Valencia

While I was studying abroad in Spain in the Fall of 2004 I lived in Valencia. I had never heard of Valencia until I began to research places in Spain. I would recommend going here 100%! Out of the three months I lived there, it only rained 3 times and there was almost always sunshine. I lived close to the Torres de Quart and couldn’t believe that towers built in the 15th century were still around! You can still see holes where they were hit by canon balls! I spent many nights at Cafe Marlen which was close to our university. Carlo was an awesome bartender and always doing some really cool tricks. I could go on and on about Valencia, but think I will stop. If you ever decide to go and want to know more, feel free to let me know!

Valencia is gorgeous. I only had the pleasure of staying for 2 nights but I was there during the San Juan festival which is the time to go as long as you make hotel reservations way in advance. My favorite part was an amazing beach rave which totally did me in lol.

Nothing amazing about Valencia, but it has its charm – it’s a likeable city. Decent architecture, good weather, some independent culture. I wouldn’t go a long way out of my way, but it’s worth at least a day if you’re around.

My luggage was stolen out of the trunk of my rental car here. I hate this city, and will never return.

Me and a friend wanted to go to Barcelona, but we found such a cheap flight to Valencia that we decided to stop there for 2-3 days and then take the train to Barcelona. Such a good surprise. 2-3 days was definitely not enough…I knew nothing about Valencia before being there…except where it is. I now recommend it to everyone when there is a conversation about traveling. Valencia is now on my “want to go back” list.

I always wondered why it is not more popular. Most of the tourists are Spaniards.

Valencia is a region that has it all. It has really nice beaches, awesome food, the world’s best fiestas (Fallas), nice people, old culture (Moors)

I had nice company. My best Catalan friend, Emanuel Vinader

...got the worst sunburn of my life in Valencia…

We arrived in Valencia the night of a soccer game between Valencia C.F. at Barcelona. We walked outside the train station to wait for a taxi in a line about 100 people long. Turns out that most of the cabbies were home watching the game on TV.

Unlike Italy, the Spanish take queue etiquette very seriously. When an older woman tried to cut to the front, she and the cabbie who took her fare got an earful from a middle-aged businessman in front of us. It made me appreciate being able to speak Spanish so that I could understand his tantrum.

Easily our favorite of the three cities we visited in Spain (Madrid and Barcelona as well), Valencia is beautiful, open and easy to navigate. I wish we had spent a few more days here.