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Places in Spain where you can get by in English

By Always Spain editors · Updated · About Always Spain

Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands
Photo: Tobias Lindman, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

You can live in parts of Spain mostly in English, but you will miss a lot. These places have the most services, doctors and schools in English. Learn Spanish anyway: see our languages guide.

The full list

Most services in English

Andalusia

Marbella

International schools, doctors and lawyers.

€€€€ 2 days

Highest share of foreign residents

Valencian Community

Jávea (Xàbia)

About half the town is foreign.

€€€€ 2 days

Best big city

Andalusia

Málaga

English widely spoken in tech and tourism.

€€€€ 2 to 3 days

Best city on the Costa Blanca

Valencian Community

Alicante

Large northern European community.

€€€€ 2 days

Best small town

Andalusia

Nerja

Long-established British community.

€€€€ 1 to 2 days

Best island

Balearic Islands

Palma de Mallorca

Large British and German communities.

€€€€ 2 to 3 days

Most international city

Catalonia

Barcelona

English in many workplaces.

€€€€ 3 to 4 days

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