More than just a holiday home: the new Scandinavian buyer in Spain
Spain is once again seeing a major increase in Scandinavian buyers, investors and entrepreneurs relocating permanently to the country, with growing demand not only for homes but also for commercial premises in some of the country’s most established coastal areas.
While the Costa Blanca has traditionally been popular with Swedish, Norwegian and Danish buyers searching for holiday homes in the sun, the market in 2026 looks very different from previous years.
Today’s buyers are increasingly looking at Spain as a long term lifestyle move rather than simply a seasonal escape.
At Portfolio Deluxe, we are seeing growing numbers of Scandinavian clients relocating permanently to Spain while also exploring opportunities to launch businesses in sectors such as hospitality, fitness, wellness and lifestyle services.
Demand Is Growing Across Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol
The trend is visible across both the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol, particularly in areas with strong international communities and modern infrastructure.
On the Costa Blanca, areas such as:
Finestrat
Punta Prima
Playa Flamenca
La Zenia
Torrevieja
and La Finca Golf
continue to attract Scandinavian buyers looking for modern homes close to beaches, golf courses and year-round amenities.
Finestrat in particular has seen huge growth over recent years, with modern new developments, sea view apartments and luxury villas attracting international buyers searching for a more contemporary style of living.
At the same time, the Costa del Sol continues to remain one of Europe’s strongest lifestyle destinations, particularly in Marbella, Estepona and surrounding areas where international business activity remains extremely strong.
Scandinavians Are Not Just Buying Homes Anymore
One of the biggest changes happening right now is that Scandinavian buyers are no longer only purchasing holiday apartments or retirement homes.
Many are now actively moving businesses to Spain or launching entirely new concepts aimed at both tourists and year-round residents.
This has created increasing demand for:
restaurant premises
gyms and wellness centres
premium cafés
beach clubs
boutique retail concepts
and modern office spaces in strong locations
In many established tourist areas, buyers are recognising that there is still major potential for higher quality businesses aimed at the growing international market now living in Spain full time.
High Profile Scandinavian Business Openings Continue to Increase
The trend is already becoming visible across Spain’s coastal hotspots.
Torrevieja has recently seen several high profile restaurant openings by Swedish owners, reflecting the growing confidence many Scandinavian entrepreneurs now have in the local market.
At the same time, Marbella saw the highly anticipated opening of Brasserie Astoria last year, further highlighting how international hospitality groups and Scandinavian backed concepts are increasingly targeting Spain’s premium coastal destinations.
As international communities continue to grow across both the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol, demand for modern, higher quality dining and lifestyle concepts is rising alongside it.
Lifestyle, Climate and Business Potential Are Driving the Shift
For many Scandinavians, the appeal of Spain today goes far beyond sunshine and beaches.
Remote working, international schooling, improved infrastructure and strong flight connections have made permanent relocation far easier than in previous years.
Combined with the possibility of launching businesses in rapidly growing international communities, many buyers now see Spain as an opportunity to completely redesign their lifestyle while also investing in long term business potential.
Areas with strong tourism, established expat populations and continued residential growth are becoming particularly attractive for entrepreneurs looking to build businesses around hospitality, wellness and lifestyle services.
Portfolio Deluxe Continues to Follow the Latest Market Trends
At Portfolio Deluxe, we continue to closely follow both residential and commercial market trends across the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol.
As buyer behaviour evolves, we are increasingly seeing clients searching not only for homes, but also for investment opportunities and business premises in some of Spain’s fastest growing international coastal markets.
The growing Scandinavian presence across Spain is no longer just about holiday homes. It is becoming a much broader lifestyle and business movement, and the demand behind it continues to grow throughout 2026.
