Cities with the cleanest air in Spain 2025: fresher living

Spain’s air is generally kind to lungs, which is handy if you’re weighing up cities with the cleanest air in Spain. According to IQAir, the 2024 country average sits at 48 on the US AQI scale, which is in the 'good' band for day‑to‑day life. The PM2.5 averages 8.66 µg/m³—comfortably below the EU legal limit of 25 µg/m³ but still above the WHO long‑term guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Spain’s cleanest cities 2025

This list follows IQAir’s live ranking for Spain, which changes day by day as AQI readings shift across Spain. It’s a snapshot rather than a full‑year average, so it’s best read alongside longer‑term indicators. If long‑term health and an easy outdoor lifestyle are high on the list, shortlisting the Spanish cities with the cleanest air is a smart way to plan a move.

Castelló de la Plana

Set on the Valencian coast, Castelló de la Plana benefits from steady sea breezes and a modest industrial footprint, which helps disperse particulates before they build up. The flat, compact centre and a long beachfront mean daily life revolves around the coast, where the air usually reads a touch cleaner than inland districts.

Castelló de la Plana Creative commons

• Sustainable living lens
  • The centre is walkable, and cycling along the seafront is straightforward for errands and commutes.
  • Public buses cover most neighbourhoods reliably, which reduces the need for a car day to day.
  • Low‑emission measures are set to start in January 2026.
• Seasonality and watch‑outs
  • Hot, still afternoons inland can raise ozone, so coastal neighbourhoods tend to feel fresher in peak summer.
  • Port access roads show higher NO2 at rush hour, so it helps to choose residential streets set back from main routes.

Property for sale and long-term rentals in Castelló de la Plana

Oviedo

In Asturias, Oviedo sits between mountains and the Atlantic, with frequent rain and moving air that keeps PM2.5 down most days. The city itself has limited heavy industry, and parks and green slopes add a softer microclimate for everyday life.

• Sustainable living lens
  • A compact, walkable centre and an established bus network make it easy to keep trips short and clean.
  • The local ZBE framework encourages fewer high‑emission vehicles in the core from the end of 2025.
• Seasonality and watch‑outs
  • Cold, still snaps can trap air in valleys, so readings may tick up for a day or two in mid‑winter.
  • Industrial plumes from the Gijón–Avilés corridor can drift with certain winds, though this is episodic.

Property for sale and long-term rentals in Oviedo

Murcia

In Murcia, the dry climate and periodic sea breezes that reach the plain help keep PM2.5 in check most of the year. The city is warm and sunny, with a growing public transport network and plenty of open space along the river for daily walks and rides.

Murcia Unsplash

• Sustainable living lens
  • The tram and buses cover most of the city, which makes it easier to avoid driving at rush hour.
  • Settling in breezier districts or slightly elevated suburbs reduces exposure to traffic‑related NO2.
  • The low-emission zone guides high‑emission vehicles away from central streets.
• Seasonality and watch‑outs
  • Summer ozone can spike during heatwaves, so early mornings are kinder for outdoor exercise.
  • Regional dust events sometimes lift PM levels, especially after dry winds.

Property for sale and long-term rentals in Murcia

Valladolid

Valladolid often reads well on live rankings, with moderate PM2.5 and a restrained industrial profile in the core. It is a cultural hub on the Meseta with a compact centre, though its plateau setting means weather has more sway over dispersion.

• Sustainable living lens
  • Bus priority routes and a dense centre support car‑light routines for work and errands.
  • Cycling works on the flatter stretches, especially along riverside paths that feel greener.
  • The city's low-emissions zone was rolled out a few months ago, nudging traffic away from the heart of the city.
• Seasonality and watch‑outs
  • Still winter days can produce temperature inversions that briefly trap pollution near the surface
  • Very hot summer afternoons often see higher ozone that tends to ease later in the day

Property for sale and long-term rentals in Valladolid

Melilla

Located in northwest Africa next to Morocco, Melilla sits on a compact coastal footprint where sea breezes reset the air frequently. Distances are small, traffic is lighter than in mainland hubs, and the promenade setting gives an airy feel even on warmer days.

