Popular Neighbourhoods and Areas in Valencia
Divided into 19 districts, the city of Valencia preserves its identity in its many neighbourhoods, each with a different history, style, and essence.
Popular neighbourhoods in Valencia in a nutshell...
Valencia is divided into 19 districts and 88 neighborhoods, each with a distinctive character and atmosphere. The most notable areas include:
Ciutat Vella (Old Town): The historic heart of Valencia featuring medieval architecture, narrow streets, and major landmarks. Key neighborhoods include El Carmen (bohemian quarter with street art and museums), La Seu (home to the Cathedral), El Mercat (where the Central Market and Silk Exchange are located), and San Francesc (the governmental center around Plaza del Ayuntamiento).
Eixample: The elegant expansion area southeast of the Old Town, known for upscale shopping, modernist architecture, and trendy venues. Notable areas include Pla del Remei (commercial center with Colón Market), Gran Vía (affluent residential area), and Ruzafa (the hip district with cafés, art galleries, and vibrant nightlife).
Maritime areas: The eastern neighborhoods include Poblats Marítims with El Cabanyal (colorful fishermen’s quarter with distinctive tiled houses) and the beaches (Malvarrosa, Las Arenas), plus La Marina with its upscale harbor facilities.
Other distinctive areas include Turia Park (the 10km green belt running through the city), the southeastern district featuring the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, and the northeastern university area around Benimaclet (with its village-like atmosphere).
Like many other cities in Spain, Valencia has maintained a variety of small neighbourhoods (barrios, in Spanish), each with its own identity, architectural style, and functional features. The city is divided into 19 districts, each consequently subdivided into neighbourhoods, for a total of 88 barrios.
You might find it peculiar that every neighbourhood has preserved its own well-defined personality. This is a phenomenon that you can see in many Spanish cities, where the inhabitants are deeply involved in local events and the maintenance of their neighbourhoods’ traditions.
By wandering just a few streets away from where you are, you can feel like you are in a completely different place. You’ll find different architecture, colours, businesses, and crowds as you move through the city. Many neighbourhoods, especially the ones outside Valencia’s centre, feel like they are their own little towns.
Here you’ll find the basic information about the most visited and well-known barrios and districts in Valencia. In each section of this article, you can read about the main features, vibes, and styles of the neighbourhoods. You’ll learn about the important sights in the different areas of the city, and what you can expect when visiting each of them.
Ciutat Vella
Ciutat Vella (meaning Old Town), is the historical centre of Valencia. The district, now listed as Unesco World heritage, is about 2,000 years old and used to be delimited by the old city walls (lost to time and urban reforms).
This historical area of the city is mainly occupied by mediaeval or turn-of-the-century buildings, lanes, and charming alleys.
A great number of historical attractions, churches and museums make this district the destination for anyone interested in sightseeing. In the area, you can also find plenty of bars, restaurants and boutique hotels.
In Ciutat Vella it’s much easier to walk or bike than to take public transport, due to its small size and pedestrian streets. As a matter of fact, crossing the Old Town at its widest point shouldn’t take much longer than 20 minutes (less than 2 km, a little over 1 mile).
Nevertheless, you’ll find that buses stop along the entire perimeter of the old city walls and in some of the squares (Plaza de Ayuntamiento and behind the Mercat Central).
Metro stops Àngel Guimerà, Xàtiva, Colón, Alameda can all be found just outside the Old Town’s limits too.
If you’d like to find out more about this district, you can check out our article about Ciutat Vella.
Down below you can find out more about some of the most visited areas out of the six that make up the district.
El Carmen
Barrio del Carmen is the northwestern section of the Ciutat Vella and one of the most evidently mediaeval areas of the city.
Its narrow cobblestone streets are populated by old houses with iron balconies, small cafes, artisanal shops, tapas bars, and live-music venues. The neighbourhood is also home to colourful street art and graffiti, as well as many museums, both contemporary and historical.
Here are a few of the sights and attractions you can find in El Carmen:
- Torres de Serranos
- Torres de Quart
- Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno (IVAM)
- Iglesia de Sant Nicolau de Bari i Sant Pere Màrtir
If you’d like to know more about this neighbourhood, you can have a look at our article about El Carme.
La Seu
La Seu, the northeastern section of the Old Town, is home to beautiful religious buildings and mediaeval squares. The neighbourhood takes its name from the Cathedral of Valencia (also called Seu in Valencian), known for its architecture and the Holy Chalice it houses.
