Experience in Valencia, Spain by Laura

What is it like to live in Valencia? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

The city is amazing. It is a rather big city with lots of interesting neighborhoods for all kinds of people. There is a very artistic neighborhood - Benimaclet - where they have many activities for neighbors and art fans. There is the very student like zone between the street of Manuel Candela and the big avenue Blasco Ibáñez. In that area all students and Erasmus get together to party and drink. There is also a very old and friendly neighborhood right in the center - Barrio del Carmen. There are good little gourmet restaurants and nightlife over there too.

What is the student lifestyle like in Valencia?

Valencia has a very big amount of students and all over the city you will see and meet them. The main student area is the Campus Politécnica. Personally, my favorite hangout for studying. The library is modern and illuminated and there is a special building for students where they can hangout or play games or study, called Casa de Alumno.

There are also very good sport facilities on the campus as well. The athletic track is my favorite, but there are climbing walls, tennis courts, fitness halls and two football fields. The park between the beautiful modern buildings of the campus is full of palm trees and grass to take a "siesta" after the cheap and good student meals you can eat at the little campus' terrace.

Source

How much does it cost to live in Valencia?

Valencia is a considerably cheap city. Rooms and lodging are half the price of the ones in Madrid, Bilbao or Barcelona. We have many friends living all over Spain who have confirmed this to us.

A midday menu, which is the typical main dish for the Valencian people, will cost you 8 euros (starter, main, desert, beer and coffee included).

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Valencia? Is there any advice you can give?

It is very easy to find accommodation in Valencia.

The easiest way would be, by far, searching on the internet for student rooms in Valencia. The websites are good and show pictures of the rooms. Erasmus have their owns website for student rooms in Valencia!

An easy way to find cheap rooms is also looking at all the light poles around the campus and along the Avenue Blasco Ibáñez. People leave numerous adverts with room offers and telephone numbers so you can make an appointment. A room in a shared apartment should not cost you more than 250 euros per month.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The traditional food of Valencia is the paella. It is very, very delicious. I learned to really love it. The best way to eat a paella is to make Spanish friends and let their parents make you a fresh one. Or go to one of the many paella restaurants on the boulevard at Malvarrosa beach of Valencia. Valencia is not a traditional tapas city but there are bars and good restaurants almost every 100 meters you walk!

Source

What places would you recommend visiting in Valencia?

All neighborhoods! Pick a bicycle from the very easy city bicycle system Valenbisi and cycle around until you drop. That is the best way to discover the city.

The city is safe, the people are friendly and there are practically no ways to get lost and if you do, just ask someone for the way back.

The old city center is very lovely but my favourite spot is the harbor and the lounge bars on top of the harbor overlooking the sea. That is where we spend many Sunday afternoons.

The white city beaches are 3km long and, if you walk all the way north along the coastline, a rewarding horchata (typical drink from Valencia) awaits you in Tony's Horchatería in Alboraya/Little Venetia.

Is it good to eat out in Valencia? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Favourite spots to eat out:

• Barrio Russafa
• Calle Conde Altea
• Barrio Benimaclet
• Barrio del Carmen, especially around plaza del Carmen.

Is the nightlife good in Valencia? Where is good to go?

Very good:

• Animas Puerto - an open air nightclub near the harbor on the rooftop of the old harbor building.
• Aqua nightclub or Ghandara - nightclub and lounge along Malvarrosa beach.
• Plaza Tossal in the city center for big party and many international students. Especially jazz bar Jimmy where you often see good live concerts.
• Plaza del Cedro or Plaza Honduras near Avenida Blasco Ibáñez - very good and cheap dining and student atmosphere. Every wednesday they do La Ruta de La Tapa del Cedro which means eating 1 gourmet tapa in every bar together with a glass of wine or a beer for only 2€.

What advice would you give future students heading to Valencia?

Try to make Spanish friends! Valencians are introvert at first but will open their hearts to you and will give you a lot of love in return.

Source