Visit One Of The 20 Happiest Towns In Spain In 2024

While Finland was again proclaimed the happiest country in the world, a top 20 list has also been compiled, revealing the happiest towns in Spain. Top of the list is the beautiful and historic hilltop town of Ronda in the Málaga Province of southern Spain. Moreover, many towns in both Cádiz and Málaga provinces came up in the top positions. Read on to find out more about which towns in Spain rank high on the happiness ranking.

Which are the happiest towns in Spain?

It was the International Day of Happiness on March 20, that was started by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013. To mark the occasion each year, the ranking of the happiest countries in the world is revealed. Finland has come up tops for the past two years in the World Happiness Index, but Spain’s ranking tends to be somewhat lackluster.

For this reason, a Spanish-language website, Azucarera carried out a study to improve its position in the World Happiness Index. Working with the consulting firm YouGov, it set out to find out which town is home to the happiest people in Spain and, more importantly, why. Meanwhile, the study concluded that, despite the many differences, these top 20 towns do have specific attributes to favor the well-being of their residents. Meanwhile, these attributes include a warm and friendly atmosphere, freedom from stress, a slow and calm pace, enjoyment of the outdoors, local cuisine and more. Here we delve briefly into the top three happiest towns in Spain according to the new study.

1. Ronda, Málaga Province, Spain

Ronda stands high on a mountaintop in Málaga Province, offering dramatic and beautiful landscapes all around. The town is set above a deep gorge called El Tajo, which separates the town’s 15th-century “new town” from its historic quarter that dates back to Moorish rule.

To navigate the gorge, the Puente Nuevo (new bridge) spans the gap and makes a dramatic lookout over the gorge and beyond. throughout the town, many Roman and Moorish architectural sites are worth a visit while Ronda’s Plaza de Toros, the legendary 18th-century bullring is one of its most notable landmarks.

2. Nerja on the Costa del Sol

Nestling on the beautiful Costa del Sol in Málaga Province, Nerja is known for its oceanfront promenade, Balcón de Europa, which stands on top of a promontory, offering views of the Mediterranean and surrounding countryside. Cliffside coves and idyllic sandy beaches nestle below the promontory.

Meanwhile, one of the town’s major claims to fame is the Cueva de Nerja, a nearby cavern featuring unique stalactites and stalagmites, and where summer concerts are held. Moreover, for history buffs, a guided tour will reveal fascinating Paleolithic paintings.

3. Chipiona, Cádiz Province, Spain

The town of Chipiona nestles on the Atlantic Coast in Cádiz Province in Spain. Back in the 19th century, the town was a remote seafaring spa and has more recently become popular with Spanish tourists. The town’s name comes from the Chipiona Lighthouse, the oldest monument in the town. Moreover, it stands at Punta del Perro, at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River.

The lighthouse was built to warn ships of the dangerous rock, Piedra de Salmedina, which stands on the coastline. While the town is mostly frequented by Spanish tourists, it is also a welcoming, lesser-known place for international travelers.

Top 20 happiest towns in Spain

The following is the full list of happiest towns in Spain according to the study by Azucarera:

1. Ronda, Málaga Province
2. Nerja, Málaga Province
3. Chipiona, Cádiz Province
4. Tarifa, Cádiz Province
5. Peñíscola, Valencian Community
6. Santillana del Mar, Cantabria
7. San Vicente de la Barquera, Cantabria
8. Sanxenxo, Galicia
9. Ribadesella, Asturias
10. Zahara de los Atunes, Cádiz Province
11. Mojácar, Almeria Province
12. Llanes, Asturias
13. Benalmádena, Málaga Province
14. Dénia, Valencian Community
15. Conil de la Frontera, Cádiz Province
16. Sitges, Cataluña
17. Cazorla, Jaen Province
18. Salou, Cataluña
19. Altea, Valencian Community
20. Calpe, Alicante Province

It is interesting to note that the vast majority of the towns listed are located in coastal Spain. Living by the sea with beautiful beaches certainly benefits the locals’ happiness. Watch this space for more details of the happiest towns and villages in Spain.