When someone contacts us saying they want to move to the Maresme, they almost always arrive with a general idea but without having decided on a town. And that makes complete sense: the Maresme has 30 towns and each one offers a very different way of life.
Deciding where to live is not a matter of choosing the “prettiest” town or the “best rated” one in general. It is a matter of finding the town that best fits your life: your commute times, your children if you have them, your work, what you enjoy at weekends.
In this guide we are not going to give you a universal ranking. We are going to do something more useful: match 5 common buyer profiles with the towns that suit them best, explaining why. So that by the time you finish reading, you have a clearer idea of where to look.
Before choosing a town: 5 questions that will save you months of searching
Before looking at properties, there are five questions worth answering honestly. They are the same ones we ask in a first meeting with any client:
- How many times a week do you need to go to Barcelona?
- Do you have children? What school stage are they at and what type of school do you prefer?
- Will you live here all year or only for part of it?
- Are you looking for an active town life or more privacy?
- How important is it for you to live near the sea, compared with living on high ground with views?
The answers narrow things down a great deal. A buyer who goes to Barcelona five days a week should not be considering the Alt Maresme. A family that prioritises a specific international school needs to look at where that school is, not the abstract list of “best towns”.
Geography of the Maresme: three areas, three different logics
The Maresme is usually divided into three stretches, and understanding that division greatly simplifies the decision.
Baix Maresme (Montgat – Cabrera de Mar)
This is the area closest to Barcelona, between 15 and 25 minutes by car. It includes Montgat, Tiana, Alella, El Masnou, Teià, Premià de Mar, Premià de Dalt, Vilassar de Mar, Vilassar de Dalt, Cabrils and Cabrera de Mar.
It is the area with the highest demand and the highest prices, ideal for anyone who needs to go into the city frequently.
Maresme Centre (Mataró – Sant Vicenç de Montalt)
It includes Mataró (the regional capital), Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, Sant Vicenç de Montalt and Caldes d’Estrac. At 30-40 minutes from Barcelona, it is home to some of the most exclusive residential developments (Supermaresme, Rocaferrera) next to Port Balís.
Alt Maresme (Arenys de Mar – Tordera)
Further from Barcelona (45-60 minutes). It includes Arenys de Mar, Canet de Mar, Sant Pol de Mar, Calella, Pineda de Mar and others. Better value for money, but less practical if you need Barcelona in your daily life.
Profile 1: Family with school-age children
This is probably the most common profile. Families moving from Barcelona in search of more space, more peace and quiet, and the right school.
Here the decision almost always starts with the school. If the children are going to a specific international school, the town needs to be less than 20 minutes away by car. And if they have not yet chosen a school, it is worth looking at the offering in each area before buying.
Recommended towns: Alella, Cabrils, Sant Andreu de Llavaneres
Alella is ideal for families thanks to its human scale, its quiet streets and its proximity to Barcelona (15 km). It has a good range of state-assisted and private schools, and is 20 minutes from the Hamelin-Laie International School in Montgat.
Cabrils offers larger plots at somewhat more contained prices. Its atmosphere is very family-friendly, with well-established sports clubs and a lively town centre.
Sant Andreu de Llavaneres is an excellent option for families with an asset-focused profile. It has a wide private offering, a yacht club, golf and, from September 2026, will be 10 minutes from the new BSB Maresme (British School of Barcelona) in Cabrera de Mar.
Profile 2: International or expat family
Foreign buyers who settle in Barcelona for work, remote working or quality of life, and who are looking for a stable base in Europe. They tend to prioritise international communities, bilingual or trilingual schools and top-tier services.
It is a profile we know well and one that is growing: the Maresme recorded an 18% year-on-year increase in transactions above one million euros in 2025, with a very significant share of international buyers. In fact, we analyse it in depth in our guide on luxury real estate near Barcelona.
Recommended towns: Alella, Teià, Cabrera de Mar
Alella, Teià and Tiana are the three towns with the highest income per capita in the Maresme and share a refined residential profile, a high international concentration and good connections to the city. They are the first choice for many expats.
Cabrera de Mar is growing in interest precisely because of the opening of the new British School of Barcelona campus in September 2026. For British, American or French families, having the school 5 minutes away is a decisive factor.
Profile 3: Remote-working professional
Professionals who can work remotely most of the time, with occasional trips to Barcelona or the airport. They are looking for quality of life without losing connectivity, a house with space for a home office and surroundings that invite you to switch off.