In this buzzing barrio you’ll find casual restaurants, eateries, and ice cream shops tucked away in a maze of small alleys and streets.
Here are a few of the sights and attractions you can find in Barrio La Seu:
- Valencia’s Cathedral and Miguelete
- Plaça de la Mare de Déu
- Basílica de la Mare de Déu dels Desemparats
- Plaza de la Reina
- Almudín de Valencia
El Mercat
El Mercat is in the very heart of Ciutat Vella and, as the name suggests, is where you’ll find the Mercat Central. This market is a beautiful example of Valencian Modernism (a regional variation of Art-Nouveau) and one of the most beautiful fresh produce markets in Europe.
In this section of the Old Town, aside from beautiful historical buildings, you can also find late-night clubs, bars, and dance floors, especially around PIaça del Tossal.
Here are a few of the sights and attractions you can find in Barrio del Mercat:
- Mercat Central
- Lonja de la Seda
- Església de Sant Joan del Mercat
San Francesc
The southernmost section of the Old Town is the Sant Francesc neighbourhood. This barrio develops around Plaza del Ayuntamiento and its monuments.
It is the most modern part of the Ciutat Vella, with the majority of its buildings dating back to the late 19th-century or early 20th-century. This gives it a more monumental character and a bigger scale than other parts of the historical centre.
Here you’ll find broader streets and food chains (both cafes and restaurants) for all tastes, along with brand shops.
The main square also hosts important events and celebrations every year during the Fallas Festival. At Christmas time, the area - especially the square - gets decorated with lights, markets, and an ice-skating rink.
Here are a few of the sights and attractions you can find in Barrio San Francesc:
- Plaza del Ayuntamiento
- Town Hall
- Municipal History Museum
- Palacio de Correos
- Museu Valencià de la Il·lustració i de la Modernitat
Eixample
Eixample is, as the meaning of the name suggests, a modern expansion of the city centre, just southeast of Ciutat Vella. As such, its proportions are bigger than those of the Old Town. Especially in recent decades, it has become increasingly upscale.
The Eixample is the commercial and leisure area of Valencia. In it, you’ll find long streets dotted with department stores, designer boutiques, brunch cafes, bistros, and chic bars.
The main attraction of the area are the streets themselves. You will find plenty of quirky venues to stop by, like the many vintage shops or literary and art spaces.
Because of the nature of this neighbourhood, we recommend you explore it on foot or by bike, but if you want to go somewhere specific, you’ll find numerous bus lines anywhere in Eixample.
Line 10 of the tram network cuts through Ruzafa. Other popular forms of transport in the area are electric scooters and taxis.
If you’d like to find out more about this district, you can check out our article about Valencia’s Eixample.
Down below you can find out more about some of the most visited areas out of the three that make up the district.
Pla del Remei
Often considered part of the Granvia area, Pla del Remei is the northern section of the Eixample, the closest to the Old Town. Being the most commercial area, it is ideal if you’re interested in doing some shopping.
Pla del Remei develops between Carrer de Colón and Gran Vía del Marqués del Túria.
Here you’ll find popular department stores, banks, luxury brands, hotels, and gourmet food venues. The most well-known structure in the area is Colón Market, a striking brick-and-iron Modernist structure where you’ll find chic tapas and cocktail bars.
A few of the sights and attractions you can find in Barrio Pla del Remei are:
- Mercat de Colón
- Estación del Norte
- Plaza de Toros
Gran Vía
Gran Vía, the eastern neighbourhood of the Eixample, is one of the most expensive residential areas of Valencia.
Here you’ll find elegant architecture with pastel-coloured buildings and broad, homogeneous streets, which give the area its characteristic “fancy” feel.
At night, the more affluent Valencian population can often be found here, enjoying high-end restaurants, disco pubs, and sophisticated bars. Wandering around the area during the daytime, you’ll see antique shops, co-working spaces, florists and interior decor stores.
Ruzafa
Ruzafa (or Russafa) is probably the most well-known neighbourhood in Eixample, and the two get often conflated into one. This is certainly the hip area of Valencia, favoured by expats and artists.
This barrio, rapidly gentrifying, is filled with retro shops, quirky art galleries, vintage stores, American-style bakeries and brunch cafes. Even though the area is best enjoyed just by wandering around, we recommend you pay a visit to the Mercat de Russafa.
