Ciutat Vella / El Carmen

The old town has most of the historic sights, museums, and traditional restaurants in a walkable area. Safe during the day with tourist police around, just stick to main streets and plazas at night - the side alleys get empty.

This is Valencia's old town - medieval streets, 13th-century towers, street art on ancient walls, cafes on small plazas. During the day you get tour groups at the Central Market, people photographing La Lonja, locals buying produce. Most of the museums and historic sites are here within walking distance. The vibe changes completely after dark - Plaza de la Virgen is full of families and students in the afternoon, then El Carmen's bars fill up with younger crowds after 11 PM. You'll see plenty of people eating alone at cafes, working on laptops, reading - totally normal. The safety thing is mostly about timing. Main streets and plazas are fine after dark with regular tourist police patrols, but the narrow side alleys empty out once shops close. English is common in restaurants and shops around here.