Calmer, more Mediterranean, smaller, less animated, ... For many years, comparisons between Barcelona and Valencia have been dividing opinions. The Catalan giant, more famous thanks to its mythical Ramblas, its inimitable cathedral still under construction, tends to take the upper hand over its little sister from the south.
And yet ... The fame of a city is not always synonymous with "better" or "best". We have decided to come back to 5 fundamental points, weighing in favor of our dear Valencia, when choosing "where to live".
1. The climate
Yes, it may seem obvious, "further south, warmer, sunnier", it's a matter of logic. But what does it mean? What does it imply?
Living in the sun, waking up in the morning and seeing that blue, almost cloudless sky. It's not just about being able to go sunbathe at the beach most of the year. It goes beyond that. It's the joy of living, it's recharging with energy, with vitamins. It's about wanting to get out of the house. It's making plans. It's doing sports in the Turia garden, which is several kilometers long and crosses our city from one side to the other. It's walking your dog with desire and not with obligation. It's meeting up with friends after work for a drink. It's talking, laughing, living. This is what it means to live in a city with such a mild climate as Valencia. The joy and the desire to live.
2. The French-speaking communities
Belgian and French friends can rest assured that you will not feel isolated here. In addition to the Facebook groups where you can get help and advice to establish your life in Valencia, you will find here French restaurants and stores selling products so dear to our stomachs. Some will say "when you live in Spain, you eat Spanish". We believe that French expatriates living in Japan do not eat sushi 365 days a year. Well, the same goes for you. We love paella. The tapas we love. The ham to be consumed without moderation. We all agree with that. But that doesn't stop us from having a little piece of cheese, a beef bourguignon, a REAL croissant and not a "curasan", ... that's not only good for the stomach but also and especially for the morale. So know that here you will find friends, advice, support and little treats, all to make your life easier and to help you in case of a bout of doldrums, because yes it happens!
3. A lively cultural life
And that's not an understatement! Shall we start the list? We're not just talking about the more than famous Fallas that leave the city feeling like the day after Christmas: we ate too many churros, we listened to too many firecrackers, we laughed too much, we danced too much, we hurt all over, we can't take it anymore: but how good it was! And because in our lamentations (because above all we are French speakers of "too much noise", "too many people", "too much of everything", we love it and wait only for one thing: that it starts again. But we said not to talk about the Fallas. In Valencia there is always something to do, to see, to discover. So let's talk about the concerts, the plays, the ballets, the operas, the fireworks that light up the sky, the markets that flood the streets and our nostrils with irresistible smells. Valencia is cultural, multicultural. There is something for every taste, for every age, for every desire. "There's nothing to do today" is a phrase that can hardly be pronounced here. For more good plans and different plans especially, we recommend the Fever application. You will tell us about it.
4. The price per square meter
So let's get more serious and tackle a subject that directly affects our sweet wallets. According to the site www.combien-coute.net, in 2021 the average price per square meter in the city of Gaudi, is 4434.44 €. A minimum of 3500 and a maximum of 5000.
But in Valencia ... This same site estimates the average price at 2620.58€. With a minimum of 2000 and a maximum of 3500€. No need to be a mathematical genius to understand: the minimum price of Barcelona is the maximum price of Valencia. A strong argument that should please your banker...
5.Valencia - France / Valencia - Belgium connections
Brussels-Zaventem, Brussels Charleroi, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nantes, Paris (Beauvais, Orly, Roissy-Charles de Gaulle), Toulouse. Here is the list of Belgian and French destinations departing directly from Valencia airport. With airlines such as Ryanair, Vueling, Bruxelles Airlines, Air France and Transavia, you're sure to find a way to get home as frequently as possible. Valencia isn't that far from France or Belgium, and you can be home with your loved ones for a weekend back to your roots in just 2 hours (Brussels Charleroi or Brussels-Zaventem).
So I know what you're going to say: "Barcelona has all this too". Yes, it does. But Valencia, our beautiful city, offers a quality of life that we haven't found anywhere else. Smaller than its Catalan big sister, it's quiet, less touristy, less noisy. Valencia is a gentle little bubble, cradled by the waves of the Mediterranean and warmed by the rays of the sun. Valencia means being able to get from point A to point B on foot. It means not being smothered by thousands of tourists (apart from the Fallas, mind you). Valencia is the good life, so ... what are you waiting for?