El Carmen (Barrio del Carmen) is one of the 6 neighborhoods in the Ciutat Vella district, the historic center of Valencia. Located in the heart of the city, this thousand-year-old neighborhood has so much history. The neighborhood is situated between 2 towers, Torres de Serranos and Quart Towers, built in the medieval ages.

Find out below what El Carmen offers in terms of leisure activities, dining options, amenities, connectivity by public transport, and rental prices.

What’s it like living in El Carmen?

El Carmen is historic and yet one of the most modern, lively, and trendy neighborhoods in Valencia. So this's a dream neighborhood if you’re looking for the perfect balance of modernity and historic charm.

Because this neighborhood is so compact and in the center, you’ll find that you’re within walking distance from all facilities, such as grocery stores and gyms. The streets are also lined up with plenty of tapas bars, chic boutiques, terraces, and dance floors. You won’t need to step out far to enjoy life when you’re living in El Carmen.

Amenities in El Carmen

If you’re after convenience, living in El Carmen is great! This small neighborhood has all the facilities you will need within its borders. There’re 2 well-equipped gyms, 5 pharmacies, numerous hairdressers, grocery stores like Carrefour, Dia discount store, and multiple convenience stores (alimentación).

For those moving to Spain with pets, you’ll particularly enjoy the Parc caní del riu Túria where dogs can run freely. If you’re more interested in football, jogging tracks or picnicking in the summer, then you’ll enjoy the garden Jardí del Túria Tram V.

There’s a dental clinic and 2 general practitioners in the center of El Carmen. You can also reach the closest hospital, Vithas Hospital, by 12 minutes bike ride or 26 minutes by bus (N95).

Some other facilities include an art supply store in the West and a tattoo parlor in the North. Just minutes from Museu de Prehistòria de València, you’ll also find an escape room and a branch of the Caixa bank.

Public transport connections in El Carmen

You don’t need public transport within El Carmen as the neighborhood is small. You can even walk to nearby central neighborhoods like Eixample, Extramurs, and La Xerea. Alternatively, grab a bike for short distances as Valencia has flat streets with separate bike lanes. If you don’t own a cycle, you can use Valencia’s convenient and affordable cycle rental service Valenbisi.

You'll need to rely on Valencia's public transport if you plan to travel to other neighborhoods frequently. In this case, search for accommodation near El Carmen’s 6 bus stops: IVAM, Le Bene, Na Jordana, Torres de Serrano, Escola Oficial d'Idiomes, and Blanqueria - Pare d' Òrfens. You can take a bus to the closest metro stations Túria, Nuevo Centro, Àngel Guimerà. If the bus isn’t an option, there’re also tram stops, including Rues, Pont de Fusta, and Àngel Guimerà.

Are you a student living in El Carmen? Luckily you’re only 30 minutes away by bus from the Benimaclet neighborhood which has several campuses of the universities in Valencia.

Need to go to the airport? The fastest and cheapest way to go to Valencia International Airport (locally known as Manises Airport) is via the metro, which takes 36 minutes and costs €4.

Things to do in El Carmen

Shopping in El Carmen

While strolling through the streets of this historic district, you won’t find big chains like Zara and Mango. But, you’ll come across small, locally owned boutiques and vintage stores, such as San Spirito Vintage and Studio Vintage. Each week different pop-up stores from various brands are open at the creative space Mercado de Tapinerial located close to Plaza de la Reina.

For fresh food shopping, it doesn’t get any better. El Carmen has 2 food markets: Mercado Central (the central market of Valencia) and Mercat Mosssén Sorell. The famous Mercado Central is open from Monday to Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Besides the markets, you’ll also find an abundance of specialty shops such as butchers, delis, and bakeries.

Cultural and historical sites in El Carmen

Walking through the streets of El Carmen is a pleasure. There’s a great diversity of styles and structures, which have been influenced by the Romans, Moors, Christians, and modern times. For instance, you can still see the Torres de Serranos and Quart Towers, 2 well-preserved city gates from the 14-15th century.

Museums: Museo del Siglo XIX is an excellent museum for history and art lovers with free entrance. For modern art, exhibitions, and multimedia installation pieces, visit IVAM (Institut Valencia d’Art Modern) or CCCC (Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporania). For something pre-historic, head to Museu de Prehistòria de València and La Almoina archaeological museum.

