Holidays to Spain 2023: Τhe 50 must-visit destinations according to the Spanish

The holiday FOMO (fear of missing out) is real! With so many stunning holiday destinations to choose from, it can be hard to actually narrow down your options and make a decision. Spain-Holiday, holiday rental experts for Spain, wants to make your life easier and has collaborated with holiday rental portal Holidu to bring you the 50 best holiday destinations for Spain this summer, according to the Spanish themselves. Find out where the locals like to travel to thanks to their combined internal search data and make sure to visit these must-see cities.

Find here all sources and the complete top 50 ranking, including the average price and average number of travellers per destination,

Nerja is the top holiday destination for summer 2023, followed by Benalmádena y Marbella

This year, Nerja has been the destination that has conquered the hearts of the Spanish. And for good reason! The beautiful beach town has always been popular with tourists, but the fact that it’s also the most-searched destination by locals means that it has not lost its Spanish charm. The top three is completed by two other Costa del Sol towns, Benalmadena and Marbella. Malaga with its rich culture and history comes in on fourth place, while Benidorm and Fuengirola follow closely thanks to their Blue-Flag beaches. Torremolinos, Salou, Alicante and Estepona complete the top 10.

The 15 must-visit destinations in Spain for summer 2023

Life’s a beach: Andalusia and the Valencian Community have the most cities in the ranking
Beach destinations are a hit among every traveller to Spain, even the locals. The majority of most popular destinations are coastal towns and resorts, with most of them located in Andalusia and the Valencian Community. These regions stand out thanks to their stunning and safe beaches, perfect for swimming and water sports. In Andalusia, the top 5 holiday destinations for this summer are Nerja, Benalmadena, Marbella, Malaga and Fuengirola. If you prefer the white beaches of the Costa Blanca, head to one of the top destinations in the Valencian Community, which include Benidorm, Moraira, Calpe and Denia.

But Spain is more than just the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca of course! Other summer destinations popular with locals are Salou, Barcelona and Sitges in Catalonia, and island towns such as Alcudia and Port d’Antdrax (Majorca) and Puerto del Carmen and Costa Adeje (Tenerife). If you’d rather fancy a summer holiday with less heat and more sporty activities, the north of Spain is the place to be. Here, locals are especially loving destinations in the Basque Country and Galicia, with cities like San Sebastian, Bilbao and La Coruña making it to the top 50. These cities stand out because of their rich cultural heritage, beautiful nearby hiking routes, and excellent beaches for surfing.

Which destinations are the most expensive and which ones won’t break the bank
The most expensive destination in the top 50 is Barcelona, with an average accommodation price of 232 pounds per person per night. This city is closely followed by Palma de Mallorca and San Sebastian, with prices of 211 and 210 pounds respectively. The top 5 is completed by Moraira (203 pounds) and Alcudia (192 pounds).

Although we’re in the middle of high season, you can still find very affordable accommodation even in some of the most popular destinations. Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca is the city with cheapest accommodation of the ranking, with average prices at 78 pounds per person per night. Reus, a city in Catalonia, is another budget-friendly option where accommodation will set you back 80 pounds per person per night. Other affordable holiday destinations for this summer are Guardamar del Segura, Roses, Santa Pola and Torre del Mar, where you can rent a holiday home for less than 100 pounds per night per person.

A romantic getaway or a fun holiday with friends: the best destinations for your favourite holiday
The search data didn’t only reveal the most popular destinations and their price range, it also showed which destinations are best for holidays with your family, with friend groups and with your partner. Looking at the amount of guests that was added to each search, the data clearly shows that half of the destinations in the ranking are great for families. Cities such as Malaga, Salou and Alicante attract on average groups made up of 4 people. Other family-friendly destinations include Alcudia, Mijas and Nerja.

Cities located more towards the north of Spain tend to attract larger travel groups. If you’re looking for the perfect destination for a holiday with friends, a city like Sitges, Denia or Reus are amazing options! With plenty of accommodation options for 6 guests and many fun group activities, you’ll have a blast. If you’d rather spend a romantic holiday with your partner, your top picks in Spain are Puerto del Carmen, Torre del Mar and Port d’Antdrax, three stunning beach towns. Where will you go?

Consult the complete ranking of most searched destinations, average amount of guests and average accommodation prices for each analysed city.