Valencia - A City of Well-being

In life, it’s all about the choices we make. The more freedom we have, the more choices we find in our path. And in the same manner, remote work enabled this type of freedom: the one that imposes yet another choice. With remote work, we don’t have to think about the job first, pass on opportunities if we don’t want to relocate, or quit the jobs we love because we have to relocate. 

In the past, and not so far in the past as well, where we will reside and build our life was mostly a secondary choice. First the job, then the location. And the locations we felt drawn to, we reserved for vacations. Because it was so normalized, most of us accepted it. A dream country or a dream city - a vacation is more than enough. And then, there was that platitude that we all lived for the holidays and longed for more freedom and choices.

Now, when freedom has arrived for many people, a new choice arose - “where should I go/where should I live/where should I launch my business?”. The location became a choice meaning that some places with a high quality of life and work started to gain popularity. 

Well, Valencia is also one of those locations. In the past few years, many people realized that Valencia has so much to offer both for the personal and professional life of a person, and step by step, Valencia is becoming one of the leading cities for a life full of well-being and prosperity. 

So what makes Valencia such a desirable destination?

How does Valencia tend to be more green and sustainable?

Valencia is the kind of city that doesn't have all these negative correlations that people often connect with cities: crowded, polluted, too fast-paced, etc. Contrary to that, over the years, Valencia has earned quite a few different titles and nominations that all speak to the green and sustainable direction the city is heading to.

When urban meets green

It is not surprising for Valencia to receive this praise when it has a 7 kilometers long park in its center, nestled in the bed of the old Turia River. This long and ample oasis in the middle of the city is one of its most prominent features.

Just walking down the park, even if you’re not the natural type or the sporty type, you’ll be inspired by so many green nooks and opportunities for activity and sports. Because it is nestled in the bed of an old river, the park is a few meters below the level of the city, so the urban life on the outside doesn’t compromise the park's tranquility.

Along with the park Turia, Valencia has around 5 million square meters of green areas in the city, according to visitvalencia.com, and 164 km of a bike lane, according to the European Commission.

Recognition

Besides the love Valencia receives from many people who come and fall in love with Park Turia, the vibe, and the tranquility, it has also received many more official titles that say a lot about the city.

For example, the European Commission has proclaimed Valencia the European Green Capital 2024. This title is given to the cities that have recognized the importance of environmental issues and have implemented projects to reduce the environmental impact and improve the quality of life. To be awarded this prestigious title, Valencia had to pass a 12-indicator test that included factors like air, waste, eco-innovation, climate change adaptation, and more.

Other than carrying the title of the Green Capital (2024), Valencia was also proclaimed the European Capital of Smart Tourism in 2022 and 5 years earlier, the Capital of Sustainable Food.

According to the European Commission, Valencia is also the first European city to receive a double ITU (UN) and ISO certification for the Sustainable Development of Cities. The city has more than 50 tourist organizations that meet the requirements of inclusive tourism and offer solutions for tourists who need additional assistance. 

Lastly, the European Union for the Cities Mission project chose Valencia to be one of 100 European cities to become climate-neutral cities by 2030. One of the steps Valencia is taking is measuring its CO2 offset to reduce its carbon footprint and the carbon footprint of its tourists. Besides that, the city also has several other Sustainable Action Plans such as encouragement of electric vehicle usage, promoting sustainable food, improving energy efficiency, etc. The city was also proclaimed the Healthiest city in the world in 2022.

Why is Valencia the best choice for digital nomads and foreign entrepreneurs?

Valencia is not only a green and healthy city but also one of the entrepreneurial centers of Europe. A few years ago, Valencia started receiving digital nomads from all over the continent and outside.

Obviously, there are many reasons for that, but good weather, an urban city, numerous opportunities, affordable life, and benefits for foreign businesses made Valencia one of the most desirable destinations for digital nomads.

Urban and affordable

First and foremost, as a metropolitan, Valencia is much more affordable than Madrid or Barcelona and with the same or almost the same offering.

For people looking for a longer stay in Spain and not only a tourist visit, Valencia’s offering will be on the same level as the offering of these two cities, only less costly, with fewer tourists, and a calmer, more local environment.

Prices in Valencia are around 10% cheaper than in Madrid and about 15% lower than in Barcelona. According to Numbeo, for a month, life in Valencia would cost you around 200-500 euros less than in Madrid and 350-700 euros less than in Barcelona.

Still, Valencia has it all - nightlife and great food; it is packed with cultural and social events and has a big digital nomad community.

The perfect balance of locals, tourists, and short residents

According to the Spanish National Statistical Institute, Valencia was ranked only the fifth most visited area of Spain, after Catalonia, the Canaries, the Balearic Islands, and Andalusia. This means that Valencia receives a decent amount of tourists, but for its area size and number of habitants, it also means that it still doesn’t completely rely on tourism.

Compared to some destinations that take a better position than Valencia, Valencia doesn’t struggle with juggling the worlds between tourists, short-term residents, and locals. Because of that, for foreigners, it is not hard to quickly dive into “normal life” and experience the real, local culture.

Valencia has that midsize city vibe despite having almost 800.000 residents. But, it also has everything you would want from a metropolitan, at your disposal, 24/7.

Valencia has an entrepreneurial soul

Valencia is the perfect ground for new entrepreneurs and those thinking of starting new businesses. It has a developed and strong entrepreneurial ecosystem with more than 1200 startups, 12 incubators, 17 accelerators, and an extensive network of professionals who can help you jumpstart your dream business idea.

For those who need assistance in terms of funds, Valencia has more than 35 investment funds and programs and has invested more than 200 million euros in startups so far.

To support the international entrepreneurial scene, Startup Valencia developed a Soft Landing program for new and international companies to help them start a business in Valencia.

Through this program, Startup Valencia helps aspiring entrepreneurs by connecting them with major actors in the tech and innovation ecosystem of the city, helping them with legal advice, connecting them with acceleration programs, assisting with administrative procedures and documentation, helping them with office spaces, etc. As Startup Valencia says about their program: The aim is to provide them (entrepreneurs) with an easy “landing” so as to allow them to focus completely on developing and scaling their business.

What is Valencia's vision of the future?

Valencia is constantly improving its offering to attract talent that will benefit the city, the culture, and the locals and not negatively affect it. The aim is to keep the balance, fight gentrification, and take action to develop the city and its global positioning, but also benefit the world.

The measures and efforts Valencia takes to promote its city to the outside and make a big impact on the planet in general, take the same amount of effort to promote its cultural heritage, save its natural and green areas, and promote a more local life - even for the foreigners.

How does Vivarium contribute to this

As a local business and a coliving, Vivarium strives to become the bridge between the local community and the digital nomads and be an actor in supporting sustainable tourism that follows the dynamics of the city.

With our coliving, we are partnering up with local businesses that help the development of the city and tend to showcase and educate our visitors about the real Valencia. We want to be a part of the change toward a more sustainable and green future for our city by introducing our visitors to local restaurants, artists, and musicians, participating in city projects, and making our own initiatives that help Valencia.

We are proud to be a 100% Valencian project and we want our colivers to experience the city through our perspective. Bringing together a diverse community of remote workers who will experience Valencia through a local experience for us also represents something of an ode or a thank you to the city.