An inspiring guide on where to find cheap villas in Spain

Ah, Spain – a land of sizzling paella and twirling flamenco dancers, of sun-scorched beaches and seas so blue you’d think they were painted. It’s hardly a surprise that so many travellers come in search of cheap villas in Spain each year. To help you pinpoint the bargain Iberian spot that’s perfect for you, we’ve put together this list of the most inspiring destinations.

Discover cheap villas on the Spanish mainland

Running from surf-washed San Sebastian in the north to the glistening strips of the Costa del Sol down south, the Spanish mainland is an understandable magnet for sun seekers and culture buffs. It’s also one of the top places to search for cheap villas in Spain, with plenty of whitewashed pads and pool-ready escapes lacing its shores and mountains.

Find villa deals along the famous Costa Blanca

With pulsing Benidorm at its heart, the Costa Blanca packs in more Blue Flag beaches and family-friendly attractions than you can shake a paella pan at. You can often score great rental deals in the region, especially because it’s such a famous hotspot for affordable villa complexes close to the sea.

The Costa del Sol always beckons

Although it’s garnered something of a reputation for A-lister travel, the Costa del Sol is still a great destination if you’re hunting cheap villas in Spain. It might be wise to steer clear of the glitziest resorts – Marbella and Puerto Banus – in favour of places such as Estepona and Malaga, where sleepy marinas and carved Moorish castles take over from the millionaire yachts.

Head to the mountains for cheap holiday villas in Spain

If you’re willing to go a little off-radar, deeper into the wild sierras that rise along the Andalusian coast, you can usually unearth some truly cheap holiday villas in Spain. There are whitewashed pueblos in the hills that you might not have even considered exploring, with artsy Gaucin and gorge-carved Ronda just 2 of the options a stone’s throw from the Med.

Seek out cheap villas in Spain’s Canary Islands

The Canary Islands deserve a special mention as one of Europe’s favourite year-round getaways. Kissed by sub-tropical temperatures, this string of islands off the coast of Africa can offer great value on winter sun breaks, not to mention a whole load of cheap villas in Spain, right by the ocean.

Be enchanted by Tenerife

Whether it’s a dip in the cobalt-blue Garachico pools or a hike around the pine-clad base of soaring Pico del Teide, many of the adventure activities on Tenerife are totally free. Feeling lazy? Hitting the yellow-flecked beaches of the Costa Adeje should also only clock up the cost of some sun cream and a spade.

Astride volcanoes in Lanzarote

If you plan to make a rental car your only major expense while visiting the caldera-topped island of Lanzarote, you shouldn’t be disappointed. Road trips from the door of your villa can reveal wonderful landscapes of verdant valleys and wave-battered cliffs. Jaunts to the El Golfo lagoon on the west coast, the rolling salt flats of Salinas del Janubio and the soaring ridges of the Timanfaya National Park are all just a short entrance fee away, too.

Join the carnival of Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is the cultural kingpin of the Canaries. It’s famed for its yearly carnival, which erupts in the streets of Las Palmas each winter in a cacophony of colour and flamboyant dancing. If you’re keen to join those festivities with a bargain villa deal, you’ll be glad to hear that entry to most events is totally free of charge.

Score cheap villas in Spain’s Balearic Islands

No talk of the top places to seek out cheap villas in Spain could possibly be complete without at least a mention of the Balearic Islands. A speckling of jewel-like marks on the map of the Mediterranean, they have long reigned as havens of hedonism and good-time living.

A relaxing escape to Menorca

Menorca is often hailed as the thinking traveller’s island. It’s smaller than its compadres, peppered with the haunting pre-historic remnants of the Naveta d’Es Tudons, a megalithic tomb complex that’s around 3,000 years old and that costs just a couple of euros to see. From there, the rocky inlets of the south coast are sure to be hit. From Cala Macarelleta to Cala Mitjana, they promise priceless days of sunbathing and swimming in turquoise seas.

Discover villa deals on Mallorca

Families often love the cheap holiday villas in Spain’s largest Balearic Island. If you’re looking to keep costs low here, seeking a pad near the bustling capital of Palma is a great way to skip the pricier resorts, and yet still have eye-popping UNESCO cathedrals on your doorstep. Meanwhile, the northern region of Alcudia promises plenty of bang for your buck, along with emptier beaches than the south.

Party and unwind in Ibiza

Villa deals on the throbbing isle of Ibiza might just be your chance to save enough for club tickets in this legendary party destination. From the cocktail resort of Es Canar to sleepless Sant Antoni de Portmany, you’ll find some iconic spots to consider.