Everything you need to know about Valencia. We tell you! Are you going to come to Spain to live for a while but you still don't know which city to choose? A big capital like Madrid or Barcelona? Maybe Andalusia? Why not the city of Valencia? In this article we are going to tell you everything about
Are you going to come to Spain to live for a while but you still don't know which city to choose?
A big capital like Madrid or Barcelona? Maybe Andalusia?
Why not the city of Valencia?
In this article we are going to tell you all about Valencia and why we think it is your best option if you want to come to Spain on vacation or for study spanish.
Let's start! 😀
Yes we look at the map of Valencia We can see that it is located in the eastern center of the Spanish peninsula, in the Mediterranean Sea.
The municipal area of Valencia is within the Valencian Community. This community is made up of three provinces in total: Valencia, Castellón and Alicante.
do you know what is the capital of the Valencian Community?
I think it's clear, it is the city of Valencia.
What is the geographical location of Valencia?
Valencia is in the east of Spain, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. In the interior areas there are also many mountains and mountain ranges.
Therefore, you will enjoy here whether you are a hiking lover or if you prefer to relax sunbathing on the beach.
And, how many inhabitants are there in Valencia?
The population of Valencia capital it's almost one million inhabitants. It is the third most populated city in the country, behind Madrid and Barcelona.
Many people love this city because it is not a huge metropolitan area congested with people, but it is also not a small city where you will get bored.
We could say that it has a very balanced size, where you can do everything but without being overwhelmed by the excess number of people like in a large capital.
Now that you know how many inhabitants the city of Valencia has, we are going to make a brief summary of its History.
Did you know that the city of Valencia is one of the oldest cities from Spain? For this reason we have a vast historical heritage.
It was founded by the Roman colonists in the year 134 BC. c., with the name of Valentia Edetanorum (bravery of the Edetani).
The strategic situation of kingdom of Valencia It was perfect because it connected directly to the Roman port.
Already in its origins, the Valencia metropolitan area It was the Plaza de la Virgen and its surroundings. To this day, these central areas continue to be the nerve centers of the city.
With the fall of the Roman Empire in the 4th century, the church took control of the city.
For a couple of centuries, the kingdom of Valencia was invaded by the Byzantines and Visigoths.
From year 711, The city of Valencia was conquered by the muslims.
It was not until the 11th century when the city had its greatest boom, with the kingdoms of Taifas.
A new wall was created around the old town, coexisting with the old Roman wall. If you look at any map of the old town of Valencia In this century you will be able to see these walls.
Have you heard about Cid Campeador?
It is one of the most relevant historical names in our country. He was decisive in the Christian reconquest of Spain.
In 1094 the Cid took the kingdom of Valencia and she became a Christian again.
However, after his death, the defense of the city was ended in 1102, which was again conquered by the Arabs.
In 1238, James I and his troops reconquered the city and expelled the Muslims.
The city of Valencia definitely became Christian and new laws were created, The Fueros of Valencia, a new society and a new language: the Valencian
This is how the Valencia we know today began to be created.
Now that you know a lot about Valencia and the history of the city, let's talk about something that interests us all: the weather.
We come to one of the million dollar questions.
If you think travel to Valencia I'm sure you're wondering: What is the weather like in this city?
We think it is a sensational weather.
It has more than 300 days of sun per year, which places it among one of the least rainy areas in the entire country.
Its winters are mild and summers are warm. Therefore, enjoy the blue sky intense and mild temperature will be practically inevitable for the inhabitants of Valencia. 😉
Are Valencian services good? Will you be well taken care of if something happens to you?
You don't have to worry. In the city of Valencia the services work very well. We break them down for you education, healthcareand transport.
Do you want learn spanish? Congratulations!
Hispania, Spanish school It is in the city of Valencia. we are the most awarded school throughout the country.
We receive students from all over the world and we are known as a happy and very professional school. Here you will feel great, you'll see 😊
Do you want Study a degree or a master's degree in Valencia?
