Your property in Spain
Stunning scenery and a relaxed lifestyle amid the enviable climate make buying property in Spain hugely attractive for international buyers. From finca-style farmhouses to hillside villas in Marbella, or coastal apartments in a Balearic paradise to convenient city-centre properties in vibrant cities like Madrid and Barcelona, the Mediterranean country is a prime spot for property.
Inside Spain
Sunshine, food and family are at the centre of life in the geographically diverse and culturally rich nation of Spain.
The southern reaches of the country, known as the Costa del Sol, encompassing towns such as Marbella and Málaga, benefit from around 300 days of sun a year, making it the perfect destination for a second home.
But the area is more than just beaches, with the Sierra Blanca mountain range providing breathtaking views and opportunities for outdoor exploration.
The Spanish islands of Mallorca and Ibiza also meld vibrant, urban living in popular beachside towns with sedate rural enclaves amid the hills and mountains.
For city living, Madrid and Barcelona are leading business and artistic centres that are also international gastronomic leaders.
Landscape
Golden beaches epitomise the southern reaches of Spain, with the Costa del Sol offering some of the country’s most striking coastline. Glamorous towns such Marbella and Málaga punctuate the shore, while just inland, the hills and mountains are populated with rural towns and villages.
The broader Andalusian region is rich in cultural heritage, with vestiges of its Moorish rule visible in awe-inspiring architectural sites, such as The Alhambra palace in Granada.
Off of Spain’s east coast, the Balearic Islands of Mallorca and Ibiza feature a variety of terrains, mixing hills, plateaus and lowlands. Cities such as Palma and Ibiza Town serve up modern lifestyles amid historic settings, while inland, smaller towns and villages encompass smallholdings, known as minifundios.
Education
Spain’s most highly revered universities tend to be in and around the larger cities of Madrid and Barcelona, with others located in smaller conurbations such as Seville and Granada.
For those in the Balearic Islands, Palma’s University of the Balearic Islands, headquartered on Mallorca, is regarded as one of the top 10 universities in Spain.
For younger children, a vast array of international schools are located in Madrid and Barcelona, while several leading institutions are based throughout Andalusia, including in Marbella and the Costa del Sol.
Activities and Entertainment
Spain is renowned for its glorious beaches, particularly along the Costa del Sol, where the warm waters of the Mediterranean lap the shoreline. But the area is also known as the Costa del Golf due to its roughly 60 courses, making it a haven for golf lovers.
Away from the coast, the undulating hills and mountains of parks such as the Sierra Nevada provide countless opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to hike, cycle and even ski, while the country boasts the third-largest number of Unesco World Heritage sites of any country, making it rich in cultural gems and architectural sites.
In major cities like Madrid and Barcelona, parks, gardens and castles can all be explored as well as famous streets, such as Las Ramblas in Barcelona.
Art and Culture
World-class museums and galleries showcase Spain’s rich cultural heritage, while significant architectural monuments offer a glimpse of the nation’s previous Roman and Moorish invaders.
The Spanish also know how to celebrate, with countless cultural and music festivals filling the social calendars, while the islands of Ibiza and Mallorca are famed for their energetic nightlife.
Some of football’s most successful teams hail from Spain, including Real Madrid and Barcelona, while its tennis and golf stars make both sports popular.
Food and Drink
Foodies now revel in Spain’s culinary expertise, which has led to the country becoming a true gastronomic capital.
Whether it’s deliciously fresh street food, like fried fish ‘bariadas’, quintessential dishes such as gazpacho or tortilla Española, or sophisticated and pioneering cuisine ignited by Catalonia’s El Bulli and now continued by the likes of Andalusia’s Aponiente, food lovers have plenty to indulge in.
Spain has a superb reputation for winemaking, with distinctive regions such as Rioja, north of Madrid, Priorato to the south of Barcelona, and Montilla-Moriles in Andalusia, producing globally known wines.
Accessibility
Spain is an extremely well-connected country, with the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona–El Prat Josep Tarradellas airports among the busiest in Europe, serving the rest of the continent, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Americas.
The country also boasts Europe’s longest high-speed rail network with 3,100 kilometres of track. The fastest trains offer journey times of less than three hours between Madrid and Barcelona, while the network also provides rapid access to Córdoba, Seville, Málaga and Valencia.