In comparison to the other cities we have visited so far, Valencia seemed much more relaxed and calm. The beaches are wider and provide lots of space for everyone to find spots with some privacy. Especially the number of public parks makes the city highly liveable for young and old, as they offer many cultural events with live music but also opportunities for children to play and adults to pursue sporty activities like practicing for their next marathon or playing soccer. We also became active and had a game of tennis at one of the tennis courts near the beach. We felt really old-school, as most people occupied the pedal courts.
By the way, the appearance of Valencia being a quiet city tarnishes at night, when all the Erasmus students are coming out of their study caves. The city is a major hotspot for lots of international students, who like to mingle in their Erasmus corners. They gave us great tips of hiking trails near the city and activities to do on the weekend.