Investment in Spain’s hotel sector continues to gain momentum. During the first half of 2026, 88 hotel assets and more than 12,000 rooms changed hands, pushing total investment to €2.46 billion, up 26.5% year-on-year, according to Colliers. The figure marks a record first half for the sector, underlining the strong appeal of the Spanish hotel market among chains, REITs, funds and private investors, particularly in premium assets and established tourist destinations.

Barcelona is set to gain a major new green space – with La Sagrera park expected to transform the city’s urban landscape over the next five years. Covering 36 hectares and stretching four kilometres, it will become the largest park in the Catalan capital, twice the size of Ciutadella. Often compared to New York’s Central Park, the project will anchor the wider redevelopment linked to the future La Sagrera station.

San Sebastián continues to consolidate its position as one of Spain’s most exclusive housing markets. According to Engel & Völkers, 20% of homes sold in the city and surrounding areas exceeded €1 million in 2025. Strong demand and limited supply in prime locations are driving prices, with an average of €5,829/m² and peaks above €13,000/m² in the most exclusive areas.

Some places seem frozen in time – with dirt tracks winding through pine forests, weathered stone façades, old industrial chimneys and rows of houses that evoke a different Catalonia shaped by factory colonies and rural estates. In this landscape, the historic Colonia Antius, in the Bages region, has been listed for sale on idealista for €3.5 million. Marketed by LM Finques, the property spans the municipalities of Callús, Sant Mateu de Bages and Súria, and includes more than 11,000 square metres of built space, comprising former factory buildings, residential units and agricultural structures.

The Catalan government has approved a decree‑law to simplify urban planning in rural municipalities and encourage housing development in small towns. The measure aims to cut bureaucracy, adapt planning rules to local needs and tackle depopulation across around 590 rural municipalities. It introduces a new planning model tailored to councils with limited technical capacity – designed to streamline procedures and provide more effective tools to promote housing and economic activity.

Barcelona's rental market is increasingly fragmented, making "normal" housing hard to find. According to Amat Immobiliaris' 2025 report, supply is polarising: large flats for high earners and small flats are both on the rise, whilst the most sought-after middle ground – medium-sized flats – is all but disappearing.

Amid a deepening housing crisis and a shortage of public homes, Barcelona City Council is turning to private landlords with grants of up to €30,000 to renovate empty or dilapidated properties – on the condition they are added to the public rental pool. The scheme aims both to upgrade ageing housing stock and to expand the supply of affordable, below-market rentals.

Barcelona has once again placed housing at the centre of political and social debate. The City Council’s plan to phase out 10,000 tourist accommodation licences by 2028 coincides with the Ministry of Housing ordering digital platforms to remove thousands of listings that fail to meet the new state registry rules. While both measures aim to curb tourist rentals, the sector questions how far they will ease the housing access crisis.

It’s not your dream flat. There’s no terrace, no spare bedroom and no light-filled living room for hosting friends. But it does offer something that, right now, may be even more valuable than extra space or luxury features: a realistic way to get a foot on the property ladder.

For Spanish economist Gonzalo Bernardos, the debate over tourist flats in Barcelona has been based on a fundamental misunderstanding. “The story has wiped out the facts,” he told a packed audience at the Círculo Ecuestre, where he discussed the real impact of banning short-term rentals.