Best areas to stay in Valencia

The most atmospheric area of the city is undoubtedly the maze-like Barrio del Carmen (in Valenciano “de Carmé”), roughly north of the Central Market to the Río Turia, extending up to the Torres de Serranos and west to the Torres de Quart. Featuring a collection of old-style townhouses which are home to stylish cafés, tapas bars and trendy boutiques, it’s an incredibly thriving neighbourhood to explore and certainly the best neighbourhood to stay in Valencia.

Valencia has long boasted some of the best nightlife in mainland Spain. Vivir Sin Dormir (Live Without Sleep) is the name of one of its bars, and it could be taken as a Valencian mantra. One of the best areas to stay in Valencia for its nightlife is around the La Xera area which is filled with fun bars and live entertainment venues, think Radio City and Cade de las Horas for some memorable evenings. The city in general is alive with noise and colour throughout the year, with explosions of gunpowder, fireworks and festivities punctuating the calendar.

The oldest part of Valencia is almost entirely encircled by a great loop of the Río Turia, which is now a landscaped riverbed park. In 1956, after serious flooding damaged much of the old town, the river was diverted. The ancient stone bridges remain, but the riverbed now houses cycleways, footpaths and football pitches, as well as the astonishing Ciudad de las Artes y Ciencias Europe’s largest cultural complex. As further proof that Valencia is ever reinventing itself, Central Park, a 57-acre space for promenades, gardens and an art centre, is one of the city’s largest redevelopment projects to date.

Valencia’s main beach is the Playa de la Malvarrosa to the east of the city centre, which becomes Playa El Cabañal at its southern end. Cabañal is also a good spot to catch some rays. The outdoor cafés, bars and clubs here are buzzing in the summer. Check out the Marina Beach Club right next to the water, offering a restaurant, café, pool, sun loungers, bar and a nightclub.

La Albufera, is just 12km south of Valencia, and stands as a sprawling lagoon which is separated from the sea by a sandbank. Rice fields surround the area too. It is one of the largest bodies of freshwater in Spain. As a result it is an important wetland, and tens of thousands of migratory birds flock to the area. Around 250 species make it here, of which ninety breed here regularly. Whether you’re into birdwatching or not, the lagoon area makes a relaxing change from the city.