More than 2.5 million searches for property in Spain from the UK each month; UK’s 10 largest cities all searching for property in Spain and France.
Despite the allure of exotic faraway destinations, more than 2.5 million online searches suggest that Britons prefer the sunny shores much closer to home when it comes to buying property abroad.
According to the latest research by property website Rightmove, Spain is the most popular European country for Britons looking to relocate or buy a second home. Average monthly searches for property in Spain total 2,513,374 a month – over 74% more than France, the second most searched for location in Europe.
Top 10 Destinations for Property-Seekers
Country |
Avg. Enquiry Price |
Avg. Flight Time from UK |
Avg. Flight Cost |
Spain |
€156, 940 |
2h |
£48 |
France |
€217,433 |
55m |
£54 |
Italy |
€227,411 |
2h 20m |
£56 |
Portugal |
€215,001 |
2h 30m |
£83 |
Ireland |
€167,537 |
1h 10m |
£36 |
Greece |
€191,246 |
3h 30m |
£132 |
Cyprus |
€148,082 |
4h 46m |
£184 |
Germany |
€370,990 |
1h 40m |
£28 |
Malta |
€264,670 |
3h |
£68 |
Turkey |
€93,180 |
4h |
£142 |
Countries ranked according to number of avg. monthly searches
Which UK City Loves Spain the Most?
A closer look at a year’s worth of property search data from the largest cities shows consistent interest in Spain right across the UK. It is the number one sunny destination for Britons from Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield.
Spain is most popular with sun-starved Scots, more than 54% of searches for property in Spain come from Glasgow, a close second being Liverpool with the second highest number of searches, at almost 50%.
France comes up as a consistent second on the list of hot-property destinations, according to UK interest per city, with the most searches for this sunny destination coming out of Cardiff, London, and Bristol.
Which Sunny Resorts are Property-Seekers Most Interested In?
Spain and France are clear favourites for property-seekers looking to buy a second home, a closer look reveals the most searched for resorts in each.
Top Resorts in Spain |
Avg. Enquiry Price |
Top Resorts in France |
Avg. Enquiry Price |
Alicante |
€126,054 |
Nice |
€356,271 |
Mallorca |
€397,813 |
Cannes |
€585,754 |
Malaga |
€191,830 |
Montpellier |
€553,045 |
Tenerife |
€176,107 |
St. Tropez |
€1,523,989 |
Lanzarote |
€160,193 |
Marseille |
€1,399,625 |
A House in Alicante – Most Popular Second Home Destination in the UK
Alicante tops the list as the most searched for property destination in Spain and at €126, 053, it also has the lowest average enquiry price of the most popular sunny regions. According to Rightmove, 62% of enquiries are for houses in Alicante, while 38% are looking for flats or apartments. And for UK residents looking for fast, affordable flights to their holiday home in the sun, it doesn’t get better than this port city on Spain’s south-eastern coast.
An Apartment in Mallorca – Popular with High Budget Buyers
With an average enquiry price of €397, 813, property in Mallorca is popular with high budget buyers, with 54% looking for flats and apartments and 46% looking for houses. Despite enquiries for properties in Mallorca being three times higher in price than those in Alicante, it still tops the list as the second most searched for property destination in Spain.
“Just 2.5 hours away by plane, a great climate, upmarket living, picturesque surroundings… Mallorca is perfectly positioned as the ultimate destination for high budget UK buyers looking to purchase their own slice of paradise” said Chris Please, Head of Rightmove Overseas.
Why is Property in Spain Consistently in Demand?
“Over 12 months, we received an average of 2.5 million searches a month for property in Spain, indicating just how in-demand this sunny country is for property-seekers. Whether it’s the large expat community, the sunny climate, the food or simply the easy transition into relaxed Spanish culture that has Britons enthralled, Spain’s proximity to the UK, cheap flights and short travel time has it consistently emerging as one of the most popular property destinations abroad. , said Chris Please.
Climate
With warm average temperatures of 21°C per year, Spain is one of the hottest countries in Europe making it an ideal destination for summer homes. With high average temperatures hitting 30°C in June, 34°C in July and 33°C in August, summer months in Spain are hot and the climate is mild for the rest of the year.
