Living in Campanar: a Valencia neighborhood guide
Spacious flats, good schools, and the Turia Gardens on your doorstep - family-friendly Valencia without giving up the metro.
Living in Campanar
Campanar is the neighborhood where Valencia takes a deep breath. Located northwest of the city centre along the Turia riverbed, this residential district offers something increasingly rare: space, quiet, and genuine neighborhood life, all within easy reach of the city.
Campanar () is spelled the same in Valencian and Castilian. It is the ordinary Valencian word for a bell tower, but none of the sources we checked explains how the village came to carry it, so treat any story about the name as unconfirmed. What is documented is the village itself: a cluster of farmsteads in the Islamic period, a parish of its own from 1507, and a separate municipality from 1836 until Valencia annexed it in 1897. The Campanar district also takes in three other barrios: Les Tendetes to the east, the small triangle of El Calvari beyond it, and Sant Pau, the large modern area to the west and north better known as Nou Campanar.
The area is anchored by two landmarks: the Bioparc (Valencia's immersive zoo) and the sprawling Turia gardens that run along its eastern edge. Families with children and dog owners especially love Campanar for its green spaces, wide sidewalks, and low traffic. The old village centre of Campanar, with its church and traditional square, adds historic charm.
Housing in Campanar tends toward larger apartments and even some townhouses, making it ideal for families who need more square meters than central Valencia can offer at a reasonable price. Several good public schools serve the area, and daily shopping is handled by local markets and supermarkets.
The limitation is social and cultural life. Campanar has a few local restaurants and cafes but nothing resembling the dining scene of Ruzafa or the nightlife of El Carmen. One genuine exception is Bombas Gens, a contemporary art centre on Avenida de Burjassot housed in a restored 1930s Art Deco factory, which puts a serious gallery on the barrio's own doorstep. Beyond that you will need to commute to the centre for entertainment, though the metro and bus connections make this straightforward. That same calm makes it a favourite quieter base for festival visitors who want to sleep, as we cover in our guide to where to stay for Las Fallas.
The Puente de Campanar, the bridge that gives the barrio its river crossing.
Photo: Talayuelo, CC BY-SA 4.0
What rent costs in Campanar (September 2026)
Campanar asks 20 EUR per m² a month on Fotocasa's rent index for September 2026, above the 18 EUR the city of Valencia averages. At that rate a 70 m² (about 753 sq ft) two-bedroom lists at around 1,400 EUR a month, before you negotiate. These are asking prices on new listings, not what sitting tenants pay.
Asking prices here are 16.9% above a year earlier, against 16.2% for the city as a whole.
One figure covers the whole Campanar district here, which also takes in Les Tendetes, El Calvari and Sant Pau. The barrios inside it price differently street by street, so read it as the district average rather than a quote for any one of them.
Campanar is in high demand with families and leases here tend to run long-term. Because of that, even though it's a large district, the number of listings available at any given time is usually smaller than its size would suggest.
Our renting guide explains what landlords ask for and what the fianza and agency fee add on signing day, and the upfront cost calculator runs the maths for any rent.
Living in the Campanar district
Getting around
Campanar and Turia metro (lines 1 and 2) cover the district, and tram line 4 stops at Benicalap and Transits just beyond its northern edge. The CV-30 ring road is right there, which is why parking is realistic here in a way it is not in the centre.
Bus lines converge on Nuevo Centro at the district's eastern corner.
What sets it apart
Campanar has a genuine split personality. An intact village core around the Ermita de Santa Maria still holds its plaza and fiestas, while Nou Campanar next door is one of the city's largest planned expansions from the 1990s and 2000s.
The Palau de Congressos and the Bioparc sit inside the district boundary, and the new La Fe hospital site keeps professional demand steady.
Who it suits
Families who want a lift, underground parking and park access more than they want a historic facade.
It also suits anyone working at the Palau de Congressos or in the western business corridor who wants to walk to work.
Barrios in Campanar
Every barrio inside this district has its own guide. Rent, transport and character vary a lot from one street grid to the next, so start with the one closest to where you actually want to live.
