11 Reasons Why You Should Pack Your Bags And Move To Valencia
Looking to escape the dull British weather and move to Spain? In this article we take a look at the 11 reasons why you should consider packing up your bags today for a move to Valencia.
An estimated 309,000 Brits are said to be currently residing on Spain’s sandy shores.
Many of which head to the sun-kissed coastal regions of the Costa Del sol or Costa Blanca.
As a result, Spain’s cosmopolitan coastal ‘third city’ is often overlooked.
With cheap properties, a low cost of living and a thriving culture and arts scene, Valencia has much to offer.
Whether you’re a retiree looking to enjoy the fruits of your labour in the sun or a digital nomad looking for a new working base, read on to find out why you should move to Valencia.
Table of Contents
Affordable and Modern Housing
Lucas Fox, the international properties expert, has observed a 20% rise in foreign bought properties in Valencia over 2018.
Sales made made by foreigners in Valencia (10%), were above that of both Madrid (6%) and Barcelona (9%).
Valencia boasts an eclectic mix of new build apartments and old-style townhouse with communal pools and play areas, which make them excellent for families and retirees alike.
The Valencia Property February 2019 Video Report. https://t.co/01f9CWZZyA Take a look at share with your friends if they are looking to buy in Valencia pic.twitter.com/vHfUnW6yYj
— Graham Hunt (Valencia Property) (@grahunt) February 13, 2019
Current opportunities listed by Valencia Property.com as of January 2019 include:
- A two-bedroom apartment in the Naquera hills for just €125,000
- Wooden beamed family houses and new builds in the desirable La Eliana neighbourhood for just under €300,000
Glorious Weather
Okay we admit it this is an obvious one when talking about Spain.
But did you know Valencia enjoys around 3000 hours of sunshine a year?
Average summer temperatures reach comfortably highs of just over 30 °C with winters rarely dipping below 5 °C at night.
Hello t-shirts and sunscreen. Goodbye fleeces and hot water bottles.
Endless Beaches
Valencia is not short of a good beach or two.
There is no need to head to Benidorm or any of these resorts when there are long stretches of unspoilt sands right on your doorstop.
La Malvarrosa beach is by far the most popular and is divided into three main beaches: Malvarrosa, Las Arenas and Patacona beaches.
All beaches clean, family-friendly and served by a great range of facilities.
Friendly Expat Community
Valencians are an open society where expats and locals mingle and socialise effortlessly in and around the many restaurants and bars.
The Café culture lends itself to digital nomads and entrepreneurial types who like to conduct business affairs over a glass of sangria.
Learn Spanish at one of the many expat schools or take up a course of study at the world-renowned Valencia University.
Relaxed Lifestyle
Expats who have relocated to Valencia report a slower pace of life.
Working days start aroud 10am and although stretch on later into the evening are punctuated by long sleepy siestas.
The laidback lifestyle means expats can spend their downtime either relaxing with the family at the beach or indulging in a spot of shopping.
Low Cost Of Living
Many people move to Valencia to take advantage of the low cost of living compared with the UK.
You can rent a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre for around €600 (£512) and a monthly rail pass (for the metro service) costs just €40.
Compared with some of the UK’s biggest cities:
- Rent is 72% lower in Valencia than it is in London
- The price of your weekly shop is 18% lower in Valencia than it is in Manchester
- The cost to eat out at a local restaurant for two is 28% lower in Valencia than in Newcastle
Get Hooked On Paella
Valencia is widely renowned as being the birthplace of Paella.
Once you’ve tasted the Valencian take on this classic recipe there is no going back.
For a full list of the best places to get Paella in town head to the Culture Trip’s list.
Psst… head to Casa Salvador for the best paella in town!
Well Connected
Spend less time commuting and more time living.
Getting around Valencia by metro trains is easy – six lines serve the majority of the city.
Tickets are competitively priced and can be purchased up to a year in advance. Read this guide to navigating the Valencia Metro here.
There are also various tram and bus services to help you get around. To be honest Valencia’s design and compactness render it a superb city to walk around.
High-sped rail networks, connect Valencia to Madrid and Barcelona as well as Murcia, Malaga, and Seville.
Enoying this post? Read our 15 undeniably good reasons to move to Spain in 2019
Thriving Culture and Arts Scene
Whether yoga retreats in the mountainsides are your bag or you’re more of an arts bug, Valencia has tons to do.
There is no shortage of museums, art galleries and outdoor sports facilities.
Valencia is home to some of the world’s most exciting architecture and futuristic buildings.
This includes the famous City of Arts and Sciences (The Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias), an entertainment and arts complex.
Other significant architectural feats include the opera house of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, and L’Oceanogràfic – the largest aquarium in Europe.
Festival Fever
It’s not all high brow either with exciting festivals held each year.
The Fallas Fiesta is a festival which uses lights, fireworks, traditional Spanish costume and food to celebrate the final days of winter.
Just make sure you’ve got your ear plugs ready, things get very noisy!
Other exciting events include La Tomatina, in the Valencian town of Buñol, where residents line the streets to pelt people with tomatoes!
Bennicassim festival hosts all the latest names in Pop, Rock and other genres from around the world.
Peaceful And Clean
It may be Spain’s third largest city, but Valencia is significantly less crowded than Madrid and Barcelona and escapes the usual trappings of a tourist city.
With 6.2 million annual visitors this is far lower than most.
Traffic flows freely with limited congestion and the air quality is higher as a result.
Ready To Move to Valencia?
Spain has long been the favoured expat destination for Brits looking to retiree in the sun.
Make Goodmove your preferred European removals company to help you get there.
Moving with GoodMove couldn’t be simpler. Our experienced and friendly team will be on hand to guide you throughout the process and will tailor your move to your time and budget.
We pack your belongings using a bespoke range of packing materials and deliver them right to your new home using our extensive fleet of vehicles.
Our Removals to Spain service covers everything from insurance to export shipping. We can advice and even pack your possessions for shipping aboard our weekly transit to Spain.
We negotiate the best ferry rates to keep our prices competitive and are able to take both small deliveries as well as full house moves.
To find out more give us a call using the below number of fill out a quick quote form.