Where to Stay in Valencia: a neighbourhood guide to choosing your area

Where to Stay in Valencia: a neighbourhood guide to choosing your area

Valencia is a city you can cross on foot or by bike in minutes, yet every neighbourhood has its own character. Choosing the right area shapes your whole stay: waking up among the medieval streets of the old town is a very different experience from being five minutes from the beach or in a district of markets and pavement cafés. This guide walks through the best areas to stay in Valencia depending on what you are after —history, food, sea, quiet or local life— so you get it right first time.

One idea that saves a lot of deliberation: the old town and the Eixample hold most of the sights and are linked to the rest of the city by metro, tram and bus. From almost any of these areas you can reach the essentials on foot.

Ciutat Vella: the historic heart

Ciutat Vella brings together the districts of El Carmen, El Mercat, La Seu and Sant Francesc. It is the natural choice for a first visit: this is where you will find the Cathedral, the Silk Exchange (La Lonja, a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Central Market and the squares of La Reina and La Virgen. El Carmen is the liveliest after dark, with narrow streets, street art and late bars; La Seu and La Xerea feel calmer and more monumental.

Staying here means having everything a short walk away, in exchange for a constantly busy atmosphere. It is ideal if you want to sightsee on foot and do not mind some buzz. In this district, in the El Carmen quarter, DLS Homes has its own buildings such as Alta and Huertos, the latter GBCe VERDE certified.

Ruzafa: food, design and atmosphere

Ruzafa (Russafa) is Valencia's trendiest neighbourhood and one of the best for travellers chasing good food and terrace life. Its market, speciality coffee shops, design stores and a dining scene that blends Valencian cooking with international ideas have turned it into a magnet for visitors and creatives. It sits right beside the old town and the Estació del Nord, so it combines easily with the rest of the city.

It is also where DLS Homes concentrates part of its owned portfolio: some of our buildings in Ruzafa, such as Cádiz and Cuba, hold GBCe VERDE sustainable-building certification. At Edificio Cádiz (Calle Cádiz 40) we run DLS Spaces mid-term apartments, and it will also be the first address of DLS Suites, our premium holiday accommodation line, operated within the SES.HOSPEDAJES traveller-registration framework. If you want accommodation with a consistent standard and an in-house support team, Ruzafa is a hard starting point to beat.

El Pla del Remei and Gran Vía: the elegant Eixample

North of Ruzafa, El Pla del Remei and the area around the two Gran Vía avenues form Valencia's most refined side: modernist buildings, wide boulevards, landmark shopping and the Colón Market, now a gastronomic space beneath a striking iron structure. It is a central but more relaxed area, well placed for getting around on foot and with good metro links.

It fits if you prefer a quiet, polished setting without giving up a central location, and it is a common choice for business and bleisure travellers.

El Cabanyal and La Malvarrosa: sea and tradition

If you are coming for the beach, your place is in the maritime districts. El Cabanyal keeps its tiled house fronts and a strong fishing-quarter identity, with a food and cultural scene very much on the rise; La Malvarrosa offers the seafront promenade, the rice restaurants facing the water and sand just steps away. They are around 15–20 minutes from the centre by tram or bus.

This is the best option for anyone wanting to combine city and sea, swim first thing, or enjoy a paella by the beach without relying on a car.

Extramurs and El Botànic: calm by the river

Beside the former Turia riverbed —now a nine-kilometre park running through the city— stretch quieter, more residential districts such as Extramurs and El Botànic. They offer good value, neighbourhood terraces and immediate access to the Turia Gardens for running, strolling or cycling all the way to the City of Arts and Sciences.

They work well for slightly longer stays, or for anyone looking to rest near the centre without paying front-line tourist prices. In La Petxina, within this district, DLS runs its own buildings such as Juan Llorens and Turia, the latter GBCe VERDE certified.

Benimaclet: the most local Valencia

To the northeast, Benimaclet keeps a village feel within the city, with lived-in squares, a student vibe and modest prices. It is not the most touristy area, and that is exactly why it appeals to those who want everyday Valencia. It is connected to the centre and the beach by metro and tram.

Areas with coworking for remote work

If you travel and work at the same time, Ruzafa and Extramurs have the highest density of coworking spaces and work-friendly cafés, on top of good transport links. Staying near a coworking space cuts your commute and puts you close to a community of digital nomads and professionals who choose Valencia for its climate and quality of life.

Quick comparison of areas

Getting around between neighbourhoods

Valencia is flat and compact, which makes it perfect for walking and cycling (with Valenbisi as the public bike-share). Metro and tram link the centre with the beach, the universities and the airport —the metro line runs directly from the terminal— and the EMT bus network fills in the rest. Unless you stay in the maritime districts, you will do most of it on foot.

Longer stays: mid-term and holiday accommodation

If your plan goes beyond a few days, Valencia offers two formats. For short trips and holidays there is tourist accommodation, such as the one DLS Suites will open in Ruzafa. For stays of weeks or months —work, a relocation, a project— mid-term rental usually works out better value: DLS Spaces offers furnished apartments with everything included from around €1,800/month, with an in-house cleaning and maintenance team and a step-by-step booking process. Beyond the centre, DLS Spaces also operates in well-connected residential districts such as La Raïosa, with buildings like Compromiso Caspe.

A useful legal note if you are considering a longer stay: temporary-use contracts do not allow municipal registration (empadronamiento) at the property, since doing so would legally reclassify the contract as a primary-residence tenancy. For any residency procedure (NIE, TIE), it is best to consult a professional before making decisions.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best area to stay in Valencia for a first visit? Ciutat Vella (the old town) is the most practical for a first visit because it puts the main monuments within walking distance. If you prioritise food and atmosphere, Ruzafa is a great alternative a step from the centre.

Where should I stay in Valencia to be near the beach? In the maritime districts of El Cabanyal and La Malvarrosa. They are around 15–20 minutes from the centre by tram or bus and put the sand just steps away.

Which neighbourhood is best for remote work? Ruzafa and Extramurs have the highest density of coworking spaces and work-friendly cafés, and are well connected to the rest of the city.

Is Ruzafa a good place to stay? Yes. It combines a food, design and social scene with a location right beside the old town. It is also where DLS Suites will open its holiday accommodation, at Edificio Cádiz.

Can I stay long term or register at the address? For long stays, mid-term rental is usually the best format. Empadronamiento is not possible under a temporary-use contract; for residency procedures it is best to consult a professional.

How do I get around Valencia's neighbourhoods? The city is flat and compact: walk or cycle for short distances, and use the metro, tram and EMT buses to connect the centre, the beach and the airport.