New research from World Atlas has identified the best Spanish towns for retirees to relocate to, highlighting seven charming destinations with fewer than 50,000 residents. These underrated spots offer a relaxed, authentic lifestyle away from popular areas such as Benidorm or the Costa del Sol.
What Makes These Towns Ideal for Retirees
The towns are praised for their “walkable, historic centres with accessible recreation, including coastal paths, mountain trails, canoeing rivers, and reservoirs a short drive from the front door.” On Reddit, expats highlighted the “affordable living” and the “amazing regional food” of these idyllic locations.
The Seven Towns Ranked
7. Sitges, Catalonia – Just half an hour down the coast from Barcelona, Sitges is more expensive than most towns on the list but offers beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, and easy access to a big city.
6. Comillas, Cantabria – With just over 2,100 residents, Comillas is one of the smallest towns but also one of the most beautiful, featuring empty beaches and stunning walks.
5. Cangas de Onís, Asturias – Known as the historic gateway to the Picos de Europa National Park, Spain's oldest national park, with a population of 6,316.
4. Hondarribia, Basque Country – Considered one of the most picturesque towns in Spain, attracting expats with its food and the unique culture of the Basque Country.
2. Baiona, Galicia – This idyllic town in northern Spain has a population of 12,380. World Atlas said: “Baiona offers a version of coastal Galicia that pairs history with a genuine beach-town feel, at a price most Mediterranean resort towns can't match.”
