This year’s ranking of the world’s most expat- and traveller-friendly cities – announced by the Internations website – has been revealed. At the top of the list is Malaga, the pearl of Spanish Andalusia, which is appreciated not only by tourists but also by foreigners deciding on a longer stay. As many as four out of the ten cities in the ranking are located in Spain. This shows how much the south of Europe attracts and delights visitors from all over the world.
Unbeatable Malaga
The publication of the ranking was preceded by a survey conducted by Internations, in which several thousand respondents from all over the world took part. They assessed, among other things, the standard of living, the hospitality of the inhabitants and the ease of adaptation in a new place. Malaga proved to be unrivalled. Almost 80 per cent of the survey participants agreed that it was very easy to acclimatise here – a result significantly above the average (59 per cent).
Malaga, located on the sunshine coast – the Costa del Sol – has been attracting tourists for years, delighted by its climate, cuisine, culture and proximity to the sea. Now the city has also gained the title of best place to live for foreigners. This has been decided, among other things, by the openness of the local community, the ease of establishing relationships or the friendly atmosphere. In the rankings of travel websites, Malaga is also indicated as one of the cheapest European locations for a seaside holiday.
Spain at the top of the ranking
Malaga is not the only Spanish city singled out. Alicante (3rd), Valencia (4th) and Madrid (7th) all feature in the top ten. Missing, however, was Barcelona, which is often considered Spain’s tourist showcase. This shows that for expats and travellers, it is not only the attractions that are most important, but also the day-to-day experience – contact with the locals, the availability of services or the local climate. This year’s list of the world’s friendliest cities is as follows:
1. Malaga (Spain)
2. Mexico (Mexico)
3. Alicante (Spain)
4. Valencia (Spain)
5 Panama City (Panama)
6 Bangkok (Thailand)
7. Madrid (Spain)
8. Muscat (Oman)
9. Nairobi (Kenya)
10. Ras Al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates)
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Poles appreciate the Costa del Sol
It is not without reason that Malaga, like the entire Costa del Sol, is increasingly popular among Poles. Its proximity to the sea, its well-developed infrastructure, its rich cultural offer, as well as its mild climate and sunshine shining almost all year round, make it for many the ideal place not only for holidays, but also for permanent residence. The city combines Mediterranean flair with European quality of life, which makes it unique.
Andalusia, on the other hand, is the undisputed leader of the real estate sector among all 17 autonomous communities in Spain. Last year, as many as 124,799 flats and houses were purchased there, accounting for nearly 20% of the Spanish market share. Among foreign investors, there are more and more Poles, who purchased almost 1,000 flats and houses on the Iberian Peninsula between January and March 2025 alone, and in just over four years (from the beginning of 2021), the number of properties purchased by Poles in Spain has already reached almost 12,500.
