If you are moving to Valencia with children and wondering which area to choose, the short answer is this: pick the school first, then the neighbourhood, then the flat. For city life near the Turia gardens, look at L'Eixample, El Pla del Real or Campanar. For the beach, Malvarrosa or Patacona. For a garden and an international school down the road, the towns north-west of the city, from Godella and Rocafort out to L'Eliana.
Valencia is compact, flat and easy with a pushchair, which is why so many British families end up here. It is also a city where two streets can feel completely different, so it pays to look closely.
Moving to Valencia with children, which area suits which family
Most families narrow it down to three types of place: central neighbourhoods along the old riverbed, beach neighbourhoods to the east, and the commuter towns along the metro lines. Rents and prices change quickly, so the guide below uses symbols rather than figures (check current listings on Idealista or Fotocasa before you commit).
| Place | Best for ages | Area | Type | Price guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L'Eixample and Pla del Remei | All ages | Centre, south of the old town | Central, quiet streets | €€€ |
| El Pla del Real | All ages | North bank of the Turia | Central, leafy | €€€ |
| Campanar and Nou Campanar | Toddlers to teens | North-west | Newer flats with pools | €€ |
| Benimaclet | Babies to 10 | North-east | Village feel, mixed | €€ |
| Ruzafa (Russafa) | Babies, older teens | Centre, south | Lively, can be noisy | €€€ |
| El Cabanyal | Under-10s | East, by the sea | Beach, still changing | €€ |
| La Malvarrosa | All ages | East, by the sea | Beach and promenade | €€ |
| Patacona (Alboraia) | Under-12s | Just north of the city beach | Quieter beach | €€ |
| Godella and Rocafort | All ages | North-west, metro Line 1 | Villas, international schools | €€€ |
| L'Eliana | All ages | North-west, metro Line 2 | Town with gardens | €€ |
| La Cañada (Paterna) | All ages | North-west, metro Line 2 | Pine woods, houses | €€€ |
L'Eixample and Pla del Remei
Grid streets between the old town and the Turia, close to the Mercado de Colón. You can walk the school run, the riverbed park is a few minutes away and the streets are quieter than they look on a map. It is also one of the dearest parts of the city. Families with a bigger budget and children of any age tend to be happiest here.
El Pla del Real
On the north bank of the Turia, around the Jardines del Real (Viveros). Tree-lined avenues, plenty of schools, public and private, and a metro and bus network that gets you across the city in minutes. Similar budget to L'Eixample, slightly more residential.
Campanar and Nou Campanar
Nou Campanar is the newer part, at the western end of the Turia gardens, with modern blocks that often have a shared pool. Bioparc, the city zoo, is next door. If your children are used to a garden, a flat with a communal pool is the closest Valencia city gets, and it makes the long summer far easier.
Benimaclet
An old village swallowed by the city, north-east of the centre. Small squares, a strong neighbourhood life and lots of students because of the university campuses nearby. Good value for young families. It gets busy at night around the bars, so ask which street you are on.
Ruzafa (Russafa)
The neighbourhood every guide mentions first, with its market, cafés and independent shops. It is great for a family with a baby who likes eating out. With school-age children, think twice: it can be noisy at weekends late into the night, and Spanish evenings start late.
El Cabanyal and La Malvarrosa
The fishermen's quarter by the sea, with low tiled houses, and the beach neighbourhood next to it. Five minutes' walk to Las Arenas or Malvarrosa beach and about 20 minutes into the centre by tram, bus or bike. Parts of El Cabanyal are still being renovated, so walk the street before you sign anything.
Patacona
Technically in Alboraia, just north of Malvarrosa. A long promenade, beach bars and fewer tourists. A favourite with families who want the sea without the city beach crowds in August.
Godella and Rocafort
Small towns on metro Line 1, about 25 minutes from the centre. Quiet, residential, and close to several international schools; Cambridge House Community College is in Rocafort itself. You will want a car for the weekly shop.
L'Eliana and La Cañada
Further out on metro Line 2. L'Eliana is a proper town of around 19,000 people with a centre, cooler summer nights than the coast and the Sierra Calderona hills nearby. La Cañada, part of Paterna, is pine woods and detached houses. Both suit families who want space, though teenagers can find them a bit far from friends in the city.
How schools change the choice
In Spain, your address largely decides which state school you can get into, through a points system at admission. Valencian state schools teach in Spanish and Valencian, and you will hear a lot of debate about how much of each. Most British families either choose an international school (fees vary widely, so ask each one directly) or a state school or a concertado (state-funded private) school close to home.
The practical order is:
- Shortlist two or three schools you like.
- Look for flats inside their catchment area.
- Visit both at the same time of day as the school run.
The Spanish school year runs from early September to late June, and the main admission round happens in spring, so mid-year arrivals are placed wherever there is space.
What nobody tells you about Valencian life
Lunch is the main meal and happens around 2pm, dinner around 9pm, and children are out in the squares until late in summer. Many smaller shops close for a few hours after lunch. July and August are hot and humid, which is why a pool, the beach or a north-west town with cooler nights matters more than it seems in October. And in March, Las Fallas takes over the city for several days: firecrackers, street closures and noise. Some central streets become very hard work with a pushchair that week.
For your first weekend, this easy family route of Valencia with kids in one day covers the Central Market, the Turia and Gulliver park. If you are still planning the move itself, moving to Spain with kids from the UK sets out the steps in order, and how to make friends after moving to Spain with kids covers the part that takes longest.
Before you sign a lease, it helps to talk to a family who already lives in the area you are looking at. Woltica connects travelling families with local families who have children of a similar age, so you can meet one in a park or over lunch and ask the questions estate agents never answer. You can find out more at Woltica.