Where are the BEST PLACES for EXPAT FAMILIES in SPAIN? The Idealista Dream!

Are you dreaming of a SeaChange? Do you want a sunny break from the Dorset winters and long nights? Do you have a secret desire to buy a renovator in Spain? A family haven that is yours for every time you need a break?

Here is exactly how you can! Read on for the best expat havens in Spain, and why they could be your SeaChange – sandy beaches, magnificent weather, tranquil mountain vistas, paella, tapas, a year-round outdoor lifestyle ideal as a family paradise in the sun, and the perfect DIY renovator job. Perfect one day, even better the next!

Idealista Advice:

Spain’s diverse and open culture of amazing food and incredible weather has become so popular as an alternative lifestyle that it now consists of almost 15% of Expats. Why do so many crave the Spanish lifestyle?

• Higher standard of living with greater home-space for your money
• Cheaper living costs – amazingly fresh food products, seafood, great vineyards…
• Varied and beautiful landscape with magnificent beaches and serene mountain vistas
• Amazing weather with an easy-going, outdoors lifestyle possible all year round

But is this an option for the whole family? Idealista states – absolutely yes! Here are the perfect expat sanctuaries with all your needs covered for you and your family.

The top 5 spots for families in Spain are:

• Madrid
• Barcelona
• Malaga
• Alicante
• The Balearic and Canary islands

Madrid

As the capital city of Spain, Madrid has it all. It covers everything from job opportunities and spacious urban housing perfect for families, to top level shopping, health facilities, and excellent bilingual public, private and international schools. Spain has an excellent education system, with many schools also covering the international baccalaureate requirements. These include the many concertado – the private and semi-private schools which can give your kids an amazing cross-cultural and bilingual start to life, enhancing their future tertiary and employment opportunities.

Besides a great night life, there are rich and varied entertainment options for all the family. The famous Buen Retiro Park with its lake and family-oriented activities is just one of many green spaces. There are also many iconic museums and art galleries which are an inherent part of the city’s cultural landscape including World Heritage Sites. Madrid is also one of Europe’s safest cities, making it a perfect location for you and your family. 

Barcelona

Barcelona is Gaudi’s city, filled with his unique and beautiful architecture. It is a transport crossroads, connecting the city with the rest of Spain and Europe. Just across the border from the French Riviera, Barcelona has beaches, and is near the spectacular Pyrenees. 

Its milder summers and great natural beauty, combined with a full cultural and artistic of tourist interest, Barcelona also has great family suburban housing options with an excellent public and private and international school network, job opportunities, and may even be more family friendly than Madrid. Safe for families, offering sea, sun, city, and Gaudi, little wonder that Barcelona is so popular with expat families. 

Malaga

If you are wanting to get right away from the big cities, it is hard to go past the seascape lifestyle offered by Malaga, Spain’s Costa del Sol in the South in Andalucia. Warmer than Barcelona, Malaga is an expat hub. It has all the infrastructure and facilities needed as an expat. It is safe and family friendly, making it the perfect family choice.

 With so many beautiful sandy beaches, and hubs to choose from including Marbella, you can’t go wrong.  And don’t forget the hinterland with its tranquil countryside vistas. There are plenty of high-quality public, private and international schools, including the international baccalaureate curriculum, an extensive English-speaking support network through the community of expats and locals.

Costa del Sol is a Paradise in every way. Outdoors activities in nature are all year round – beach, kayaking, hiking, mountains and cliffs – and so many incredible and historic cities with the exotic Moorish influence – Cordoba, Granada, Segovia…, and even Gibraltar, all easily accessible. For that extra cultural boost, Morocco is close enough for a weekend trip. 

Alicante

Between Barcelona and Malaga is the Alicante region, considered even more spectacular by both locals and the expat communities living there. If you want to get away from the big cities and tourist crowds without losing the support of a great expat community, then check out Costa Blanca. 

Alicante is lined with golden beaches and sparkling blue Mediterranean, without being quite as intensely hot in summer. There are top quality education options for your children, a vibrant international scene for all those lifestyle conveniences, and an even safer environment, with some wonderful family homes on offer. From Alicante’s beautiful marble promenade and wonderful natural environment, it also has its unique angles such as Tabarca Island with some amazing snorkeling and fantastic walks. 

The islands

For those really looking for the SeaChange getaway paradise, there are the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, and the Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco – try magical destinations like Ibiza or Tenerife for extraordinary choices.

The mountains and sandy beaches are balanced by great expat communities, still offering the education options of the other areas – especially in Mallorca. It is really hard to find places more idyllic than these, yet still offering this level of expat family support.

The Canaries have their own volcanic beauty, with dramatic coastal cliffs and rocky mountains, as well as the beachy paradise. National parks offer the range of outdoor activities to suit all tastes. El Hierro in the Canaries is a Global Geopark and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. 

Seriously, what are you waiting for! If you’ve had enough of the endless nights and cold, sunless winters of England, if you want that renovator, that holiday home at your whim, or a permanent relocation to a tropical paradise that still has all the facilities you need as a family, get in touch now and start planning your new life!