes, the main event only lasts for five days so you might think five days of noise is not that bad. In reality, however, celebrations last for about four weeks and it is a reason for many Valencia residents to escape the city for a few weeks or even to move to quieter parts of the city because it really does interfere with every-day life.
3. El Cabanyal
If you want to live close to the beach in Valencia, then look into the El Cabanyal neighborhood.
Valencia is located on the Mediterranean coast and has such a great climate, yet there are very few nice areas to live that are close to the beach. This is something that has always amazed me about Valencia.
But, Cabanyal is the neighborhood that is proving that this is now changing.
El Cabanyal is located right behind Las Arenas Beach.
It still has that old fisherman’s town feel to it although it is changing a lot. New ‘hipster’ bars and coworking spaces are opening their doors and more and more foreigners are moving in.
The community has managed to protect their old colorful buildings and some pretty, tiled façades.
Art groups and theater companies give it that artsy vibe, yet at the same time investors have discovered the area and are buying up properties to renovate.
For a while now El Cabanyal has been the up-and-coming neighborhood in Valencia. Prices have gone up and although it is no longer the cheap place to live in Valencia, it is still relatively affordable.
If you want to live close to the beach, in a lively and safe area that isn’t too far from the city center then Cabanyal is the place to be.
El Cabanyal attracts expats of all ages and is becoming quite popular amongst digital nomads now that more coworking spaces and cafes to work from have sprung up here.
El Cabanyal has less of a party scene and is very suitable for families.
For me, a minor downside to Cabanyal is its distance to the city center. In winter the beach area is very quiet, many restaurants close and most events are organized in the city center.
On top of that, there are still some areas around Cabanyal that aren’t the safest which makes me feel less comfortable about walking or cycling there alone at night.
Tip: if you are looking for a more upscale and slightly quieter area by the beach, then look into Patacona.
4. Benimaclet
Benimaclet makes you feel as if you are living in a village instead of in a city. And this is easily explained since Benimaclet actually used to be an independent village.
Because Benimaclet is close to two universities and less expensive than some of the other popular neighborhoods in Valencia, it attracts a lot of students.
Yet at the same time, you find many families here that have lived in Benimaclet for generations and new expat families who made Benimaclet their home and say they would never want to leave.
With its charming narrow streets, village-like atmosphere and a laid-back international vibe, Benimaclet has a lot going for it.
The neighborhood is located close to Jardines del Real (also called Jardines de Viveros) which is a lovely park.
The area isn’t as ‘hip’ as Ruzafa or as pretentious as the Canovas / Mercado de Colón area, but many people who choose to live here see that as a plus.
For me the main downside to Benimaclet is that it’s neither walking distance to the city center nor close to the beach. But, it does have good public transport connecting it to both.
5. Cánovas & Mercado de Colón Area
If money wasn’t an issue, this is probably where I would live in Valencia.
Cánovas and the area around Mercado de Colón (Mercat Colón in Valenciano) are technically two distinct areas. But, they are adjacent and have a lot in common so I decided to include them as one.
This part of town is the more upmarket part of central Valencia where you can find beautiful apartments that sell for upward of a million Euros.
The higher-priced real estate of course also creates a certain more upmarket atmosphere with high-end shops, good restaurants, and well-maintained streets.
Thankfully it’s by no means an area that is only for the rich.
There are plenty of more affordable apartments in this area and the location is just great.
Right by the city center, next to the Turia park, and with good public transport. It is not difficult to see why this is one of Valencia’s most popular neighborhoods.
Cánovas offers good nightlife without the alternative, hipster vibe of Ruzafa, and Mercado de Colón is a beautiful market hall with bars and a few nice restaurants, surrounded by a wide range of shops.
Both the Mercado de Colón area and Cánovas are liked by dog owners because of its proximity to the Turia park.
If you are looking for an aesthetically beautiful neighborhood that is safe, centrally located, and packed with good restaurants, then the Cánovas and Mercado de Colon area is a perfect place to live in Valencia.
6. Mestalla
Mestalla is located just east of the city center. It is a quieter and more affordable neighborhood in Valencia.
Mestalla is family-friendly and has a wide range of residents.
Although the neighborhood itself doesn’t have many spectacular features to highlight, it’s the location and price that make this part of Valencia interesting to live in.
You are within walking or cycling distance of the Turia park and the city center, and closer to the beach than all other neighborhoods listed here, apart from El Cabanyal.
Public transport around Mestalla is good which makes it easy to move around the city.
If you are looking for a more affordable place to live in Valencia yet still want to be close to both the city center and the beach, then Mestalla might be a very good option.
Although I hardly ever visit Mestalla to go to a bar, restaurant or anything else, I am actually thinking about moving to Mestalla just because of its location and value for money.
