Valencia according to Chase Warrington

After obtaining a Spanish residence visa (which proved to be a bit more difficult than I anticipated), I decided to explore Valencia. I quickly realized the city had everything I was looking for - good weather, access to beaches, and an international airport.

Valencia is a big city without the big-city feeling. You get to feel like a local. My favorite coworking space, Garage Coworking València, is just a five-minute walk away from where I live. As an early riser, I am the first person to arrive there. After a few hours of work, I head to Nexo Crossfit, followed by a long Spanish lunch. It took me a while to settle into the traditional siesta, but it is a part of the Spanish culture I now deeply appreciate. Dinners are also late - around 9 or 10 pm.

The weekends are incredibly lively in Valencia. My wife and I have our own Sunday tradition when we drive along the coast in our camper van and explore. Javea, with its high cliffs that drop straight down into the Mediterranean sea, is one of our favorites. Altea, a small neighboring village, is smaller and sleepier. It’s one of the most charming pueblos blancos - the white towns of Costa Blanca.

You can't leave Valencia without sampling its signature dish, paella. You'll find the best one at Restaurante Canela, right next to the Torres de Quart. Reserve a couple of days in advance for a table on the terrace! Another local favorite is Boatella Tapas in front of Mercat Central, you'll recognize it by a line of people waiting for a table. A Valencian tradition is the mid-morning bocadillo (baguette sandwich) and a beer at the likes of Bar Restaurante Rojas Clemente, with a traditional tortilla de patatas. The food in Valencia is truly incredible.

It’s fairly easy to find accommodation since most rentals are month-to-month. Idealista is the best resource for finding a long-term rental or property for purchase. Prices for a one-bedroom apartment with good amenities go around 800-1000EUR a month. If you have any questions, Americans in Valencia and Expats in Valencia groups are active and go out of their way to welcome people into the community. Café ArtySana is another popular hangout spot for digital nomads.

"Valencia is a big city without the big-city feeling. You feel like a local."

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El Carmen is the historic center of Valencia and one of my favorite parts of the city. At the old side of the Turia river, there is a 10km-long park that runs through the city. Locals still call it the Río. A bike path from there connects to the main beach, Playa Malvarossa. However, Playa Patacona is quieter and full of chiringuitos (bars with drinks & tapas) that are popular with the locals.

Valencia has great weather for eight months of the year. March is a strange time in this city - many locals leave during the pyrotechnic-heavy Las Fallas festival. The celebration turns into three weeks of fireworks and chaos, which might not be for everyone. August brings a different challenge - the temperatures are incredibly high but you’ll have a beach nearby to cool off!