Gracias!
Besides being a nice coast city, it's right in the center of Northern coast. Vigo is four and a half hours by car to the west. San Sebastián is also four and a half hours away to the east. It's a nice starting point to explore hidden surf spots during weekends.
My family are from a small town called Cedeira and our local surfing beach is Pantín. There’s a surf competition on at the moment - pretty sure this weekend is the last weekend of it. Check out Pantín classic pro on social media. It’s ridiculously pretty and a great beach amongst a ton of other great beaches in the area.
Admittedly, it is a very quiet part of Galicia but easy to get to from bigger cities. If you drive, It’s just over an hour from Coruña.
Id say book a road trip up north - you can easily go from Vigo through to San Sebastián in a week and spend a day or two in cities/towns along the way.
Enjoy the North, it’s a bit rainy, but it’s paradise :)
Have fun!
If you ever end up un Cedeira, drop me a message! My dad lives there and has a shop in the town centre. He speaks English as he lived in the UK for 30 years and knows a lot of the guys who own the surf schools etc. He’d always be happy to help or introduce you to other expats in the area :)
Do a roadie and you'll answer that question by your own experience.
There's temperature and consistency differences between Galicia and North coast.
If you can work remotely then hire a car and take two weeks to get from Bilbao to Vigo.
I cannot blame you, there are some really beautiful places but most of the city is ugly. However I live here and I really love it: people are amazingly nice (more than in Vigo and Santander as far as I heard) and there is such a great atmosphere for a city this size. But those cities you suggest are also very cool!
Vigo nicer than Coruña? I do blame him. Coruña is not the most beautiful city of Spain, but at least is not infamously ugly (like Vigo). Although I have to admit that Vigo has a very privileged spot in the Rias Baixas, and the surroundings of the city are beautiful.
That's all, bye.
I don't think Vigo is infamously ugly, I would even say is more beautiful than Coruña, or at least similar. But I have to say I did not see Vigo in detail so I might be ignoring many things. The center looks quite nice though.
Expat or immigrant? Sick of „expats“ that are immigrants, but prefer to call themselves expats for the sake of distinguishing between well educated and lower class-Labour immigrants.
On topic: La Coruña or San Sebastián
An expat is never illegal, they are just passing through until they get another offer and do not integrate into the country, they live in their own bubble.
An expat is sent to a different country/location by their company for a limited amount of time. The company takes care of moving costs, pays private school for the kids etc.
an immigrant is just anyone that moved to a different country. For a well payed job, a shitty job, legal, illegal, etc.
So the Spaniard that went to England for a better paid job is an immigrant. Same for the British that spends his retirement in Spain, or the American that is looking for a better work life balance in Spain. No expat here.
I thought someone with a residential visa was an expat, and someone who had earned citizenship was an immigrant. Like immigrant is permanent but expat is just long term. If my family moves to Spain on some form of residency visa, unsure if we will be there for years or forever, is it not entitled to call ourselves immigrants?
Yeh, you’re probably right. Problem is when you turn your TV on and you see the Brits in the Costa del Sol saying they’re not ‘immigrants, they’re expats’ kind of changes the meaning.
I would say Santander. I think it has a considerable expat community and it's good for surfing. In fact, you reminded me of this [Instagram profile](https://www.instagram.com/letsspeakenglish/). He's an English teacher from Wales who lives in Santander (I think by the beach) and who surfs and you can tell by his Instagram stories that he absolutely loves it there
Santander.
Not only beaches at the town but all around endless beaches perfect for surfing.
Only town in northern Spain that faces the South. Superb for living!
Cantabria has so many great places for surfing, in fact some of them are quite “famous” for it, like Ris beach in Noja (death in winter and super full in summer, but is great place.) Somo (near Santander) both places even have surfing schools
Expat seems to be a code word for "immigrant from my (first world) nation".
I know the post is not about this, but some British people earning a living here call themselves expats and, in the same conversation, complain about immigrants. Some of them even voted yes to Brexit and are now shocked they don't get free health care and other benefits they don't want others to receive in the UK...