Melilla Unsplash

• Sustainable living lens
  • Everyday life is highly walkable, and short bus routes cover most needs without long commutes.
  • Choosing streets away from the port access helps keep NO2 down at home.
• Seasonality and watch‑outs
  • North African dust can lift PM during certain wind patterns, though episodes are usually short.
  • Port activity creates localised NO2 spikes, which fade with the next breeze.

Property for sale and long-term rentals in Melilla

Cartagena

Coastal Cartagena catches regular winds across its amphitheatre‑like bay, and the compact old town means many daily trips stay short. The maritime setting tends to sweep particulates away, though the working port creates micro‑areas with higher readings.

• Sustainable living lens
  • A walkable centre and improving cycle lanes support cleaner, short‑hop travel.
  • Living a few blocks back from the port access roads reduces NO2 exposure.
  • Local NOx and PM drop where ships can plug in at berth using shore power.
• Seasonality and watch‑outs
  • Shipping peaks increase NO2 near the harbour, which dilutes quickly away from the docks.
  • Hot, still inland days can push ozone, while occasional dust intrusions briefly raise PM.

Property for sale and long-term rentals in Cartagena

Telde

On Gran Canaria, Telde benefits from the island’s trade winds and varied topography, which move air across slopes and along the coast most days. The baseline feels clean, with quick recovery after any dusty spells.

Telde Unsplash

• Sustainable living lens
  • Island buses link Telde efficiently with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, allowing car‑light commuting.
  • Coastal walking and cycling routes encourage everyday activity away from busy roads.
• Seasonality and watch‑outs
  • Calima brings episodic PM spikes, which pass as the trade winds return.
  • Sheltered leeward neighbourhoods feel warmer and calmer, while windward coastal areas stay fresher.

Property for sale and long-term rentals in Telde

Almería

Almería enjoys strong coastal ventilation along an open bay, which disperses pollutants reliably. The city is bright and dry. While the wider province has extensive greenhouse agriculture that can be dusty in places, central coastal neighbourhoods tend to read cleaner on typical days.

• Sustainable living lens
  • Flat seafront promenades and straightforward bus routes make car‑light living practical.
  • Keeping away from ring‑road junctions at peak times limits NO2 indoors.
• Seasonality and watch‑outs
  • Saharan dust (calima) events can lift PM briefly, but levels drop back once the winds change
  • Agricultural zones outside the centre are dustier on windy days, so beachside areas feel fresher.

Property for sale and long-term rentals in Almería

Málaga

Málaga opens onto a broad bay, with sea breezes that help disperse pollutants and a growing web of public transport that supports cleaner movement. The centre has been steadily pedestrianised, and hillside suburbs often sit in fresher air.

Malaga Unsplash

• Sustainable living lens
  • Two metro lines, frequent EMT buses and expanding cycle lanes make it easier to skip the car.
  • The low-emissions framework and pedestrian zones reduce traffic exposure in core neighbourhoods.
• Seasonality and watch‑outs
  • Summer ozone can climb on very hot, still afternoons, easing with evening breezes.
  • NO2 reads higher near the port and ring roads, so homes set back from main corridors fare better.

Property for sale and long-term rentals in Málaga

Palma

On Mallorca, Palma has constant maritime ventilation and a relatively contained urban area for its population. The bay opens to prevailing winds, which helps clear pollutants quickly, while inland villages and coastal suburbs offer easy escapes on warmer days.

• Sustainable living lens
  • EMT buses and the short metro line make car‑light living realistic.
  • Cycleways link the centre with seafront promenades, which encourage active travel away from busy roads.
• Seasonality and watch‑outs
  • Cruise‑heavy days concentrate emissions around the harbour, though dispersion improves a few streets inland.
  • Occasional Saharan dust reaches the Balearics, but episodes are usually brief and clear with the next wind shift.

Property for sale and long-term rentals in Palma de Mallorca

La Rioja Unsplash

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