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First founded as a Roman colony, today Valencia ([v蓹藞l蓻nsi蓹], Valencian: [va藞lensia]) is Spain鈥檚 third largest metropolitan area with 2 million tourists visiting per year. Sitting on the Eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula and on the banks of the Turia river, the city is now the busiest port on the Mediterranean Sea and the fifth busiest port in Europe.

The impact of various peoples and cultures that have historically invaded and conquered the territory can still be seen and felt. Valencia鈥檚 historic centre is one of the largest in Spain and the heritage borne in its air, streets and buildings makes this grandiose city one of the top tourist destinations of the country.

Accomodation wise, Valencia has plenty of rentals on offer, and as compared to many other European cities is pretty affordable. This does not mean that the quality of rentals is lower too. On the contrary, here you鈥檒l find upscale hotels where you will be pampered and all your needs satisfied, providing quite competitive value for the money. This is the place where you can find decent rooms in four-star hotels for less than US $100 per night. Likewise, backpackers and those traveling on a budget will be delighted by a series of cheap yet good rentals.

Table of Content

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Part 1. A quick glance at Valencia鈥檚 recommended neighbourhoods

Ciutat Vella - ancient yet happening, this area will welcome you with stunning architecture, varied rentals and plenty of fun

尝鈥椭颈虫补尘辫濒别 - ritzy and entertaining, it is a neighbourhood with exclusive accommodation, food and divertissement

Extramurs - relaxed and authentic, this district will gratify the foodies, those traveling on a budget or as a family

Poblats Mar铆tims - laid-back and lazy fun, it is the coastal district with diverse rentals, perfect for a beach holiday

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Part 2. Recommended neighbourhoods and hotels to stay in Valencia

Ciutat Vella

Pronounced: [s瑟u鈥檛蕦t 鈥榖el瑟a]

- Overview

The place to stay in if you want to be in the middle of all the action, Ciutat Vella keeps the happening and lively vibes. It鈥檚 the most touristy part of the city, pleasant during the day and vibrant at night. Ciutat Vella can be literally translated as Old Town, and that鈥檚 the area where you鈥檒l discover Valencia鈥檚 main historical attractions. Its streets resemble a maze, its buildings give off the old-world charm, displaying the city鈥檚 heart beating for centuries just as it is. In this neighbourhood you can find everything you might be looking for. It is home to the city鈥檚 Central Market (an attraction itself) where you can buy all sorts of things along with locals and other tourists. But if you prefer brand names head to the Patriarca square to lose yourself. The area also offers a plethora of eateries with local and international cuisine, and especially famous for paella (generally, Valencia is said to have some of the best paella in the world!). In this neighbourhood you can choose between the most expensive and the cheapest accommodations in the city. The area is the hub of luxury flats, but you鈥檒l also find plenty of affordable pensions, B&Bs and hostels. Some parts of Ciutat Vella are more fun and bustling (El Carmen, El Mercat and El Pilar), others are more residential (La Seu and La Xerea).

- Main Attractions

* La Catedral (must see)
* Museum of Prehistory and Culture
* Asilo del Marques de Campo
* Museo del Siglo XIX
* Pineda Palace
* Iglesia del Carmen
* Casa-Museo de las Rocas
* Torres de Serranos (must see)
* Palacio de Benicarlo
* Jardines Viejo Cauce del Turia (must see)
* Plaza de la Virgen (must see)
* Bas铆lica de la Virgen de los Desamparados (must see)
* Cripta Arqueologica de la Carcel de San Vicente Martir
* IVAM (must see)
* Almudin
* Torres de Quart (must see)
* Mercado Central -The Central Market (must see)
* Llotja de la Seda (must see)
* Plaza Redonda (must see)
* Iglesia y Torre de Santa Catalina
* Palacio del Marques de Dos Aguas (must see)
* Iglesia de San Juan del Hospital (must see)
* Porta de la Mar
* Teatro Olympia
* City Hall (must see)
* La Filmoteca IVAC

- Recommended Walks

The neighbourhood where most of Valencia鈥檚 attractions are, Ciutat Vella can get you a bit dizzy with the multitude of places worth visiting hidden in the maze of the streets. Check out these truly helpful self-guided walking tours of the Old Town:

