Best destinations to live in Spain for families

Almunecar 

One of the most popular tourist towns on the Costa Tropical, basing yourself in Almunecar means you can ski in the Sierra Nevada mountains in winter, and bathe in the waters of Playa de San Cristobal in summer. 

There’s an international school, as well as several Spanish schools to choose from, as well as a language school and a diving school. 

The town boasts a pretty waterfront (which is not built up or overrun by Irish pubs like some nearby rival resorts), three weekly markets, a football stadium and excellent transport links, making it the perfect base for exploring the surrounding region.

There is 2,000 years of history to discover, including spectacular Roman aqueducts. Active types will enjoy diving in small coves and headlands, while the cliffs of Mara Cerro are popular with hikers and the Rio Verde river is perfect for canoeing. Amateur gardeners love the fertile soil and sub tropical climate which makes growing tropical fruits and vegetables easy here, including mangoes, kiwis and avocados. 

Nearby La Herradura is a seaside resort on Spain's Costa Tropical, part of the borough of Almuñécar, which is also very popular with expats and worth considering. 

Alicante 

Alicante is a bustling, cosmopolitan city on the coast with plenty of old world charm.  There is a wide range of educational institutions to choose from including two bilingual international schools in Alicante itself as well as many excellent Spanish speaking state schools.

The city is home to one of the busiest airports in Spain, ferries leave daily for the Balearics and south to Algeria, keeping you well connected with the rest of the world. It’s well served by train, tram and bus services, making it easy to get around the region. 

You’ll find a range of health care providers here, including three public health hospitals with emergency rooms and many more private and specialist clinics. 

Shopping is pleasurable and varied in Alicante. As well as the usual hipermercados, there are excellent boutiques, speciality shops and regular street markets.

The city is also something of a sports destination and is home to two 18-hole golf courses, an athletics stadium and municipal sports arena. Along the beaches you can make use of volleyball facilities or take part in a multitude of water sport opportunities.

Torrevieja 

Torrevieja is an ideal location for families looking to settle down on the buzzing Costa Blanca. If you move here you will be rewarded with five Blue Flag beaches, a dozen family-friendly waterparks and hundreds of child-friendly day trips on your doorstep. Our favourite is a seasonal boat trip (May to October) to the island of Tabarca, a tiny islet with a lighthouse, churches and a colourful history of pirates and buccaneer tales. 

The town is surrounded by two natural salt water lakes and there is a picturesque promenade and marina to explore, surrounded by lively tapas bars and restaurants. It’s popular with expats, including Brits, Irish, Germans and Scandinavians (Brits make up 15% of the population) and it is conveniently located in between two international airports (only 40 minutes by car to Alicante airport and 50 minutes to Murcia airport).

There is a large hospital and a wide variety of schools for all ages in and around Torrevieja. If you’re keen for your children to follow the English curriculum, the Phoenix International School and the El Limonar School Villamartín are both around a twenty minute drive from the town centre.

Manilva

The white-washed fishing village of Manilva in Andalucia, offers expats a slice of authentic Spain, with plenty of traditional houses, history and fabulous beaches to choose from. The residents of this historic village are well known for their love of festivals, such as the Night of San Juan in June and Virgen del Carmen festival each July. And there is a fort, Roman baths, and muscat vineyards nearby waiting to be explored.

There are plenty of school options in the village or nearby, and Gibraltar airport is only 35 mins drive, while Malaga airport is one hour by car. There are two private hospitals located at nearby Estepona, and Marbella. Manilva is becoming increasingly popular with foreign nationals looking to move to Spain, Kyero saw a 130% jump in property enquiries in 2020.

Calonge

Located on the Costa Brava, close to the Spanish foodie cities of Barcelona and Girona Calonge is a classic Spanish town of labyrinthine streets, medieval ramparts and religious architecture. Award winning beaches, well-heeled marinas and sprawling pine wood forests are within easy reach, as are the national parks of Massis de les Gavarres and Zona Volcanica de la Garrotxa. 

Education-wise, there are many state-run schools in the municipality and a special education school in Palamos. Saint George’s School in Girona is the closest international college.

The Girona-Costa Brava airport is only 35 minutes drive away, while Barcelona–El Prat Airport is 1 hr 20 mins.

The Costa Brava Medic in Sant Antoni is an international medical service, and Consultori Local de Calonge on the Plaça de la Concòrdia in the village, is a public health centre. The Hospital de Palamós is in the next town over and just a 10-minute drive from Calonge.