After two years of living in Ruzafa I love the idea of being a bit closer to the beach and being able to park a car without having to drive around for an hour to find a space or pay a lot for parking – something that is an issue in El Carmen, Canovas, and Mercado de Colón as well.
Map of 6 of the Most Popular Neighborhoods in Valencia
Moving to Valencia
Before you decide where to live in Valencia I highly recommend spending some time in the city.
Rent an apartment or book a hotel room and get a feeling for the city.
Also Read: Things to See & Do on a Short Visit to Valencia and The Best Hotels in Valencia
The great thing about Valencia is that, although it’s Spain’s third-largest city, all the main things to see and major neighborhoods to explore are located relatively close together.
Most parts of Valencia can be explored on foot and the rest is easily reached by bus, metro, Valenbici (the city’s bike-sharing service), or inexpensive taxi.
I’m not saying Valencia’s public transport is perfect by the way (I avoid it as much as I can and will walk most places), but it definitely isn’t bad.
Also Read: How to Use the Metro in Valencia the Cheapest and Easiest Way
When it comes to renting or buying a place in Valencia, Idealista is the most popular website. I would recommend having a look at their website even before you come to Valencia, to get an idea of what’s available.
But don’t bother making appointments far in advance because places move quickly in Valencia.
And always contact the listing by phone if there is a phone number because they often won’t reply to emails for days, if at all.
Almost all of the rental places available on Idealista are rented for a minimum of 12 months. And, an annoying thing about renting long-term in Valencia, homeowners really prefer tenants with a local employment contract.
If you don’t have a local job, homeowners may ask for 6 or even 12 months rent in advance or will be hesitant to rent to you at all.
Of course Airbnb is the easy way around that, but it’s expensive. If you are looking for a room or apartment to rent for several months, without needing a local job, and with much lower rates than Airbnd, then Uniplaces is a good option. Use promo code UA25SPENDLIFE for a 25% discount on the Uniplaces service fee.
Once you are in Valencia you can also walk into some of the estate agencies you’ll find all over the city, to see what they have to offer.
Or, once you know where in Valencia you would like to live, post a message in one of the Facebook groups for expats in Valencia to check if anyone has any recommendations there.
Living in Valencia
I hope this list of neighborhoods will help you decide where you would like to live in Valencia.
Don’t stick to exploring just these areas though. There are plenty of other neighborhoods that are nice and might meet your personal criteria better.
For example, check out the area around the Angel Guimera metro station or the area around Plaza España if you are looking for an affordable yet central place to live in Valencia.
Look at Penya-Roja if you want a more upscale place to live, with the added benefit of being right by the Turia park and the City of Arts & Sciences. Or Camins al Grau for a cheaper option right next to Penya-Roja.
But what I am trying to say: use this list of popular neighborhoods as a guide, but do go and explore for yourself!
And if you do have any questions about where to live in Valencia, leave a comment below and I will reply asap.
More Articles About Valencia:
- Interview With an Expat and Digital Nomad About Life in Valencia
- Retiring in Valencia, Spain – 4 Retirees Share Their Experiences & Tips
- Best Things to Do in Valencia on a Short Visit
- Top Things to Do in Valencia With Kids
- The Best Rooftop Bars in Valencia
- Authentic Chinese Food in Valencia: A Tour of Valencia’s Chinatown
- 7 Best Paella Restaurants in Valencia
- A Paella Cooking Class – A Great Day Out in Valencia
- Las Fallas Festival in Valencia – Everything You Need to Know
- The Best Day Trips From Valencia
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Hi Sanne,
Thank you so much for sharing all this useful information!
I am planning on moving to Valencia by the end of 2023, renting first, hopefully buying a place later. I am looking to spend time in Valencia especially in winter. Ideally I would live in an apartment complex with an all year-round heated outdoor pool, as I am used to in the USA 🙂 I have seen pictures of newly built apartment developments and was wondering if you have any advice in which parts of the city or near the city I should be looking for this.
Thank you so much!
Hi Ann,
That’s great, I’m sure you’ll love Valencia! 🙂
Apartment complexes with pools are less common in Valencia (space is limited in the city) but they do exist. I’m not sure if they are ever heated though.
Have a look around Penya-Roja (by the City of Arts and Sciences) and Beniferri (northwest of the center). Both areas have more high-end apartment buildings, often with pool. Patacona also has some nice apartment complexes with pool but it gets very quiet there and puts you further away from the center (I like the area though).
Have a look at Idealista.com and select the option ‘pool’. There is a good number of apartment complexes with pools. But again, I don’t think heated pools are very common so do contact any apartment you’re interested in and ask if the pool is heated.
Hi Sanne,
This article was very useful thank you!
