30 March, 2015

By VIVA Team

The charming town of Ojén, near Marbella, gives a true taste of Andalucía living, with a sprinkling of Costa del Sol thrown in.

A tiny town in the Costa del Sol has been chosen by the Sunday Times newspaper as one of the world’s finest places to live.

Ojén, which sits in the hills behind Marbella, ranked 35th in the Sunday Times’ list of Best Places to Live Overseas, and was joined in the top 50 by the seaside village of Zahara de Los Atunes, which is located a few miles from Tarifa at the southern tip of Andalucía…

While the usual suspects of Stockholm, Oslo, Berlin, Paris and Rome took the top spots, the Sunday Times reserved particular praise for Ojén, raving about its wonderful combination of gastronomy, affordability, climate, infrastructure and history.

For Brits hoping to settle into life overseas quickly and seamlessly, Ojén was praised for its proximity to much of the Costa del Sol’s attractions – many of which are Brit-owned or Brit-focused – while maintaining a definite sense of self, of Spanish tradition and culture.

In short, the village of Ojén offers the best of both worlds for expats who wish to experience life in another culture but not become cut-off from the things they know and love about the UK.

“We hope this important news consolidates Ojén as a top-quality tourist destination for visitors to get an authentic taste of Andalucía and the perfect addition to sun and sea holidays in nearby Marbella,” said Ojén mayor José Antonio Gómez.

Not mentioned in the Sunday Times report but equally pertinent is Ojen’s excellent choice of affordable property. The village boasts some of the most attractive prices anywhere on the Costa del Sol, and offers a range of housing types that are sure to suit most budgets and tastes.

Ojen’s property stock is more traditional than many of the region’s newer villages, meaning sugarcube white townhouses scattered across hillsides or centred around the charming square in the heart of the town.

What’s more, getting to and from Ojen is exceptionally easy, with good road links to the coast and the toll road that whisks motorists to Málaga airport in under 25 minutes, or south towards Gibralter in around 40 minutes.

Zahara de Los Atunes was also identified by the Sunday Times as a great place to live, thanks largely to its wonderful beaches – which are among the finest in Europe – as well as its growing reputation as a culinary hotspot. Property-wise, there are plenty of new urbanisations that offer modern amenities and large living spaces, complete with private parking and shared pools, and many with direct access to the beach.

Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca were the only other two Spanish destinations to make the top 50. However, Ojén’s appeal is replicated across a number of Costa del Sol villages, while Tarifa can offer much the same as Zahara de Los Atunes in terms of culture and atmosphere.