Beach houses in Spain

Table of Contents

• At a glance: What should you know about renting a beach house in Spain?
• Beach houses in Spain: find your perfect retreat
• Exploring Spain: our top recommendations
• Activities: What are the top things to do and see in Spain?

• Sea on your doorstep: Beach houses in Spain range from whitewashed cottages above rocky coves to family homes with gardens, terraces and pools a short walk from the sand.
• Eight very different coasts: The Costa del Sol, Costa de la Luz, Costa Blanca, Costa Brava, the islands and the green north each offer a distinct kind of beach holiday.
• Guests rate the views: Our best-reviewed coastal houses score above 9.4+, with guests praising sea views, outdoor space and easy beach access.
• Seafood by the water: From Getaria to Barbate, Spain's finest fish restaurants sit within sight of the boats that supply them.
• Beyond the beach towel: Snorkelling in the Balearics, coastal walks on the Camí de Ronda and volcanic black sand in the Canaries fill the days between swims.

These coastal homes come in as many shapes as the Spanish coastline. Expect whitewashed fishermen's cottages in Andalusian coves, low-slung Mediterranean houses with shaded terraces along the Costa Blanca, stone Catalan homes above the Costa Brava, and island casas in Majorca and Menorca. Larger groups often compare them with villas across Spain or villas with a private pool, while our Spain holiday lettings overview covers every region. Most sleep four to ten guests. Such homes tend to share a familiar set of features:

• Sea-view terraces and balconies for long, slow breakfasts
• Private or shared pools for the hottest afternoons
• Gardens with outdoor showers, grills and shaded dining
• Air conditioning and Wi-Fi throughout
• Parking, useful on coasts where the beach car park fills early

These properties book fastest for July and August, so it pays to look ahead.

What are the best areas to stay in Spain?

For reliable sunshine and easy beaches, Andalusia is the safest bet, though the choice really depends on whether you want islands, resorts or cool green cliffs. The table below details regions for specific interests:

What do our guests say?

Guests booking coastal homes in Spain consistently rate location and outdoor space above everything else: a terrace facing the water, a garden to rinse off the salt in, and a beach close enough to walk to before breakfast. Sea views, generous shade and helpful local hosts come up again and again in reviews scoring 9.4+ and above, from the Balearics to the Canaries.

Here are our top-rated coastal places to stay in Spain from the past year:

1. Villa Paraíso Azul - 9.8+: A six-guest villa in Salobreña on the Costa Tropical, praised for its pool, sea views and short run down to the beach.
2. Villa Rosa - 9.6+: A nine-guest house near Santanyí in Majorca, with a genuine sea view and easy access to the island's southern coves.
3. Casa Miramar - 9.4+: A four-guest house in Frontera on El Hierro in the Canaries, valued for its quiet setting, grill and Atlantic outlook.

Spain wraps almost 5,000 miles of coast around the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and two archipelagos, from Andalusia's warm south to Galicia's green Rías Baixas.

🥗Where to eat in Spain?

According to Google Maps data and reviews, Elkano is the best rated restaurant in Spain. Below is a table showing the top 5 highly-rated restaurants hand-picked by our travel experts.

⭐Our guests' recommendation: Our guest traveller Emma recommends the Chambao Marbella in Spain: sand underfoot, a table facing the water and a long lunch that drifts into sunset drinks.

1. Swim the calas of Majorca and Menorca
2. Walk the Camí de Ronda on the Costa Brava
3. Chase Atlantic dunes on the Costa de la Luz
4. Eat lunch at a Costa del Sol chiringuito
5. Stand on black sand in the Canaries
6. Cool off on the green north coast
7. Take to the water on the Costa Blanca

1. Swim the calas of Majorca and Menorca

   The Balearics hide dozens of calas — narrow, pine-fringed inlets where the water turns an improbable turquoise. On Majorca, Cala Llombards and Caló des Moro near Santanyí reward an early start before the car park fills. Menorca's north coast keeps things wilder still, with Cala Pregonda reached only on foot. Bring a mask: the rocky edges of these bays are the best easy snorkelling in the country, and a last-minute booking in Spain can still land you within walking distance in shoulder season.

2. Walk the Camí de Ronda on the Costa Brava

   The old coastguard path threads along Catalonia's cliffs between Begur, Calella de Palafrugell and Tossa de Mar, dipping to a swimmable cove roughly every twenty minutes. Sections are gentle enough for families and the views over the pine-topped headlands are the reason the coast earned its name. Do it in May or September, carry water, and finish in Cadaqués, the whitewashed village where Salvador Dalí kept his house at Portlligat.

3. Chase Atlantic dunes on the Costa de la Luz

   Cádiz province trades the Mediterranean's calm for wide Atlantic sand and dependable wind. Bolonia backs onto a vast shifting dune and the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia; Zahara de los Atunes and Conil offer miles of open beach with room to spare in August. Tarifa, at the country's southern tip, is one of Europe's great kitesurfing and windsurfing spots, with Morocco visible across the strait on a clear day.

4. Eat lunch at a Costa del Sol chiringuito

   A chiringuito is a beach restaurant, and on the Málaga coast it is close to an institution. Sardines are threaded onto canes and grilled over a driftwood fire in an old boat — the espeto — then eaten with your fingers and a cold drink while your feet stay in the sand. Look for them in Pedregalejo, Nerja and Fuengirola. Lunch runs late here; nobody sits down before two.

5. Stand on black sand in the Canaries

   The Canary Islands are volcanic, and their beaches show it. Black sand at Playa Jardín in Tenerife and El Golfo in Lanzarote sits beside pale imported sand further south, giving each island two entirely different coastlines. Add the lunar interior of Timanfaya National Park and year-round swimming temperatures, and the archipelago works just as well in February as in August.

6. Cool off on the green north coast

   When the south bakes, the north stays fresh. Cantabria and Asturias hide sandy bays beneath green cliffs, and Asturias's Playa de Gulpiyuri is an inland beach fed by the sea through underground caves. Further west, Galicia's Rías Baixas shelter calm, shallow water and some of Europe's best shellfish. The Basque coast adds surf at Zarautz and pintxos in San Sebastián. This coast is also great for beach walks and quiet rock-pooling.

7. Take to the water on the Costa Blanca

   Alicante's coast is built for messing about on the sea. Kayak out to the sea caves beneath the Penyal d'Ifac at Calpe, snorkel the protected marine reserve off Tabarca island, or sail from the marinas at Dénia and Xàbia. The water here is unusually clear and calm, which makes it a forgiving place for children and first-timers to try paddleboarding or a beginner's diving session.