Raising young children in Spain, which places work best

Key rules

• Nursery: Nursery for ages 0-3 is not compulsory, and public places are limited, so coverage and price vary a lot by region.
• Subsidies: Free or subsidised nursery often depends on household income and being registered at your address.
• Small towns: Check for a paediatrician and a nursery before choosing a small town, as both are often missing.
• Hospital: Find the nearest paediatric emergency department before you commit to any place.

The short answer

For under-6s, the north and the big regional capitals usually work best. They have more nursery places, more public help with costs and a children's hospital nearby. Large cities cost more in rent and have more petty theft. Small inland towns are calm and cheap, but they often lack nurseries and paediatricians.

Nursery places and cost

Nursery (escuela infantil) covers ages 0-3. It is not compulsory, so availability depends on where you live.

• Best coverage: País Vasco is highest, followed by Madrid, Cataluña, Navarra and Galicia.
• Weakest coverage: Andalucía, Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha. Canarias, Murcia and the Valencia region are also below average. Ceuta and Melilla are lowest.
• Under-1s: places are scarce everywhere. Coverage is much higher at age 2.
• Big cities: Madrid and Barcelona have many places, but waiting lists and points-based admission are common.

Public places are limited. Priority goes to low-income households and working parents, so many families end up in private nurseries.

• Private nursery: typically 300-600 EUR a month. In central Madrid, Barcelona or Bilbao, expect 500-800 or more. Meals are often extra.
• Public nursery: income-based, usually 100-350 EUR a month, with meals extra.
• Free or subsidised: País Vasco, Galicia, Asturias, Navarra, Cantabria, Canarias, the Valencia region, and parts of Cataluña and Madrid have schemes. Many regions now make age 2-3 free or nearly free.

Eligibility usually depends on household income and on being registered at your address (empadronamiento). Ask the town hall or regional education office what applies in your area before you choose.

Safety

Most crime in Spain is petty theft. Violent crime is low.

• Higher recorded crime: Baleares, Ceuta and Melilla, Cataluña (especially Barcelona), Canarias, Madrid city and the Valencia and Alicante coast.
• Lower: Galicia, Castilla y León, Extremadura, Navarra, Asturias and La Rioja.

Figures per resident understate the risk in tourist areas, where pickpocketing is common.

Paediatric care

Check two things: your local paediatrician and the nearest hospital with a children's emergency unit.

Dedicated children's hospitals or large paediatric units:

• Madrid: Niño Jesús, plus the paediatric departments of La Paz, 12 de Octubre, Gregorio Marañón and Ramón y Cajal.
• Barcelona: Sant Joan de Déu and Vall d'Hebron.
• Elsewhere: Valencia (La Fe), Sevilla (Virgen del Rocío), Málaga, Bilbao (Cruces), Zaragoza (Miguel Servet), Santiago, A Coruña, Murcia (Arrixaca), Granada, Las Palmas, Tenerife (Candelaria), Palma (Son Espases) and Oviedo.

If your shortlist town is not near one of these, find out how far the nearest paediatric emergency department is.

Rent for a family-sized flat

A second bedroom matters with small children. Approximate monthly rents for a 2-bed:

• Madrid: 1,500-2,000 EUR.
• Barcelona: 1,400-1,900 EUR.
• Valencia, Málaga, Palma: 1,100-1,700 EUR.
• Mid-size cities such as Sevilla, Zaragoza, Bilbao and Valladolid: 850-1,300 EUR.
• Smaller inland cities: about 500-750 EUR.

Central areas cost more, and rents have risen since these figures were gathered.

Small towns and rural areas

Small towns suit families who want space and community, but plan for gaps. In towns under about 5,000 people, especially in the interior, these are most often missing:

• Nurseries, and school places beyond primary.
• Paediatricians. A family GP often sees children instead.
• Specialist care, which means travelling to the provincial capital.
• Reliable public transport and school transport.
• Maternity and emergency services nearby.
• After-school activities, and in some villages fast internet.

Teachers and doctors change often, and the depopulated "España vaciada" areas are hardest hit. A good compromise is a town within 20-30 minutes of a provincial capital with a hospital.

How to decide

1. Shortlist places by nursery availability and cost, using the regional pattern above.
2. Call local nurseries and the education office about open places, dates and prices.
3. Check the distance to a paediatric emergency department.
4. Weigh rent and safety against the first three.

The checklist below walks you through the checks for each place, and the FAQ answers common questions.

Family place-fit checklist for a Spanish city

Family place-fit checklist

• Ask local escuelas infantiles (nurseries for ages 0-3), public and private, about open places, monthly cost (typically €100-500), hours and waiting lists. Public places are limited and usually favour working parents and low-income families.

• Find out which public, concertada (state-subsidised) and international schools are near the home, which catchment zone (zona de influencia) the address falls in, and whether the school has places, a canteen and transport. Public places are free from age 3.

• Check application dates with the local education office. Applications usually open in spring for the next September, and mid-year places are allocated by that office.

• Check the language of instruction: Spanish only, or Catalan, Valencian, Basque or Galician alongside it. Ask what language support classes the school offers and how much English is spoken day to day.

• Find the public health-centre paediatrician for your area. Children see a paediatrician up to age 14, and you need to register with the regional health service to get a tarjeta sanitaria (health card).

• Locate the nearest hospital with a paediatric emergency department. Larger cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Sevilla have dedicated children's hospitals or units, and many smaller regional capitals have one too.

• Look at private health insurance options and English-speaking paediatricians if you want them.

• Check the space: number of bedrooms, outdoor space, nearby playgrounds and parks, safe walking routes and street noise. Compare it with typical rents, for example 1,200-1,500 EUR for a 1-bed in Madrid against 700-1,000 in mid-size cities such as Sevilla or Zaragoza.

• Work out the commute, school hours, summer camps, children's activities and sports clubs, and note emergency contacts for the area.

Frequently asked questions

Which regions have the most nursery places for under-3s?

The Basque Country has the highest coverage, at over 55-60% of children under 3. Madrid, Cataluña, Navarra and Galicia follow at roughly 45-55%. Andalucía, Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha are lowest, at 25-35%.

Is nursery free anywhere?

Yes, in some regions: the Basque Country, Galicia, Asturias, Navarra, Cantabria, Valencia and Canarias have large subsidies or free places, and so do parts of Madrid and Cataluña.

What does a nursery cost if I don't get a public place?

Private nurseries usually cost 300-600 EUR a month. In Madrid, Barcelona or Bilbao, expect about 450-700 EUR a month or more, including meals and extended hours. Public places are subsidised and priced by household income, typically 0-350 EUR a month.

Which cities have a dedicated children's hospital?

Madrid has the standalone Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús. Barcelona has Hospital Sant Joan de Déu in Esplugues. Sevilla has the Hospital Infantil at Virgen del Rocío. Many other large cities have a main paediatric unit in their big public hospital.

What will I most likely lack in a small rural town?

Expect gaps in nurseries, paediatricians and specialist care. Children are often seen by a family GP, and specialists mean travelling to the provincial capital. Public transport, after-school activities and nearby maternity services are also often thin, especially in depopulated interior areas.