You are also lucky because this city has universities renowned both public (Universitat de València, Menéndez Pelayo International University, Polytechnic University of Valencia...) and private (CEU, European University...)
Did you know that the University of Valencia (UV) and Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) are included within the list of best universities in Spain?
Both universities have modern facilities and their own science park for research and development. It is worth highlighting the Prince Felipe Research Center.
On the other hand, the offer in higher grades It is also very extensive.
Don't worry, you won't lack education!
In Valencia city, as in the rest of Spain, the healthcare is public and private.
Some of the main Valencian public hospitals are Faith, the clinician or the General Hospital.
In practically every neighborhood there are local health centers or outpatient.
The normal thing is that if you have a student visa you also have a medical insurance private. Normally you can be treated in centers that have agreements with your insurance.
There are many hospitals such as Hospital 9 de Octubre, Clínica Quirón, Salud, IMED...
In Valencia there are great medical professionals, your health will be well covered. 😉
What about the transport? Is it easy to get around Valencia?
The answer is YES. Valencia is a very comfortable and you don't even need a car to get around it. There is not much traffic and if you like to walk you can go on foot almost anywhere.
We have a good network of buses all over the city, his name is EMT and are normally red color. Their service is quite good and they have recently expanded their evening hours. ☺
There are quantity of taxis all over the city, in Valencia they usually be white and you can catch them at many of the stops you will find, but also by simply calling them on the phone to come pick you up or by raising a hand when they see you passing by on the street with the green available light.
If we talk about traveling by roads, you will find:
Meters underground. We have a total of 10 lines that will take you throughout the city and bring you closer to the towns around Valencia.
There are also trains to visit nearby towns and lines trams urban. The latter is widely used for go to the beach or to the Burjassot faculty.
Are you worried about environment and you go to all the places in bicycle?
So in Valencia you are going to enjoy because it is one of the favorite means of transportation.
It is very easy to move around bicycle or in scooter thanks to the appropriate lanes for these vehicles, which are almost throughout the city.
If you don't want to buy a bike here, that's okay; you can buy a voucher Valenbisi and use the public bicycles that are all over the city.
We love this option, it is also very economical.
If you prefer to go to places faster you can also opt for the motorcycles electric greens for rent.
As you can see, there are many transport options to travel around Valencia.
Furthermore, since it is not as big as the big capitals, you won't feel like you're wasting a lot of time commuting.
About access to Valencia airport, you don't have to worry either. The cheapest option is the metro, which drops you off at the airport gate or in the city center if you are coming from the airport.
The metro lines that go to the airport are L3 or L5. The duration of the journey is about 30 minutes.
And what about the prices? How much does it cost to live in Valencia, Spain?
We could say that Valencia has an average cost of living. To give some examples, you can eat well in a restaurant for 15 euros, and you can find a room in a shared rental apartment for about 200-250 euros.
If you have come this far, you are surely already looking forward to coming to our wonderful city, but... in which neighborhood should you live?
We make you a variety selection of the best neighborhoods in Valencia.
Open the map of Valencia neighborhoods and choose the one you like the most. We show them to you!
In Valencia there are many types of neighborhoods. The vast majority are safe and have good accessibility to supermarkets, health centers, schools, shops or bars.
Living in Valencia is equal to having quality of life! And it's not just us saying it...
According to a recent study carried out by the financial products consultancy Money.co.uk, Valencia tops the list of the 10 healthiest cities in the world, followed by Madrid, Canberra (Australia) and Lisbon (Portugal).
To carry out the ranking, they have taken into account factors such as pollution, safety, life expectancy or the number of hours of sunlight. Also the km for cyclists, the green areas, the average temperature...
And in Valencia you can find very beautiful places in which to live in a calm and healthy way.
We present some of our favorite neighborhoods:
Are you a urbanite? Do you love feeling the bustle of the streets and going out for drinks in modern places?