Cyprus |
Malta |
Greece |
Portugal |
Spain |
25 c |
23 c |
23 c |
21 c |
21 c |
Average flight time to Spain is just over 2 hours by plane, making it one of the fastest destinations to travel to after France, Ireland and Germany. With plane ticket prices increasing in summer due to high demand, visiting Spain is more affordable than visiting France, Italy or Malta, with the estimated lowest price in mid-summer costing £48 return.
Country |
Flight time |
Flight Cost |
|
Germany |
1 hour 40 minutes |
£28 |
|
Ireland |
1 hour 10 minutes |
£36 |
|
Spain |
2 hours |
£48 |
|
France |
55 minutes |
£54 |
|
Italy |
2 hours 20 minutes |
£56 |
|
Malta |
3 hours |
£68 |
|
Portugal |
2 hours 30 minutes |
£83 |
|
Greece |
3 hours 30 minutes |
£132 |
|
Turkey |
4 hours |
£142 |
|
Cyprus |
4 hours 46 mins |
£184 |
Could a Second Home in the Sun Be More Attainable Than You Think?
Think you can’t afford a sun-drenched place to call home? The latest data from Rightmove, might just make you think again. The 10 most in-demand property hotspots abroad have just been revealed.
Life in the UK has many attractions but the weather isn’t always one of them, and that’s probably why more than 2.5 million online searches for ‘property in Spain’ come from the UK each month. According to research by Rightmove, the most popular locations for a second home aren’t just sunny, they’re also relatively nearby.
Brits are looking for the right balance of affordable plane tickets and short travel times, making them ideal for a quick long weekend getaway – some even have double the sunshine compared to the UK!
Top 10 Destinations for Property-Seekers
Country |
Avg. Enquiry Price |
Avg. Flight Time from UK |
Avg. Flight Cost |
Spain |
€156, 940 |
2h |
£48 |
France |
€217,433 |
55m |
£54 |
Italy |
€227,411 |
2h 20m |
£56 |
Portugal |
€215,001 |
2h 30m |
£83 |
Ireland |
€167,537 |
1h 10m |
£36 |
Greece |
€191,246 |
3h 30m |
£132 |
Cyprus |
€148,082 |
4h 46m |
£184 |
Germany |
€370,990 |
1h 40m |
£28 |
Malta |
€264,670 |
3h |
£68 |
Turkey |
€93,180 |
4h |
£142 |
Countries ranked according to number of avg. monthly searches
“Top locations that the British public search for holiday homes abroad in generally mirror the most popular holiday hotspots, and the most popular holiday hotspots are those places with the highest temperatures and easy accessibility,” commented Chris Please.
Top Resorts
With close proximity to the UK, affordable flights and great weather all around, average monthly searches for property in Spain total 2,513,374 a month – over 74% more than France, the second most searched for location in Europe. But when it comes to the warm holiday destination of choice for most Britons, a closer look reveals the most popular resorts for property searches in each.
Top Resorts in Spain |
Avg. Enquiry Price |
Top Resorts in France |
Avg. Enquiry Price |
Alicante |
€126,054 |
Nice |
€356,271 |
Mallorca |
€397,813 |
Cannes |
€585,754 |
Malaga |
€191,830 |
Montpellier |
€553,045 |
Tenerife |
€176,107 |
St. Tropez |
€1,523,989 |
Lanzarote |
€160,193 |
Marseille |
€1,399,625 |
Upgrade Your City Home for a Getaway by the Sea
“We see a demand for holiday homes in Europe from buyers in the UK looking for great weather and a laid-back lifestyle. The appeal of short haul travel makes destinations like Spain and France popular weekend getaway escapes” said Chris Please.
A closer look at a year’s worth of property search data from the largest cities shows the most in-demand getaway destination for property-seekers across the UK.
Best Destinations for Sun
For sunshine-seekers, this list highlights some of the best destinations for consistently warm weather. Get those beach umbrellas ready, with average high temperatures throughout summer and double the annual sunshine compared to the UK, this list is sizzling hot.
5 of the Hottest Countries in Europe
Cyprus |
Malta |
Greece |
Portugal |
Spain |
25 c |
23 c |
23 c |
21 c |
21 c |
Croatia |
Cyprus |
Portugal |
Malta |
Greece |
3,321 |
3,285 |
3,285 |
2,920 |
2,920 |
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.