Spanish villages

Alicante is best known for its beaches, pleasant climate and Mediterranean holiday destinations, but the province's inland areas reveal a very different side of its heritage.

Some homes are sold, while others are experienced. This villa on Mojácar’s Paseo del Mediterráneo firmly belongs in the latter category, thanks to its direct access to the beach. Listed on idealista for €1.75 million, the Mediterranean-style property combines a prime seafront location with bright, east-facing interiors that capture natural light throughout the day and offer sea views from inside the home.

Southern Spain has plenty going for it: long summers, layered history and some of the most characterful towns in the country.

Arbancón, in the province of Guadalajara, is a small Spanish village that is actively looking for new residents.

Besalú, La Alberca, Aínsa and Albarracín share more than just beauty – all are listed historic-artistic sites with some of Spain’s most striking old quarters. Selected properties in these locations start at €25,000 – offering a rare chance to buy in places rich in heritage and rural charm. Ideal for a lifestyle change or investment in a unique setting.

Catalonia is a land of varied landscapes – stretching from the Mediterranean to the Pyrenees across more than 32,000 km².

This small Catalan town, with barely 70 inhabitants, preserves stone streets, a fortress over a thousand years old and legends that remain alive underground.Follow idealista/news on the WhatsApp channel (in Spanish)Some places still retain the essence of the past.

Disconnecting and stepping back in time is closer than you might think.

Spain is one of the most geographically diverse countries in Europe. More than 2,000 kilometres separate the Atlantic landscapes of the north from the volcanic terrain of the Canary Islands. When thinking of the southernmost town in Spain, many point to Tarifa.

Spain is packed with picturesque villages, but not all hold official Historic-Artistic Site status.

The province of Málaga is known for its coastline and vibrant white villages, but it also has a less visible side: that of abandoned villages that, for various reasons, were left without inhabitants.

Tabarca Island is the only inhabited island in the Valencian Community and sits around 8 kilometres off the coast in Alicante province. It’s small enough to walk across in under an hour, yet packed with history, clear water and low-key Mediterranean charm.

The province of Alicante stretches along more than 200 kilometres of Mediterranean coastline, forming what’s known as the Costa Blanca.

In sparsely populated inland Spain, the village of Arenillas is testing a very direct response to rural decline.

For decades, Spain’s property market has been synonymous with sunshine, sea views and resort living. But in 2026, a noticeable shift is taking place.

Named by Viajar magazine as the Galician village with the best food, Combarro sits on the Pontevedra estuary and has fewer than 1,500 inhabitants. Here, there are no tourist menus or fancy presentations.

Just a 15-minute drive from San Sebastián is a town known as the "little Basque Manchester".

Two Spanish communities made the UN’s Best Tourism Villages for 2025.

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.

Some people enjoy weekend breaks in medieval villages – others dream of living in one or buying a second home. If that sounds like you, read on. Here we highlight a selection of medieval villages with affordable houses for sale, including Alpuente in Valencia, once a Taifa stronghold defended by El Cid, and Cacabelos in the heart of El Bierzo in León.

In the heart of Andalusia, between arid mountains and fertile plains, lies a site that reshapes our understanding of early human settlement. Long before cities existed as we know them, an organised, fortified and remarkably advanced community established one of the most important settlements of Iberian prehistory here. Although no longer inhabited, Los Millares is considered the earliest major documented settlement in Andalusia. It emerged during the Copper Age, between 3500 and 3100 BC.

In Pontesco, a municipality in A Coruña, Galicia, the abandoned village of Candelago is for sale on idealista for €150,000. Perched on the Costa da Morte with sea views, the hamlet has been on the market for several years. It recently made headlines after the owners cut the price by €50,000, down from the original €200,000.

When people talk about Magic Towns in Spain, they’re not just talking about pretty villages with a nice view and a decent lunch spot.

Across much of inland Spain, villages have been losing residents for decades. La Rioja is among the regions where shrinking populations are putting pressure on schools, health services and local businesses.

Madrid is brilliant, but the size, noise and constant movement can feel like a lot after a while. One of the big perks of living here or spending time in the city is how easy it is to step away for a day.