From the vast marshes of Doñana to the viral landscapes of the Ebro Delta, a new travel trend is taking flight to channel your inner Bill Oddie. Here is why stepping outside with a pair of binoculars is set to be one of Europe’s next big escapes.

Spain’s top spots for birdwatching

Monfragüe National Park in Extremadura is widely regarded as one of the country’s finest places to watch birds of prey, with griffon vultures easy to spot all year round. In an AllClear Travel study of birdwatching destinations, it came 14th in Europe.

Catalonia’s Ebro Delta ranked two places higher, in 12th, and is home to more than 300 species, including flamingos, herons and terns. Visit between March and June or September and November to catch the spring and autumn migrations.

Andalucia’s Doñana National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Guadalquivir river meets the Atlantic, is a haven for waterbirds and raptors. Guided four-wheel-drive tours take visitors deep into its marshes.

Easy wins for beginners

Newcomers do not need to travel far to get hooked. Flamingo colonies at the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra in Malaga are large, bright and slow to move, which makes them simple to enjoy and photograph.

Near Valencia, the Albufera Natural Park is another excellent choice. Inland, Castilla-La Mancha’s Tablas de Daimiel National Park offers a wetland packed with birdlife.

Why 2027 could be the year for birdwatching

GetYourGuide reported a 65% year-on-year jump in global bookings for birdwatching experiences between January 1 and August 27 2026, after naming the activity in its Hidden Trends List, where #BirdTok videos had gone viral.

Voyageurs du Monde goes further, predicting that 2027 is “set to be the year of birdwatching”. Bookings for its birding holidays between July and October 2026 were 57% higher than in the first half of the year.

Tom Barber, the firm’s chief brand officer, believes he knows the secret to the appeal. In a world that moves at speed and through a screen, he says, there is something wonderfully refreshing about stepping outside with a pair of binoculars and seeing what you can spot.

Outside of Spain where is best to go birding in Europe

For beginners, Barber recommends a day on the Danube Delta in eastern Romania, whose vast wetlands rank among the most important in the world. North-east Greece has been one of the firm’s top sellers this year, thanks to a key migration flyway. Autumn visits bring quieter lakes and rewarding viewing.

Portugal draws praise for its seabirds, with the Azores and Madeira described as prime territory by birder Cindy Brzostowski. She also names Iceland’s Westman Islands as home to the world’s largest puffin colonies.

AllClear’s European ranking puts Sweden’s Falsterbo Peninsula first, followed by Titchwell Marsh in Norfolk and Fair Isle in Scotland. Greece’s Kalloni Saltpans on Lesvos and Lake Kerkini National Park also made the top six, while Portugal’s Ria Formosa, France’s Camargue and Hungary’s Hortobagy National Park sit just ahead of Spain’s two entries.

A Christmas appeal has been launched in Torre del Mar to help families struggling with the rising cost of living give their children presents this festive season.

The initiative, promoted by the Instagram account Torre del Mar en tu Mano, is asking residents, businesses and companies to come forward with donations and practical support to help make Christmas special for children whose families are finding it difficult to cover the extra costs.

Toys, books and school supplies needed

Organisers are looking for donations of new toys, books, sports equipment and school supplies, including backpacks, pencil cases and arts and crafts materials. Local shops are also being invited to get involved by allowing residents to purchase gifts through their businesses and providing collection or storage points.

Companies and potential sponsors who can offer space to receive, store and distribute presents are being encouraged to contact the organisers. Other forms of support will also be welcomed. Volunteers are needed to help organise the collections and assist with handing out the gifts when the time comes.

Helping children enjoy Christmas

The appeal comes against a backdrop of rising household costs, which have made it harder for some working families to manage the additional expense of the festive period.

In their message, the organisers point out that families who have previously been able to afford Christmas without difficulty may now find themselves having to cut back, juggle their finances or even consider borrowing money to pay for everything.

However, they stress that a child’s excitement about Christmas should not depend on their family’s financial situation. A toy, book or other thoughtful gift can make a real difference to a child, and the initiative hopes to bring the local community together to help make that possible.

How to get involved

Anyone in the Torre del Mar area who would like to volunteer, donate presents or offer business support can contact Torre del Mar en tu Mano through its Instagram account. Further information about the initiative and its arrangements is expected to be shared in the coming weeks.

Residents who are able to contribute are being encouraged to get in touch and help turn the appeal into a community effort, giving more children the chance to experience the excitement of Christmas. This is a good plan for local charities and social groups to start planning for the Christmas season.

Property prices in Almuñecar are among the highest in Granada province, raising fresh concerns about affordability for local families and foreign residents hoping to buy a home.

Almuñecar has been identified as the most expensive town on the Costa Tropical for property purchases, with prices reaching €2,382 per square metre during the first quarter of 2026, according to figures reported by Granada Hoy. Today, the value is even higher and according to the latest September figures, the price has soared up to a whopping €3,293 per square metre.

The figure puts the coastal town ahead of Granada City, where the average stood at €2,258 per square metre. Across the Costa Tropical, the average was €1,829, while the provincial average was considerably lower at €1,467.

For anyone hoping to buy a permanent home in the area, the difference can add up quickly. An 80-square-metre property priced at €3,293 per square metre would cost around €263,440 before taxes, legal fees and other purchase costs.

Almuñecar property prices continue to climb

These figures come from an independant property-market index, so they should not be treated as a direct continuation of the first-quarter figures reported by Granada Hoy. However, they point to continued pressure on the local housing market.

Almuñecar’s appeal to international buyers, second-home owners and people seeking a Mediterranean lifestyle adds to demand for properties in the area. Its beaches, climate and established international community make it attractive to people looking for holiday homes or a permanent move to southern Spain.

What does this mean for local families?

Rising property prices can make it harder for younger residents and families on local salaries to buy in the town where they grew up. Foreign residents looking to settle permanently may also find that their budgets stretch less far than expected.

The issue is not limited to buying. Rental costs also affect people who cannot afford to purchase a property, particularly those looking for long-term accommodation rather than a holiday let. Although the figures alone do not establish what is driving prices, the gap between Almuñecar and the wider province raises questions about how accessible housing remains for people who live and work locally.

For prospective buyers, the challenge is finding a property that fits their budget in a market where advertised prices are rising. Do you think property prices in Almuñecar have become too expensive?