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The Levante reigns for another year: people from Madrid choose the coast and second homes this summer 2025
More than 70% of people from Madrid will choose a Spanish destination, with the Valencian Community as the overwhelming favourite and the A-3 as the busiest route.
Summer 2025 confirms a trend that seems immovable: thousands of Madrid residents will once again pack their bags every Friday and head for the Levantine coast. The Valencian Community is consolidating its position as the capital's leading holiday destination, with Alicante, Benidorm, Torrevieja and Gandía leading the journeys, especially among those who have kept second homes for decades.
According to data from the National Statistics Institute, more than 807,000 journeys from Madrid to Alicante were recorded last summer, closely followed by the usual tourist hotspots along the Valencian coast. In total, seven of the ten destinations most chosen by Madrid residents are in this region, once again placing the A-3, the Madrid-Valencia motorway, at the centre of every departure operation. This phenomenon is explained not only by the climate or the cost, but by a historic relationship dating back to the 1970s and 1980s, when thousands of middle-class families invested in flats near the sea.
Meanwhile, the capital does not empty out completely. Madrid has managed to position itself as the second most booked urban destination for guided visits this summer, with 15.5% of all bookings. With a forecast hotel occupancy rate of 66% in July, and a diary packed with concerts, exhibitions and food-related offerings, staying in Madrid has also become an attractive holiday option. On the other hand, inland tourism is growing among those who prefer to avoid the crowds on the coast. 84% of Madrid residents show interest in getaways within the Community, with the mountains and historic towns as the main alternatives.
Although new trends are gaining ground, tradition carries more weight. 73% of Madrid residents will continue to spend the summer in Spain, with the Mediterranean coast leading the way (28.2%), followed by Andalusia, the Canary Islands and the Cantabrian Cornice. For many, summer does not begin until the boot clicks shut on the A-3 on a Friday afternoon.