Spain is a wonderful country to live in with children, offering everything you need for a happy and healthy childhood: clean air, a warm sunny climate, the sea and beautiful beaches, quality food, schools with a high standard of education, plenty of entertainment, and a very friendly attitude toward kids – the list of advantages could go on and on.
A major plus of Spain is that families with both higher and average incomes can move here: the cost of living is reasonable, and housing prices are relatively affordable compared to many other European countries.
When it comes to education, Spain has both prestigious private schools and completely free public schools. So, if you have already decided to move to Spain with children, which city should you choose? Below we will share a few great options in the provinces of Valencia and Alicante.
Spain with children: which city to choose? – Torrevieja
Torrevieja is a very popular city among immigrants on the Mediterranean coast. Despite its modest size, it has well-developed infrastructure with everything you need for everyday life and leisure. Torrevieja also stands out for its affordable housing – both for buying and renting.
For families with children, Torrevieja is a great choice. Because the city is compact, everything is literally within walking distance: wonderful beaches for family отдых, cafes and restaurants, children’s playgrounds, and a lovely place for walks – Nations Park (Parque de las Naciones), home to many birds (geese, ducks, peacocks, hens, roosters and even parrots), which children absolutely love. There are also plenty of schools – private, semi-private (concertado) and public – and a wide range of sports activities for kids of all ages (including a large Sports Palace). In short, it has everything needed for comfortable family life.
Near the city you will find a unique nature reserve – La Mata and Torrevieja Lagoons Natural Park. It is not only a great place to spend a family weekend, but also a beautiful location for family and children’s photo sessions.
And the salt lakes of La Mata enrich the air with beneficial minerals – another strong advantage of Torrevieja for living.
Another undeniable benefit of Torrevieja is that it is a very cosmopolitan, multicultural city, which is especially important for immigrant families. Locals are friendly and helpful, and there are strong national communities where people support each other in difficult situations.
Torrevieja on the map:
You can browse our Torrevieja property listings here.
Spain with children: which city to choose? – Alicante
Alicante is an excellent city for living with children: sunny, warm and welcoming, with great infrastructure and beautiful beaches, plenty of attractions, a wide choice of schools and many family leisure options.
In Alicante, you will find lovely parks for walks with children, a beautiful promenade and marina, the historic Santa Barbara Castle rising above the city, cafes, bars and restaurants, playgrounds, lots of children’s shops and much more.
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Even without a specific plan, you can always take a walk with children along the Explanada promenade with its many stalls selling souvenirs, toys and sweets, along the waterfront where you can admire yachts and feed fish, or along Canalejas Boulevard with its fantastic ficus trees that look like scenery from the movie “Avatar”.
Alicante on the map:
You can browse our Alicante property listings here.
Spain with children: which city to choose? – Guardamar del Segura
Calm and picturesque Guardamar del Segura is one of the best places for children and retirees. Just consider its 11 km of beaches with soft golden sand, separated from the city by a unique natural landscape – sand dunes. Near the beaches there is a promenade with many cafes, bars and restaurants serving excellent local cuisine.
Another attraction of Guardamar is a huge park with pine and eucalyptus trees. These trees were planted to stop the dunes from moving toward the city. Over time, the area became a well-maintained park with very чистый air enriched with pine and eucalyptus аромат, and walking paths. There is a pond area with colorful koi carp, turtles, swans, geese and ducks. The park is also home to many squirrels that you can feed right from your hand.
There is also a children’s playground inside the park, and in summer amusement rides are usually set up nearby. Guardamar has several schools, kindergartens, many shops, sports clubs, a surf school for children and adults, and a children’s summer camp focused on surfing and English immersion.
Guardamar also has ruins of an old castle on a hill, and there are archaeological excavations in the dunes area.
Read our article about Guardamar del Segura here.
Guardamar del Segura on the map:
You can browse our Guardamar del Segura property listings here.
Spain with children: which city to choose? – Calpe
The incredibly beautiful city of Calpe is a great option for settling with children. Calpe is famous for its scenic landscapes, stunning nature, rich cultural and historical heritage, and a high level of comfort and safety. There are no disadvantaged areas in Calpe; residents are mostly middle- and higher-income people who prefer living close to nature and away from the busiest tourist crowds – even though Calpe is a resort town, it is quiet, calm and comfortable.
