Making it easy to choose the neighborhood that suits your needs the most.
Extramurs
Close to center
A more modern neighborhood consisting mostly of residential buidings, living here ensures you're never more than a short walk away from the Old Town and all of its history, activity and charm. With several gardens, well-established tapas bars and decent nightlife, you can still find an abundance of things to do here as well. Rents are average or slightly higher and you would want to make sure your apartment is away from one of the noisier large boulevard. Apart from that though, there's very few downsides to this always popular neighborhood.
Malvarosa Beach
Away from center
With its own long stretch of beach, this neighborhood sits slightly farther away from the city center than Cabanyal. Crowded with tourists during the summer, the upside is a good nightlife scene and lots of activity on the beach. During the quieter months, you'll have the boardwalk nearly to yourself with a handful of good restaurants that stay open for locals. Transportation time into the Old Town is about 40 minutes with a combination of tram and metro but the allure of the beach can be worth it for those looking for a slow-paced lifestyle.
La Gran Via
Central
With an air of wealth and some grand architecture, its ideal location nestled between Ruzafa, Cituat Vella and Turia Park makes the extra costs worth it for some. High-end eateries, bars and shops cater to an upscale clientele and you can spend time walking along the grand, tree-lined main boulevard that stretches straight across the neighborhood.
Mestalla
Close to center
With its huge football stadium, concert hall and high-end restaurants, this area is full of life despite its relatively small size. Connected via pedestrian bridge to the Old Town and with two metro stations, you can easily reach the beach and other parts of the city in minutes. As expected, rent here is cheaper than the Old Town or Ruzafa and while this might not be considered the hippest neighborhood, it's certainly one of the most convenient for exploring the entire city.
La Saidia
Close to center
Sitting right on the other side of the Old Town and bordering the beautiful Turia Park, this neighborhood is relaxed and local. It still has sufficient places to eat great traditional cuisine and there are some cafes to work too, as well as plenty of supermarkets. Nightlife is quiet but you're close El Carmen and Ciutat Vella. Rent is also cheaper here than other parts of the city to the south.
Benimaclet
Away from center
Located about 3 kilometers to the northeast of the Old Town, this very pleasant 'village within the city' has a young crowd given its proximity to two different universities. Prices here tend to be lower and the appeal of the quiet streets, parks and good food of this community often attracts remote workers who want to experience a laid-back atmosphere away from the more hipster neighborhoods. While it's not walking distance to the city center, it is connected by public transportation.
El Cabanyal
Away from center
Simple, local and eclectic, this beachfront neighborhood is now gaining in popularity after being neglected for quite a while. Rent is cheap, more restaurants, cafes and bars are popping up all the time and you have the beautiful beach and its tree-lined boardwalk right in your backyard. It's very laid back here, but you have access to a large produce and seafood market, award-winning eateries, cheap bakeries, several supermarkets and streets without any traffic. You'll need to use public transportation (30 minutes) or a bicycle (20 minutes) to reach the city center though.
Ruzafa
Central
The hippest part of town, with a diverse range of excellent restaurants, cool cafes, popular bars and nightclubs, organic food stores, bakeries and boutique shops. During the day, the streets are laid-back, you can shop for fresh fruits and vegetables at the local market and you'll find the cafes filled with locals and foreigners working on their laptops. At night, the terraces and sidewalk bars fill up quickly and remain that way late into the night.
Monteolivete
Close to center
Quiet, local and considered to be 'up and coming' as nearby Ruzafa starts to outgrow itself. Prices are low, the pace is slow and the streets are full of local restaurants, simple bakeries and cafes, supermarkets and small shops. Despite being only five minutes walk from Turia Park and the City of Arts and Sciences and 30 minutes walk from the Old Town (or 10 minutes by bus), you can still find nice apartments at lower rents here compared to other parts of the city.
Camins Al Grau
Close to center
To the east of the center of town, this is a laid-back, lower-priced and conveniently located area to live in. Despite having wide avenues, the streets remain quiet and the diversity of the population here makes for a unique mix of places to eat, drink coffee and go out at night. It's not lively by any means but it's a very comfortable place to call home. You can also reach Turia Park in just minutes by foot and you can even walk to the beach in less than 30 minutes too.
El Carmen
Central
The most lively section of the Old Town, here you'll find a mix of quaint narrow lanes, medeival towers, tapas bars, museums, nighlife, music venues and small, lively squares. Groups of tourists keep this area busy during the day and locals keep it going at night, all resulting in a constant upbeat energy, along with some noise and crowds. Turia Park is just a few steps away though, offering the perfect escape when you need some down time.
Ciutat Vella
Central
As central as it gets, this is the heart of the city's history and tourism. Most of the main 'sights' can be found in the small streets and wide lanes that make up the Old City and you're never far from restaurants, cafes, shops and markets. You'll need some time to separate the touristy places from the local ones and prices in these parts can be inflated, but you'll also have access to public transportation to easily reach other parts of the city.
