Where’s the best place in the world to make a move to in 2024?
The answer to that question lies within the pages of our just-released Overseas Retirement Index.
It’s our carefully curated selection of the top choices for spending time and money overseas this year.
It’s the 15th such survey in our history… but this year’s edition features some unprecedented results…
Including a winning destination that’s making its debut on our index…
So, without further ado… here’s where took the top spot and why…
The No. #1 place to retire overseas in 2024 is… Valencia, Spain.
What has it beating out every other destination in this year’s index?
For starters, it’s geographically blessed, with sandy, warm Mediterranean beaches available within minutes from the city center.
It gets some of the best weather in the world, with about 2,700 hours of sunshine—300-plus sunny days—per year.
Its winters are among Europe’s mildest, with January temperatures comparing with May and September climates in other major Western European cities.
Valencia is also incredibly lush and fertile because it sits in a river basin. Nowhere is its lushness more apparent than in its beloved Turia Gardens, a city-wide park—the largest in Spain—that snakes its way through town…
Turia Gardens also provides space for the City of Arts and Sciences, a stunning series of architectural works by world-renowned Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava, housing the city’s museums and aquarium.
Valencia has long been famous for its architecture.
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Most European cities are described as open-air museums… but Valencia goes above and beyond that promise.
To walk its streets is to take in 2,000 years of history, from the medieval Islamic era to futuristic works that look like settings from sci-fi films.
The effortless way the ancient blends with the uber-modern is one of Valencia’s greatest accomplishments.
Valencia is Spain’s third-largest city with 800,000 people, but it’s magnitudes smaller than Madrid (with 3.2 million people) and Barcelona (with 1.6 million).
It’s more of a collection of neighborhoods than one cohesive city… Locals think of their barrio as their hometown… The result is that Valencia feels small, manageable, laid-back, and safe.
Spain itself is the 6th-safest country in Europe and 29th-safest in the world. In Valencia, the crime rates are the lowest among Spain’s big cities. You can let the day-to-day safety concerns you may have if you live in the States fade away…
On top of award-winning cultural entertainment options, a Mediterranean beachfront, and a safe, friendly environment, Valencia also has top-notch infrastructure.
From public transportation to health care to public spaces to internet speed and electricity, Valencia’s infrastructure is reliable and well-maintained.
Developments and initiatives are planned far into the future, mostly focusing on renaturing, reducing its carbon footprint, and enlarging pedestrian zones.
As I mentioned, this is the first time Spain has taken the top spot in our Overseas Retirement Index series…
In the past, we’ve passed this country over, mainly because of the reputation of its southern Costas, which are expat-dominated and short on culture and charm…
Valencia is a stand-out exception to this rule.
It’s in the sweet spot about midway between the rugged and little-visited Costa Azahar (“Orange Blossom Coast”) to the north and the expat-popular Costa Blanca to the south.
The Costa Blanca offers a wealth of golf courses, spas, and other planned amenities that attract foreigners… Valencia is within an hour of those amenities but also distinctly separate from them.
It feels authentically itself—an eclectic, wonderfully liveable city that’s not bothered about the fact that Madrid and Barcelona get all the hype.
Woven through all of Valencia’s eclecticism is a feeling… this is a relaxed but proud place. There’s a sense that everyone is content…
If that sounds like your kind of spot then access the complete index now for the full lowdown on this winning haven…
And, if you don’t think it’s right for you, no need to worry, we have nine more world-class havens on the 2024 index for you to choose from… plus a trio of up-and-coming spots worthy of your attention, too…
To discover them all, access the 2024 Overseas Retirement Index here.
Happy hunting!
Sincerely,
Sophia Titley
Editor, Overseas Living Letter