The main attraction of the city is the unique Peñón de Ifach rock, stretching into the sea and protected as a nature reserve. There are several routes of different difficulty: you can stroll at the foot of the rock, or climb to the very top for breathtaking views. However, the summit route is not suitable for small children due to its difficulty.
With children, you can enjoy a walk along the Paseo ecológico Príncipe de Asturias, which runs along the base of the rock and starts from the port of Calpe. Another great family walk is the Paseo Ecológico de Benissa – a coastal route connecting Calpe and Benissa and passing through picturesque coves.
Calpe offers a wide variety of beaches – both sandy and rocky. Many of them are perfect for snorkeling. Children (and their parents) will surely love it: the underwater flora and fauna here is rich and diverse, and it’s no coincidence that the seabed around Peñón de Ifach is a protected area.
Calpe also has good infrastructure, making it comfortable for family living. There are schools (public, private and semi-private), kindergartens, plenty of places for children’s leisure and sports, cafes and restaurants – you will always find something to do.
Read our articles about Calpe:
Calpe on the map:
You can browse our Calpe property listings here.
Spain with children: which city to choose? – Benidorm and its satellite towns: Finestrat, Villajoyosa, Polop
Although Benidorm itself can be recommended for family life, its satellite towns are often even better for living with children. Why? Benidorm is primarily a resort city – quite noisy and lively. Still, the Poniente area of Benidorm can work well for families: it is calmer, the beach is less crowded, and the infrastructure for living and recreation is very well developed.
Now let’s move to Benidorm’s satellite towns, starting with Finestrat.
This town – more precisely, the Cala de Finestrat area adjacent to Benidorm, and the prestigious Sierra Cortina zone near the mountains – is chosen for permanent family living by both Spaniards and foreigners. A wonderful climate, stunning views and a high level of comfort are the key advantages of this area. Also, within just a few minutes’ drive you will find Benidorm’s famous theme parks – Terra Mitica, Terra Natura and Aqualandia – a real celebration for children of all ages (and for adults as well).
Finestrat on the map:
You can browse our Finestrat property listings here.
Villajoyosa is another town considered a satellite of Benidorm. Villajoyosa is called the “chocolate capital” of Costa Blanca because it is home to the Valor chocolate factory and a chocolate museum. It is also a very beautiful, picturesque town – just look at the colorful facades of fishermen’s houses facing the sea. People settle here when they prefer peace and comfort, beautiful nature and clean air.
- Read more about Villajoyosa here.
Villajoyosa on the map:
Polop is a town located away from the sea, about 20 minutes from Benidorm, in a beautiful area surrounded by forests and mountains. Polop has everything for comfortable family life: schools, kindergartens, playgrounds and a sports complex with a wide range of activities. Life in Polop is a great fit for those who dislike city hustle and prefer good ecology, scenic landscapes and quietness. At the same time, Benidorm – with its wide range of entertainment and wonderful beaches – is very close.
- Read more about Polop here.
Polop on the map:
You can browse our Polop property listings here.
Spain with children: which city to choose? – Valencia
Valencia is a fantastic city for living with children: modern, dynamic and comfortable, with excellent infrastructure, a huge choice of high-quality educational institutions, rich cultural, architectural and historical heritage, and many entertainment options for children and adults. Valencia is close to the sea, and despite its large size by Spanish standards (Valencia is the third-largest city in the country after Madrid and Barcelona), it is surprisingly comfortable for everyday life. Another major advantage is moderate property prices and a wide selection of housing for every taste and budget.
Valencia is perfect for those who are used to living in a big city and do not want to move to a small Spanish town. You can read about Valencia’s best areas here.
Listing all of Valencia’s attractions would require a separate article, so here are just the highlights: the City of Arts and Sciences, the Turia Gardens in the former riverbed, the Cathedral and Basilica, the Miguelete tower, Bioparc, the Palace of Music, many museums and more.
Read more about Valencia’s attractions here.
Valencia is also a very green city with excellent parks for family leisure. Read more about Valencia’s parks here.
For family life, you may also consider Valencia’s suburbs – many of them are a great alternative. You can find an article about the best suburbs of Valencia here.
You may also be interested in these articles:
- Student visa to Spain: types and key points (updated guide)
- Where are the best areas to buy property in Spain?
Valencia on the map:
You can browse our Valencia property listings here.
