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.

How much sunshine does the Costa Blanca get compared with the UK?

For plenty of people in the UK, winter is more about dim afternoons than genuinely cold weather.

The safest cities in Spain: lifestyle, safety and housing costs

Looking for a quiet city to live in? Safety is one of the most important factors when deciding where to move, alongside housing costs and quality of life.

Best neighbourhoods in Madrid for families in 2026

Madrid can work very well for family life, particularly for households that want the convenience of a large city without giving up parks, schools, healthcare and straightforward public transport.

Spain’s highest-ranked city for environment

Spain’s top city for environment ranks eighth out of 1,000 worldwide

Spain’s major mainland cities tend to lead the conversation around urban life, jobs and relocation.

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.