Supermarkets in Valencia

Supermarkets in Valencia

Shopping for food in Valencia can be a little confusing to newcomers. Here you can find a brief guide for the most common supermarkets in Valencia. In general, the supermarkets below are around the same price range, but El Corte Inglés is a little more expensive.

Supermarkets are widely dispersed throughout the city, and your neighbourhood, or barrio will almost certainly have a supermarket within five minutes’ walk. Typically supermarkets in Valencia are open from Monday to Saturday, but there are a few exceptions – for example, Carrefour Express and Supercor are small supermarkets open on Sundays, and there’s usually one within 10 – 15 minutes from your apartment. Some of the larger supermarkets, such as the Carrefour hypermarkets and some branches of El Corte Inglés (a department store with its own supermarket) are also open on Sundays. It’s worth noting that during public holidays and festivals, Consum, Mercadona and Dia will be closed.

Major supermarkets include:

Mercadona – Not open on Sundays, typical opening hours 9.00 – 21.30

Dia –  Not open on Sundays, opening hours vary

Consum – Not open on Sundays*, typical opening hours 9.00 – 21.30

Lidl – Not open on Sundays, typical opening hours 9.00 – 22.00

Aldi – Open on Sundays, typical opening hours 9.00 – 21.30 (10.00 – 21.00 on Sundays)

Carrefour – Some stores open on Sundays, opening hours vary

El Corte Inglés – Some stores open on Sundays, opening hours vary

There are also many organic supermarkets, often featuring “bio” in the name. These can be expensive but are often the only place in which to find certain meat alternatives or more exotic fruit and vegetables.

 

*Consum has a branch of stores known as Charter, some of which are open on Sundays.

 

 

San Juan

San Juan

What is San Juan?

San Juan is an annual festival of fire that takes place around Spain during the Summer Equinox. In Valencia, San Juan is celebrated on beaches around the city.

What happens during the festival?

Unlike Las Fallas and other traditional festivals, there are no costume parades or religious offerings. Instead, thousands of small bonfires are built on the beach. During the course of the night, merrymakers gather around the fires with food, drink (lots of drink!) and relax. At midnight, many venture into the sea to jump the waves and make a wish. Another tradition is to jump the fire – which, given the combination of alcohol and darkness can be somewhat dangerous!

What should I look out for?

San Juan has a somewhat unfair reputation as a night in which anything goes, including crime. However, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your belongings, and consider taking a backup phone or small amount of cash instead of your wallet and iPhone 7. Malvarrosa in particular can be very crowded on the night of San Juan, which makes it a favourite target of pickpockets.

It’s also worth noting that there is a lot of smoke during San Juan, so those with respiratory problems or illnesses may be affected. In general, San Juan is one of the most popular and spectacular festivals in the Valencian province – stay safe and have a great night out!

 

Welcome to International Valencia!

Welcome to International Valencia!

Valencia - Spain's best kept secret

As Spain’s third city, Valencia has often been overlooked by tourists.  Things change, however, and these days Valencia is on the rise!  Increasingly, foreigners of all kinds are discovering the city – tourists, expats, digital nomads and Erasmus students are descending on Spain’s third city in droves.

At InterVLC, we want you to be able to enjoy your time here in Valencia, whether you’re staying for a few weeks, a few months or a few decades!  Consider this website as a hub in which you can explore all Valencia has to offer.  You can find a room or a flat, learn about the famous Fallas Festival, discover new restaurants and bars and even look for a job.  We have an Events section containing links to popular recurring language exchanges, parties, workshops and more, and we aim to support local artists and creative types through our community portal.

Whatever you want from Valencia, we’re here to make it easy for you to experience the best of the city!