Spain continues to be many Europeans' number one destination for a beach holiday. Mallorca and the Canary Islands may seem a bit outdated, but this fantastic country has so much more to offer! In this article, we have selected our favorites.
Sun holidays 2026 – Spain's ten hottest cities and areas this year
The best destination for a sun holiday to Spain in 2026 for those looking for a cosmopolitan experience as well as sun and water is:
1. Malaga, which for several years has been seen by many as a transit city. However, the city has invested heavily in new projects (with new boulevards, theater districts, metro, shopping centers, etc.) and Malaga is now a weekend destination on par with Barcelona and Berlin. In recent years, it has gained, among other things, a new delicious marina, with shops, nightclubs and restaurants. Several restaurants have also been awarded a Michelin star. However, we prefer one of Malaga's many, absolutely awesome and ridiculously cheap tapas bars.
2. Nerja on the eastern Costa del sol with the fantastic caves, the “Californian” landscape, the floral splendor and the generally very low prices at the city's lovely restaurants is an eternal favorite. The city's finest holiday area is Capistrano Village, a timelessly beautiful but unpretentious gem that has now also become something of a "hotspot" for Swedes who want to make a good investment (rental income is high and housing is cheap in the wake of the crash). Nerja also received a heavy price recently when the city ended up in 4th place on TripAdvisor's list of "Top Destinations on the Rise - Europe" and also ended up in a fantastic 9th place in the international ranking for "Traveller's Choice Rankings". They have also invested heavily in infrastructure, in sewage treatment plants, natural areas and safer and cleaner beaches. The city has also been one of the tourist resorts that has worked hardest for safe tourism in connection with the Corona crisis. They have previously invested heavily in sustainable tourism.
3. If you want to feel the wings of history beating even stronger, you should visit the insanely beautiful city Seville which was perhaps the absolute center of the world when Spain was at its richest, when the conquistadors laid new continents under their feet and the city was called the “Capital of the World”. Spain’s golden age is well preserved in the historical splendor that is Seville. According to Lonely Planet’s (the world’s largest travel magazine) list of “Top 10 world cities to visit” as recently as two years ago, Seville was number 1. That says a lot.
4. Basque San Sebastian is rightly called the culinary capital of Europe. No other area has as many Michelin restaurants per capita. It also doesn't hurt that San Sebastian has one of the world's most beautiful "city beaches". There are also great opportunities to try surfing the Atlantic waves here. In a major international survey, the city was recently named the world's fifth best city to live in. In addition, San Sebastian was the "Cultural Capital of Europe" last year and was further renovated in connection with that. The catch? That it is not always so easy to get there.
5. Girona, about 100 km from Barcelona, is also a really nice place. Don't miss Girona's best restaurants, Les Magnolies and Els Brancs, which were recently awarded a Michelin star each. Our real estate agent, who has visited all of Spain, says that Girona is a real highlight.
6. Do you want to combine a big city experience with swimming? Barcelona. The only reason we put the city a little lower on the list is that it is starting to get crowded. Tourism is so widespread that the city has started taking measures to stop it.
7. Cádiz is a beautiful old city. The New York Times agrees and added it to its list of “52 places to visit in the world in 2019.”.
8. Marbella on the western Costa Del Sol is a better-off glamour queen who still spreads a bit of jet-set glamour over the sun holiday. Slightly more expensive prices for food and drink and accommodation compared to Nerja which is located on the eastern side, but walking around the port Puerto banus and admiring the luxury boats is worth it.
9. Alicante and surrounding areas is nice and affordable and last year it became even easier to get there when Norwegian started flying from both Umeå and Karlstad. Guide to the city of Alicante.
10. Our real estate agent has lived in Spain for almost 20 years and has traveled all over the country in his work – several times. His favorite city? Cordoba, the old city in Andalusia which offers perhaps the country's best tapas and beautiful old historic quarters and palaces.
Tips on where you can book last minute sun trips to Spain.
Rent an apartment or house cheaply.
New development overview Costa Del Sol (Malagaprovince plus Costa Tropical).