Javea

Javea offers three locations for the price of one; the charming 14th century old town with its cobbled streets and artisan shops, the pretty port where fishing boats bob alongside pleasure cruisers, which overlooked by ruined 17th century windmills (evoking that Don Quixote feeling), and Arenal, Javea’s most popular beach resort. 

You won’t struggle to find a good school here, there is a large choice of public and international schools in and around town that offer both the UK curriculum or the Spanish system.

There is also a weekly market, a cinema and two healthcare clinics in town. Jávea is roughly 100 km to Alicante in the south and Valencia to the north. Regular bus and train services are available, or you can whizz down the AP-7 express toll road that runs down the Mediterranean coast.

Alcudia

One of the most popular tourist towns in Mallorca, Alcudia is the perfect place for families to put down roots, with its miles of clean sandy beaches, long list of outdoor activities and its close proximity to the best schools on the island.

The town is compact, and easy to get around, with several supermarkets, bakeries, and restaurants. Buy the freshest local ingredients, clothes and crafts from the twice weekly market held next to the ancient city walls. Outside the walls, take a wander around the sublime Albufera natural park or along the trails of the Tramuntana mountains. 

You will find a public health centre in town, as well as pharmacies, private clinics and dental surgeries. The main hospital is a 40 min drive away in Palma. 

Jalon

The lush Jalon Valley is located inland from the Costa Blanca and is known for its wine production and local produce. It’s a wonderfully authentic place to settle, if you want to get away from the crush of the coast, but still have easy access to it - the beach at Calpe is less than 20 mins drive.

The town of Jalon offers a stunning blue domed church, weekly food and flea markets, and plenty of bodegas, bakeries, restaurants and bars. In January you can look forward to an explosion of pink and white almond blossom carpeting the valley, while September offers the excitement of the annual wine harvest.  

British families are attracted to settle in Jalon because of the excellent reputation of the town’s Lady Elizabeth School, a fee-paying British curriculum-led school that accepts both primary and secondary school-aged children. There are also free Spanish schools in the wider area. 

There is a GP located in town, while the nearest 24 hour medical centre can be found in Benissa (a 12 min drive), and the closest hospital is located 25 minutes away in Denia. 

Velez Malaga 

Typically Andaluz, Velez Malaga has a well established ex-pat community, it’s close to the coast, and there are lots of parks and children's playgrounds scattered around. The weekly market is one of the best in the region, and the old town has been designated a site of historic and artistic interest. 

Less than a 40 minute drive from Malaga airport, and 90 mins to the beautiful Moorish city of Granada, Velez Malaga is well connected to all the main attractions in Andalucia. There are 6 public schools, 2 private schools and several nurseries located in the area, as well as two public health centres, located in the town centre.

Oliva

Located in the heart of orange grove country and less than one hour drive from Valencia (voted Southern Europe’s top city to live in 2020, according to the Quality of Life Index). Oliva offers homebuyers the best of both worlds, a pretty Spanish old town and marina, year round festivals and miles of unspoilt beaches, alongside home comforts and plenty of nearby ex-pat action; 26% of the local population here are non-Spanish. 

Other big attractions for potential residents include the vibrant weekly market, the wetlands of nearby Marjal National Park where you can spot rare birds, and close proximity to Ibiza (less than 5 hours on the ferry) and some of the most popular resort towns on the Costa Blanca, such as Denia, Javea and Calpe.

There are plenty of Spanish state schools in the area, but if you want your children to follow the British curriculum, head to The British School in Gandia 20 minutes away. 

There is a healthcare clinic in town, and hospitals located in nearby Gandia and Denia. 

Peniscola 

Peniscola can be found on a rock 64 metres above sea level, connected to the mainland by a tiny sliver of sand. Known for its 13th-century medieval fortress built by the Knights Templar, and for being the gateway town to the gorgeous National Park of Serra d’Irta, Peniscola also has over 200 restaurants and a maritime museum. 

To the north is Playa Norte, a 5km Blue Flag beach, and to the south you’ll find secluded bays and pebbly beaches. 

Castellon Airport opened in 2015, and is only a 40 min drive, making international travel quick and easy. The town is well connected with direct train links to Valencia, Barcelona, Castellon and Tarragona. 

There’s a 24 hour medical centre in the old town and a hospital 20 minutes away in Vinaros. The International School Peniscola takes children from 4 months to 18 years.