Best places to live in Spain

Spain offers a wide variety of living options, from big cities like Barcelona and Madrid, to charming coastal towns or quiet rural areas.

Without a doubt, choosing the best place to live in Spain depends largely on personal preferences and needs. Regardless of where you choose to live in Spain , we will tell you what the evolution of housing prices has been, as well as the main characteristics of each of these locations: best areas and neighborhoods, lifestyle and real estate opportunity, among others.

Discover the Cantabrian village known for cheese and caves

Santillana del Mar is called the town of three lies because it is neither "holy" (santi) nor "flat" (llana) and, despite its name, it is not by the sea (del mar).

Spain’s best cities for quality of life are not Madrid or Barcelona

Madrid and Barcelona tend to dominate conversations about moving to Spain. They have bigger international communities, more direct flights and the sort of name recognition that makes a relocation shortlist feel straightforward.The 2026 Global Cities Index points in a different direction.

The village an hour from Madrid with waterfalls and thermal waters

There is no need to head to the coast to cool off in summer. An hour from Madrid, in Guadalajara, lies a picture-postcard village closely tied to water, with spectacular waterfalls right in the middle of town. This is Trillo, in the Alcarria region.

Cala Vinyes development: luxury seafront villas in Mallorca

Cala Vinyes is one of Calvià’s most exclusive residential areas.

Living in Arenys de Mar: best areas, house prices and lifestyle

Arenys de Mar is a town that combines the charm of a traditional fishing village with the convenience of a well-connected municipality in the Maresme region.

Tarragona's hidden beach where you can swim next to a medieval castle over 900 years old

The turquoise cove where you can swim next to a medieval castle

Just a few minutes from Tarragona lies a corner of the Mediterranean that has retained its unspoilt character, where visitors can enjoy a setting that is hard to match: a medieval castle perched above the cliffs overlooking a small cove of crystal-clear water.This is Cala Jovera, a small natural par

The cheapest cities in Spain to live in 2026

Finding an affordable city to live in without sacrificing quality of life is a priority for many people.

A crystal-clear cove between Murcia and Almería worth visiting

Halfway between Murcia and Almería lies a secluded cove bathed in crystal-clear waters, rich in marine life and framed by rugged cliffs. It is a unique place to relax in shallow waters and enjoy an unspoilt natural setting. Want to discover the secrets of its seabed in an accessible way?

The Cathedral of Santa Maria or La Seu, in Palma de Mallorca.

Palma Cathedral: Mallorca’s Gothic monument to royal power

The conquest of Mallorca by James I of Aragon in 1229 transformed the island’s political and urban landscape. At the heart of this change stood Palma Cathedral, known as La Seu, a monumental sandstone structure conceived as a statement of royal authority. Built to reinforce the Crown of Aragon’s influence in the western Mediterranean, the cathedral became one of the most ambitious Gothic projects of its time, pushing medieval engineering to its limits with some of the tallest vaults in the world.

This wild beach is a haven for swimmers, divers and flamingos

With more than five kilometres of unspoilt sand in the heart of Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, this wild beach in Almería is a paradise for swimming, diving and flamingo spotting.

Hidden natural pool in Catalonia with waterfalls and crystal-clear water

In the Prades Mountains, the terrain leads visitors down through rocky outcrops and dense vegetation.

The cheapest coastal towns to live in Spain

Housing prices in Spain continue to rise, with coastal areas typically experiencing the most pressure.

Spain’s most exposed location to a tsunami

Spain’s most exposed tsunami hotspot?

An international scientific study has identified one stretch of Spain’s southern coastline as the most exposed area in Spain to tsunami energy in modelling scenarios linked to the Averroes fault.Researchers modelled a magnitude 7.0 earthquake capable of displacing the sea floor and triggering a regi

Spanish city ranked one of the happiest in the world

One of Spain's sunny cities has just been ranked among the most balanced and well-run urban environments in the world.

Madrid's most expensive neighbourhoods

Madrid is known for its wide range of properties, which includes some expensive neighbourhoods that stand out for their elegance and sophistication. These areas, known for their opulent homes and high-quality services, typically boast prime locations and exclusive amenities.

The Spanish city where English is spoken best

English has long been a weak point in Spain – but one city stands out for exactly the opposite reason. That is the conclusion of the latest international report by Education First, a leading authority on English proficiency.In its most recent edition, one city clearly tops the Spanish ranking.

The happiest place in Spain, according to the Happy Index

Spain consistently ranks among the happiest countries in Europe, and 2026 is no different.

The best places to live in Spain for expats

Best places to live on the Costa del Sol

If you’re researching the best places to live on the Costa del Sol, you’re not alone.

Surprisingly expensive cities that rival Madrid and Barcelona

Many still assume Spain is broadly affordable, yet there are several surprisingly expensive cities in Spain where prices rival those in the capital.

Four new villages added to Spain’s Most Beautiful Villages list

One of the great joys of living in Spain is that the country is full of charming villages. The downside is that with so much variety, it can be hard to decide which ones to visit.

Spain’s most and least forgiving provinces for household budgets in 2026

Essential expenses in Spain are taking an ever larger slice of household income, and the latest consumer spending data for 2026 show how sharply the picture changes from one province to another.

The imposing monument that appears and disappears in Spain’s waters

On Melenara beach stands a monument whose striking silhouette leaves a lasting impression on anyone who sees it.

Where foreign buyers are looking on the Spanish coast

Foreign interest has long shaped Spain’s seaside property market, but fresh idealista data from late 2025 shows more precisely where that attention is concentrated – and how international some coastal provinces have become.

Barcelona's most dangerous neighborhoods

Barcelona's most dangerous neighbourhoods

Barcelona is a city renowned worldwide for its cultural richness, architecture and Mediterranean lifestyle, yet like any major urban centre, it also has areas with higher levels of crime.According to official data from the Mossos d’Esquadra, Catalonia's autonomous police force, and citizen security

This Spanish hot-spring town is ideal for a winter getaway

Just half an hour from Barcelona, Caldes de Montbui is the perfect winter destination: a town steeped in Roman history, boasting some of the hottest thermal waters in Europe, an ideal natural setting for unwinding, and local fare that has made it a culinary hotspot. A European getaway that combines relaxation, culture and fine dining.