LAST UPDATED: August 11, 2026

As the cost of living the snowbird lifestyle has increased on all fronts, many snowbirds are seeking ways to save when planning their winters away.

One way that snowbirds are accomplishing this goal is by seeking out more affordable destinations that offer lower vacation rental rates, more affordable real estate (if they choose to buy a property) and generally lower cost-of-living expenses.

To help snowbirds find affordable destinations, Snowbird Advisor is creating a series on affordable destination options for snowbirds by region, and in this segment, we're covering Southern Europe.

We have already featured the Caribbean and Central America, and future articles in the series will cover North America and Asia & the South Pacific.

Southern Europe offers several affordable options for snowbirds

Southern Europe offers several excellent winter destinations for Canadian snowbirds. 

One of the primary reasons is that winter is considered off-season for most Europeans and International visitors to Europe, so these extremely popular summer destinations offer considerably lower prices on accommodations and other cost-of-living expenses in the winter months.

These destinations also have extensive infrastructure for visitors in terms of accommodation options, activities, restaurants, bars, entertainment, etc. 

Portugal and Spain are currently the most popular European snowbird destinations, although there are some other up-and-coming options in Europe.

And depending on whether your priority is warmth, affordability, healthcare, or availability of English, some countries and regions are better suited than others.

Portugal a favourite with Canadians

Portugal is rapidly becoming a favourite destination for Canadians year-round, but particularly as a winter escape, as it can be very affordable.

The Algarve - the region in the very south of Portugal - is one of Europe's most popular snowbird destinations.

The winters are mild with temperatures of 15C - 20C most of the time. Portugal is considered safe and is very welcoming. 

Snowbirds will find a large English-speaking community here and good value compared with much of Western Europe. There is also excellent health care.

There are direct flights from Toronto to Lisbon, with easy onward travel within Portugal.

Where snowbirds congregate in Portugal

Most snowbirds will head for The Algarve - although many spend some time in Lisbon before or after their stay, and some spend the whole winter in Lisbon, as it’s a fabulous city with so much to see and do.

Other specific snowbird favourites in southern Portugal include: 

• Lagos: A historic coastal city in southern Portugal's Algarve region, famous for its dramatic cliff formations, walled Old Town, and golden sand beaches.
• Tavira: A historic, picturesque town in the eastern Algarve region known for its Moorish heritage, Roman bridge, and nearby pristine island beaches.
• Albufeira: A popular coastal city and resort destination in the Algarve region famous for its sandy beaches, vibrant nightlife, and historic Old Town.
• Faro: A coastal city and capital of the Algarve region in southern Portugal featuring an historic Old Town and a 13^th century cathedral.

Spain has been a snowbird winter escape for decades

Southern Spain has some of Europe's warmest winters, and has always attracted winter visitors from Europe, the UK and North America.

Each year, new generations of snowbirds discover this culturally rich and scenically gorgeous country for their winter escapes – as well as for shorter vacations.

Most snowbirds will head to Spain’s south coast along the Mediterranean - but more recently direct flights are now available from Canada to the Canary Islands - located off the coast of Africa - where you will find a subtropical climate and dramatic scenery. 

The Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean also belong to Spain and attract snowbirds.

Temperatures are about 16C - 20C in the winter months in the south.

In Spain, snowbirds will find excellent public transportation, making it easy to explore the country. There’s also outstanding food and wine, large English-speaking communities and plenty of golf. 

Popular locations for snowbirds in Spain

Along Spain’s eastern and southern coasts, you will find charming towns, including:

• Málaga: A vibrant Andalusian port city in southern Spain known for the Alcazaba fortress, the Museo Picasso Málaga and 16 beautiful sandy beaches. It is extremely popular with tourists in the summer season.

• Nerja: A scenic coastal resort town on the Costa del Sol in Andalusia, located about 50 kilometres east of Málaga. It is famous for the Balcón de Europa, stunning beaches, and a prehistoric cave.

