Best places to live in Spain by the sea

Spain is a unique country: it has a culture and food all of its own and its influence is plain to see all around the world. Of course, one of Spain’s greatest resources is its 5,000 miles coastline. Along that fantastic coastline, you can find some of Spain’s greatest cities for casually indulging in the beach lifestyle of great weather, watersports, amazing food and sunbathing. These Spanish coastal cities, whether it is a small, charming tranquil paradise or all the action and excitement of the big city, have something for all foreign nationals who choose to live in Spain.

In this article we are going to talk about some of the best places to live in Spain by the sea: Sitges and San Sebastián, but you can download our complete guide to the top 10 coastal cities to live in Spain for free here.

Sitges, Costa del Garraf

Sitges is situated just short of an hour south of Barcelona. This quaint Catalonian coastal town has its own microclimate enjoying hot weather all year round, despite its northern location. It lays on a very popular international film festival each year.

Its white buildings and cobbled steps hide plenty of cafes and wineries serving Catalonia’s finest food and drink. Sitges features some of the Barcelona regions best cuisine, from traditional tapas offerings to more cutting edge local chefs, you will be sure to find something for everyone. 

The beaches of Sitges range depending on what you are looking for. For the sporty resident or tourist, there is Platja de Anquines, where the calm waters allow people to go kayaking and paddleboarding. There is also La Fragata, for the volleyball enthusiasts. 

Right in front of the city is a favourite among locals, Sant Sebastià. Complete with parasols, sun-beds, lifeguards and plenty of bars, Sant Sebastià has it all. For when family come to visit, Terramar is a very child-friendly beach.

Due to Sitges’ proximity to Barcelona, it is best accessed from there. There is a train running straight into the town from the airport, complete with incredible sea views. Sitges is known for its genteel nightlife, and here you can find yourself wining and dining with locals and other nationals living abroad, well into the evening. There is a great carnival atmosphere at different times of the year.

For all those reasons, we believe Sitges is one of the best places to live in Spain by the sea.

San Sebastián, La Costa Vasca

Up in the North, in the autonomous region of the Basque Country, bordering France, San Sebastián reigns supreme. Its more Northern architecture is reminiscent of bigger cities like Madrid and Barcelona. Due to its position at the north of the Iberian peninsula, it enjoys a varied climate with cold winters and warm summers, with the chance of rain year-round. 

It does, however, make up for this shortfall in sun by its unique and enormously varied culture. There is a film festival, numerous art galleries and because of its high amount of Michelin star restaurants, distinctive gastronomy and social food culture, it is top of many culture vultures’ go-to list. Tuck in to pintxos (Basque-style tapas) around a small table with friends, some world-class wine and excellent conversation. 

Its best beaches are La Concha, which is full of restaurants; Zurriola, which is famous for swimming and excellent surfing and Ondarreta, a perfect beach for families. 

San Sebastián’s closest airport is to the north, up at the French border. The local area sports rich, gorgeous forest, mountains and lakes to explore all year round.

More information regarding the best places to live in Spain by the sea

We hope you have enjoyed our article! Remember that if you want more information about the top 10 best places to live in Spain by the sea, we recommend you the following free ebook: Top 10 coastal cities in Spain.

Moreover, we would like to remind you that if you have any queries about the process of purchasing and owning a property in Spain, you can fill out this form and a legal and tax expert from our team will contact you as soon as possible with no obligation.