Best Areas to Live in Spain for a Relaxed Lifestyle?

Hey everyone! I'm considering moving to Spain and looking for a place with a relaxed atmosphere, good weather, and a welcoming community. I’d love to hear from those who have experience living in different regions—where would you recommend?

I’m not necessarily looking for the biggest cities like Madrid or Barcelona, but more for charming coastal towns or peaceful inland areas with a good quality of life. Bonus points if there’s a nice balance between locals and expats!

Any insights on cost of living, amenities, or hidden gems would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

level devil

Hi Voraciousloud. My recommendation would be Torre de la Horadada, 30 miles south of Alicante, bordering with the Murcia province. We've been comint to the area for over 20 years and have never tired of it. There is a good mix of Spanish (40/50%), British, Scandinavians, French, and other northern European nationalities. Worthwhile spending a few days here to check it out.

I would recommend the area in the east of Almeria province. In particular the towns of Mojacar, Garrucha, Vera, Turre, Los Gallardos, Palomares and Villaricos. (All within a 30 minute drive of each other)

This where the Spanish come to holiday but has a good mix of other European countries and even South Africans. 

There are no highrise blocks of flats. Nothing over 3 levels above gorund is allowed. Currently the local councils are not allowing new urbanisations to be built but instead promoting the building of villas. This is all helped by the fact of the construction of the AVE line from Almeria city, which will link up to the rest of Europe. One of the few stations on this highspeed line will be at Vera.

Our menu del dias prices average around €16 per person. But there is also Michelin starred restaurants if want a more refined taste. Regular festivals and activities (example: Garrucha Ruta de tapas, excercise classes on the beach, Moors & Christians). In short, you can do as little as you want of as much as you want.

Long flat beaches (which includes a naturist section), plenty of hiking trails, as well this area is a favourite spot for professional cycling teams to come and practice.

Area from cultural city of Lorca, Murcia to coastal very Spanish resort of Aguilas and all areas in between.

A good sprinking of Brits and Europeans but NO British shops or restaurants so consequently the whole area is vibrant 365 days of the year . However if enjoying the sunshine whilst still enjoying the delights of UK then the area suggested by neatrees would probably suit you better.

Aguilas and Lorca fiestas amongst the best , if not the best, in Spain.

Suggest you come out and decide for yourself as this area of Murcia is less than an hour from Almeria and  Mojacar so easy to explore

For that classic coastal vibe:

• The Northern Costa Blanca: Think Altea, Jávea, and Denia. These towns offer a lovely mix of stunning beaches, charming old towns, and a more laid-back atmosphere than the busier parts of the Costa Blanca. Altea, in particular, has a really artistic and peaceful feel. But get busy in the summer months.
• Eastern Costa del Sol (Nerja & Frigiliana): If you want Andalusian charm, this is it. Nerja has beautiful beaches and the famous Balcón de Europa, while Frigiliana (which can be touristy in the summer) is a stunning white village just inland. It's much quieter than the western Costa del Sol.

If you're looking for a more rural, tranquil escape:

• The Alpujarra region: Tucked away in the Sierra Nevada mountains, this is where you go to escape the crowds. Picture whitewashed villages clinging to hillsides, incredible mountain views, and a really slow pace of life. It's perfect for nature lovers.

or if you're open to island life:

• La Palma (Canary Islands): "La Isla Bonita" lives up to its name! It's incredibly green and lush, with volcanic landscapes and amazing hiking. It's definitely a place for those who want peace and quiet.
• Northern Tenerife (Puerto de la Cruz): The north of Tenerife is much more relaxed than the south. Puerto de la Cruz has a lovely old town, botanical gardens, and a more authentic Spanish feel.

if you're looking for a truly relaxed, less touristy experience:

• Inland Andalusia:
  • Consider towns in the interior provinces like Jaén or Córdoba. You'll find a slower pace of life, stunning historic towns, and a much lower cost of living. Think olive groves, traditional Spanish culture, and genuine local experiences. Towns like Úbeda and Baeza, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, have immense beauty and history, but are often overlooked.
  • The Sierra de Aracena in Huelva province is a beautiful natural park with charming villages, perfect for those who love hiking and nature. It's a world away from the crowded beaches.
• Galicia's Interior:
  • While the Galician coast is beautiful, the interior offers a serene and green landscape with traditional villages and a strong sense of community. Towns like Allariz, with its restored medieval center, or areas within the Ribeira Sacra, with its stunning river canyons and vineyards, provide a peaceful and authentic experience. The climate is more temperate, with lush green landscapes.
• Extremadura:
  • This region, bordering Portugal, is often overlooked by tourists. It offers vast open spaces, historic towns like Cáceres and Mérida (with its Roman ruins), and a very relaxed pace of life. It's a great option for those who want to immerse themselves in Spanish culture and enjoy a low cost of living.
• Aragon's Rural Areas:
  • Explore the Pyrenean foothills or the smaller towns in provinces like Teruel. You'll find stunning natural landscapes, medieval villages, and a very peaceful atmosphere. The area around Albarracín, for example, is incredibly beautiful and relatively undiscovered.

Food for thought. Good Luck

We're in Benahavis, Malaga. We adore this area. I've been into sports (tennis) all my life, and have found many great clubs. Of course, there are also golf courses everywhere here. Plenty of walking trails, and mountains in the areas to explore, lots of ruins (like the Montemayor Castle), and people offering all manner of bike and buggy rides through the mountain trails.

Benahavis itself is a gastronomic centre. 50+ restaurants for such a small census population (7,000 residents). Beaches nearby, and great towns and villages to explore nearby.

We also have incredibly fast internet, which is a blessing, and the area is full of wildlife to see. I've often see birds of prey riding the winds looking for their next meal, we have deer in our unbanisation, along with wild boar, goats, and many more.

Malaga airport is nearby, and is really well connected, with a great highway along the coast.

We've also got a wide variety of people and nationalities, from all sorts of backgrounds. One day I play tennis with a retired pilot from Argentina, next day its an Italian born in south America, next day its a Brit from London, and the day after its an Aussie who lived for years in Germany.

I cant recommend this lifestyle enough. Give it a go.

Arcos de la Frontera. The best balance of value for money house prices, buzzing local culture and cheap connections by public transport to fabulous surroundings from the sherry and flamenco capital of Jerez (70 cents by bus) to the beach life of Cadiz, the spectacular city of Seville, the mountains of Grazalema and the myriad of pueblos blancos in between.

I can recommend the Ayora valley ( Valle de Ayora) which lies in a North to South direction between Requena and Almansa in the province of Valencia. The town of Ayora is inland from Valencia and Alicante being 70kms from each, both serviced by international airports.

The valley benefits from a seasonal climate without the harsh winters of the UK. We experience about 40-45 days of rain per year and occasional frosts in the December and January but nothing below -5C. The winter sunshine makes it possible to enjoy outdoor life by lunchtime wearing a jacket or wooly jumper. The summer heat is tempered in the evenings by the vast areas of pine trees which remove the humidity and high temperatures usually experienced in coastal areas. 

Lived here for 6 years and have not as yet found anywhere else in Spain I would wish to move to. I wouls suggest a visit to the area to make your own observations.

I used to live just outside Valencia and largely agree.  We still visit there occasionally, but we moved south after a couple of years as that Region is generally substantially colder and wetter than most of Spain. 

Perhaps these recommendations might include the negative features of their suggestions too?

There's little mention of cost either, which is often a basic feature of choice.  One suggestion, Malaga is indeed a fabulous  place - but only if you can afford it.   These days hotel prices in Malaga will make you wince even for a short stay - it's massively more expensive than places a few miles north along the coast.

For a relaxed lifestyle you can consider Costa Del Sol because it comes on top visiting locations where you can experience mountains,  beeches and beautiful night sky.