I am going to Valencia in september as an exchange student until january, and will study at the faculty of Law of Universidad de Valencia. I would like to live in a neighbourheid that is lively, yet also peaceful sometimes so I can also sleep at night. I am a young female, and since I am going there alone safety is also important to me, since I have also never lived in such a big city before. What neighbourhoods would you recommend that are close to the city centre, yet also maybe to the beach?
Hi Sofie,
I think you’ll really enjoy living in Valencia. Even though it’s big, it really doesn’t feel like a huge city. And it’s safe and there are a lot of young women who move here alone, so you’ll make friends easily!
The one downside to Valencia is that the city center is not close to the beach. So it kinda feels like making a choice: if you want to live close to the beach, Cabanyal is great. If you want to be close to the center Ruzafa is great. Ruzafa has become a lot more expensive in recent years though, and can get noisy. I’m noticing Jesus becoming more popular, and it’s quieter and cheaper so that could be an option. But if that’s too far from the beach for you then somewhere between Mestalla and Ayora is worth checking out because that puts you in between the city center and the beach. So from there it’s a short cycle or easy metro ride to both.
Hi I’m a single mom and plan to relocate to Valencia before the end of the year. Not sure what area would be better for my teenage daughter and I cos we don’t speak Spanish at all. What options can you give me
Hi Charmie,
La Cañada and L’Eliana are quite popular for families with kids. Both have a metro stop so you can still get to the city center quite quickly.
That being said, both as a single mom and as a teenage girl I personally would choose to live closer to the center. First of all Valencia is quite safe and as a result I see teenagers take the metro on their own a lot, so at some point your daughter will probably want that as well to be able to meet up with friends.
The further you get out of the center the more limited the metro is, especially in the evening. Things here happen late (finishing a dinner out with friends at midnight in summer is quite common) and unfortunately the metro stops running quite early.
So, both for your social life and for your daughter’s freedom I’d say look for something relatively central. Ruzafa is great (or just outside of it because Ruzafa itself is getting expensive) and so is El Cabanyal, especially if you want to enjoy the beach area in summer. Both attract a lot of expats/foreigners and therefore not speaking Spanish is less of an issue there.
But, these are just my thoughts. The best thing really is to visit Valencia and check out different areas together. And then my recommendation would be to start with those four: Ruzafa, El Cabanyal, La Cañada and L’Eliana. And then decide what feels best to you.
Hi Sanne
We’re a family with 2 kids, moving to Valencia. Godella, Rocafort and Santa Barbara looks nice from pictures. But to get a better value and spacious house, I’m thinking to drive all the way up to Naquera. What do you think about that neighborhood and are there actually better places in between that you can recommend us?
Hi Zeki,
It really depends on the type of life you prefer.
The good thing about Godella and Rocafort is that they are connected to the city by metro. So it’s really easy and relatively quick to get into the city. Naquera is a small Spanish town quite far from Valencia. It will give you a different life. You may go into Valencia occasionally, but probably not all that often, while I know several people living in Godella or Rocafort who come into Valencia many times a week.
If you speak Spanish and are looking to live in a small Spanish town then yes, something like Naquera gives much better value for money. But if you want a more international community, easy access to a wider range of restaurants, culture, events, etc, then a place that is connected to Valencia by metro is better.
Really nice blog!!
I really appreciate the information you have shared as it will be a great help to students like myself planning to come to Valencia. Will definitely share it with others.
Thank you for such an interesting article, Sanne. What do you think of the Malvarrosa area? I wonder how long it takes to get from there to the centre of town, is it safe for a woman on her own, and are there interesting cafes and some character to the place? Thanks, Rose
Hi Rose,
Malvarosa can be an option, but has a few downsides.
If you are planning to live there for at least a year, it’s useful to know that a lot of the restaurants along the beach close in winter. So it gets quiet, which can be a good or a bad thing, depending on what you are looking for.
By bicycle it really doesn’t take that long to get to the center. 15 to 20 minutes gets you pretty central. But, you do have to go through a part of town that’s not the nicest, especially for a woman alone. Valencia is quite a safe city, so it’s not that bad, but there are definitely people who’d recommend not to walk or cycle there alone at night.
Public transport in the evening is limited, so you might end up using taxis more if you enjoy going to the center regularly in the evenings.
Malvarosa does put you right next to Cabanyal, which offers enough bars, restaurants and entertainment to perhaps keep you from feeling the need to go into the center very often.
But I would say as an area Malvarosa has less character and is less interesting than for example Cabanyal or Ruzafa.
I hope this helps!
Hi Sanne,
just wanted to say thank you for a great article and ton of useful advice!
Keep up the good work!