* City Orientation Walk
* Religious Sightseeing Walk in Valencia
* Architectural Sightseeing Tour
* Art Walking Tour
* Walk in El Carme
* Strolling El Mercat of Valencia

- Pros of Staying Here

- Rentals for every taste and wallet
- Many historical settings
- Most attractions are here
- Home to the Valencia鈥檚 central market
- Groceries and supermarkets
- Most cultural venues are here
- Plenty of shopping and entertainment
- Rich and varied dining options
- Well connected transportation system

- Cons of Staying Here

- Mostly crowded and noisy

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尝鈥椭颈虫补尘辫濒别 (Ensanche)

Pronounced: [la鈥櫴兩猘mpla:], [忙n鈥檚a:nt蕛e]

- Overview

Up-and-coming, 尝鈥椭颈虫补尘辫濒别 is a 鈥測ounger鈥� district of Valencia. Built in the 19h century as an expansion of the Ciutat Vella, it is now a commercial area, with designer boutiques, fine restaurants and upscale cafes. Fashionistas will be glad to learn that the area houses the Mercado de Col贸n, a former market now transformed into an extravagant shopping arcade. Art buffs will cheer visiting the art galleries. Party-goers would head to the Canovas neighbourhood, one of Valencia鈥檚 main nightlife areas, which surprisingly lacks the pretention of the entire district. Contrasting the Old Town street maze, 尝鈥椭颈虫补尘辫濒别 has more of a grid-like layout featuring wide streets lined with spectacular medieval buildings, in their turn housing various types of rentals. You can find a series of renovated posh penthouses and apartments, four- and five-star hotels, but very few budget accommodation options. If you do not want to compromise on comfort while being surrounded by people with a similar lifestyle, this is the perfect neighbourhood for you to stay in.

- Main Attractions

* Theater Museum
* Estaci贸n del Norte
* Plaza de Toros
* Taurino
* Centro de Arte Contemporaneo Alba Cabrera
* Palau de la Musica

- Recommended Walks

To easily find the fun things to do with your kid when traveling as family, watch this self-guided walking tour:

* Tour for Kids in Valencia

- Pros of Staying Here

- Upscale rentals, eateries and cafes
- A lot of leisure
- Ruzafa Market, where you can find anything that can be exchanged for money

- Cons of Staying Here

- Mostly expensive
- No metro stations
- Few cheap rentals

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Extramurs

Pronounced: [,蕦kstr蕦鈥檓urs]

- Overview

Built in the beginning of the 20th century mostly in a grid pattern, Extramurs is a neighbourhood of contrasts. Some streets have a ritzy feel to them, others will convey more of a working-class vibe. Inhabited by locals and expats, the neighbourhood will give you the experience of a resident鈥檚 life. Here you鈥檒l have some of the best Spanish omelettes and tapas. Add a beer to them, and you鈥檒l have brunch as a Valencian. For ecological food head to the ecomarket. There are also many eateries offering international fare. Accommodation wise, it is a residential neighbourhood with affordable options. A quieter area, Extramurs is the best place to rent in if you are looking for a peaceful escape or traveling with a family.

- Main Attractions

* Jardin Botanico

- Pros of Staying Here

- Residential area
- Home to Valencia鈥檚 main train station
- Many domestic and international cheap eateries
- Ecomarket for ecological food
- Everything comes at a smaller price
- Well-connected to other neighbourhoods

- Cons of Staying Here

- Few fine dining options
- Not rich in terms of nightlife

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Poblats Mar铆tims (Poblados Mar铆timos)

Pronounced: [p蓴b鈥檒蕦ts m蕦鈥檙i:t瑟ms], [p蓴b鈥檒a:dos m蕦鈥檙i:t瑟m蓴蕛]

- Overview

Poblats Maritims is Valencia鈥檚 coastal neighbourhood and has some of the nicest beaches in the city on offer. An area that feels like a fishermen village, Poblats Maritims lures visitors with splendid sandy beaches and is the perfect neighbourhood to stay in Valencia for a holiday. It does not have many attractions, but considering the compactness of the city everything you鈥檇 like to see is in a short ride away with the public transport. There are plenty of bars and pubs where you can relish a nice cold one after a long and hard day of sightseeing or sunbathing. To dance the night away and have fun head to one of the clubs. No matter what you choose for dining or entertainment, most of the venues will be overlooking the sea, making them a perfect choice to leisurely spend the afternoon or evening. Although located right close to the beach, accommodations are really affordable, making it the perfect neighbourhood to stay in if you are here for a nice relaxing vacation. There is an average supply of rentals with varied prices and quality.