• Alicante: A port city on Spain’s southeastern Mediterranean Costa Blanca, and the capital of the Alicante province. Its old town, Barrio de la Santa Cruz, has narrow streets, colored houses and a nightlife scene. From here, an elevator or a steep climb leads to medieval Castillo de Santa Bárbara, set on a hilltop with sweeping views of the Mediterranean coast.

• Marbella: A luxury resort city in southern Spain on the Costa del Sol, famous for the Marbella Old Town, Puerto Banús Marina, and sandy Mediterranean beaches. It blends traditional Andalusian charm with upscale modern nightlife and dining - and celebrity spotting! 

• Canary Islands: A Spanish archipelago and autonomous community located off the northwest coast of Africa, famous for year-round warm weather, volcanic landscapes, and diverse beaches. The region features major islands like Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote, and there are now direct flights from Canada.

Prices will vary, but during the off-season winter months, Spain can be very affordable. And like Portugal, there is an excellent tourism infrastructure.

You can find more helpful information about Spain for snowbirds here.

The South of France for snowbirds

The South of France can be an excellent destination for Canadian snowbirds, especially if you're looking for a mild winter, a relaxed lifestyle, outstanding food and culture, and easy travel throughout Europe. 

However, it generally is not as warm as southern Spain or Portugal. The region has a pleasant winter climate with daytime temperatures from November to March typically in the 10C – 17C range, with many sunny days, and frost and snow are uncommon along the Mediterranean coast. 

Southern France offers an idyllic lifestyle with beautiful seaside towns and villages, as well as world-class museums, markets, restaurants, and wineries. 

The region has excellent public transportation, which means you often don't need a car unless you want to explore more of France. And France has one of the world's best healthcare systems. 

You can also take short trips by train or inexpensive flights to Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, and many other countries in Europe during your winter stay. 

Southern France, however, will have a generally higher cost of living than many other European snowbird destinations. Accommodation, dining, and groceries are generally more expensive than in much of Spain or Portugal, for example.

And while English is spoken in many tourist areas now, knowing some French is helpful for daily life. 

Best places for snowbirds in Southern France

• Nice: A beautiful, vibrant city on the Mediterranean with excellent healthcare, its own airport, a grand waterfront promenade and great transit.

• Menton: One of the warmest spots in France, near the Italian border and quieter than Nice.

• Antibes: Charming old town, marina, beaches, and a relaxed atmosphere. 

• Cannes: Home to the famous film festival, Cannes is upscale, walkable, and lively year-round. 

• Aix-en-Provence: An elegant inland city in the heart of Provence with markets, cafés, and a vibrant cultural scene. 

• L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue: Beautiful Provençal town known for antiques and riverside charm. 

Malta for Snowbirds

Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast. It's a nation known for fabulous historic sites related to a succession of rulers including the Romans, Moors, Knights of Saint John, French and British.

It has numerous fortresses, megalithic temples and the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, a subterranean complex of halls and burial chambers dating to circa 4000 B.C.

Due to British rule, English is the official language of Malta.

Malta has mild winters with temperatures ranging from 15C - 18C. There is quality healthcare, and it is a compact destination and easy to get around

Malta is less expensive than Western European destinations and has a beautiful coastline but not a lot of sandy beaches.

Where to Stay in Malta

• Sliema: Very popular with expats and English-speaking visitors. It has a waterfront promenade with good shopping and restaurants.
• St. Julian’s: A lively area with lots of restaurants, bars and nightlife.
• Valetta: The capital of Malta, with lots of historical and cultural sites and a very walkable city.
• Gozo: Ideal for those seeking a quiet lifestyle away from busy towns, offering scenic countryside views.

The bottom line

Southern Europe offers several great options for snowbirds – in addition to Portugal, Spain, Southern France and Malta, you can also consider the Greek Islands, Sicily and Cyprus. 

Snowbirds choosing Europe will of course have to factor in the cost of longer flights that often require a connection as well as car rental costs if they want to explore their destination, but the savings on accommodations over the winter can often more than offset these costs.