Spain’s friendliest cities offer a unique glimpse into the country’s legendary warmth and sociable culture.
Known worldwide for lively conversations and coffee-fuelled social life, Spain’s charm is everywhere, but those who live here know that friendliness takes on different flavours depending on the city. Some places greet you with calm, gentle warmth, while others are more direct and lively.
A new study by Remitly has taken a closer look at this idea, asking a simple question. Which cities in Spain feel the most friendly, based on how people actually behave day to day?
Spain already ranks 11th among the friendliest countries in the world, so expectations were fairly high. This time, researchers focused on individual cities, including Alicante, Valencia and several familiar names across the peninsula.
Spain’s friendliest cities: How the study worked
Rather than asking people whether they believed they were friendly, the study took a more practical approach. Around 2,000 people across Spain were asked how much they agreed with everyday statements such as treating people equally, showing respect, trusting others, or making people feel at ease.
Less pleasant habits were also included, like holding grudges, being overly critical or acting mainly out of self interest. The result was a friendliness score designed to reflect real life behaviour, not just good intentions.
The headline results, and a small surprise
The good news is that the gap between the most friendly and least friendly cities was tiny. Less than two points separated first and last place, which suggests Spain is generally a very agreeable place to live, regardless of postcode.
At the top of the table was Bilbao, followed closely by Zaragoza, with Valladolid and Málaga sharing third place. These cities scored highly for respect, calm interactions and making others feel comfortable.
At the lower end of the list sat Alicante, with a score of 70.78 out of 100. Before anyone sharpens their pitchforks, it is worth noting that this still places Alicante firmly within the friendly category.
In other words, Alicante may not fuss over you, but it will still help you carry the shopping upstairs.
Spain’s friendliest cities: Alicante
While Alicante ranked lowest overall in the friendliness index, the details tell a more balanced story. Over 91% of people in the city said they treat others with respect, placing Alicante fourth nationwide for respect alone, ahead of several cities that scored higher overall.
Where Alicante scored slightly lower was in emotional empathy and trust. This may reflect a more practical, no nonsense communication style rather than any actual coldness. Long term residents will recognise this as the local approach of getting on with things first and chatting later.
Respect: Spain’s big scorer
Across Spain as a whole, respect scored highly. Around 90% of respondents said they treat others respectfully. Barcelona topped this category, followed closely by Bilbao and Palma, with Alicante again performing strongly.
The study also found that friendliness increases with age. People over 55 scored highest for patience, empathy and emotional balance. Younger adults aged 18 to 24 recorded lower scores, particularly around trust and emotional understanding.
Men and women showed similar overall friendliness, but expressed it differently. Women tended to score higher for empathy and emotional warmth, while men were more direct and occasionally blunt.
So where does this leave Alicante and the Costa Blanca?
For expats living on the Costa Blanca, the message is reassuring. Alicante may not top every friendliness chart, but it remains a respectful, practical and reliable place to live. The small gap between Spain’s friendliest cities suggests that friendliness in Spain is less about location and more about everyday interactions.
