In Lisbon, we had three modes of transportation. We used the metro a lot; we had monthly passes, and got our money’s worth out of them. We combined that with walking. Our general rule of thumb was if the total journey was less than 15 minutes by foot, or if the destination was within 10 minutes’ walk of a metro stop, that was good. For voyages further afield, or when the destination wasn’t in a metro-friendly area, and especially in the evenings when we were out for dinner, we used rideshare services like Uber or Bolt.
We had a car, but almost never used it in the city. It was difficult to find parking, and driving was more trouble than it was worth. Honestly, if we had moved to Lisbon before Porto, we probably never would have bought a car.
When we moved to Valencia, we drove. We figured it might come in handy to have the car still, since we’re planning on some road trips around Spain at some point.
However, since we arrived in July, the car hasn’t left the garage once.
That’s not because we’re especially committed to reducing our carbon footprint (though, hey, bonus). It’s because we simply haven’t needed it. Driving in Valencia is even less attractive than in Lisbon. Parking is scarce, traffic is chaotic in the city center, and most places we want to go are easier and faster to reach by foot, taxi, or tram.
So how do we get around?
Our default transportation mode is our feet.
If it’s within 20 minutes, we’re walking. That covers most of the places we go. The market, shops, restaurants, galleries, parks, plazas, the post office, doctors, the health clinic, and so on. Valencia is a wonderfully walkable city. It’s flat, compact, and full of architectural and atmospheric rewards for simply staying above ground and strolling.
It’s also a city that invites walking. Streets are pedestrian-friendly, traffic is manageable, and you’re never far from a café if you need a break. The rhythm of life here is slower, and people expect you to take your time.
There are bike lanes everywhere, and biking is a hugely popular choice. But we’re not really in the bike or scooter demographic. If we lived closer to the Turia Gardens, we might have picked up bikes just to ride through the park, but our neighborhood feels a little too congested. And scooters… let’s just say we are not as well-balanced as we used to be. We’ll leave those to the younger and more fearless.
For anything beyond walking distance, especially if we’re heading out to dinner or coming home, we take taxis or use ride share apps.
Oddly enough, taxis are usually the cheapest option. If you’re near a taxi stand (and they’re all over the city), that’s probably your best choice. They’re generally clean, quick, and the drivers don’t try to cheat with weird routes. Bonus: you can pay with a credit card, which wasn’t always the case in Portugal.
Uber is technically here, but it’s not our favorite since cars often take a long time to show up, and the pricing can be unpredictable. Cabify is more consistent and usually faster than Uber, but there’s a premium for calling a car to come to you, especially in high-demand areas.
If you’re off the beaten path, it’s worth checking Google Maps to see if there’s a taxi stand nearby. If not, Cabify usually works well enough.
Valencia has a reliable public transit system with metro, tram, and buses, and we’re genuinely glad it exists. It’s affordable, clean, and well-connected. The metro lines run to the airport, outlying neighborhoods, and even nearby beach areas. Trams connect well with metro hubs and reach into quieter residential corners.
But here’s the honest truth: we barely use it.
Why? Because we rarely need to. Ninety-five percent of the places we go are walkable. And the metro doesn’t always feel like a time-saver. By the time you walk to the station, wait for the train, ride a few stops, maybe change lines… we could’ve just walked there in the first place. The metro isn’t especially fast, and the station locations aren’t always convenient.
Maybe that will change. As we start exploring further afield, we’ll probably lean on the metro and tram more. For now, it’s good to know it’s there. But we’re not daily riders.
Valencia’s bus system is extensive, cheap, and runs late. It’s a great option for a lot of people.
We are not those people.
This might be a leftover from our school days, but both of us really dislike taking the bus. There’s something about the long, winding routes, the unpredictable stops, and just the general bus-ness of it all. My memories of riding the bus from the Valley to UCLA — a two-hour odyssey through stop-and-go LA traffic — left a lasting impression.
So, while we recognize that Valencia’s buses are a legitimate and useful part of the city’s transit network… they’ll always be our last choice.
What about the car? We’ll probably need it eventually. Road trips, rural visits, airport runs, picking up guests, or heading off the beaten path. But so far, it’s just sitting there. Which is a testament to how livable Valencia is without one.
The reality is that one of the quiet joys of life here is how little effort it takes to get where you’re going. There’s no daily grind of freeway commutes, no need to circle the block for parking, no endless waits in drive-thru lines. Most days, it’s just a pleasant walk and a bit of fresh air.
Getting around Valencia isn’t just about transportation. It’s about rhythm. About moving through the city at a human pace. And most days, that suits us just fine.
We’ll keep the car. But for now, we’re happy to walk.
A Modern Odyssey - Expatriates in Iberia 