Jiri
Thanks Jiri, I appreciate you saying that! 🙂
If you end up living in Valencia, enjoy, I’m sure you’ll love the city!
Hi
Great blog. Thanks.
I’m thinking of take a week or two now in May/June to get away from Sweden to get some rest. Will bring my laptop as well. I have always wanted to explore Valencia. Primarely I want to live close to the beach to be able to get out in the morning for a walk, breakfast etc. But then go in to the center to explore the city, parks, arts, cafés, bars, etc. I speak Spanish fluently and have lived in Madrid long time ago.
According to your information the El Cabanyal neighbourhood seems to be the only place close to the beach. Or is there any nice parts further out along the cost, but still close and easy to catch a bus into the city center? At the moment I need to have it easy and relaxed in nice surroundings with some nice cafés and restaurants, but still I want to have to ability to explore depending how I feel.
Do you by any chance know someone that would like to rent out a room in a nice place. Or a flat, if it’s not to pricey. I usually rent something through Airbnb, since I like to make my morning coffea, have some food etc.
Thanks again for a great blog
/Martin
Hi Martin, I would definitely go for Cabanyal. If you go further (Port Saplaya is nice) then it will just take you a lot of time to get into the center of Valencia. Plus, Cabanyal has a lot of nice bars and restaurants to explore and May / June is a great time of year to be in Valencia close to the beach.
I don’t know of anyone but try joining Facebook groups called expats in Valencia (there are several groups). Post your question there and I’m sure you’ll get some good recommendations for places to rent.
Have a great time in Valencia!
Thanks. At the moment I’m kind of exhausted and really need to play it safe. Great to read your articles. Take care.
Although I haven’t committed to moving to Valencia yet, this blog is a TON of pleasure to read and is probably the most useful source of information one can find on this topic in English! Thank you sooo much for your work and for sharing this!
May I ask if you know if it’s hard to be a homeowner in Valencia as a person that doesn’t speak Spanish fluently? I have experience living and having to deal with authorities (taxes and other paperwork) in countries that don’t speak English and some of them are easier than others 🙂
For example, if I buy an apartment and rent it out, would it be a big hassle to report taxes, open a bank account, find a property management company and so on? I’ve heard some horror stories about tax authorities speaking no English at all and it’s a real nightmare for foreigners.
I also have another weird question. I suffer from an incurable disease that gets worse during the colder months. It’s noticeably inconvenient when the temperature drops below 10-13 degrees Celsius, especially when I have to touch cold surfaces or the floor. Although the temperatures in Valencia seem to be mostly above this “threshold”, I see a lot of people complaining that it can be cold in the winter as there’s no proper heating in most of the homes. I suspect that it’s still better than where I live (Northern Europe) but not the perfect place to escape from this problem unless I work really hard to find an apartment with central heating.
Hi Marko,
Thanks so much, it’s great to hear people are finding my articles useful! 🙂
To answer your questions:
– I know quite a few people living in Valencia who don’t speak Spanish well but who bought a property without too many problems. That being said, I wouldn’t say Valencia is the easiest place to own property without speaking the language. While in smaller, more touristy towns (on the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, etc) you can find numerous gestors and other services helping you with everything in English, Valencia isn’t exactly like that. So yes, you will most likely get frustrated at some point. Most banks have some staff that speaks English these days, and so do real estate agencies. But when dealing with the government, or sometimes even with water and electricity companies, it can get harder to get what you want done in English.
But, it’s very easy to make friends with other expats in Valencia who have lived here longer, speak Spanish fluently, and will be happy to help you out. So basically what I am trying to say is that although it might at times be frustrating to figure something out about taxes or other especially government related things, I wouldn’t advise against buying in Valencia because of it. Join the Facebook groups for people living in Valencia (just type in ‘expats in Valencia’ and a lot of Facebook groups will come up). There you’ll find a lot of information from people who have previously asked questions about living in Valencia and buying property, and you can of course ask any questions you may have. The groups are very helpful.
– Not being comfortable when temperatures drop below 10-13 degrees Celcius in all honesty makes me STRONGLY advice against moving to Spain. I am from the Netherlands but I’ve never been able to get used to the cold, humid winters in Spain. The problem are the houses. Insulation is generally really bad and most houses still don’t have central heating. In January and February temperatures drop below 10 degrees most nights and that means it will most likely be around that same temperature inside your house. Add to that the high humidity and you’re stuck with a cold that gets to almost everyone living here. Now, if you were to buy property, put proper insulation in and good central heating, then things will be a bit different.
Thankfully more and more bars and restaurants also offer heating, so the times where it was too cold to even sit in a cafe in winter are gone. But, I would give it some serious thought before you move here.
Sorry, not all positive but these are my honest opinions and I hope they help you make a decision 🙂
Hi Sanne,
Thanks for sharing such good info. Love the blog.
