One quaint coastal town in the province of Cadiz has been crowned Spain’s “happiest town” for 2025. Chipiona outshone dozens of other delightful towns across Spain to clinch the top spot, with the report highlighting its “people, climate, and philosophy of life.”
This achievement marks a significant rise from last year, when it was ranked third, putting this unassuming town, renowned for its expansive sandy beaches and Spain’s tallest traditional lighthouse, firmly on the national map.
The study, conducted by YouGov on behalf of sugar producer Azucarera, titled Los pueblos mas felices de España, surveyed over 2,000 Spanish adults in two stages to determine which towns were most associated with joy, quality of life, and a sense of wellbeing. The first stage asked participants to name towns they considered “happy,” while the second stage asked them to rate these towns.
Chipiona’s victory places it ahead of more well-known destinations such as Ronda and Nerja in Malaga, which secured second and third place, respectively.
Both were commended for their natural beauty and friendly locals. In fact, Andalucia dominated the top 10 with seven towns featured, reinforcing the region’s reputation for sunshine and sociability. Other high-ranking towns include Zahara de los Atunes and Tarifa, both also located in Cadiz, along with Benalmadena and Mojacar.
Peñiscola, a town in Valencia, was the only non-Andalucian destination to make it into the top five happiest places in Spain. The study revealed that across the country, natural surroundings, beauty, and climate were the factors most associated with happiness.
Interestingly, there was a clear geographical divide. Southern beach towns like Chipiona were lauded for their sunshine, while northern locations received high marks for nature and food.
Chipiona is situated near the mouth of the River Guadalquivir, surrounded by mud flats and dunes. As such, it boasts stunning beaches, with tourism and fishing being its primary economic activities.
The village’s history can be traced back to the construction of an old Roman tower, which, in 1867, became the famous lighthouse – the tallest in Spain, third in Europe and fifth in the world – that stands at the end of La Regla beach. Aside from its beaches, Chipiona also offers other attractions such as the Regla Monastery and Nuestra Señora de la O Church.
Among its natural tourist resources are Los Corrales: semicircular walls built with stones, clusters of oysters and shellfish, standing nearly one and a half meters tall and located just a few meters from the sea. This curious fishing technique is still used in Chipiona today.
El Camaleón, a native species now endangered, is unique to this town and its surrounding areas, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts. The town, referred to as Geron Fortress by Avieno in honour of Gerion, the victorious leader of the Turdulans, dates back to 140 B.C. It was during this time that the Romans constructed a lighthouse known as Coepionis Turris to prevent ships from running aground on their way to the River Guadalquivir.
This landmark became the foundation for the settlement that would later evolve into Chipiona.
Following a period of Muslim occupation, the town was reclaimed by Ferdinand III and eventually fell under the control of Alonso Perez de Guzman and the House of Arcos in the 14th century. The town suffered significant damage during the Lisbon earthquake of 1755.
In the 19th century, inspired by the Duke and Duchess of Montpensier, the Andalusian aristocracy began to frequent the town during the summer months. Today, it serves as a popular tourist resort boasting long stretches of fine sandy beaches.