In this case the best is a neighborhood the historic center. You have many areas at your disposal: El Carmen, Ruzafa, Colón Street, Caballeros Street, Plaza de la Reina, Gran Vía…
The historic center of Valencia is very large and beautiful. Your architecture It will fascinate you.
Do you prefer to live near the beach?
So areas like El Cabanyal, El Saler or the Patacona you will love them.
Do you want to be surrounded by young people and live the university environment?
Well, the neighborhoods of Benimaclet, Aragon or Blasco Ibanez They are full of young people. Many of the main faculties and also our school are located here. 😀
Do you like football? The Aragón neighborhood is one of the favorites of Valencians. Here is the Mestalla stadium, where you can feel like just another fan watching Valencia Club de Fútbol matches.
In the france avenue, in Canovas or in the Congress Palace You will be able to see the newest buildings in the city and eat in the most appetizing restaurants. They are the wealthiest neighborhoods.💸
Or, on the contrary, do you want to stay in a quieter place? With lifelong neighbors and cheaper apartments?
We also have many neighborhoods like this: Tendetes, Campanar, Ayora or Zaidía are some examples.
Valencia has a large number of monuments of different styles and periods.
Did you know that the city is the world capital of design in this year 2022?
Now you have another reason to visit it! 😃
Our cultural and architectural heritage is very complete.
On the one hand, we keep historical monuments medieval like Quart Towers or the Serrano Towers.
In these towers it rises high the flag of Valencia city. Don't you know what it's like? It is made up of four red stripes on a yellow background. There is also a vertical stripe on the left side of blue with heraldic symbols.
Very close to the Torres de Quart is the Botanical Garden. It will delight you if you are a flora lover.
In the center of the city you will find other important monuments such as the St. Nicholas Church, the Valencia Cathedral or the Silk Market.
Do you want to visit the Valencian parliament? Then go to the building Valencian Courts, which is also located in the city center.
Likewise, in the old town you will find latest infrastructure from the 19th and 20th centuries that have incalculable cultural value:
Now it is a delight to walk through the Valencia City Hall Square because it is all pedestrian. Every day there is a very good atmosphere: skaters, fairs, musical events... all surrounded by the imposing buildings of this Valencia metropolitan area.
Do you want to know more central pedestrian areas to walk? They are the ones next to the Valencia City Hall: the Plaza de la Virgen, the Plaza de la Reina and the Plaza Ciudad de Bruges. There are a lot!
In the Plaza Ciudad de Brujas you have the Central Market of Valencia and the Lonja de la Seda, two of the most emblematic buildings in the city. You can't miss them!
If you like the Modernist architecture Valencian, I recommend that you visit the North Station together with the Columbus Market.
Do you prefer futuristic architecture? 🤖
Then visit the City of Arts and Sciences, the Alameda bridge or the building Veles e Vents.
It will seem like you are in a science fiction novel. In fact, they have been the scene for international films and series on more than one occasion.
For example, the film Tomorrowland. The world of tomorrow, starring George Clooney; British BBC series Doctor Who, which relies on time and space travel to solve universal problems; Westworld, the American series on the HBO digital platform…
When you visit a new city, do you like to get to know it in depth?
Do you have the soul of an explorer?
If so, pay attention because I am going to tell you about some of the Curiosities of Valencia more interesting. 👀
In Valencia we have the originals lions of the Congress of Deputies from Madrid. They were replaced by others because they said they looked like mad dogs. 😂
Do you want to see it for yourself? You can visit them at Monforte Garden.
At the Institute Luis Vives from Valencia exists a refuge built during the Civil Warof Spain, to protect teachers and students. Now, it is restored and can be visited. Although we have not talked about it, Valencia also played a very important role during the Civil War.
The History of this city has always been fascinating!
Surely you have heard many times about Holy Grail, the Holy Chalice that Jesus Christ used during the Last Supper.
