Tourist accommodation in Spain increased by 16.4% in the last year, with a total of 306,136 apartments, according to data up to last February publishedh by the Spanish Statistics Institute (INE).
All these tourist apartments represent 1.21% of the total number of properties in Spain, whereas a year ago, they accounted for 1.13%. These figures are still lower than in 2020, with 321,496 properties for tourist use, which accounted for 1.28%.
By autonomous communities, Andalusia leads the number of tourist apartments, with 70,194, followed by the Valencian Community and Catalonia, with 49,950 and 45,709, respectively. They are followed by the Canary Islands (42,651), the Balearic Islands (25,393), Madrid (16,351) and Galicia (14,775). This is the breakdown of tourist properties in Spain, according to the latest statistics from the National Statistics Institute (INE):
How many tourist apartments are there in each autonomous community?
The number of bed places that this total number of tourist properties represents reached 1,545,368 in February of this year, compared to 1,455,967 in the same month of 2022. On the other hand, the number of bed places per tourist property rose to 5.06, slightly lower than in previous years, when there were 5.09 per flat. This year's figure is the same as in 2020.
By provinces, Malaga currently has the most holiday rental properties (35,360), dethroning Alicante, which ranked first last year (33,115). The Balearic Islands are next on the list (25,393), followed by Las Palmas (23,161), Santa Cruz de Tenerife (19,490), Girona (18,498), Madrid (16,351), Barcelona (14,188), Cadiz (12,424), Valencia (11,308) and Tarragona (10,354). Palencia is at the other end of the table, where, according to the INE, there are only 167 tourist properties in the province.
An economic impact of more than €20,000 million
The Spanish Federation of Tourist Homes and Apartments (Fevitur) has published a report to put the record straight on the tourist accommodation rental market. According to the employers' association, these tourist properties contributed €20,388 million to the economy last year, including bookings, leisure, restaurants, activities and shopping. And it insists that the boost in activity is cross-sector: around 80% of spending stays in the towns and cities where these holiday accommodations are located.
Fevitur also claims that families and couples mainly use this model. It rules out the likelihood of a shift from traditional to tourist rentals due to the rent ceilings set out in the Housing Law, as properties must meet specific requirements and many cities have frozen the processing of new licences.
Palma to ban all new holiday rentals
The mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, has announced his intention to prohibit any new tourist rentals across the entire municipality of the Balearic capital.
Work begins on 109 affordable rental homes in the heart of Málaga
Lagoom Living has begun demolition work on seven buildings in Málaga’s Lagunillas neighbourhood, in the heart of the city, where it plans to construct a residential complex comprising 109 affordable rental homes. Scheduled for completion in December 2027, the development will revitalise currently derelict or disused pieces of land and buildings located near the iconic Plaza de la Merced.
22 people compete for each room that comes on the market in Spain
Soaring rents and fierce competition are pushing many people towards room rentals. On average, 22 prospective tenants compete for each listing on idealista, though demand remains lower than for full homes. Palma (65) and San Sebastián (62) record the most enquiries per room, while among the largest markets, Barcelona (22) edges ahead of Madrid (20).
Foreign rental hotspots in Spain 2025: Balearics, Alicante and Málaga
Rental properties in the Balearic Islands (29.1%), Alicante (27.4%), Málaga (25.7%) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (21.9%) are seeing strong international demand, each accounting for more than 20% of total rental interest in Q1, according to a study by idealista.
Everything you need to know about tenant guarantee insurance in Spain
When renting a home, it’s natural to have questions about the options that ensure peace of mind for both you and the landlord. This guide answers the most frequently asked questions about tenant guarantee insurance, a solution designed to protect you while giving your landlord confidence.
Tenant guarantee insurance in Spain
In the rental market, security and confidence are essential for landlords, agencies and tenants alike. That’s why idealista and Aserta are launching a new tenant guarantee insurance – an innovative, exclusive product designed to offer peace of mind and ensure balance for all parties.
idealista's rent revolution with first tenant rent guarantee insurance
Amid a rental market plagued by limited supply and soaring prices, idealista is introducing an innovative rental insurance policy for tenants. The plan covers up to 12 months of unpaid rent, along with water, electricity and gas bills, should the tenant be unable to pay. It also includes legal expenses related to eviction proceedings or claims for outstanding amounts, offering comprehensive protection in uncertain times.