- Main Attractions

* Teatro de Marionetas La Estrella
* America's Cup Pavilion (must see)

- Pros of Staying Here

- Good choice of rentals at a smaller price
- Coastal area with beautiful beaches
- Well connected to other neighbourhoods
- Lots of dining and entertainment

- Cons of Staying Here

- Not too much to explore
- Somewhat remote

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Part 3. Getting from the airport to your hotel

Valencia Airport, also known as Manises Airport as per the municipality it is located in, lies just about 5 miles away from Valencia city centre, making it quite easy and inexpensive to get there. Here are the alternatives you can choose from.

An easy and fast way to get to downtown is by taking the subway. There are 2 lines linking the Airport to the city centre: line 3 and line 5. Note that none of them go to Ciutat Vella, both do follow its southern border. If your renting choice is Poblats Mar铆tims, go for line 5, and it will take you to the Mar铆tim-Serrer铆a station, right close to the neighbourhood. When taking line 3, hop off at 脌ngel Guimer脿 for Extramurs or western part of Ciutat Vella, or at X脿tiva or Col贸n for 尝鈥椭颈虫补尘辫濒别 or for the southern part of Ciutat Vella. The total cost would be 鈧�4.90 (~ US $5.70), which includes the price of the ticket 鈧�3.90 and the price of the Mobilis card 鈧�1.00. The trip will last about 25 minutes (from the Airport to X脿tiva station). The subway operates from 5 am on weekdays and 7 am on weekends and holidays, to 11.30 pm.

You can take the bus line 150 (a.k.a. Metrobus), especially if you would like to get closer to the very heart of the city. There are several stations in Extramurs and Ciutat Vella. The one-way ticket costs 鈧�1.45 (~ US $1.70). The bus operates between 5.25 am and 10.05 pm, approximately every 30 minutes monday to saturday, and does not operate on sundays. It will take you about 45 minutes to get to the city centre.

Opposite of Arrivals, you can find the taxis. A taxi ride to the city centre will cost you about 鈧�25 (US $29), but the price may be higher subject to traffic, destination, day of the week or year (higher rates on weekends and holidays apply), time of the day and other conditions. Usually, fares are metered.

At the Airport, you can find a couple of car rental companies offering their services. As well, before getting to Valencia you can pre-book a private transfer. In both cases, the price will depend on the type of car, number of passengers, time of the day or day of the year, and other conditions.

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Part 4. A Few Tips to Choose the Right Neighbourhood for You

When in Valencia, it is quite easy to choose the perfect neighbourhood for you to stay in depending on what you are looking for.

If you are looking for cheaper accommodation, stay in Ciutat Vella, Extramurs or Poblats Mar铆tims. For an upscale experience don鈥檛 think twice - rent in 尝鈥椭颈虫补尘辫濒别.

If you are a foodie, Valencia is a true heaven for you. Look for ecofood in Extramurs, head to 尝鈥椭颈虫补尘辫濒别 for fine dining, eliminate your sea-food cravings in Poblats Mar铆tims, and for any taste go to Ciutat Vella.

To be right close to all the shopping, stay in Ciutat Vella or 尝鈥椭颈虫补尘辫濒别. In both of these neighbourhoods you鈥檒l find everything you鈥檇 like to buy (and that can be legally sold!)

Those travelling as a family might want to avoid Ciutat Vella just because of its touristiness. Otherwise, any of the recommended districts are suitable for a family stay.

For arts and architecture, opt for Ciutat Vella or 尝鈥椭颈虫补尘辫濒别. If you like to watch the sea before going to sleep, then definitely choose Poblats Mar铆tims.

If you are visiting for just a day or two, rent in Ciutat Vella to be the closest to all the attractions. For a longer stay, we鈥檇 recommend Extramurs or Poblats Mar铆tims.