Most Visited Cities in Spain

These are Spain’s most visited cities, ranked by how many tourists they actually pulled in during 2024. Madrid and Barcelona lead by a wide margin, but the coast and the islands are catching up fast. We see both sides of this at our firm: people come on holiday, fall for a place, and a few months later they are asking us how to move there for good. Here is the real ranking, and a bit on what each city is like to live in, not just visit.

There is a growing trend of foreigners who want to buy property in Spain and live in one of these cities, because the cost of living in Spain is still low for Western Europe. The choice usually comes down to lifestyle: a fast big city or a slower coastal town, inland or by the sea, and the kind of weather you want. Spain has all of it, from the warm Mediterranean to the greener, cooler north.

Madrid is the most important city in Spain (Capital)

The capital tops the list with nearly 10 million visitors a year. It is the business and culture engine of the country: the Prado and Reina Sofía museums, neighbourhoods like Malasaña and Chueca, and some of the best food in Spain. Most of the clients we help who land in Madrid come for work, and we handle the visa and residency side so they can focus on the move.

Barcelona, Spain’s second most visited city

With over eight million visitors a year, Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and one of the most liveable cities in Europe: Gaudí’s architecture, the beaches, the food and a serious cultural scene. Plenty of people who come once decide to stay. When they do, our immigration lawyers in Barcelona handle the residency paperwork.

Seville, the heart of Andalusia

Seville is the third most visited city in Spain, with around three million tourists a year. It holds some of the country’s best heritage: the Cathedral and the Giralda, the Real Alcázar, and traditions like the Feria de Abril and Semana Santa. Summers are hot, but it is full of character and noticeably cheaper to live in than Madrid or Barcelona.

Palma de Mallorca and the Balearic Islands

Palma is the capital of Mallorca and the fourth most visited city in Spain. Beaches, a striking old town around the Cathedral of La Seu, and direct flights to most of Europe. Nearby Calvià, home to Magaluf, also makes the national top ten. A good number of our island clients settle around Palma for that mix of island life and proper city services.

Benidorm, the Costa Blanca’s number one

Benidorm is the fifth most visited city in Spain, with over two million tourists a year. Skyscrapers, long sandy beaches and a famously lively scene, but it is also one of the most popular places for the British retirees we help move over. It is affordable, sunny most of the year, and English goes a long way along the whole Costa Blanca.

Valencia, the best-value big city

Valencia is Spain’s third-largest city and one of its best value: the City of Arts and Sciences, a long beach, the old town and Las Fallas in March. It has boomed with our clients lately. Plenty end up retiring in Valencia for the balance of city life and coast without Barcelona prices.

The Canary Islands: Maspalomas and Adeje

Two of the ten most visited spots in Spain are in the Canaries: Maspalomas in Gran Canaria and Adeje in Tenerife. Spring weather all year, world-famous beaches and dunes, and a strong international community just off the coast of Africa. It has become a favourite for retirees and remote workers, so we put together a full guide on moving to the Canary Islands.

Granada, the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada

Granada sits at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, so you can ski in the morning and have tapas by the afternoon. It is smaller, under half a million people, with the Alhambra, the Albaicín and a big student population that keeps it lively and affordable. Winters are colder than people expect for the south.

Málaga and the Costa del Sol

Málaga is not quite in the top ten by arrivals, but it is growing faster than almost anywhere, close to three million hotel stays in 2024. Birthplace of Picasso, a reborn old town full of museums, and the gateway to the Costa del Sol. It is the number-one pick for the British retirees we help, most of whom want to retire in Málaga and the surrounding coast.

San Sebastián, for food and the green north

San Sebastián, in the Basque Country, is for people who prefer cooler, greener weather to the southern heat. It is one of the world’s great food cities, with one of the highest counts of Michelin stars per head anywhere, plus the elegant La Concha bay. Smaller and pricier, but hard to beat for quality of life.

If one of these cities is pulling you in, the part most people underestimate is the legal side. To stay longer than 90 days in Spain you need a visa, usually the Non-Lucrative Visa if you live off savings or a pension, or the Digital Nomad Visa if you work remotely. That is what we do every day, so just ask.

What are the 3 most important cities in Spain?

The most important cities in Spain for me are Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, although very close to Valencia could be Bilbao, Malaga and Seville. If you are looking for a city with a good climate you could rule out Bilbao, as it is colder in the north.

What are the 3 best cities to visit in Spain?

The Spanish cities that you have to visit are Barcelona is a spectacular city with all the architecture of Gaudi, next to the sea… Another of the cities that you must visit is Madrid, as it is the capital of Spain and there are many museums… The third position could be many other cities such as Malaga, Valencia… There are many cities to visit in Spain

I want to stay more than 90 days in Spain, what should I do?

If you want to stay more than 90 days in Spain you need to have a visa, there are several options to choose the visa, for example if you want to retire in Spain you could choose the passive income route.

If you want to find the cheapest cities in Spain you can check this posts. If you need anything else, leave it in the comments or send us an email.