The four best Spanish cities and COVID travel procedures
The Iberian Peninsula, the mountainous region of Spain & Portugal, provides a handful of Top Ranking Expat Cities in the world of 2020. Even with the current COVID-19 pandemic along with firm health & safety measures, tourists have been embracing the sites, cultures and cuisines of the four best Spanish cities as ranked in the top ten cities in the world, including:
Valencia.
Alicante.
Málaga.
Madrid.
As indicated in the InterNations Expat Insider 2020 report, these four Spanish cities have some of the highest results in three categories, these include:
Finance & Housing.
Getting Settled.
Quality of Urban Living.
Image from Expat Insider
As indicated in the Finance & Housing 2020 report, Alicante (#2) ranks as the Spain’s first best city for real estate, while Valencia (#3) is ranked as the second best for real estate opportunities. With these two cities close together, there is a wide range of real estate options in a small area compared to the rest of Spain. Meanwhile, Málaga (#9) is Spain’s third best city for housing and Madrid (#34) is the fourth best option for real estate purchasing.
Image from Expat Insider
As indicated in the Getting Settle Index 2020 report, Alicante (#1) is the best city in the world for settling down in life, while Málaga (#2) is Spain’s and the world second best city for getting settled. Valencia (#4) is also ranked high for satisfaction in getting settled in Spain. However, Madrid (#13) almost makes it in to the top 10 best cities in the world for getting settled, even though the quality of getting settled is still high.
Image from Expat Insider
As indicated in the Quality of Urban Living Index 2020 report, Valencia (#1) is number one in Spain and the world for the quality of urban living, while Madrid (#6) is Spain’s second best city for urban living. Málaga (#14) just passes the top ten mark for quality living, although the quality is still high out of 66 cities. Finally, Alicante (#19) is Spain’s fourth best city for quality urban living.
Image from Expat Insider
Valencia - the city of dreams
Overall, the clear winner in the Expat City Ranking 2020 is Valencia. Ranked as first in the Quality of Urban Living Index, Expats particularly appreciate the affordable and readily available healthcare, next to plentiful leisure options and great weather, with the Spanish city ranking first for the two corresponding subcategories of the index. Respondents are also very much satisfied with their finances (10th) and report few struggles when it comes to the availability and affordability of housing (2nd).
With fantastic health and culture, two-thirds of Expats (Expat Insider) who reside in or visit Valencia agree that they find it easy to make new friends. Nine in ten rate the general friendliness of the local population positively and it is agreeable that it is easy to get used to the local culture.
Alicante - Modern and safe
The runner up, in second place, is Alicante as ranked in the Expat City Ranking 2020. Barely many similarities to Valencia, Alicante is an expanding coastal city that ranks very well in the Finance & Housing Index (2nd) and even first worldwide in the Getting Settled Index. Over four out of five Expats are satisfied with their financial situation while also feeling at home in Alicante.
With the amazing annual climate, healthcare and low monthly costs, Alicante is considered affordable (#2 - Finance & Housing 2020 report), easy to settle down (#1 - Getting Settled 2020 report) and includes quality living (#19 - Quality of Urban Living 2020 report).
Travelling to Spain during 2021
The current evolving situation of the COVID-19 pandemic can make it awkward to travel around the world. For now (Since December 2020), travellers arriving in Spain do not have to be quarantined. Currently from December 2020, there are strict rules set in place to assist visitors of Spain with personal protection and infection handling.
You can discover in-depth regional COVID-19 rules here.
Spanish Security measures
If you are preparing a trip to Valencia by plane from abroad, it is compulsory to fill in this Health Control Form which can be accessed from the page spth.gob.es or by downloading the app on your mobile phone from the same page. The Spanish airports have incorporated three security filters for passengers: temperature, in a very efficient and high rigour process; a documentary control, based on the responsible declarations with health information that allows the traceability or the follow up of the person; and also a visual control.
From Monday 23rd November 2020, Spain will require international and national travellers from high-risk countries to present a negative CRP test within 72 hours before their arrival in Spain.
From now on, the health check form that each passenger will have to fill in before entering Spain will include a question on whether he or she has undergone a CRP test with a negative result within 72 hours before arrival in Spain. The passenger may be asked to provide proof of the result of the test at any time. The document must be the original, written in Spanish or English and may be presented in paper or electronic form.
If the form has not been completed online using the QR code on www.spth.gob.es or generated with the App Spain Travel Health-SpTH, the form may also be presented on paper before boarding the aircraft. In this case the original negative test result must be attached to the form.
Infection refuging
Hotels registered with the local officials can provide refuge to individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 during their stay or on the way to the hotel free of charge. However, this is dependent on the region in Spain and the hotel business who is in communication with the local officials.
