Valencia has seen its profile grow in recent years and deservedly so. Its stunning architecture, lively culture and sandy beaches have seen Valencia become a firm favourite both with tourists and digital nomads. Spain’s third city also benefits from being more affordable than Madrid or Barcelona, meaning it can be a great option if you’re looking for somewhere to spend a few months (or perhaps longer). In this article, I’ll share a little bit more about my experience as a digital nomad in Valencia, and some tips if you’re considering heading to the city.
Why Valencia?
Valencia benefits from a great location. It’s highly accessible, particularly if you’re already based in Europe. It’s also easy to reach from other destinations within Spain. Madrid is just 90 minutes away via high-speed train and tickets can be found for as little as €9 each way.
The city itself benefits from being large enough to offer plenty of things to do, but small enough to be highly accessible. Despite having a great public transport network, it’s extremely walkable. In particular, I’d highlight the city’s Turia Park. Opened in 1986 and running through the centre of the city, the park was created after the city council decided to redirect the Turia River, which was a major flood risk to the city.
Valencia is also home to the highly iconic City of Arts and Sciences. Whether you decide to visit the Museum of Sciences, or perhaps head to the Aquarium Oceanografic instead, you’ll find plenty of things to do. In fact, you don’t even need to pay the entrance fees if you don’t want to – just seeing the architecture from the outside can be a great experience.
Valencia is lively, and events such as the Fallas de Valencia are an example of this. The main city beach is expansive, meaning even during the height of summer, you’ll always be able to find somewhere to sit. If you’re wanting slightly prettier beaches, options such as El Saler, just outside of the city, are a great option.
As you’d expect, the city benefits from a number of fantastic places to eat and drink, and it’s usually possible to find something for all budgets. The city is particularly vibrant during the spring and summer months, when you’ll see people across the city sitting outside on terraces enjoying the warm weather.
Affordability
Valencia is still affordable, especially compared with other European destinations. This said, prices have risen in recent years and housing in particular has become considerably more expensive. I’ll talk more about this below. As previously discussed, Valencia does have plenty of free options, so it is possible to be budget conscious. After all, visiting the beach or heading to the park costs nothing.
Eating out remains relatively affordable, particularly due to the number of options available. For a two course meal at a normal restaurant, expect to pay around €60 for two people including a glass of wine each.
Public transport is extremely accessible. In fact, if you’re under 31, you can currently benefit from free public transport throughout the city.
Finding a place to stay and choosing a neighbourhood
The vast majority of neighbourhoods in Valencia are good options. Prices will vary though depending on which one you choose. If you want to be at the heart of the city’s nightlife, Ruzafa is a good option. Alternatively, Montolivet and En Corts are great if you want to be close to the action, but are looking for something slightly more affordable.
If you prefer to be closer to the beach, El Cabanyal is the logical choice. This neighbourhood is very much up and coming, and while some areas are a little rougher, there are plenty of nice bars and restaurants to visit.
In terms of cost, prices have risen considerably in recent years. There are a number of places you can look for somewhere to stay. These include Spotahome, Flatio or Airbnb. Spotahome and Flatio are better options if you’re looking for a mid-term rental.
Prices will fluctuate depending on when you plan to visit the city. During the autumn and winter months, expect to pay around €1,200 per month for a 1 to 2 bedroom apartment. This can rise to be closer to €2,000 during the summer though.
Connectivity and Working Remotely
If you’re exploring the option of being a digital nomad in Valencia, working remotely is easy. As well as having good access to high-speed internet, there are also a number of coworking spaces. If the place your staying at doesn’t include wifi, a 300mb/s plan can easily be found for around €25 per month.
Data is also cheap. I pay €7.50 per month, and this includes 20Gb.
Things to consider
Of course, Valencia benefits from warm summers, as well as mild winters. This means it is a good year-round destination. This said, it can still be cold during the winter, especially as it’s rare for apartments to have heating systems. It’s not unusual, however, to experience warm days during the winter – pleasant enough to be able to head to the beach (although perhaps not to enter the water!).
During the summer months in particular, the city is a popular tourism destination. This gives the city an international feel, but it does mean things can seem busy. Valencia is also considerably smaller than Barcelona or Madrid. This can be an advantage, but it also means there’s slightly less to explore if you’re planning to be a digital nomad in Valencia.
Safety
In terms of safety, Valencia is a great option. Of course, you should take the normal precautions you would when visiting any city, but as long as you’re sensible you shouldn’t expect any problems.
Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa
Although I have not applied for it personally, Spain has recently launched a visa for Digital Nomads. This is a great option if you’re not a citizen of the EU and therefore only have a limited number of days per year to stay in the Schengen Zone.
Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa allows you to stay in the country for an initial period of 12 months, which can be extended for up to 5 years. The cost of the visa is approximately €80, and you can find out more here.
Are you considering spending some time as a digital nomad in Valencia? If you have any questions, I’ll be happy to try and help, so feel free to ask below!
Also feel free to check-out our other digital nomad posts here!
