Valencia - where to stay

[ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea]

We have flights booked to Valencia first week in November. Originally had planned a short break but due to frequency / timing of flights from our local airport we have booked a week .

We are looking at apartments and are unsure whether to go old town, quieter city area or beach .

Normally I love a sea view (can sit and look at sea for hours) but wonder if it's going to be too quiet at the beach area that time of year and we will get fed up with travelling back and forth into the centre . Reviews of city centre places mention a lot of noise, and those on the outskirts of the city are suggesting dodgy areas .

Apartment needs to have balcony, aircon and elevator if it's higher than one floor up (have found a couple of lovely places on fourth floor with just winding staircase ). Not asking for recommendations - just mentioning what we like .

If you have been to Valencia - which area would you choose to stay in ?

Anyone ?

We stayed here in March for Las Fallas - it's city centre, extremely central, and we had a balcony which gave some outside space. It's not particularly "special" but we'd stay here again: https://www.cataloniahotels.com/en/hotel/catalonia-excelsior?gclid=Cj0KCQjwuZGnBhD1ARIsACxbAVjTLw8ynAEahSjIE05fnB8erCHzgT4rIXm43Dy1t6nm0mF76c1-W9saAhReEALw_wcB

Personally I wouldn't stay by the beach just because I prefer to be central.

We stayed just inside the city walls near the Torres de Serranos as per picture. We were in an apartment on first or second floor. Lovely location - great square for breakfasts, lovely views, easy walk into central old town but not right in the middle where it’s a bit noisier. Felt like a nice safe area - there are some more fun but dodgy bits which we avoided.

Also it was really easy to get buses out to the city of arts and sciences area - they all run alongside the old riverbed area that encircles the old town. Buses were excellent and extremely cheap. We got the metro down to the beach for a day - tbh it’s nice enough but I don’t think the point of Valencia is the beach area - it’s all about the gorgeous city for me.

I think you are right that the City is the main focus of the trip - and particularly at that time of year we would be less likely to want to be around the beach anyway. Plus, it appears to be a couple of mikes away from the old town .

We stayed right in the centre. Ground floor flat, opening onto a pedestrianised street not far from the bullring and mercado.

It was perfect.

I think it was the Torres des Serranos apartments

Do you cycle. If so pick something near the city but also near Turia park to get on to the cycle lanes. It’s really easy to cycle to the zoo, the Arts and Science area and also to the beaches, both the town ones and the ones further out. We had bikes the whole time we were there, cycled about 100 miles in a week, never went on a road as the cycle paths were so good. All flat, even a fat fifty something could manage it. Even cycled to Port Saplaya and El Saler.

Hi @Scottishlanza this was my thread in August - we booked an apartment close to Turia park, and cathedral. I can't see me cycling but I assumed we could use the paths to walk, although public transport looks good . We go in about 4 weeks .

@ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea the park is brilliant to walk through . I’ve now been to most Spanish cities and I think Valencia was the nicest. The beach was a right revelation, better sand than most traditional resorts. Don’t discount the cycling, I’ve recently started renting adult tricycles abroad and they are brill. I am now over 60 and quite overweight lol. Was in my 50s in Valencia
food tip if you like steak. Gordon 10 is brilliant. Check out the tripadvisor reviews. The beer and wine selections were second to none too

Now the adult tricycle sounds interesting ! Thank you

Hope you can find a tricycle in Valencia, I was riding a two wheeler there but now seek out three wheels where possible