Carers or direct contacts of the diagnosed visitor may also be accommodated if they have also made the same hotel booking. The hotel you have chosen may take care of the entire process, but you should discover the hotel policy from their website for more details.
Protective mask usage
The use of a mask is mandatory for those over 6 years of age at all times on public roads, outdoors and in enclosed spaces for public use or open to the public.
The use of masks in private open or closed spaces is recommended when there is a confluence with non-living persons or when the interpersonal safety distance of 1.5 meters cannot be guaranteed.
The use of the mask is not mandatory for sports, children's and young people's leisure activities while staying with the stable cohabitation group or in natural or open-air spaces outside population centres, beaches and swimming pools, as long as the influx of people allows the interpersonal distance of 1.5 metres to be maintained.
Exempt from this obligation are persons with respiratory difficulties or health, dependency or disability reasons that make their use unfeasible. No mask should be worn when doing individual sports in the open air or when the use of a mask is incompatible with activities that, by their very nature, are incompatible with their use.
Regional border closures
There are entry and exit restrictions in some regions of Spain, except for duly justified journeys for one of the following reasons, including:
Visit to health centres, services and facilities.
Fulfilment of obligations relating to labour law, professional, business, institutional or legal matters.
Attending universities, teaching and training centres, including nursery schools.
Return to the place of habitual residence or to the place where the family resides.
Assistance and care for the elderly, minors, dependent, disabled or particularly vulnerable persons.
Travel to financial and insurance companies or petrol stations in neighbouring areas.
Necessary or urgent action before public or judicial authorities or notaries.
Renewal of permits and official documents and other administrative procedures that cannot be postponed.
Conducting official examinations or tests which cannot be postponed.
For reasons of force majeure or necessity.
Any other activity of a similar nature which is duly accredited.
This restriction does not apply to international entries via ports and airports in the Region of Valencia as the Spanish Autonomous Communities are not able to close or limit the Schengen area. Once inside the Community of Valencia, the traveller will be restricted from leaving the Community by land, just like other people, except for the reasons described above.
Transportation
Some regions have stricter rules than others, although generally all seats can now be used on public transport. Although, if standing then a ratio of two people per square metre must be respected.
On buses, you may have to enter through the central door and tickets may not be paid for in cash.
Remember that the use of the mask is compulsory on all public transport.
Nightlife
Neither persons nor vehicles are permitted to circulate on public streets and squares between 00.00 and 06.00 hours. Excluded from this rule are professional activities, health needs, care of persons or force majeure.
Discos, dance clubs, cocktail and karaoke bars in some regions & areas are temporarily closed.
Stores, Cinemas, Shows and Museums
The capacity of the commercial premises is 50%, including shopping centres, but the safety distance between customers is maintained.
Cinemas can already open with 50% of their capacity and pre-assigned seats.
For cultural activities and outdoor performances, the maximum capacity is 50% of the approved capacity. The measures necessary to maintain a safe distance between persons or, if this is not possible, the application of alternative physical protection measures must be laid down. The use of masks is compulsory, even if the safety distance of 1.5 metres between persons is maintained, except in the case of groups of persons living together who may sit in adjacent seats.
Most museums are already open at 50% of their capacity. Visitor groups are limited to 6 people.
Restaurants
You can enjoy the restaurants until midnight, although new customers are not allowed after 11:00 pm.
Restaurants, cafeterias, terraces and beach bars or restaurants must guarantee a physical safety distance of 1.5 m between customers or groups of customers. Groups cannot exceed 6 people.
Consumption at the counter in the bars is not permitted.
Capacity is limited to 30% inside the restaurants and 50% on the terraces.
Smoking is not permitted on public streets, terraces, beaches or other outdoor areas if the minimum distance of at least 2 metres between people cannot be maintained.
Consumption of drinks in groups is not allowed. Consumption of drinks in groups is also not permitted on the open street or outside of hotels or similar establishments.
The mask should be used when you ate not drinking or eating.
Beaches
In all beaches across Spain, you can visit before the curfew time.
The use of a mask is mandatory for those over 6 years of age at all times on public roads, outdoors and in enclosed spaces for public use or open to the public.
On all beaches the social safety distance must be respected. The minimum distance between hammocks is 2 metres, between umbrella shafts at least 4 metres and the distance between the users and the shore 6 metres. If you go to the beach in a group, depending on the region a group must not be larger than 15 people.
It may be forbidden to play with balls or bats, both on the sand and in the sea.
Worship sites
Seats in places of worship are limited to a maximum of 30% of the temple´s capacity, provided that safety measures are observed.
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