co-ownership
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June 8, 2026
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Remote work, retirement, sabbaticals, slow travel — there are more reasons than ever to spend extended time in a single place rather than rushing between landmarks. Spain has long been one of Europe's favourite long-stay destinations, but not every region is equally suited for it.
The places below check the boxes that matter for a month or longer: reliable connectivity, year-round liveability, food and culture that don't get exhausted in a week, and proximity to airports for the inevitable visits home. They are also five of the most rewarding places in Spain to call home for an extended period.
1. Mallorca — the year-round Mediterranean
Mallorca is the rare Mediterranean destination that works in every season. In summer it's the playground of northern Europe; in autumn the Tramuntana mountains light up in copper and gold; in winter the almond blossom in February is a spectacle worth coming for. Palma's old town is one of the most beautiful in Spain, and the digital nomad infrastructure (coworking, fibre, English-speaking professionals) is among the most developed in the country.
For long stays, the western coast (Sóller, Deià, Valldemossa) gives you the slow Mediterranean. The east coast (Cala d'Or, Porto Cristo) gives you family-friendly beaches and quiet villages.
2. Ibiza — beyond the summer cliché
Ibiza out of season is one of the best-kept secrets in the Mediterranean. Between October and May, the island slows down to a pace that feels almost prehistoric — empty beaches, hiking trails through pine forests, long lunches at payeses restaurants, and the kind of light that has drawn artists for a century.
Long-stay Ibiza is for people who want the legendary lifestyle without the August intensity. The infrastructure is excellent, flights to mainland Europe are short and frequent, and the international community is established enough to make you feel at home from day one.
3. Costa Brava — proximity, food, design
One hour north of Barcelona by car, the Costa Brava is the long-stay destination for people who want big-city access plus Mediterranean coastline. The towns of Cadaqués, Begur and Calella de Palafrugell are some of the most photographed in Spain. The food scene is world-class — the Roca brothers, Massimo Bottura's friends, generations of Catalan tradition meeting modernist technique.
And then there's the design. Cap de Creus, the easternmost point of Iberia, was Salvador Dalí's home for fifty years. The light, the wind, the rocky coves — once you spend a month here, you understand why.
4. Cantabria — green Spain at its most authentic
For the long-stay traveller who's already done Andalusia and the Mediterranean, Cantabria is a revelation. Green hills running into the Atlantic, traditional cuisine that puts the Basque Country on notice, surfing beaches in Liencres and Somo, and small towns like Comillas and Santillana del Mar that look unchanged since the 19th century.
Summers are mild (25°C is a hot day), winters are wet but not severe, and the property prices are a fraction of what you'd pay on the Mediterranean. For families looking for nature, hiking, surfing and an authentic Spanish experience away from the crowds, Cantabria is hard to beat.
5. Sotogrande — for the long-stay luxury seeker
Spain's most exclusive private residential community, Sotogrande is structured as if it were designed for long stays: golf, polo, sailing, an international school, fine dining, beach club, and a level of privacy that's rare on the Mediterranean. The summer is intense but the shoulder seasons (May, June, September, October) are ideal — perfect weather, no crowds, fully booked life.
Vivla has homes in all five of these destinations. If you're considering a long-stay base in Spain — or a series of long-stay rotations across the country — talk to our team about the homes available and which ones match your lifestyle.
