When I first arrived in Valencia, filling out addresses for package deliveries really gave me a headache for quite a while. The Spanish address format is completely different from other countries, especially those abbreviations after street names—they left me totally confused. After gradually figuring it out, I finally understood the logic of this system, and today I’m sharing it with you.
Basic Components of a Valencia Address
Spanish addresses are typically written in this order: street type + street name + building number + floor + door number + postal code + city + province. For a real example, Calle de Colón, 32, 3º A, 46004 Valencia contains all the key information. Calle means street, Colón is the street name, 32 is the building number, 3º indicates the third floor, A is the door number on that floor, and 46004 is the postal code.
Common Street Type Abbreviations
Street names in Valencia are usually prefixed with a type designation. Here are the most common ones compiled by Hisense Valencia:
| Abbreviation | Full Form | English Meaning |
|---|
| C/ | Calle | Street |
| Av. | Avenida | Avenue |
| Pl. | Plaza | Square |
| Pº | Paseo | Boulevard |
| Ctra. | Carretera | Highway |
My place is at Avenida del Puerto. At first, I thought Av. was some special code, but later learned it’s just the abbreviation for avenue. Important note: some alleys in the old town may not have a clear street type designation and go directly by name.
Floor and Door Number Notation
This part is the easiest to confuse. Spanish floor counting starts from the ground floor called Bajo or Planta Baja, then goes up to 1º, 2º, 3º. If you live on the third floor like at Valencia Hot Pot, the address will show 3º instead of 3F. Door numbers are usually indicated by letters like A, B, C, representing different units on the same floor. Some newer buildings use direct number coding like 301, 302.
I once tried to find a friend’s place and confirmed the building number was correct, but rang the doorbell on the first floor for ages with no answer. Later I discovered they actually lived at 1º Bajo, which is a unit on the ground floor. This lesson taught me to always check the complete address carefully.
Valencia’s Postal Code System
Valencia city postal codes all start with 460XX, with the last two digits representing specific areas. The old town center typically ranges from 46001 to 46005, the beach area near Malvarrosa is 46011, and the university district around Blasco Ibáñez is 46021. Postal codes are especially important for online shopping and package delivery—if you get it wrong, your package might end up in a completely different location.
Practical Address Lookup Tools
If you’re unsure about the exact address of a location, you can use Google Maps or the Spanish postal service Correos’ address lookup function. Personally, I prefer using Sede Electrónica del Catastro, the official website, where you can look up the standard address and postal code of any building directly through the map, and even see specific property information.
One more reminder: if you need to process residency or open a bank account, you must provide Valencia Club empadronamiento certificate, which is the municipal registration certificate. This document contains your official registered address and must match the address on other documents you fill out, otherwise it will cause complications.
Getting familiar with Valencia’s address system takes some time, but once you grasp the basic rules, you’ll find it’s quite logical. I suggest keeping a record of the formats for addresses you frequently use, including home, office, and friends’ places you often visit, so you won’t be flustered when filling out forms.