Les Tendetes
A compact Campanar barrio on the north bank of the Turia gardens, named after its old village shops
Explore Les TendetesEl Calvari
One of Valencia's smallest barrios, a dense triangle in Campanar named after a Way of the Cross
Explore El CalvariSant Pau
Campanar's largest barrio, the modern high-rise area better known as Nou Campanar
Explore Sant PauNeighbouring districts
These districts share a boundary with this one. Worth a look if you are still deciding where to live, or want to compare with the area next door.
Public and concertado schools
Active public and concertado schools in this district, per the Conselleria d'Educació register.
The Conselleria's school guide doesn't allow direct links to an individual school's page, so each card below gives you the school's official code instead. Open the guide, paste the code into the search box and the school's page comes up. Like many Spanish public administration websites, it takes a little patience.
CEIP Cami de l'Horta
Camà Viejo de Paterna S/N
CEIP Campanar
Carrer Rascanya 1
CEIP Comunitat Valenciana
Avinguda PÃo Xii 34
CEIP Francisco Giner de los RÃos
Plaça Grup Parpalló S/N
IES Campanar
Plaça Badajoz S/N
IES Conselleria
Carrer Monestir de Poblet S/N
Centre Privat Escuelas San José (i. Polit.)
Avinguda de Les Corts Valencianes 1
Centre Privat MarÃa Inmaculada
Carrer Ricardo Mico 26
Centre Privat Niño Jesús
Carrer San Clemente 13
Centre Privat Sagrada Familia-Hhdc
Carrer Padre Barranco 40
Centre Privat San Juan Bosco
Carrer Gregorio Gea 21
Centre Privat Vilavella
Carrer Padre Diego Mirón 1
Public health centres (centros de salud) near this neighbourhood
Public primary-care centres of the Valencian health service. Distances are straight-line to the edge of the neighbourhood, not walking routes.
Centro de Salud Campanar II
Avda. Campanar 21, 46009 Valencia
Health department: la Fe
Centro de Salud Campanar
Vicente Rius Enrique 1, 46015 Valencia
Health department: la Fe
Which centre you are assigned to depends on your home address, so check it with the Generalitat's centre search before you register.
Generalitat health centre searchSource: Generalitat Valenciana open data (CC BY).
Where Campanar Sits in Valencia
What Living in Campanar Is Really Like
Pros: What Residents Love
- Spacious apartments at reasonable prices
- Bioparc and Turia gardens at your doorstep
- Quiet, safe streets ideal for families and pets
- Good public schools and family services
- Old village character in the historic core
Cons: What to Know First
- Limited nightlife and dining options
- Further from city centre than some alternatives
- Can feel too quiet for younger expats
- Less international community presence
Typical Properties in Campanar
Local Amenities
Bioparc
Bioparc Valencia (immersive zoo) within walking distance
Parks
Turia Gardens, Campanar parks, wide green boulevards
Transport
Metro L1/L2 (Campanar, Turia) to the centre, bus lines, good cycling infrastructure
Schools
Several public and concertado schools, nurseries
Art
Bombas Gens contemporary art centre on Avenida de Burjassot
Population
11,820 residents in the Campanar barrio itself, on 98.8 hectares (about 244 acres) (padrón, 1 January 2025)
Swimming pool
The nearest municipal swimming pool is Poliesportiu El Carme, a short walk from the barrio. Valencia swimming pools guide
Neighbouring towns, just across the boundary
More neighborhoods
Extramurs
Turia gardens living with Gran VÃa grandeur
Explore ExtramursLa Saidia
Working-class barrio northwest of the centre, increasingly popular with priced-out Eixample renters
Explore La SaidiaL'Olivereta
The west-side residential district - quiet, family-oriented, fast metro to the airport
Explore L'OliveretaThinking about moving to Campanar?
Get in touch with our Valencia relocation team. We will help you find the right apartment, navigate the paperwork, and get settled faster.
Resident in Valencia since 2016. Founder of BeTranslated. 25+ years in translation, interpretation and multilingual SEO.
Reviewed 5 September 2026 by Michael Bastin