Choosing the right location when moving to Spain is always a huge decision, but even more so when you have a young family or are hoping to have children once you are settled. Luckily, given how Spain is such a family-friendly country, you are unlikely to make the wrong decision about where to live – your dilemma will be about choosing between a long list of right decisions.
So, where do you start? Well, firstly you need to be clear about what you as a family most wants to get out of your life in Spain. Work out what is ideal, and what you really couldn't live without, and use this as a baseline. Once you have at least a basic outline of what you want from expatriate family life, you might find inspiration from our suggestions here.
Spain is a very family-friendly country. Photo: Pexels
Family life in a city
If you're used to living in a built-up area with all the services and entertainment you need on your doorstep, you might be keen to move to a similar environment in Spain. When moving abroad with children, one of your main concerns is going to be finding a destination that they will adapt to easily and quickly, so a setting not too far removed from where you live in your home country is the best choice – at least in the beginning.
Spain's largest metropolitan areas – the capital, Madrid, and the second-biggest city, Barcelona – and their large satellite commuter towns are popular with expatriates due to their cosmopolitan nature and greater choice of job opportunities. Transport is easy and cheap, with extensive metro networks and bus routes, national and international rail links, and major airports, meaning you may not need to own a car.
A much larger choice of schools – Spanish State and private schools, or international and bilingual schools; Barcelona has over 40 of the latter – mean you will have few difficulties in finding the right educational environment for your children. Arguably, big cities offer a more modern outlook and superior facilities, so living in Madrid or Barcelona means it will be much easier to find the right support if your child has special educational needs.
The main downside of Spain's top two cities is the cost of housing. Renting or buying is much more expensive in either than in most other parts of the country, leaving you with less to spend on childcare and children's activities. But if you are moving to Spain from almost anywhere in northern or western Europe, the USA, Canada or Australia, you will still find homes in Barcelona and Madrid to be generally cheaper than in your country of origin.
Perhaps you prefer smaller-scale, quieter city life, or would like to get more for your money when renting or buying a home. In this case, you'll have plenty of options: Valencia, Spain's third-largest city, is cheaper to live in and more compact than the top two.
Other smaller cities in Spain boast the full list of facilities, opportunities and entertainment options that offer stability and enjoyment for your children, but within a more reduced area. Popular examples of provincial capital cities include Sevilla, Málaga, Murcia, Alicante, Almería, Huelva, and Cádiz.
Spain's capital, Madrid, is a popular choice for families seeking city life. Photo: Getty Images
Which are the safest cities in Spain?
The great news is that Spain is, in general, a very safe country. Violent crime rates are statistically very low, and most expatriates say they feel a much greater sense of freedom on Spanish streets than in their home countries, whether walking alone late at night, or in crowded areas, or letting their children play and socialise unaccompanied by an adult.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com