The neighbourhood is known for its nightlife. In fact, in the evenings and at night, the whole area lights up with the numerous craft beer pubs, bars and outdoor-seating restaurants.
If you’d like to find out more about this neighbourhood, you can check out our article about Ruzafa.
Turia Park
The Turia Park (Jardín del Turia, in Spanish) is a serpentine urban garden that cuts through the city of Valencia.
This 9-km park (6 miles) is not officially classified as a Valencian district or neighbourhood. In fact, it touches almost all districts of the city but we included it as a stand-alone area because of its singularity.
Turia Park is an excellent example of an urban space used to create a liveable city. In it, you can find leisure areas, fountains, footpaths, bike lanes, open-air gyms, and sports pitches (including football and baseball). As such, it is ideal for those looking to relax and break away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The garden is divided into 16 sections (tramos in Spanish), separated by various bridges that help pedestrians and vehicles alike cross to the other side.
Along its course, you can find a couple of metro stations, as well as numerous bus stops. However, we absolutely recommend walking its grounds or cycling on its many bike paths.
Southeastern Area
While the southeastern area is not a district in and of itself, we are using the definition to group together two distinct districts. They are Quatre Carreres (directly below the Eixample) and Camins al Grau (the district just west of the maritime neighbourhoods).
These areas are mostly residential, but you might find yourself wandering around them because of the important landmarks that are found here.
Just where the two districts meet, in the final sections of the Turia Park, you can find Santiago Calatrava ’s iconic City of Arts and Sciences.
This state-of-the-art complex houses a science museum, an IMAX theatre, a performing arts centre, and the largest aquarium in Europe. Immediately around Ciudad de Artes, are the more affluent residential areas, characterised by modern, large buildings with high windows.
Because of the area’s distance from the city centre, we recommend you take public transport or bike rather than walk. The two districts are well connected, with metro lines 5 and 7 passing through Camins al Grau, and tram line 10 passing through Quatre Carreres.
Lots of bus lines also connect the two areas through other parts of the city. If you prefer, other popular methods of transport are electric scooters and taxis.
The most important sights and attractions in this area are:
- Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias
- Hemisfèric
- Palacio de las Artes Reina Sofía
- Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe
- Umbracle
- Àgora
- Oceanogràfic
- Pont de l’Assut de l’Or
- Museu Faller
Northeastern Area
Much like the southeastern area, the northeastern area is not a district in itself either. With this name, we are grouping together nearby districts and neighbourhoods.
In this area, we include the Benimaclet district, the Ciutat Universitaria neighbourhood, and the area surrounding Avenida de Blasco Ibáñez.
This part of Valencia, while not as central as others, is extremely well connected and lively, mostly due to its young population and universities. We recommend this part of Valencia for those interested in a local vibe and relatively un-gentrified neighbourhoods.
Being a little away from the centre, we recommend you bike or take public transport rather than walk. Metro, trams, and buses are all excellent options with plenty of lines and stops in the area. If you prefer, electric scooters or taxis are also viable solutions.
Benimaclet
Benimaclet is the name used to refer to one of the 19 Valencian districts, as well as one of the barrios within that district. The area, today integrated as part of the city, was formerly a separate village on the outskirts of Valencia.
Despite its proximity to the city, it has maintained its traditional identity, with a laid-back atmosphere, plenty of street markets, pedestrian streets, and a geographical closeness to the cultivated fields of Valencia (the Huerta).
Locals here all know one another and older ladies can often be seen setting up chairs on the sidewalk to chit chat.
Many of those that visit the area agree that Benimaclet feels more like a small town than part of a city. When you visit, you’ll certainly notice the low white houses, the small streets, and the tile decorations.
While there are no major sights to visit here, the nightlife is thriving, with international and inexpensive bars and restaurants all around. We also recommend you pass by on Friday morning to see the street market, where you can find anything from shoes to fresh produce.
If you’d like to know more about this area of Valencia, you can check out our article about Benimaclet.
Blasco Ibáñez and Ciutat Universitaria
These two areas are known in Valencia for their quiet yet upbeat atmosphere, with hip cafes, college bars, tapas eateries and of course university students, who make up most of their population.
A note about the two areas must be made. Ciutat Universitaria is an officially registered neighbourhood belonging to El Pla del Real district. Blasco Ibáñez, on the other hand, is neither a recognised district nor an official neighbourhood. Rather it is the area, as defined by locals, surrounding Avenida Blasco Ibáñez (between El Pla del Real and Algirós districts).