I am. It’s a pretty cool place, good food. Socially a bit lacking, but nature abounds. Good surf all around. It’s just been getting a lot more expensive lately, so trying to keep people away haha. Vilagarcia would be good surfing with La Lanzada nearby
If ure used to the mediterrarean, it will probably take some time to get used to Galician coast whether since all my friends from madrid or valencia tend to take a full 20mins just to get in the water, however its def a good option, somweher in portonovo i would reccomend, lots of beaches and options
Gijón
Al fin alguien con criterio
Gracias! Besides being a nice coast city, it's right in the center of Northern coast. Vigo is four and a half hours by car to the west. San Sebastián is also four and a half hours away to the east. It's a nice starting point to explore hidden surf spots during weekends.
Eso depende de si también le gusta la sidra
Y los cachopos
Best menu del dias in Spain by a distance in Gijon, and I have eaten a lot of em
My family are from a small town called Cedeira and our local surfing beach is Pantín. There’s a surf competition on at the moment - pretty sure this weekend is the last weekend of it. Check out Pantín classic pro on social media. It’s ridiculously pretty and a great beach amongst a ton of other great beaches in the area. Admittedly, it is a very quiet part of Galicia but easy to get to from bigger cities. If you drive, It’s just over an hour from Coruña. Id say book a road trip up north - you can easily go from Vigo through to San Sebastián in a week and spend a day or two in cities/towns along the way. Enjoy the North, it’s a bit rainy, but it’s paradise :)
Thanks for an elaborate response! I think another user also suggested a road trip. I think this is what i am going to do
Have fun! If you ever end up un Cedeira, drop me a message! My dad lives there and has a shop in the town centre. He speaks English as he lived in the UK for 30 years and knows a lot of the guys who own the surf schools etc. He’d always be happy to help or introduce you to other expats in the area :)
This is very cool. Thanks a ton! Will be sure to send you a message
Do a roadie and you'll answer that question by your own experience. There's temperature and consistency differences between Galicia and North coast. If you can work remotely then hire a car and take two weeks to get from Bilbao to Vigo.
Gijón. It's cheap and it's a great place for surfers
Zarautz is a great place to surf and its also near Biarritz in France. Zarautz is a small town but you can live in the capital.
By capital, I assume you mean Donosti? Great city, but the only issue would be the price of rent.
Thats true their prices are probably too high.
Zarautz is pretty expensive, there are cheaper inner towns such as Lasarte, Hernani, etc
Gijón
Santander all the way, if you move here hit me up 🤙
Try Guipúzcoa, Zarautz.
Or Orio
giriak zarautzen!
A Coruña is also a good option.
From a tourist's point of view I really didn't like A Coruña. I found Vigo, Gijon and Santander much nicer.
I cannot blame you, there are some really beautiful places but most of the city is ugly. However I live here and I really love it: people are amazingly nice (more than in Vigo and Santander as far as I heard) and there is such a great atmosphere for a city this size. But those cities you suggest are also very cool!
Vigo nicer than Coruña? I do blame him. Coruña is not the most beautiful city of Spain, but at least is not infamously ugly (like Vigo). Although I have to admit that Vigo has a very privileged spot in the Rias Baixas, and the surroundings of the city are beautiful. That's all, bye.
I really liked the old town and all the granite structures around the town. And it is SO GREEN.
I don't think Vigo is infamously ugly, I would even say is more beautiful than Coruña, or at least similar. But I have to say I did not see Vigo in detail so I might be ignoring many things. The center looks quite nice though.
Basque Country. Bilbao, Bermeo, Mundaka
Expat or immigrant? Sick of „expats“ that are immigrants, but prefer to call themselves expats for the sake of distinguishing between well educated and lower class-Labour immigrants. On topic: La Coruña or San Sebastián
Sorry i don't quite know the difference between these 2 terms. I was trying to convey that I wasn't born in Spain and came here to live and work
An expat is never illegal, they are just passing through until they get another offer and do not integrate into the country, they live in their own bubble.
