Here are three Spanish cities you probably haven’t considered searching for a property in. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t! Discover all that makes Vigo, Zaragoza and Valladolid special places to live.
What kind of lifestyle are you seeking in Spain? Many overseas buyers looking to retire or own a second home are drawn to the coast. While those looking to work gravitate towards Madrid or Barcelona. But for some, the smaller towns along the coast quieten down too much in the off season. While for others, the bustle (and price) of Madrid and Barcelona might feel like too much. For those looking to strike a balance in between, we’ve picked three fantastic cities. None of the three chosen are popular with overseas buyers, and so, they offer an authentic feel.
Find homes in Spain via our property portal.
Vigo
Could Vigo suit you?
Vigo is in the region of Galicia in the northwest of Spain and in the province of Pontevedra. It is a small city with a population of less than 300,000.
The city is easy to walk around – even the beach is in walking distance, Playa del Vayo. The old town is typical of the region with steep and narrow streets. Artisanal shops line the streets and there is a shopping centre there too.
The bus service is excellent and is often referred to by the name of the bus company, Vitrasa. Shopping caters to everyone with boutiques, busy markets and centres with high street brands.
The cuisine of Galicia is world renowned and Vigo won’t disappoint. Seafood is, of course, the prime dish and there is a street called Oyster Street where restaurants’ speciality is ….oysters!
Being on the Atlantic coast, the weather in Vigo is variable. You’ll feel the greatest chill in January with highs of just 12 degrees. But the height of summer, July, enjoys an average daily maximum of 26°C.
There are three golf courses in Vigo and as it’s by the sea, all sorts of water sports. Hiking through the Natural Park is very popular and there are numerous sports centres. There are three international schools there, two of which are British.
Two languages are spoken in Vigo, Castilian and Galician and Galicians have Celtic origins. There is an international airport 14 km away with flights to the UK, Madrid and Italy among others. Vigo is about 90 minutes’ drive from Porto in Portugal.
Property in Vigo
Property can be expensive, but this is offset by what the city and its surroundings have to offer, in particular forty-five beaches. Nature lovers will enjoy the Atlantic Islands National Park and Cies Islands which are teeming with birdlife.
A three-bedroom apartment costs upwards of €180,000 depending on the district and proximity to the sea and in the city centre high end apartments cost over €700,000. Detached four-bedroom houses start at €350,00 and reach over €2 million.
Why you will love Vigo: Atlantic breeze, urban beaches, delicious fresh fish and the guarantee of an outdoorsy lifestyle.
Zaragoza
Zaragoza.
Landlocked and windy, Zaragoza is a glorious city, small enough to walk around, large enough to offer everything you might want or need. The fifth largest city in Spain, it has great choice in properties available, both for sale and to rent.
Zaragoza is the capital of Aragon in the northeast of Spain and is home to both Baroque and Moorish architecture, with its famous Cathedral, Nuestra Señora del Pilar, standing proudly in the large and pretty main square. Famous too as the birthplace of the Spanish painter, Goya, it has a wealth of art treasures, ancient buildings, Roman ruins and excellent wine produced in the surrounding countryside. There are restaurants to suit all budgets and an area called “el tubo” where tapas bars vie against each other to offer their specialities. Being a university town, the night life is full on. There are three English schools and one Lycée. Golfers can enjoy three courses nearby.
Much of the centre is pedestrianised, making it a pleasure to walk around. On Sundays you’ll find an exhibition of local artists in Plaza Santa Cruz. Prices generally are reasonable, and the city has a relaxed atmosphere. It is well connected to both Madrid and Barcelona by various fast train services, roughly a 90-minute journey in either direction.
There is an airport just 10.8 km from the city and Ryanair flies there from Stansted and Vueling from Mallorca.
Property in Zaragoza
Apartments start at €135,000 but expect to pay more for a central location. €235,000 upwards will buy a four-bedroom terraced house and in the region of €500,000 and more for a detached villa with four-bedrooms in an urbanisation.
Why you will love Zaragoza: a city that you will walk and walk and walk all over to take in the culture, the art, the tasty tapas. Plus, the temptation of wild nights out.
Valladolid
Discover Valladolid.
Valladolid is located in northwest Spain and in the region of Castile and Léon. It is Spain’s third largest city with a population of 800,000. It is a grand city, home to the Royal Palace used by the Spanish monarchy at the beginning of the 1600s. Christopher Columbus died there in 1506.
It is also famous for the Campo Grande Park, a vast area where you will find peacocks strutting about freely. It is a lively and beautiful city and surprisingly walkable. It is known for its very low rate of crime and feels safe as it is a fairly quiet city compared to Madrid or Barcelona.
It has a large choice of restaurants from those with low-cost daily menus to high-end cuisine. Lamb is king in this city as well as cheese and local bread and of course, tapas.
Like Zaragoza, Valladolid is a university town and caters for the younger sections of society as well as the more mature. Much of the centre is now pedestrianised and there are several shopping centres to enjoy as well as museums, in particular the National College of San Gregorio Museum which is considered one of the most important in Spain. There is an international school in Valladolid and there are three golf courses to enjoy.
High speed trains travel to Madrid in less than 60 minutes and the city is well connected to other cities. There is an airport, but it has limited services, mainly to Barcelona and Gran Canaria. Barajas Airport in Madrid will get you almost anywhere and it is 90 minutes by train.
Property in Valladolid
Property is very affordable. Apartments start at under €100,000 but you would pay upwards of €245,000 for a three-bedroom apartment in the centre. €300,000 to €500,000 buys a four-bedroom townhouse and over that price will buy a large, detached villa with four or more bedrooms.
Why you will love Valladolid: Madrid is not too far away but Valladolid is much kinder to your purse. It has a feeling of grandeur from its history while the university gives the city a youthful, fun energy.
You might also like:
