Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city and capital of the region. Foreign tourists don’t overrun the city, as they do much of Spain, and the foreign community is smaller than in Madrid or Barcelona. This makes it easier to meet locals.
Moreover, the city itself is an appealing and inexpensive place to live, with a pleasant historic center and numerous art museums. The waterfront esplanade, lined with restaurants and bars, where on summer weekends the dancing goes on until sunrise, is only a 10-minute tramway ride from the center.
A three- to four-hour bus ride, the cheapest and most convenient way to travel, brings you to Barcelona in the north, Madrid in the west, and Alicante in the south. The famous party island of Ibiza is an overnight ferry ride away.
In Valencia, as in the rest of Spain, people are lining up to learn English. University students need English to find employment upon graduation, and companies tell employees that career advancement depends on their ability to speak English. As a result, English language schools are opening up all over Spain.
Main industries
With a very large and important port, Valencia is definitely an industrial city. Manufacturing, furniture, shoes, cement, paper, ceramics, and textiles are main industries here.
Language
The community of Valencia (the three provinces of Alicante, Valencia, and Castellón) has two official languages: Castellano and Valenciano, a local dialect. Classes at the University of Valencia are offered in both, and with speaking and understanding only Castellano you can certainly get by in daily life in Valencia. If interested, you can also take classes in Valencia to learn Valenciano.
Gastronomy
You will not go hungry in Valencia. Like any modern city, Valencia has a little bit of everything in terms of food and restaurants. There are some constants, though. I found that Valencia has a very Mediterranean cuisine, with lots of seafood, olives, olive oil, vegetables, and rice. Tapas (small rations of food) are, of course, famous in Spain, and Valencia is literally FULL of tapas bars and restaurants.
Valencia is famous for its paella, a rice dish made in a special pan, also called a paella. While there is paella in all of Spain, it is said that paella originated in the area of Valencia. Paella comes in all forms and ingredients, but traditional Valencian Paella contains chicken, rabbit, special beans and vegetables, and saffron. Another famous food here is aioli, a garlic mayonnaise.
Eating times in Spain are different than what you may be used to. Breakfast in the morning usually consists of only a coffee and croissant. Lunch, “La Comida” is usually eaten between 2-4 pm, and is the big meal of the day. Many stores and businesses close for the time of the comida, the famous Spanish “siesta.” Dinner, or “La Cena” is typically a lighter meal and eaten around 9-11 pm.
Nightlife
Informally, Valencia is known throughout Spain for its parties. Whether you like small bars, jazz clubs, or huge elaborate discos, you will find it all here. And most likely, all in the same night! People typically don’t head out to hit the town until late, sometimes going to a disco as late as 2:30 or 3:00 am. Some clubs stay open until 8, 9, or even 10:00 am! If you stay out to see the sun rise, you’ve had a normal Spanish night of fiesta. And if you’re not into the bar scene, there are lots of other things to do, too. Movie theatres, a Music Hall, plays, tapas restaurants…whatever you can imagine!
Transportation
Taxis – Taxis are white, everywhere, and pretty cheap. You can usually flag one down on any street. The green light on the roof illuminated means the cab is free
Buses – EMT (the public bus company, 96 352 83 99) buses are big and red, easy to use, and even cheaper then taxis! Maps, destinations, and frequencies are clearly displayed at the bus stops
Metro and Tramvia – Valencia has a good metro system, There is also a monorial-type tram that runs from various points in the northern part of the city, to the beach
Train – RENFE is the company that operates the trains that traverse Spain. The main RENFE station in Valencia is Estacion del Norte. You can inquire about schedules and buy tickets right at the station, to go virtually anywhere in Spain or further.
Central Bus Station – For longer trips outside of the city, the Central Bus Station has buses that run virtually everywhere in Spain and other cities in Europe.