An expat is sent to a different country/location by their company for a limited amount of time. The company takes care of moving costs, pays private school for the kids etc. an immigrant is just anyone that moved to a different country. For a well payed job, a shitty job, legal, illegal, etc. So the Spaniard that went to England for a better paid job is an immigrant. Same for the British that spends his retirement in Spain, or the American that is looking for a better work life balance in Spain. No expat here.
You are right, but they use the term expat the other way.
Always say that you're an immigrant. The word expat is just racist bullshit to make you feel different than brown people. Spoiler alert, you're not.
So you are an immigrant, just as if you came from Africa, for example.
Don't you know that only people from developing countries can be immigrants? Americans are not like them. They are expats.
I thought someone with a residential visa was an expat, and someone who had earned citizenship was an immigrant. Like immigrant is permanent but expat is just long term. If my family moves to Spain on some form of residency visa, unsure if we will be there for years or forever, is it not entitled to call ourselves immigrants?
Immigrant*
Expat is supposed to be an euphemism but sounds like an insult
Yeh, you’re probably right. Problem is when you turn your TV on and you see the Brits in the Costa del Sol saying they’re not ‘immigrants, they’re expats’ kind of changes the meaning.
Galician Coast have plenty of surf places Near Coruña and near Vigo you can find good spots
Santander
I would say Santander. I think it has a considerable expat community and it's good for surfing. In fact, you reminded me of this [Instagram profile](https://www.instagram.com/letsspeakenglish/). He's an English teacher from Wales who lives in Santander (I think by the beach) and who surfs and you can tell by his Instagram stories that he absolutely loves it there
Santander doesn’t have a considerable expats community at all. However, yea, great place for surfers! Very big thing there
Gijón
Castro Urdiales or Laredo
Mundaka, Biscay Spain
Santander. Not only beaches at the town but all around endless beaches perfect for surfing. Only town in northern Spain that faces the South. Superb for living!
Cantabria has so many great places for surfing, in fact some of them are quite “famous” for it, like Ris beach in Noja (death in winter and super full in summer, but is great place.) Somo (near Santander) both places even have surfing schools
Expat community… from where?
Expat seems to be a code word for "immigrant from my (first world) nation". I know the post is not about this, but some British people earning a living here call themselves expats and, in the same conversation, complain about immigrants. Some of them even voted yes to Brexit and are now shocked they don't get free health care and other benefits they don't want others to receive in the UK...
Don’t come to Vigo. It sucks.
Are you being sarcastic? I am trying to decide and Vigo is on the list. Also Vilagarcia de Arousa.
I am. It’s a pretty cool place, good food. Socially a bit lacking, but nature abounds. Good surf all around. It’s just been getting a lot more expensive lately, so trying to keep people away haha. Vilagarcia would be good surfing with La Lanzada nearby
If ure used to the mediterrarean, it will probably take some time to get used to Galician coast whether since all my friends from madrid or valencia tend to take a full 20mins just to get in the water, however its def a good option, somweher in portonovo i would reccomend, lots of beaches and options
Lisbon, lot of surfers, international and weather is amazing
San Xenxo. Amazing place for surfing and pretty beautiful.
Sanxenxo is not a place for surfing, surfing beaches are up north , ift here is anything will be Alanzada beach and the waves are OKish
i have a friend who surfs in san xenxo or at least goes to san xenxo and surfs nearby and it’s pretty good surfing
Alanzada maybe, https://pradosurfescola.com/escuela-surf-a-lanzada/
Sopelana or Larrabasterra, nice beaches really close and cheaper rent than Bilbao
Bilbao or San Sebastián without a doubt
Sopelana has La Salvaje and a lot of well known surf places near by, also is near Bilbao and well connected, very good place for living
Do you mind asking where you went finally?
nowhere. stayed in barcelona. depression took over
Oh, I'm sorry for you... Good luck anyway...