Vamos a la playa! Spain, with its beautiful landscapes, rich culture and delicious food, is a perfect destination for a workation. It is relatively affordable there, compared to other European countries. The sun shines there often and the term temperature is pleasant almost all year round. The further south you go, the warmer it gets. More and more people are choosing to take their work to another destination, allowing them to enjoy a new place and be productive at the same time.
In recent years I have been to Spain a lot. Sometimes for a week or 1 month, but also once I went there to work remote for 3 months in the winter. This is highly recommended if you want to escape the cold at home. In order not to lose too much time, I chose 5 cities, where I stayed at least 2 weeks each time. I started my trip in Barcelona and then went to Valencia. Then continued by train to Malaga and carpooling to Granada. I ended in Seville, from where I flew back home. In this blog we share our experiences in these 5 amazing Spanish cities.
1. Barcelona
Barcelona, the bustling capital of Catalonia, is a popular city for workation lovers and digital nomads from all over the world. It is often packed with tourists. The city has a unique blend of culture and architecture. The Barri Gotic neighborhood is my favorite.
It is bursting with quaint streets, cozy bars and beautiful buildings. I like the latter about Spain anyway.
In addition, after your workday, you can take a stroll along the iconic La Rambla or visit the famous Sagrada Familia. You can’t skip the beach either. No better than a dip in the sea after all that hard work. Want to know more about Barcelona? the 5 fun places to work. I stayed at Unite Hostel Barcelona. A nice hostel, in a good location in the city, with a free private office.
2. Valencia
Valencia, the third largest city in Spain. The area is ideal for a workation and more and more Dutch people are discovering this. The climate there is wonderful all year round! The city has beautiful parks where you can relax during your break. My favorite neighborhood is El Cabanyal, near the harbor and the beach. This originally old fishing neighborhood oozes with character. Filled with colorful houses and a sea breeze, I feel right at home there. It is also a bit less touristy and you can find many nice little Spanish restaurants where there are many locals.
My tip for a very nice accommodation are the apartments of La Mas Bonita. Super stylishly decorated and close to the beach. Quickly check availability below as it is a popular place that fills up quickly. If you are looking for an affordable hostel, I really liked Cantagua Hostel in Ruzafa.
The famous Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is a must-see, an impressive architectural complex with several striking buildings. This structure cost as much as 1.3 billion to make. Are you a real hiker? Then there is plenty of beauty to discover in the area, for example you can hike and climb in Chulilla, a kind of mini Grand Canyon! I found it really breathtakingly beautiful!
Also fun to read is the blog with 5 fine work cafes in Valencia.
3. Malaga
Located on the beautiful Costa del Sol in southern Spain, Malaga is a lively city that offers perfect balance between work and leisure. You will find many nice cafes where you can enjoy working. Besides the vibrant city life, Malaga has beautiful beaches where you can relax after a productive working day. The nice thing about Malaga is that it is not huge. Everything is within walking distance of each other. I am a big fan of the beach and get very happy when I can walk there in 15 minutes. I stayed in a nice apartment of The Lights City Rooms.
The city is also known for its rich history and cultural attractions, such as the Picasso Museum and the Moorish fortress Alcazaba. If you’re in Malaga you can’t avoid Alcazaba and Castillo de Gibralfaro. Both are literally in the middle of the city. Alcazaba is a medieval fortress on a Moorish-style hill and Castillo de Gibralfaro is a castle ruin. Both have spectacular views of the city and the sea. Great to walk through and enjoy the view. It is highly recommended to take a tour, where you will get to know Malaga as a local on this city tour.
4. Granada
Granada is an extraordinary city. The city’s most famous building is the Alhambra Palace, one of the most visited monuments in Spain. It takes some climbing up, a good workout, but then you have something! You should definitely go here and take your time. Granada is not very big. A somewhat good condition is nice here, because the nicest places are on a hill. You should really visit the iconic buildings in the city and buy tickets in advance. Here you can find a nice tour, in a small group, visiting all the highlights in Granada.
After your work day, you step out of your accommodation and are right in the center. I stayed at TOC Hostel/Hotel Granada, which is a really super nice place, with a great lobby and restaurant. Here you can enjoy the small streets of the historic Albaicín district, where you can relax in traditional tea houses and enjoy a view of the Alhambra. In Granada you will find many Arab influences, bongs, Tagines and Arab spices galore. The gypsy district of Sacromonte is also great fun to check out. Read all my tips for a workation in Granada here.
5. Seville
Seville surprised me immensely. It is the capital of Andalusia, a city of history and charm. A special mix of old and new. It even still has horse and carriage rides. It is the perfect destination for those who want to be inspired by a unique environment. My ultimate, perhaps even favorite place in all of Spain, is Plaza España in Seville. This is so beautiful and so pure. The building is breathtaking, very distinctive and spacious. And that’s not all, because what has enchanted me the most is the flamenco performances. The passionate Spanish dancing, singing and music really gives you goosebumps in that place.
Like almost every Spanish city, Seville is bursting with quaint streets and atmospheric squares, where you can stroll around and eat delicious food. All my tips for this city can be found in the blog about Seville. There you can also read more about the cute boutique hotel I stayed at, La Casa del Maestro Boutique Hotel.
On workstation in Spain
Spain is a great destination for a workation and the top five destinations listed above will hopefully give you an idea of each city. Whether you want to enjoy the fine beaches of Malaga or the vibrant city life of Valencia, each city has its unique characteristics that will make your workation an unforgettable experience. Viva España!
So what are you waiting for? Vamos! Pack your laptop and go on an adventure to one of these amazing workation destinations in Spain. Want to know more about one of these cities? Then send us a message! Quickly book your workation to Spain below.
