Why move to Blanes
A Catalonian heartland despite being the gateway to the wild Costa Brava coast, Blanes has a little bit of everything you need, city centre, the beach, beautiful natural surroundings and a lively tourist area.
Blanes is a town of rejuvenation. Floored in various Spanish wars and revolts, recently rebuilt along the seafront after a 2008 storm, it still holds onto an interminable Catalonian spirit.
The beach is popular with locals, Barcelonians and a tourist set from Europe. At the northern end of the beach La Palomera, a rocky area of land, separates a quieter, smaller cove where sunbathers laze next to fishing sloops. To the south is El Pins, with camping grounds set away from the high-rise apartments, it’s a tourist resort in miniature.
There are plenty of bars and restaurants along the boulevard and a few streets inland leads to a labyrinthine quarter of traditional squares and passages known as the shopping district. There you’ll find a mixture of terrace bars and upscale boutiques. Blanes is also home to various gardens, including the enormous Marimurtra botanical gardens, Santa Clotilde Gardens and the smaller Pinya de Rosa tropical botanical garden.
Community
There is a blend of Spanish inhabitants, second homeowners from Barcelona and Dutch, German and English expats. Catalan is still widely spoken.
Property
Blane properties range from seafront apartments, urbanised developments of semi and detached villas to exclusive hillside villas and charming, chic townhouses.
Amenities
Daily farmers’ markets, a fish auction and a beating heart of city centre shops, restaurants and cafes mean you don’t need to travel for your basic needs.
Transport
Girona airport is 25 minutes away while Barcelona El Prat is just under a 60 minute drive. There is a train with one change from Barcelona airport and a nonstop train to Girona that are both inexpensive and quick. Bus routes connect the city zones and travel out to Lloret de Mar and Tossa de Mar.
Employment
Blanes was an old shipbuilding town, but now many of the residents are engaged in the fishing industry. There are jobs servicing the tourist industry with Girona also at a commutable distance.
Health
There are a few options for medical and dental care in Blanes. Try registering at Centre de Salut Blanes on the Carrer de Sebastia. The Hospital Comarcal de la Selva and Hospital Sociosanitari Sant Jaume de Blanes are both open 24-hours for emergencies.
Schools
Both Barcelona and Girona host international schools and there are numerous state and public school options in Blanes itself.
Cost of Living
Blanes is not cheap because of its proximity to Barcelona and the more expensive Costa Brava, but most expenses are still lower than a similar sized city in northern Europe.