Coast, City or Town? Choosing Where in Spain Fits You

The most common mistake is choosing a place from a distance because it's famous. The better question is: what do I want an ordinary Tuesday to feel like?

Big cities

Madrid is Spain's engine: culture, food, an international crowd, excellent connections, hot summers and real winters, no sea. Barcelona is dense, creative, bilingual (Catalan and Spanish), with the beach in the city and a strong international community. Valencia is the frequent compromise: a real city with a manageable size, a long urban beach, a mild climate and a lower cost of living than the two bigger ones.

Mid-sized coastal cities

Málaga has become a hub for remote workers and newcomers, with sun most of the year and the Costa del Sol on its doorstep. Alicante and Cádiz offer coastal life at a gentler pace. San Sebastián and the north trade sunshine for green hills, cooler summers and some of the best food in Europe.

Smaller towns and inland Spain

Seville, Granada and Córdoba carry Andalusia's history and heat. Inland towns and villages offer space, community and very reasonable costs, and a life lived largely in Spanish. Beautiful, and not for everyone.

Questions worth asking

• How much do I need the sea?
• Do I want to be anonymous or known?
• How often will I fly back to the U.S., and from where?
• Do I want an international community or full immersion?
• What does summer feel like there? And February?

There is no right answer, only the one that fits you. Part of what we do is help you see the differences before you decide.

When you're ready to talk it through, the first call with us is free, no obligation.