Best Places to Live in Spain With Family

For the full overview, see where to live on the Costa del Sol with kids.

The best place to live in Spain with family depends on schools, budget, climate, lifestyle, community and travel links — not on holiday reputation. This Spain-wide guide compares Costa del Sol, Valencia and Costa Blanca, Madrid, Catalonia, Mallorca and Northern Spain so families can shortlist a region before comparing towns or houses.

There is no single best place in Spain for every family

Each region fits a different family profile. Costa del Sol suits families wanting established international schools and an English-speaking community. Valencia and Costa Blanca suit families wanting city plus beach at lower cost. Madrid suits career-focused families needing schools and transport. Catalonia suits families drawn to culture with a Catalan-language layer. Mallorca suits island life with a northern-European community. Northern Spain suits families wanting green landscapes, mild summers and lower costs.

Decide region before town

A workable order: region, school model, budget, climate, community, transport, and only then town. See cost of living in Spain for families and how much money to move to Spain to pressure-test budget before shortlisting towns. Moving from the USA with kids? Start with our family-specific guide to moving to Spain from America with family. American family? See the USA-focused guide to the best places to live in Spain for American families.

Avoid the common mistakes

Choosing a town before a region, over-focusing on property, ignoring summer heat, assuming all coastal Spain is the same, skipping a school-commute check and relying too much on Facebook groups are the most common ways families end up moving twice.