Well, the truth is that it is here, in our beloved city. It is located in the Valencia Cathedral and anyone can visit it.
The Bridge of Flowers. This bridge has a total of 10,500 planters of different and colorful flowers.
Valencia is a green city. The more than 30,000 trees are proof of this.
Let's now talk about one of the things that we all like the most...
The parties in Valencia! 😍
These Valencia festivals are points of tourist interest. Let's see the two most important: Las Fallas and the July Fair.
The Fallas of Valencia It is one of the most famous festivals in the world.
Its popularity began to spread in Valencia in the mid-19th century, and since then all Valencians have lived it with passion every year.
They are classified as world heritage intangible by UNESCO and declared as Festivals of International Tourist Interest.
This is saying a lot, isn't it? Are the Fallas really that spectacular?
The answer to that question is obvious. Perhaps the correct question is:
Are the Fallas the best parties in the ENTIRE WORLD? 😁😁
The Fallas are experienced very intensely and do not leave anyone indifferent: the firecrackers, the orchestras, the verbenas at night, the fireworks, the mascletàs...and of course the Fallas monuments.
Every year, from March 15 to 19, Almost every street in Valencia becomes a museum of modern architecture of all types: big, small, transgressive, fun, dramatic... and they are all free!
You have to experience the Las Fallas festival in Valencia at least once in your life.
Another interesting festival, although not as high-profile as the Fallas, is the July Fair.
At the Valencia Fair, products related to the Valencian culture. There are also horseback rides, bullfighting celebrations and music concerts.
It is very common for concerts to be offered throughout the summer in one of our most beloved parks: Royal Gardens.
One of the funniest moments of the Valencia Fair is the Battle of the Flowers. This battle marks the closing of the fair; the public and the floats of the parade throw themselves lots of bouquets of flowers, leaving the ground like a blanket of flowers. 😍
Another festival of tourist interest in Valencia that not everyone knows about is the Seaman's Holy Week.
Sailor's Holy Week It is celebrated in the municipality of the Maritime Towns: the Grau, the Cabanyal and the Canyamelar.
The particularity of this celebration is that it is the fishermen and sea workers, the Nazarenes, who carry the images of the procession and commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, very close to the sea.
Do you want to witness this party? Then you should stop by the seaside towns in mid-April.
How good! We have already talked about a lot of things about Valencia.
Surely now you know much more about this wonderful city and you really want to visit it.
We still have to see what plans you can do if you are going to visit Valencia.
We have already talked about the main monuments, but there are still many more tourist places in Valencia to see.
An essential plan is to climb the Miguelete. This tower is located in the Valencia Cathedral and from the top you can see the best views of the old town of the city.
Of course, take a deep breath because the tower has 207 steps. 😅
We have also named the City of Arts and Sciences.
In the famous work of Santiago Calatrava you can visit the Muse of Prince Philip or the Hemisfèric; in which documentaries are projected in IMAX.
The City of Arts and Sciences is one of the most interesting places for cultural tourism in Valencia. We are sure that its futuristic aesthetics will fascinate you.
Are you doing tourism in Valencia and do you like animals?
We have two of the best zoos in Europe: Biopark and the aquarium Oceanografic.
In the Biopark You will be able to see giraffes run and lions rest in their private savannah. However, if the sea is your thing, you can enjoy wonderful activities and shows not only during the day, but also at night. Oceanographic
This aquarium was built by the architects Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela and was inaugurated in 2003.
You can also go up to the Quart Towers or at Serrano Towers, the only two preserved gates of the old medieval wall. They are two symbols of Valencia and very relevant tourist places.
Find out how visitors to the city felt if they arrived late and closed these huge doors. So they had to sleep outside the city, hence the expression “sleeping on the moon of Valencia” was born.
In summer, the beaches of Malvarrosa and of the Patacona They fill up with people.
Do you fancy a little game of beach volleyball with your friends while sightseeing in Valencia?