My partner, our 7 year old daughter and I are thinking about moving to Valencia.
We want to buy and apartment. I was searching for properties on Idealista.
I came to the conclusion that you can get lot more for your money if you look for apartments out of the most popular areas. And this is where I have a question.
What are your thoughts about neighborhoods like Ayora, La Saidia, Nou moles, Patraix or Mont Olivete.
We want to be close to the Turia or any other good park because we have a dog.
Another question, how safe is the city to raise a child?
Thanks so much!
Hi Diego,
That’s definitely true: you can save a lot of money by choosing to live just outside of Valencia’s most popular areas.
This is my experience and what I’ve heard others say about the areas you mention:
– Ayora: if you want to buy here I’d say you really want to check out the streets directly around the apartment you choose. Some parts of Ayora are really nice, others feel a bit neglected and poor. It has the advantage of being a bit closer to the beach than the other neighborhoods, but it’s quite a walk to the Turia.
– La Saidia: it’s a more humble neighborhood, but especially if you can find an apartment close to the Turia, this can be a great option. You could then still easily walk into the center yet don’t have the noise or the high prices of the center.
– Nou Moles: everyone I have spoken to about this area tells me not to go there. In fact, I spoke to an estate agent about checking out a property there and his reaction was ‘you are a woman living alone? Don’t go there’. So, I have no first-hand experience and in general I would say Valencia is a very safe city so I definitely don’t think it’s an incredibly unsafe area, but I haven’t found anyone yet who would recommend living in this part of Valencia.
– Patraix: this is a popular choice for people who want to buy in Valencia but don’t want to spend the high prices of the most popular areas. If you could find an apartment in the part of Patraix closer to the center you could easily walk to the popular neighborhoods and will find enough life in the area itself as well.
– Mont Olivete: this would be my choice of neighborhood to live in in Valencia. It’s close to the Turia, close to Ruzafa and not far from the center. Plus, they are planning to add a metro stop here (I believe there are some financial issues so don’t count on this happening very soon), which would make Mont Olivete more accessible and therefore more in demand, which would definitely push prices up. Because Mont Olivete is so close to popular Ruzafa prices have been going up here a lot, so it’s a bit more difficult to find a bargain here, compared to the other neighborhoods you’ve listed.
I hope this helps! But, everyone has different things they find important when it comes to finding a good place to live, so I highly recommend visiting these neighborhoods at least a few times (ideally at different times of day) to see how you feel about the atmosphere, the noise, green spaces, distance to other parts of the city, etc.
And to answer your questions about safety: I’d say Valencia is very safe. There’s a lot of traffic which, depending on where you are moving from, might be something your daughter has to get used to, but other than that I would say there are no major issues. I know enough parents who let their kids take public transport alone (during the day). Of course it is always a good idea to keep a close eye on your belongings when you’re out and, one thing that is annoying in Valencia, unfortunately bicycles get stolen frequently.
Sanne,
Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. This is so helpful.
Hi Sanne, brilliant article! Thank you so much.
I’m looking to buy a place near Valencia as a spot to semi retire to. We think we would prefer somewhere out of the town with a garden and a little space as we have lived in major cities for many years and think we would prefer a bit of a garden etc. We have one 20 year old daughter who is at Uni. It doesn’t necessarily need to be near a beach.
Hi Adam,
Thanks! If you are looking for a bit more space I’d suggest looking into neighboring towns. Have a look at Alboraya, Godella and Rocafort. All three are on the metro line and you’ll find a mix of locals and expats here.
If you’d be open to living further from Valencia I’d recommend checking out the Costa Blanca, starting with Denia. You can find an interview about life in Denia here: https://www.spendlifetraveling.com/expat-living-in-denia
I hope this helps! But, before you decide where to live in Valencia or the surrounding areas I’d highly recommend renting something short term and checking it out for yourself.
Thanks for your list! My husband and I will be in Valencia for about 12 months while he is studying at the Berklee school of music. I’m hesitant to rent somewhere “sight unseen” but we might have to do that to make sure we have somewhere to live when we arrive. Any tips for looking or planning if we can’t take a trip to apartment search?
Hi Veronica,
I understand the fear of renting something sight unseen. I actually rented a place sight unseen for 3 months thinking ‘I can live with being in a less than ideal place for 3 months’.
So that would be one of my recommendations: if you rent a place through an online platform, only do it for the first few months. Most likely you will be able to extend if you do like the place but then at least you can leave if you don’t.
But, before you decide to rent through a platform I would first use Facebook groups for people living in Valencia and your contacts at Berklee. Ask there if anyone knows of a suitable place to rent. With a bit of luck someone is leaving an apartment around the time you are arriving. They can give you a lot more honest and personal information about a place than you’d get from an online platform so I’d start there!
