4 Points to Consider Before Buying in the Costa Brava
The Costa Brava isn't one place — it's dozens of them, and no two are alike. Cadaqués and Platja d'Aro sit on the same stretch of coastline but couldn't feel more different, and picking the wrong town can matter far more than picking a house that you think is right for you. Before you start selecting houses to view, here are four things worth thinking through first.
What lifestyle are you looking for?
The coast varies wildly from one town to the next, so choosing where to look is even more important than the dream property you have in mind. Start with the transition you're making: are you coming over for part of the year, or making a full-time move? That answer shapes everything else.
If you're here for just a few months a year, you're possibly after an escape from a busier life elsewhere. A tranquil, low-key town like Cadaqués, or a medieval village like Peratallada, might suit you far better than somewhere buzzing with restaurants and nightlife.
If you're relocating full-time and you're active and social, the seasonality of smaller towns can start to feel isolating come November. Bigger towns like Palafrugell, Palamós, or Platja d'Aro keep more going year-round, so daily life doesn't grind to a halt once summer ends.
Beyond lifestyle, what's your current situation?
Lifestyle preferences usually come from your current situation, so it's worth being honest with yourself here. Are you single and want a town with community and things happening around you? A retired couple looking for peace and quiet, with time to explore at your own pace? Or a family with young kids, where schooling options will drive the decision more than anything else?
If schools are a factor, this article breaks down the international and local schooling options on the Costa Brava, along with approximate pricing.
Do you need to speak Spanish or Catalan to live here?
Technically, no — you can get by without either. But my honest recommendation is to learn at least the basics of both, and build from there. It makes daily life easier for you and everyone you interact with, and it opens the door to actually integrating with the local community rather than staying on the outside of it.
I focused on Spanish first, for personal and professional reasons, and I'm now starting Catalan classes — not because it's necessary, but out of respect for the region and the people in it. If you decide to do the same, check with your local ajuntament (town hall): Catalan classes are often free.
How do you start your property search?
How you begin depends entirely on where you're starting from.
If you already know the Costa Brava well — and you know the difference between Cadaqués and Calella de Palafrugell, or Lloret de Mar and Palamós — you can start searching almost immediately. Rather than trawling property portals or calling agencies one by one, I'd recommend working with a buyer's agent, who guides you through the process, connects you with the right people, and helps you find a home that actually matches your goals — not just what's listed.
If you're still not sure how the towns differ, or you're weighing the Costa Brava against another part of Spain or Europe entirely, a Discovery Tour is the better starting point. It's a holiday built around property: you get to explore the coastline like a local, meet contacts in the property world — mortgage brokers, lawyers, agents — visit real homes, and experience the lifestyle before committing to anything.
A quick note on residency
One point worth flagging if you're coming from outside the EU: Spain's Golden Visa programme — which previously granted residency to property buyers investing €500,000 or more — was abolished as of April 3, 2025. Buying property in Spain no longer comes with an automatic path to residency; the two are now fully separate. You can still buy as a non-resident with no restrictions, but if living here full-time is the goal, you'll want to look into routes like the non-lucrative visa separately, ideally with a local immigration lawyer, well before you start house-hunting.
So, where does that leave you?
There's no single "right" town on the Costa Brava — just the right one for you, at this point in your life. If you already have a favourite town in mind, a buyer's agent can save you months of hunting and second-guessing. And if you're still torn between Cadaqués and Palamós, or Costa Brava and somewhere else on the Med altogether, a Discovery Tour is the easiest way to get clarity before you commit to anything. Book a Discovery Tour to come and see it for yourself.