Street art: El Carmen, although historical, has plenty of street art! In fact, you can find plenty of tours that will take you through the alleys to explore graffiti and mural masterpieces.

Squares: Pay a visit to Mercado de Tapineri, an exciting square that’s loved by locals! The venue has 2 restaurants serving local and international food and 5 businesses whose themes change every week. You can expect anything from music, art workshops, fashion, yoga, design, etc. Besides this square, there’re many others where you can enjoy: Carmen, el Tossal, Negrito, etc.

For awe-striking interiors, visit Sant Nicolau de Bari i Sant Pere Màrtir, a gothic church with gorgeous baroque interiors, and Institució Alfons el Magnànim, a publishing house, and library.

Explore the nightlife in El Carmen

When the sun goes down, El Carmen transforms into a buzzing tapas hotspot since there aren’t major clubs here. This makes El Carmen the perfect location for getting in the mood before exploring Valencia's nightlife in other neighborhoods. Definitely try out Valencia’s drink Agua de Valencia.

If you want to explore several bars, head to Carrer de Caballeros street. After something specific? Jimmy Glass Jazz Bar is a must-visit for jazz lovers and La Flama for rock music fans. If you enjoy cocktails accompanied by live music and cool artwork, bohemian L’Ermità Café is the best place for you. L’Ermità Café also hosts English-Spanish conversation nights, creating a perfect atmosphere to mingle with locals and work on your Spanish. For the best LGBTQ+ parties, check out Trapezzio Café.

Your food guide in El Carmen

El Carmen has an abundance of restaurants and cafes where you can eat traditional Spanish dishes, and international cuisine.

• For the perfect breakfast: Almalibre Açaí House or Muez Cafè-llibrería Gastronòmica for those with a sweet tooth. Federal Café or Cafe Museu if you love savory food.

• For lunch, we recommend San Nicolás__, _La Tasca de Ángel, or Taberna La Sénia for a perfect meal made with fresh local products.

• For great tapas, a friendly atmosphere, and delicious wines, go to La Rentaora located at Plaza Mossén Sorrell. It’s open until midnight, and the prices are very reasonable.

• For dinner, try Wave Gastro Bar for classic Spanish dishes with the twist or El Tap for the best quality and price ratio. In both restaurants, you’ll find excellent and friendly service.

Living in El Carmen: Housing

El Carmen is a charming, centrally located, and safe neighborhood to live in Valencia. But because it's a historic neighborhood, the buildings are built very close to each other. As a result, the apartments are smaller and older than the other neighborhoods of Valencia. But you’ll see most of the buildings in the area are well-maintained and nicely decorated with plants.

Unfortunately, because of the tourist flow, it’s a noisy neighborhood. But the good news is, the nightlife ends earlier than typical Spanish standards. So you’ll still have a good night's sleep.

This neighborhood is especially famous among international students and professionals. So you’ll fit right away as an expat living in Valencia.

All this said, El Carmen is one of Valencia's priciest neighborhoods. But this shouldn’t scare you, as the cost of living and rent prices are overall affordable in Valencia compared to other Spanish cities. To give you a reference, you can expect the following rents in El Carmen in 2023:

Type of Accommodation	Rental price
Apartment	€1,300
Studio	€635
Private Room	€350

Things to consider when you move to El Carmen

You can do a few things to make moving to El Carmen easier.

• Before you move

1. If you can’t visit the neighborhood physically, use Google Maps to discover the neighborhood.
2. Use trusted rental platforms like Housing Anywhere to book your apartment in advance and with rental protection to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
3. Read blog pages, forums, and Facebook groups to get a feeling of the neighborhood.
4. Before you sign any rental agreement, learn about your rental obligations and rights as a tenant in Spain to avoid paying unnecessary costs.

• After you move

1. Open a Spanish bank account and set up automatic payment for your rent and utility costs.
2. Fully furnish or decorate your apartment with pieces from one of the many second-hand furniture shops in Valencia to save money.
3. Download mobile apps to get help in your daily life. Glovo is an excellent app for ordering in and Citymapper is handy for public transport.
4. Learn some common Spanish phrases to mingle with your community and make local friends.

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