I hope this helps and I’m sure you’ll love living in Valencia!
Hi, it was really helpful. We want to move to Valencia with a little baby. Can you recommend some places to live for a long term period?
Also, it would be really great if it is not in the city center, but by the beach 🙂
Thank you in advance for your advice 🙂
Hi Jelena,
Cabanyal is the most popular neighborhood in Valencia close to the beach. Alternatively, Patacona is a beautiful stretch of beach, a bit quieter and with a lot of nice (but not cheap) apartment blocks, several with communal pool.
Nazaret is an up-and-coming neighborhood close to the marina. This means that it’s a lot cheaper, might be a great investment if you are thinking about buying, but also that it still has some bad areas.
Just north of Valencia is Port Saplaya which is a lovely area on the beach. But, it does make coming into the city more of a journey because there is no tram or metro in Port Saplaya.
Check Idealista.com to find places for rent and for sale but keep in mind that especially rental places go quickly so getting a long term rental now when you are not moving to Valencia for several months will be difficult. Starting with a short term rental through one of the online platforms might be easier and you can then look for a long term place when you are here. That way you can also get a better feeling for what areas work for you.
I hope this helps!
Hi,
Thank you for this post. I’m considering moving to Valencia with my wife and young family. I was hoping to find a gated community with swimming pool and hopefully tennis and other activities. Is there one in Valencia which caters for the expat community. My spanish isn’t brilliant and I wouldn’t like us to be isolated while we pick it up. Many thanks. Richard .
Hi Richard,
Not that many expats I know in Valencia choose a gated community so I wouldn’t say there are any that specifically cater to expats. But there are a few nice gated communities with pools around the City of Arts & Sciences, several by Patacona beach and in different parts on the outskirts of Valencia.
If you go to Idealista.com and select ‘swimming pool’ as a criteria in your property search they will come up.
But don’t worry about being isolated because you don’t speak perfect Spanish. There are lots of events organized by expats every week and it’s a compact city so as long as you choose to live in Valencia itself and not in one of the neighboring towns you’ll get around very easily and will meet tons of expats in no time at all 🙂
Hi Sandra,
Great to hear you like Valencia enough to want to buy here! 🙂
I would say Ruzafa is that neighborhood: it’s been one of the most popular neighborhoods for a few years now, prices keep going up and you will have no problem at all renting out your place there.
Cabanyal has been the up-and-coming neighborhood in the last few years. I would still say that’s a good investment although it’s not a cheap area to buy anymore.
If you are looking for a cheap place to buy property that is up-and-coming I would suggest looking at Nazaret. A lot of investors are buying there now. But, it’s not as well connected by public transport (yet) as some other neighborhoods and it definitely still is an area in transition so right now it might be harder to rent your place out for a good price. But your investment here would be a lot lower!
I hope this helps 🙂
Hi there
This is really useful and interesting, thank you. We are planning on buying a property in Valencia City this year. We have to rent it out while we keep working on the other side of the world (!). We’re thinking long term rental.
Are there any neighborhoods that are considered exceptional in terms of rentals? Also, are there any that are up-and-coming that could be a good investment? Is there, for example, an area where you would say.. if you have a rental there, you will have no problem renting it out.
Thanks so much!!
Hi Anthony,
Thanks! 🙂
Because you won’t have a local Spanish contract a lot of landlords will ask for 4 or 6 months rent up front, on top of the deposit. If that’s not an issue for you, then getting a rental contract in Valencia shouldn’t be difficult.
If you don’t want to pay that kind of money I’d recommend checking the different ‘Expats in Valencia’ Facebook groups. There are often apartments listed there directly from owners, who are more open to renting to people without local contracts. And, renting directly through the owner will save you the one month fee most real estate agencies charge you (a majority of properties you find listed on platforms such as Idealista unfortunately are through agencies).
I hope this helps and I hope you will enjoy life in Valencia! 🙂
Hi Sanne. What a great article – so useful – thanks a lot. I’m moving to Valencia in October and found the information about the different barrios very helpful. I teach English online for some USA and Asian companies – how difficult do you think it will be for me to secure an apartment contract? I’m from the UK btw, which means I’m European [for a while anyway].
Hi Rafael,
I feel about Port Saplaya exactly as you describe: it’s a really pretty and cute place that feels like a small town. But I would be bored there within a week and exactly, it’s not all that well connected to Valencia.
I guess it works best for people who love to be close to the beach, who don’t mind an area that feels like a small town and that have a car to explore the surrounding area.
