Living like a native in Valencia

What's it like living in Valencia? Would you recommend it? What's the city like?

Valencia is a beautiful city; it has everything you could imagine.

The historic centre is full of architectural remains dating back to many many eras ago, and they have various museums like the Prehistoric Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Human Museum, the Ethnology Museum... where you can see all the history of Valencia. I especially recommend the History Museum because it's really interactive and it tells you about all the history of Valencia through actors playing out important scenes. The actors are very accurate. The Ethnology Museum, situated near the Modern Art Museum (or IVAM) is also great too, they currently have an exposition on the Valencian traditions which is really interesting and enriching.

Of course, you have the other perspective of the river Turia channels which is where you'll find the City of Arts and Sciences. This building demonstrates a completely different architecture, it's futuristic and pristine.

I should also mention that in the City of Arts and Sciences, you'll find the Oceanografic, which is an aquarium zoo with all types of animals and it has tunnels you can walk through, you really feel like you're in the middle of the sea, next to all the sea life. The tickets are expensive, but it's worth seeing it. There's also the Bioparc, a zoo where the animals can wander free and they're not kept in cages. Their enclosures are created to represent their natural habitats. In this zoo, there are normally different offers on, especially in September because that's when its anniversary is.

What's the student life like in Valencia?

It really depends on the degree you're studying, and especially the timetable you choose. There are a lot of students and in the morning classes, the students are much more competitive. In the evenings they're more friendly and open. But whatever timetable you get, you'll always find someone who is willing to help you, because we love people from outside coming to Valencia, since one of our main income sources is tourism and we know perfectly well that you'll come back because you're going to fall in love with this city.

Valencia is a city with a great student life and you'll notice this when you come, the people are really open and they'll always be there to help you. Also, near the university there's an agency called Erasmus life (in the street called Ramon Llull) if you want to get in contact with other Erasmus students, they organise parties and trips to get to know the community and people on Erasmus. I highly recommend it, especially for the excursions because Valencia isn't only the capital, we have the lagoon, the Gandia beaches, little bays such as Dénia and Jávea, the coast of Alicante, Calpe, Benidorm... Go to see all of these places because they're really worth visiting, and they take you there and bring you back for a reasonable price, it's the best way to be able to have fun without getting lost.

How much does it cost to live in Valencia?

You can find rooms near the university for 150-200 euros a month and food is cheap, just like in the rest of Spain. In terms of going out, if you're lucky, you'll only have to pay for drinks. I would say that living a student life in Valencia and going out at least once a week... it could cost you around 200 euros on accommodation, 100-150 euros on food and 50 euros on going out. Therefore, around 350-400 euros a month in total.

However, if you like luxury and you're not one for having predrinks, going out can be expensive. The average drink in a club costs 8 euros (A spirit mixer).

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Valencia? Can you give any advice?

I'm native here so I live with my family. But if you want to find accommodation in Valencia, at the university itself there are thousands of leaflets and posters put up in the streets or on notice boards. You can also look online, you'll have no problem with that, there are a lot of flats available and people continuously come and go. So, if you don't like a flat, don't stay there, move to another flat. Keep trying until you find a place you really like.

What's the food like there? What are your favourite dishes?

Valencian food is based on the Mediterranean diet. It's full of tasty rice dishes and it's essential you try them all. Try the most typical: paella, horchata con fartons (a rice-based drink mixed with nuts) which you won't like at the beginning but you will in the end, patatas bravas, squid rings, croquettes... The best thing to do is to go from bar to bar and have tapas so you can try different things. You should also try something called "la fideua" which is like paella but with a type of noodles instead of rice. Other things to try include rice dishes called arroz al horno, arroz a banda, a cocktail called el agua de Valencia, a milkshake called el cholek (which is nothing special, just a chocolate milkshake but they call it el cholek in Valencia).

Valencia is perfect for eating out, it has very tasty food and at the same time, it's healthy. Other food is really appetising and full of saturated fat, but the people eat it because it's SOOOOOO good it's impossible not to.

What places do you recommend visiting in Valencia?

The City of Arts and Sciences is my favourite place, the Palau de la Musica, the gardens by the river Turia, the historic centre, the Palace of Marqués de dos aguas (which seems like it was built for princesses), the queen and the virgin squares, the Albufera park, the history museum, the Bioparc zoo, the Oceanografic, the Mestalla football stadium, the Serranos Towers, the Quart Towers, the area called Carmen...

If you want to explore the historic part, the Carmen neighbourhood and around the station in the north are the places to go.

If you prefer the modern part of Valencia, the City of Arts and Sciences is the place to see with the most futuristic style you'll ever see (and the photos you can take there will be amazing).

To go for a walk, there's nothing better than the gardens near the river Turia or the Viveros garden, where the Valencia book fair and concerts during the Fallas festival are held. As well as the Natural Science Museum.

