Where to live in Valencia: neighbourhoods and nearby towns

Key rules

• Cost: Valencia is cheaper than Madrid or Barcelona, but rents have risen.
• Noise: Ruzafa and El Carmen are lively and noisy, so they may not suit light sleepers.
• International schools: The chalet areas of La Cañada and El Vedat are where international schools are found.
• Commute: Towns on the metro or Cercanías lines are 15 to 60 minutes from the city, depending on the town.

The short answer

Pick a city barrio if you want to walk everywhere and live near cafes and nightlife. Pick a nearby town if you want more space, a lower rent or an international school, and you accept a commute. Rents in Valencia are lower than in Madrid or Barcelona, but they have risen.

City barrios

Ruzafa. Trendy, with cafes, nightlife and a large expat community. It suits you if you want to be where things happen. It is lively and noisy.

El Carmen. The historic old town. Atmospheric, but noisy too.

L'Eixample (Gran Vía). Central, elegant and residential. A good fit if you want a polished area close to everything.

Pla del Remei. Upscale and quiet. It suits professionals and families with a bigger budget.

Benimaclet. Bohemian and village-like, leaning towards students, with lower rents. A good choice if you are on a tighter budget and like a local feel.

Cabanyal and the Marina. By the beach, and gentrifying. They suit you if you want sea access and can live with an area that is changing.

Campanar and Patraix. Mid-priced and local in character. Good if you want a normal neighbourhood life away from the tourist centre.

Algirós and Camins al Grau. Near the universities. They suit students and families on a lower budget.

Nearby towns

Check current lines and timetables before you commit to a commute.

Family and green areas

• Alboraya is to the north and family-oriented. Metrovalencia runs there, and the journey takes roughly 15 to 25 minutes.
• Godella and Rocafort are more affluent and green, and are on the metro network.
• Paterna's La Cañada and Torrent's El Vedat are chalet areas with international schools. Both have metro links. For El Vedat, take Metro line 3 or 5 and transfer.

Cheaper, urban and well connected

• Torrent and Mislata are cheaper, urban and linked by metro.
• Burjassot and Paterna are also on Metrovalencia.
• Alfafar and Sedaví are cheaper and on the Cercanías C-1 train.

Beach and longer commutes

• Puçol and El Puig have beaches and Cercanías links.
• Sagunto is on the Cercanías C-6, about 30 minutes away.
• Cercanías C-1, C-2 and C-3 also serve Gandia, Xàtiva and Alzira. Journeys on these lines and to Sagunto take 25 to 60 minutes.

How to choose

• Student or tight budget: Benimaclet, Algirós, Camins al Grau, or a town such as Torrent, Mislata, Alfafar or Sedaví.
• Family with school needs: La Cañada or El Vedat for international schools, or Alboraya, Godella and Rocafort for a green, family feel.
• Nightlife and walkability: Ruzafa, El Carmen or L'Eixample.
• Beach: Cabanyal and the Marina in the city, or Puçol and El Puig outside it.

Rents rise quickly, so look at current listings before you decide. The questions below cover budget, commutes and schools.

Frequently asked questions

Which Valencia barrio suits students or families on a lower budget?

Benimaclet, Algirós and Camins al Grau suit students and families on a lower budget. Benimaclet is bohemian and village-like with lower rents, while Algirós and Camins al Grau are close to the universities.

Which nearby towns are the cheapest to live in?

Torrent, Mislata, Alfafar and Sedaví are the cheaper nearby options. Torrent and Mislata are urban and linked by metro, while Alfafar and Sedaví are on the Cercanías C-1 train line.

How long is the commute from towns near Valencia?

Commutes run from about 15 minutes to 60 minutes depending on the town. Alboraya is roughly 15 to 25 minutes by metro, Sagunto is about 30 minutes on the Cercanías C-6, and Gandia, Xàtiva and Alzira take 25 to 60 minutes on the C-1, C-2 or C-3.

Where can I live near Valencia with international schools?

La Cañada in Paterna and El Vedat in Torrent are chalet areas with international schools. Both are linked by metro, and El Vedat is reached by Metro line 3 or 5 plus a transfer.