If you, for example, like going into the mountains a lot more than going into the city then Port Saplaya might be great. But if you are looking to hang out with friends in the city a lot then the lack of public transport (or the hassle of paid parking in the city) will get annoying quite quickly.
Hi. Great article, thanks for the tips. I am planning on moving to Valencia next month and was wondering what your thoughts are on Port Saplaya. I definitely like the looks of it but I feel like it is very disconnected from Valencia, limited public transportation, making it a bit boring after a while. I’m a big walker and explorer. What are your thoughts
Hi Marina,
Unfortunately Valencia is a city that mainly has apartments. so houses with private pools are rare and therefore not cheap. You will find some around Malvarosa beach and Patacona beach. If you find one around that area in summer within your budget, that’s absolutely perfect. These parts are well connected to the city center and have plenty to do (from bars and restaurants to playgrounds for the kids).
El Saler has some houses close to the beach as well but public transport from there to the city center is not that great.
Alternatively, would an apartment with a communal pool be an option? Then there are more options…
Then I’d check the metro and bus lines (you can see them on Google maps, just click on one of the stops to see where the lines go) and try to be within walking distance of a metro or bus stop that goes to the center.
Hi, thank you for a wonderful page, lots of good information. My husband and I are planning on visiting Valencia next summer for a couple of months. We have two small children, they will be 2 and 4.5 next summer. We like Valencia because it has great museums and culture and yet is close to the beach. We ideally would like to rent a house with a pool that would be close to the beach and yet have good access to the city, does that neighborhood exit?
I haven’t heard of that art school in Valencia. I would recommend joining the different expat in Valencia Facebook groups and asking there if anyone has experience with this school.
Beroomers.com and pisocompartido.com are popular websites to find rooms, Spotahome is popular to find apartments or rooms short term (although I have heard some bad experiences) and Idealista if you want to rent something for a year (or longer).
In general Valencia is very safe and I, as a woman, don’t have any problem walking around alone in the evenings. Of course, always use common sense and be careful no matter how safe it feels.
I wish to know about universal arts school, located at 29,Hernande, lazaro, 46015.Also please tell me where girl students can find rented accomodation. Is it safe to travel to hostel after class up to 10 in the night?
Hi Arianne,
Definitely ask locals!
Agencies in Valencia will normally charge you 1 month rent as their fee, so you would save that if you find a place directly.
I would also recommend joining the expats in Valencia Facebook groups. People often post there if they have a place for rent and you can also ask if anyone knows of any properties for rent.
Of course always be careful and use common sense (if it sounds too good to be true it normally is) but Valencia is generally safe and people are normally very friendly and happy to help out.
Good luck and I hope you enjoy living in Valencia! 🙂
hi (:
thank you so much for sharing so freely (:
i am moving to valencia soon, am looking into renting in el cabanyal
is it smart to ask locals or still to go with agency?
thank u for your reply
Hi, good question. I don’t have kids myself so I might not be the best to ask but… My friends with kids tend to live a bit further out of the center because you get more space for your money there.
With kids I would want to be close to either the Turia park or the beach (or maybe a different park). Cabanyal could be a nice area (plenty of shops, cafes, etc and close to the beach) or Mestalla if you want to be more central and close to the Turia park.
L’Eliana and Godella also seem to be popular with expat families and are cheaper than the areas mentioned in this article.
But, public schools are zoned into districts and you can only send your kids to a school in your district. So if you decide to go for a public school I would look into schools you like first.
In the end there aren’t any horrible areas in Valencia and if you are close to a metro station (or at least a bus stop) it is easy to get around.
Thank you for this post!! I am wondering for a family with a 3yo child, where in Valencia is best to look to rent? The kid will attend Spanish kindergarten (public or private) and we are an outgoing family, and of course love the beach!! So, park, beach, subway, and shops near, at a 15 min walking distance? Of course safe and good schools?
Thank you, hope you answer.
Hi Roberto,
That’s a good question and really depends on your personal preferences…
The pueblos around Valencia are definitely cheaper. Valencia itself has had an influx of foreigners bringing a more international vibe, different styles of restaurants, etc. The pueblos, especially the ones inland, have not had that. So if you prefer a more local, Spanish experience and a quieter life, these pueblos are lovely. For some they are too quiet and too Spanish though.
For me a big downside is that even if you have a car, getting into Valencia isn’t easy because parking is such a nightmare (or you have to opt for relatively expensive parking garages).
If you think you will want to come to Valencia on a regular basis I would pick a pueblo that’s connected to Valencia’s metro. Trains don’t run that frequently so if you only have the train to get to Valencia, it becomes time-consuming.
If you’re more into nature and prefer to have an affordable house instead of a tiny apartment, then the pueblos are great! You definitely get more for your money and by car you can easily explore the surrounding areas, whether it’s beaches, mountains or neighboring towns.
