October 13, 2022

Retire in Europe | Best Small Village

And the winner is...

Moraira, Costa Blanca

If your dream retirement is in a charming village by the sea, look no further than Moraira, Spain.

moraira beach village

Sustainable development

Tiny Moraira is Costa Blanca’s hidden gem. This former fishing village has grown — sustainably — in the past few years, shunning the high-rise developments found in nearby Benidorm in favour of low-rise buildings and a beautiful marina.

moraira village

The best of village and beach life, combined

Moraira is popular with expats from across Europe, Ireland and the UK. The charming village features a weekly market and is home to events like the Moros y Cristianos festival each June. For details on activities in Moraira and nearby Teulada, check out the village's annual guide to festivals and activities in Moraira.

moraira cliff

Moraira’s many stunning beaches include the in-town Playa de l’Ampolla and remote Cala del Moraig. When you tire of beach and village life (is that a thing?), the lively cities of Alicante and Valencia are an easy day trip away.

moraira from the hills

Great restaurants, hiking the windswept hills and numerous watersports round out the high quality of life in Moraira.

Best village in Europe for Retirement -- Honourable Mention

uzes france

Uzès, France

Located in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France, this charming mediaeval town is a French City of Art and History. Retirees here enjoy winding streets lined with exceptional yellow limestone architecture and monuments, maintained through significant funding from the French government.

From here, explore charming French villages and historic sites, like nearby Saint Quentin La Poterie and the Pont Gard Roman aqueduct. Enjoy wine tastings at the region's famous vineyards. Then work off your shopping and drinking by hiking or bicycling in the Cévennes National Park.

ronda spain

Ronda, Spain

Technically a good-sized town, Ronda still feels manages to feel like an ideal Andalusian village. Frequented by Hemmingway and Orson Wells (and more recent expats), the historic town centre of Ronda is home to Spain’s oldest bull-fighting ring (1785) and the Mondragon Palace (15th century).

Set high above the Guadalevín River and El Tajo canyon, Ronda’s vistas stretch out over the Serranía de Ronda, fields of olive trees and forests of Spanish fir. The Sierra de la Grazalema, Sierra de las Nieves and Los Alcornocales nature reserves provide protected and beautiful areas to explore on foot, mountain bike, or horseback.

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