To relax, you can go to the sea villages, visit the Veles y Vents bar, go for a walk around the area called la Malvarrosa, have a drink in the hotel Neptuno (which isn't too expensive and you may even get the chance to see someone famous there and feel really special)...

To experience a Valencian tradition, go to Albufera, pay for a boat ride on the lake and enjoy the sun beaming down on your face. After that, you could go for some exquisite paella in some of the restaurants nearby (there are many offers which combine the boat ride and the meal for 20 euros per person, and it's really good, I really recommend it). And after, stay around the area to see one of the best sunsets in your life in the port in Albufera. Make sure you go early to get a space at the harbour and stay there until the sun has completely gone down. It's a really magical place.

If you want to experience some excitement and adventure, there are lots of offers to go paddle boarding, sailing, and also food experiences... Also, I recommend the Bioparc zoo and the Oceanografic I mentioned before, they're great places to have fun with your friends.

What about eating out in Valencia? Can you tell us your favourite places?

If you want to try traditional Valencian paella, go to el Palmar (near Albufera). There are lots of restaurants around the area which make fantastic paella, but ask them not to put too much salt on it, because lately they've been using too much salt.

If you go out around the university area, you can't not go to el Pato Mareao and la Vaquería, two bars where you can order a small beer and a tapa. It's really good, although you'll find lots of places which are worth visiting in the street called Ramon Llull as well as Serpis.

If you want to go out for tapas and try the wine and beer, go to la bodegueta in the street called Doctor Manuel Candela, it's actually called Bodega la Fila el Labrador, but everyone knows it as bodegueta. Go early since there aren't many tables and it gets full straight away, around 8 in the evening is the best time to go so you can sit down and pick at the different food, whilst relaxing.

If you prefer to go to the centre, you'll find so many restaurants with 3 course meals where you can choose between a wide variety of culinary styles. If you want traditional food, I recommend getting out of the centre a little and going to the Carmen area or walk towards the Serranos Towers. There, you'll find more Valencian restaurants.

What places do you recommend going to on a night out?

The street called Blasco Ibáñez has two clubs, one in front of the other called Rumbo 144 and Agenda. There are also lots of shisha bars and pubs where you can buy a drink for 3 euros such as el Shelton and Blackhouse.

The square called la Plaza del Cerdo is also a place where you can go for shots and there are really good pubs there, especially the bar called Spit Chupitos, which is also in the Carmen area. There, they make amazing shots and it's like they put on a show when they make them. If you only want one or two, it's a great place, otherwise it gets very expensive!

In the centre there are also lots of bars and two clubs. Mogambo which is in the town hall square, where they play house and electronic music, and Indiana in the street San Vicente, where they play a variety of different music. They both have completely different atmospheres, one which is more commercial and upbeat, and the other more house and electronic.

In the City of Arts and Sciences there's a place called Mya which is one of the most popular clubs at the moment. Right next to it is Umbracle and often, these two clubs work together, and you can go to both clubs and have 3 very different atmospheres in them. Mya has a room where they play commercial and chart music, and another room for house, but quite often both rooms mix together. It's a really big place but it fills up very quickly. Regarding Umbracle, the club is on a terrace outside, it has a chill out zone and you can have a drink or shisha (in Spain shisha is called cachimbas) and relax a with your friends while the music is on in the background. But as the night goes on, it fills up and turns into a proper club.

On the beach, they have a beach club called Akuarela and many more. It's one of the best clubs in Spain in my opinion, as it has a closed room inside and also an open-air terrace where you can go for some fresh air and not feel to claustrophobic inside the club. In addition, it's right on the beach so you can see the sunrise when you leave the club. It's a magical moment!

Then if you want to go to bars and pubs, there are many places to go. The area called Cánovas, at the bottom of the street Gran Vía, the area Aragon, around the Mestalla football stadium, and in the Carmen area, they all have a great nightlife and it's all very different.

If you like the type of clubs in the Carmen and Ruzafa area, you'll find lots of different places which suit your style, and you'll especially like the club called Deseo64 which is on the other side of the bridge. It's really worth going to because it's full of lots of different people and you'll have a laugh there. They play different music and the atmosphere is very friendly.

Would you give any advice to future students in Valencia?

Valencia is a place you'll really fall in love with. You'll have so much fun here, experience new things, make memories, meet people, and enjoy everything! You must make sure you stay to see the Fallas festival! It's a week where they party so hard, Valencia is the party capital of Spain, so I wouldn't lie. All the festivity and the parties are crazy and to see the castle at night and the fireworks at 2 in the afternoon, it's the best thing you'll experience in your life. Seriously, from 15th to 19th March, YOU HAVE to be in Valencia.

Well, make lots of friends too, and listen to Valencian music, it has a good beat and it's a unique style of music. You have to listen to the bands called la Gossa Sorda and Txarango, although you won't understand a word, the beat is amazing!