I hope this helps to decide where to live in or around Valencia 🙂
Hi, thanks for the nice blog. I have some plans on moving to the Valencia area soon, however, I’d like to hear your opinion about living in small pueblos nearby, like Alzira to the south or Puerto de Sagunt to the north, or any other place which offers proximity to the city, but at the same time is far enough to stay away from traffic & noise. Of course, it will require a car. On the other hand, flat prices are way lower, from what I’ve seen.
tks
Thank you very much although I am living in Valencia for a year and half I found this very helpful.
So I would like to share some of my experiences to enlighten others like you did on me.
I am living in the center of Valencia, La Seu area at Plaza la Reina. I am planning to move out this summer. First I was in love with the plaza but now I am really struggling with the noise. Spanish people are loud we knew it but when it combines with festivities, increasing drunk tourists and trucks, it becomes impossible for me to live here.
So I suggest; before you rent your home in Valencia, check the place especially at nights on a weekend. If there are bars or restaurants under the building, regardless of how lovely they seem, every night they will noisily collect the tables and chairs and throw the garbage out and early mornings they will receive products. Since the trucks can’t move near, you will hear constant troyler sounds which is quite annoying.
Rather than paying high rates in the center of Valencia I recommend you to stay a few streets behind your dream place. Valencia is really compact. I even do not use public transport. Valenbisi and patinete is enough. Nowadays the rental scooter apps are my favorite to reach the beach.
Anyway its hard to be unhappy in Valencia, i hope you all get the home you are looking for…
Hi Lilly,
Great to hear you are moving to Valencia! 🙂
But yes you are right, there are not that many one-bedroom apartments here.
It’s possible to find what you are looking for, but I would say a few things:
– 700 Euros including bills is a bit on the lower end. Assuming you will pay close to 150 in bills that means 550 in rent. For what you are looking for, if you want to be in one of the nicer and more central neighborhoods, 600 or 650 would give you more options.
– Gas heating is unfortunately not very common. You will find some places with central heating but they are generally more expensive. You can find places with air conditioning that also works as heating or simply buy a gas heater. Definitely do rent a place with double glazed windows! This will really make a difference in winter.
– There are a lot of apartments that don’t have elevators. If this is something you could compromise on this would help you get a better price because higher floors without elevators are generally a bit cheaper.
And have a look at Idealista.com. That will give you a good idea of what’s available.
I hope this answers some of your questions 🙂
Hi. Thank you for a very useful article. I am moving to Valencia in May. I spent a couple of weeks in Valencia, walked everywhere, but had a vague idea about the neighborhoods (maybe they are quiet during the day but noisy at night, etc). Here is my dream apartment, and please tell me if this is realistic. I’ve been looking at many real estate sites, and the main trouble is that there are very few one-bedroom apartments. So, my dream:
– budget 700E, bills included
– one to two small bedrooms apartment
– gas/vapor (cheaper) heating and cooking
– higher floor with an elevator
– balcony
– furnished
– safe, quiet, green, interesting neighborhood with easy access to public transportation (I plan to use the bike, but I will need transportation for longer trips)
Do you think it’s possible to find something like this?
Thank you very much.
Hi Bart,
Thanks! 🙂
To answer your questions: if you didn’t speak Spanish I would have said finding a job in Valencia is difficult. But since you do speak Spanish it should be a lot easier. One thing you do have to be aware of is that salaries are much lower here than in Holland.
Although prices have definitely gone up, finding good housing isn’t that difficult. I would recommend using Idealista. Even before you come to Valencia that website will give you a good idea of what’s available. Do keep in mind though that if neither one of you has a job when you want to rent a place in Valencia, they might ask you for up to 6 months security deposit.
For both the job search and the housing search I would also recommend joining the ‘expats in Valencia’ groups on Facebook. Most of the expats in these groups are very helpful and could help connect you with the right job opportunities and might know of some good places for rent.
Also, if you haven’t already, check out my other article about moving to Valencia – an interview with an expat:
https://www.spendlifetraveling.com/expat-living-in-valencia-spain/
Hi Sanne,
we are looking into the possibility of moving to Valencia at the end of the year with our 3 kids (7,12 and 14).
My wife is Spanish, I’m Dutch (but speak Spanish as well as well as 4 other languages).
How is it to find a job over there?
Is it difficult to find good housing?
Nice and inspiring blog you have!
Thank you for this wonderful blog. I’m planning to move to Valencia very soon… Really looking forward to it… Thank you for all the information, very useful.
Hi, I actually just posted this a couple of days ago 🙂
So yes, I still live in Valencia. Are you looking into where to live in Valencia?
From when is this article? Are you still living in Valencia?
Very useful post , thanks.