In this part of the city, you’ll find large avenues and buildings, as well as lots of greenery and a park-like feel thanks to Avenida Blasco Ibáñez, which is lined up with trees on either side.
In spite of the geographical difference from Benimaclet, the area still managed to remain more subdued and laid-back than the city centre, all without losing its liveliness.
Poblats Marítims
Poblats Marítims is the easternmost district in Valencia, directly in front of the sea, beaches and harbours of the city. The districts comprise five neighbourhoods and the industrial port area.
This is a district of contrasts, where extremely luxurious hotels, resorts, and residential complexes coexist with working-class neighbourhoods, just a few streets away. The latter evolved from small fishermen’s villages and still present their peculiar architecture, with picturesque and colourful small houses.
Once again, the main attractions in this part of Valencia are the streets and the houses themselves, along with the beaches and some well-known venues.
We highly recommend walking around the neighbourhoods to really take them in and appreciate the district’s charm, but getting here from the city on foot is not for everyone.
In terms of public transport, the most popular options are trams and buses, which offer a great number of lines in the area. Other options can be biking, taking an electric scooter, or even a taxi.
El Cabanyal
El Cabanyal-El Canyamelar is a mostly residential neighbourhood, famous for its quiet pedestrian streets, picturesque and colourful houses, and casual bars and cafes. The main attraction here is the dream-like atmosphere and charm.
The architecture of the neighbourhood is considered by many a perfect showcase of popular Modernism. Its characteristics are an eclectic taste, with low and narrow houses decorated with colourful tiles and whimsical sculptures.
To see this peculiar style, we recommend some streets in particular:
- Calle de la Reina
- Calle Barraca
- Calle José Benlliure
- Calle Escalante
While on the one hand the neighbourhood’s popularity is well deserved, the fascination affluent expats have with this area has unfortunately started a process of gentrification of the neighbourhood.
Nonetheless, for the time being, Cabanyal remains a less commercial area where you can still see the pulse of Valencia and its people.
The most important sights and attractions in this neighbourhood are:
- Mercat Municipal del Cabanyal
- Mercabanyal
- Museu de l’Arròs
- La Fábrica de Hielo
If you’d like to find out more about this neighbourhood, you can check out our article about El Cabanyal.
Beaches
We have grouped Valencia’s beaches here even though, officially, they are not considered separate areas. On paper, they are all part of different neighbourhoods of the Poblats Marítims district.
Valencia enjoys about 7 km (more than 4 miles) of continuous, broad, golden beaches. The sand is kept clean and the spaciousness makes it so that the beaches never feel crowded, even in high season. Valencia’s excellent weather allows visitors to enjoy this part of the city almost year-round.
The residential buildings, hotels, and hospitality venues immediately adjacent to the beach and sea are much more upscale and luxurious than the surrounding neighbourhoods. Here, you’ll find trendy beach cafes, cocktail bars, and renowned restaurants, like El Coso and La Pepica.
Valencia’s beaches are:
- Platja del Cabanyal
- Playa de la Malvarrosa
- Playa de Las Arenas (or Platja de Llevant)
- Playa Patacona
If you’d like to find out more about the beaches in Valencia, you can check out our article.
La Marina
La Marina de Valencia, also known as La Marina Real Juan Carlos I is another popular maritime area of Valencia.
It is not precisely defined by the city’s administration, but it is recognised by locals as an unofficial neighbourhood. This area is located roughly between Las Arenas Beach and Valencia’s commercial port.
La Marina is a modern area where nautical clubs, gastronomy, exclusive clubs, and business enterprises come together. This seaside neighbourhood is home to long promenades for walking, spaces for cycling, nautical activities, and water sports, as well as renowned food venues serving local cuisine.
Some of the most well-known venues are the Veles e Vents and the Marina Beach Club. Veles e Vents is a cultural building hosting all sorts of events, including exhibitions, live music and dance, theatre, and conferences. Meanwhile, the Marina Beach Club is an exclusive sea-side club.
Campanar
Campanar, much like Benimaclet, is both one of the 19 districts of Valencia and a barrio within that district. This mostly residential area, in the northwestern part of Valencia, is not as popular as other neighbourhoods and districts and is mostly inhabited by families.
The area is known to be one of the quieter, more suburban parts of the city, surrounded by canals, farmland, and vast green spaces.
