Alava is a province in northern Spain, a part of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country. The administrative city of Alava is Vitoria-Gaystes, which is also at the same time the capital of the Basque Country.

According to the data of 2014, only 0.8% of purchase sale of real estate in Spain has been made by foreigners in Alava. In fact, houses for sale and rent of in Alava draw more attention of Spanish, English and French people, and Russian investors are reluctant to invest money here, actually, without reason. It’s easy to name several advantages of Alava Province.

1. Compared with other regions of Spain, the Alava province (as well as other members of the Basque Country) has the highest standards of living.
2. Due to the close location of the mountains and the ocean Alava has a mild climate. There aren’t mostly radical changes of the weather or extreme heat in the summer.
3. Frequent rains contribute for growing a lot of plants, which makes a difference to any other region of the country.
4. In the last few years the housing prices are getting lower. In 2014-2015, the price stopped at 4.4%.

Types of real estate

• Apartments. Apartments for sale and rent in Alava are one of the most expensive in the country. The average price in Spain is about 1600 euros per 1 square meter, while in Alava the average cost of housing is 2040 euros. The rent prices are about 30-40 euros. Despite the high prices, the rental apartments are in demand, as there are few hotels here, and tourists often settle in private apartments. In the provincial capital for the square meter of housing is being charges on average 2080 euros, in llodio are about the same prices. The peculiarity of this real estate market segment is its wide variety. Here you can find the studio (especially in modern homes) and options with 5-8 bedrooms, which area reach 500 sq.m. Several cheaper offers for sale and rent of apartments in Alava can be found in the suburbs.
• Houses. This type of real estate requires a significant investment, and is often sold for a quiet living. The houses here are organically coexist with apartment buildings, and it won’t be difficult to find a decent option. Houses for sale and rent in Alava are very popular in the cities Vitoria-Gaystes and llodio. Prices start with 150 thousand euros. Those who are looking for more affordable options, can safely search in small settlements - the prices are 5-30% lower.
• Villas. If your goal is to buy a luxury villa in first sea line, then you should pay attention to other areas of the country. There is no traditional Spanish housing here, which is why it is hard nowadays to find a clear distinction between the houses and villas. Most of the modern buildings have a small private garden, a sauna , a swimming pool and much more. Villas for sale in Alava have prices from 400-500 thousand euros. Those who decided to rent such a house will have to pay 200 euros. Those who is not in a hurry, can buy a piece of land in Alava and build a house on his own.

By plane. In Vitoria-Gaystes there is an airport, which takes passengers flights of some directions (mainly inland). It is located 8 km from the city center. To get from the airport is possible by route taxi (costs 3 euros). You can also fly to Bilbao Airport from many European cities.

By car. The capital of the Basque Country is connected to Madrid by two highways. By car you can easily and quickly get to any city of Alava and other provinces.

By train. On the railway one can get to Vitoria-Gaystes from Madrid within 4 hours. The same way, you can quickly travel to all major cities of the provinces.

The province is located in the heart of the continent, so there is no access to the sea here. But there are many architectural monuments, ancient buildings and scenic spots. Travelers will be surprised and original cuisine of the Basque Country.

Russian tourists are rare visitors of the province. There are not so many travel agencies offering such tours. This feature makes people plan trips on their own. Most visitors stay in the city of Vitoria-Gaystes.

Here, in the old part of the settlement the main attractions are represented by objects of religious significance. Among them:
 

• The Church of St. Michael the Archangel;
• The medieval Cathedral of Victoria;
• Church of St. Prudentius;
• The Church of St. Peter the Apostle;
• Monastery of the Cross;
• Monastery of Saint Anthony.

When coming here, it is recommended to go to the House del Cordon. In the 15th century this building belonged to a rich merchant, then it was transformed into the residence of the Spanish kings in the Basque Country, and now acquired the status of a museum narrating the history and life of the Basques.

In the city is located the Basque Museum of Contemporary Art. This is where you can see the work of famous Spanish classics (Dali, Picasso, Peres, Miro) and paintings of contemporary artists.

The main city square is Plaza Blanca Virgin Mary, where stands a monument of the Battle of Victoria in the war of 1813.