You can play on the nets that are spread throughout the beach. 🏄🏐
Or if, on the contrary, you prefer to enjoy the sea with a drink, go to one of the many beach bars and trendy places along the promenade.
And finally, one of our favorite and essential places in Valencia is the Turia River.
If you have seen images of the city of Valencia from above, have you noticed that almost the entire city is crossed by a very long park?
Since 1986, the Turia River bed was transported to another place and remained dry. Since then it became what is today a very extensive park: the Turia Garden.
This completely changed the geography of Valencia. What was once a river with water is now a long park where people walk, play sports, meditate, practice yoga, dance or have a picnic with their friends.
This small forest is the lung of Valencia and one of the places where you can breathe the most vitality.
If you love sports you are in luck, both the Turia Garden and Malvarrosa Beach organize different events every year. sporting events such as beach volleyball championships, foot races or marathons.
These have been our favorite places for sightseeing in Valencia capital.
Now it's time to talk about Valencia's nightlife.
Do you like the party? Are you looking for somewhere to have a few drinks and dance with your friends? 💃🕺
Keep reading because this interests you.
First of all, it is important to know the schedules.
In the capital of Turia (famous nickname in Valencia) there are places that are open in the afternoon and at night, and others that are only at night. Keep in mind that everything always starts later here.
A night at the club can easily last until 7 in the morning. 😲
There are many party areas in Valencia, each with different environments.
How about taking a walk through the bohemian neighborhood of Carmenand get into the different clubs of the QTossal loop?
Or perhaps a drink on the modern terraces of the neighborhood of Ruzafa?
If you want to enjoy music around incredible views, then go to the club Umbracle, located in the City of Sciences.
Does the idea of having a drink at a beach bar appeal more to you?
You can always go to the area port and if you feel like more partying, end up in watercolor. These leisure areas are perfect if you are in Valencia in August.
And how about a language exchange in a bar? This way you can learn Spanish while making friends!
Locals like Big Ben or upper club They are ideal for this.
Do you want to live the passion of a flamenco show?
In Radio City or Cafe del Duende you will find it.
Actually, the inhabitants of Valencia capital can find places with live music of all genres.
Yum yum, let's talk about the rich Valencian gastronomy we have great restaurants and tapas bars. 🤤
The food in Spain is delicious, right? Surely you have already tried some typical tapas.
What are the main dishes in Valencia? There are several, but the main one is the paella. 🥘
We have different types: meat paella, seafood, vegetables...
And other typical rice dishes are rice to band, black rice or rice to the senyoret.
We Valencians are true master rice makers. If you like paella, we recommend that you try the other rice dishes as well, they will delight your palate.
Where? Near the Qmalvarrosa laya or in the Valencia Albufera There are very good restaurants whose star dishes are those mentioned before. 😊
If you come in summer, we have a delicious sweet and very cool drink: the horchata.
And if you are going to see the Fallas, don't forget to ask for a hot chocolate with churros or fritters. Essential!
Have you tried any of these foods yet? What are your favorites?
oh, And don't stop eating our fruits and vegetables!
The Valencia orchard It is one of the most praised in the world. Take advantage of it!
In this article we have written a lot of information about Valencia and there is no doubt that this city has many good things to offer. I give you a summary of the main points attractions of Valencia:
For all this it has been baptized as the city of well-being.
Learn Spanish in Valencia It is an ideal option, don't you think?
Our school,Hispania, Spanish school; It is located in one of the most privileged areas of the city: very close to the Turia River and in front of Royal Gardens.
In addition to classes, every week we carry out sociocultural activities so that you know the city better and live it more intensely.
Valencia amazes all the students who have passed through our school.
And you? Haven't you found the love of your life yet?
Well, come learn Spanish with us and fall in love with Valencia.
Have you seen Valencia before? What do you like most about this city? Write your opinion in Comments, I'm looking forward to knowing it.
See you around! 😉
Article written by Charles Martinez for Hispania, Spanish school.
More articles