Both Parque de Cabecera (a vast public park crossed by a river) and the Bioparc are located in the district. You might have heard of the latter, as it is a massive zoological park specialising in African fauna.
Another famous venue in the area is the Palacio de Congresos, designed by internationally renowned architect Norman Foster . The building is a hyper-modern convention centre with a grand exhibition hall and large auditoriums.
Since the area is a bit far from the city centre, we recommend taking some form of public transport there rather than walking. Both buses and metro connect the area nicely with the rest of Valencia.
Other recommendable options to get to this district can be electric scooters or taxis. If you want to spend some time in the park, we particularly recommend cycling.
Pobles del Sud
Pobles del Sud is a large district to the southeast of Valencia, which covers about 20 km (more than 12 miles) of coastal land immediately south of the city. The district, although the largest, is the least populated. The area is in great part occupied by rural territories of the Huerta (cultivated land surrounding Valencia) and the Albufera.
The district is mostly known for the aforementioned Albufera National Park, a large lagoon area surrounded by rice fields, and local gastronomy.
As you might imagine, with Paella being the local Valencian dish, and rice fields surrounding the area, this is the ideal place if you want to try authentic Paella and other rice dishes, like Arroz Caldoso. Some of the most visited villages here are El Palmar and El Saler.
To reach the area, the most recommended method of public transport is the bus (EMT lines 24 and 25 will take you right up to El Palmar). If you are more of a sporty type, you might want to hike or bike in the Albufera National Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here you can find quick answers to all of your questions. Linked, you’ll find the articles or the sections of the articles that can give you more detailed information.
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Valencia is officially divided into 19 districts. Each district is divided into neighbourhoods.
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Although they are often used as interchangeable terms, El Carmen and the Old Town (also called Ciutat Vella) are not the same thing.
Ciutat Vella is a district in Valencia, formed by six neighbourhoods. One of those neighbourhoods is El Carmen.
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Barrio del Carmen is a neighbourhood in Ciutat Vella, Valencia’s Old Town district. It is a must for anyone interested in sightseeing, known for its mediaeval remains, century-old streets and houses, museums, and street art.
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Ruzafa is a neighbourhood in Valencia’s Eixample district. It is the hippest area of the city, known for its art galleries, American-style cafes, quirky bars, and artisanal businesses.
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Valencia’s city centre and most popular areas coincide with the Old Town and Eixample districts.
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Valencia’s historical centre is the Ciutat Vella (meaning Old Town) district. In particular, the Seu, Carmen, and Mercat neighbourhoods are the oldest parts of the city.
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The Ciutat Vella and Eixample districts are the most popular districts. In terms of neighbourhoods, the ones you’e going to hear about the most during your stay in Valencia are El Carmen and Ruzafa.
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The areas most appreciated by students are Blasco Ibáñez, Ciutat Universitaria, and Benimaclet. A considerable number of international students also live in Ruzafa.
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Ruzafa is the cool neighbourhood par excellence in Valencia. Other beloved (and slightly lesser-known) hip areas are Benimaclet and Blasco Ibáñez.
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With variations depending on the type of crowd and vibe you are looking for, Ciutat Vella, Ruzafa, and Benimaclet are all good places to have a drink.
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The area surrounding Colón metro stop is known for its many shops and big brands. If you are looking for smaller businesses, artisanal shops, or even second hand stores, you’ll have more luck in other areas, like El Carmen or Ruzafa. For local markets, you can go to Benimaclet.
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El Cabanyal is a neighbourhood by the sea, in the Poblats Marítims district. It is famous for its quiet pedestrian streets, picturesque and colourful houses, and casual bars and cafes.
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Benimaclet is the name of a district in Valencia, as well as one of the neighbourhoods in said district. The area has maintained its small-town feel and a laid-back atmosphere, despite its closeness to the city centre. You can expect a lot of street markets, inexpensive bars and restaurants, and a multicultural crowd.
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Blasco Ibáñez is the area, as defined by locals, surrounding Avenida Blasco Ibáñez. It is known in Valencia for its quiet yet upbeat atmosphere, with hip cafes, college bars, tapas eateries and its student population.
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Valencia’s beaches are Platja del Cabanyal, Playa de la Malvarrosa, Playa de Las Arenas, Playa Patacona. They are all in the Poblats Marítims district.
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The Pla del Remei and Gran Vía neighbourhoods in Eixample are some of the most expensive commercial and residential areas in Valencia.
