Residential Rentals on the Spanish Coast Attract More and More International Tenants

The residential rental market in Spain is experiencing strong momentum thanks to the growing interest of international tenants, particularly in coastal and tourist areas. According to the latest idealista/data figures for the first quarter of 2025, provinces such as Balearic Islands, Alicante, Málaga, and Tenerife exceed 20% of international demand compared to the total visits to rental listings.

Balearic Islands, Alicante, Málaga and Tenerife: hotspots for international rentals

In the Balearic Islands, 29.1% of rental searches come from abroad, led by Germany (39%), followed by the UK (9%) and Italy (7%).
In Alicante, 27.4% of demand comes from international users, with strong interest from the Netherlands (14%), Germany (11%) and the UK (9%).
Málaga attracts 25.7% of foreign searches, mainly from the UK (11%), Germany (10%) and the Netherlands (9%).
Meanwhile, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 21.9% of rental queries originate from abroad, especially Germany (23%), Italy (19%) and the UK (8%).

Other coastal provinces such as Las Palmas, Girona, and Almería also show a significant share of international demand, all above 15%. The most active nationalities include Germans, French, British, Italians and Dutch, along with growing interest from emerging markets such as the United States, Argentina, Morocco, and Colombia.

Valencia leads international demand among Spain’s major urban markets

Among Spain’s main cities, Valencia stands out as the top destination for international tenants, with 17% of searches, ahead of Barcelona (15.3%), Madrid (9.1%) and Seville (8.1%).

• In Valencia, most searches come from the United States (13–14%), Germany (9%) and France (8%).
• Barcelona shows strong demand from France (11%), the US (10%) and Italy (9%).
• Madrid attracts tenants from the US (14%), France (8%) and Italy (7%).
• In Seville, searches mainly come from the US (13–14%), France (11%) and Italy (9%).

Trends in border regions and inland markets

The report also highlights demand patterns in areas close to Portugal, where Portuguese users account for most searches in Badajoz (40%), Huelva (27%), Pontevedra (22%) and Ourense (15%). From Andorra, interest focuses on Lleida (18%), while in Valladolid, 10% of rental demand comes from Brazil.

Additionally, Latin American countries are gaining weight in inland markets: Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia and Cuba lead searches in provinces such as Guadalajara, Toledo, Segovia and Ávila.

 Conclusion: Residential rentals in Spain’s coastal provinces and major cities are not only attracting strong local demand but are also consolidating their position as a prime choice for international tenants. This global interest reinforces Spain’s status as one of the most desirable destinations to live, work or enjoy long stays.