October 22, 2025 
5 mins to read Over the last couple of years, living and working in Valencia has become really popular among expats and young adults wanting to live abroad. Many people from Northern European countries decide to pack their bags and hop on the first plane to Valencia. Within the Job Squad itself, we have a couple of Dutchies that also decided to move to Valencia. They all stayed longer than they expected in the first place. This made us think: is living and working in Valencia actually worth the hype?
We try uncovering this by looking at the lifestyle of expats in Valencia, the things that you can see and do in the city AND the possibilities for your career. With every layer, we try to look behind the hype of living and working in Valencia, and really look at what possibilities and life you can live in this Spanish coastal city.
The city itself
Valencia is a city based on the east coast of Spain, along the Mediterranean Sea. The city has around 850 thousand inhabitants. After Madrid and Barcelona, Valencia is the third biggest city in Spain. The city was founded by the Romans in 138 BC.
Valencia has got a Mediterranean climate. This means the summers are hot and dry, while the winters are mild. In July and August, the average temperature is around 30 degrees Celsius. December and January are the coldest months, but the average temperature doesn’t go below 16 degrees Celsius.
Want to know more about living in Valencia? Check out our page about this city and learn more about living there.
Living in Valencia; What to do
The city offers possibilities for every kind of person. Whether you like relaxing or you prefer an active life, you can find it in Valencia. The thing that binds all of these possibilities: Valencia life is an outside life. Because of the amazing weather, almost all things take place outdoors. If you like water sports, there are loads of possibilities to do that at Malvarrosa Beach for example. If you want to do something adventurous you can go paragliding at El Palomaret, which gives you a beautiful view of Valencia from above.
One of the highlights of Valencia is the Turia Park, which is the longest park in Europe. You can go for a run, in which you can run the entire length of the park and see most of it. There are also possibilities to play a game of volleyball, or go eat and drink in one of the spots in the park, or to organize a picnic with your friends. Young adults will also love the nightlife in Valencia. There are many clubs, a lot located along the beach. Especially in the summer, you can enjoy amazing beach parties.
Expat culture in Valencia
Our recruiter Amber has lived in Valencia for a couple of years now. When she moved to the city, she discovered the expat culture in Valencia really quickly. “The expats in Valencia are really easy in making contact with each other. The more the merrier, is really the mindset.” Amber tells us that, although the city has a lot of inhabitants, the community feels cozy, and not crowded.
As a Northern European, you will have to adapt to the spontaneous way of life in Valencia. Things aren’t planned weeks ahead, but just happen. Amber’s weekends are mostly empty on Friday mornings. But when she looks back on Sunday night, she always had a weekend full of activities and meetings with friends (and friends of friends).
Living and working in Valencia: Working culture
Expats living in Valencia will tell you this: Work is not the most important thing in your life right there. Amber: “In the Netherlands it felt like I lived to work. In Valencia I work to live.” People let go of all the work stress when their working day is over. After work you go to the beach and relax with friends or colleagues, but talking about work is done when your shift is over. The conversations are about ‘better’ things.
At Job Squad, we offer multiple jobs in Valencia. After all, you still need to work to be able to enjoy your life in the city. You could become a Dutch or German Sales Representative for example.
Conclusion: Is living and working in Valencia worth the hype?
Valencia has won over many young expats. The combination of the weather, the vibe in the city and the expat community makes it a perfect place to spend your gap year abroad, or to settle down for a longer time. There is a reason that it was named the best city to live in for expats by the Forbes Expat Insider 2024.
So is it worth the hype? We think so, yes. Valencia offers everything a young adult wanting to move abroad wishes for. Great weather, many possible activities and a big and friendly expat community. Valencia has it all: From amazing parks to beautiful beaches and from nightlife events to ancient history. Combine this with a valuable job abroad and you have the perfect mix. Amber tells us: “Valencia has all the advantages a big city has, but it doesn’t feel like a huge city.” To us, this sounds like a dream. How does it sound to you?
Contact our recruiters today if you want to start living and working in Valencia. At Job Squad, we can help you with every step along the way. And we are still there to help you after relocation too. Find job offers in Valencia and in a lot more destinations here.