Recommended towns: Tiana, Caldes d’Estrac, Sant Pol de Mar
Tiana is 15 minutes from Barcelona and combines a rural, peaceful feel with connectivity. It is one of the towns with the highest income per capita in Catalonia and keeps a refined residential atmosphere.
Caldes d’Estrac (Caldetes) is a small gem with Modernista charm, thermal waters, a bohemian atmosphere and prices that are still more reasonable than Llavaneres. Ideal for anyone who values character and authenticity.
Sant Pol de Mar is probably the prettiest town on the coast. Small, seafaring, with excellent beaches. It is further from Barcelona (50 minutes) but connected by the R1 line, which lets you travel by train without a car.
Profile 4: Asset-focused buyer / investor
Buyers looking for a high-end villa as an asset decision, not as a compulsory primary residence. They may live in it all year or use it as a second home while it appreciates in value.
If this is your case, you may be interested in our guide on where to invest in a luxury home: Maresme or Barcelona, where we explain what fits best depending on your time horizon.
Recommended towns: Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, Sant Vicenç de Montalt, Alella
Sant Andreu de Llavaneres and Sant Vicenç de Montalt are home to the most exclusive residential developments in the Maresme: Supermaresme, Rocaferrera and Bellaire. Large plots, sea views, private security and many transactions handled off-market.
Alella, with its Can Teixidó, Mas Coll and Nova Alella areas, is another solid choice in the high-end segment, especially for those who value genuine proximity to Barcelona.
Profile 5: Couple without children / pre-retirement
Couples in their mature years, with or without children who have already left home, who are leaving Barcelona in search of a change of pace. They tend to prioritise an active town life, gastronomy, walks, the sea and switching off.
Recommended towns: Caldes d’Estrac, Sant Pol de Mar, Vilassar de Mar
Caldes d’Estrac is perfect for this profile. Small, cultural, with a real town life, a seafront promenade and a very good dining scene.
Sant Pol de Mar offers an authentic seafaring lifestyle, cobbled streets and a community very involved in town life.
Vilassar de Mar combines a lively centre, the beach right there and a good connection to Barcelona. For anyone who wants to slow down without becoming isolated, it is a very balanced option.
Summary table: Maresme towns by buyer profile
| Profile | Recommended towns | Deciding factor |
|---|---|---|
| Family with children | Alella, Cabrils, Llavaneres | Schools and family setting |
| International family | Alella, Teià, Cabrera de Mar | International schools |
| Remote-working professional | Tiana, Caldetes, Sant Pol | Connectivity + quality of life |
| Asset-focused buyer | Llavaneres, Sant Vicenç, Alella | Scarce property type and appreciation |
| Couple / pre-retirement | Caldetes, Sant Pol, Vilassar de Mar | Town life and the sea |
This table is a useful simplification, but every purchase is unique. There are families who live perfectly well in Sant Pol de Mar going to Barcelona twice a week, and asset-focused professionals who have chosen Caldetes over Supermaresme. The key is to understand your life well before choosing the town.
Common mistakes when choosing a town in the Maresme
Underestimating the real time to Barcelona
“30 minutes” on Google Maps at 11 in the morning can become an hour at 8. It is worth testing the real journey at rush hour before deciding.
Buying first, choosing the school afterwards
If you have school-age children, the logical order is school first, house afterwards. Moving town because of a school you are not happy with is very expensive.
Idealising life in a small coastal town
Small coastal towns are wonderful in July. In November, with rain and many shops closed, the experience is different. Visit in winter before buying.
Not considering the real cost of maintaining a house with a plot
A house with a garden, a pool and outdoor areas requires constant maintenance. Anyone coming from a flat in Barcelona sometimes does not calculate this cost properly.
And what about prices? Relevant differences by town
Prices vary a great deal from one town to another. To give general references for Q1 2026:
- Higher brackets: Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, Teià, Alella (3,000–3,400 €/m² on average)
- Mid brackets: Cabrils, Premià de Mar, Vilassar de Mar (2,500–2,900 €/m²)
- More affordable brackets: Mataró, Pineda de Mar, Calella (1,900–2,200 €/m²)
In the luxury villa segment, the figures are different. To dig deeper into the data by town and by segment, you can read our guide on how much a house costs in the Maresme.
Frequently asked questions about the towns of the Maresme
There is no single best town. If the priority is proximity to Barcelona, Tiana, Alella and Teià lead the list. If you are looking for a balance between town character and services, Llavaneres and Vilassar de Mar are excellent options. For a quieter, more gastronomic life, Caldes d’Estrac and Sant Pol de Mar stand out.
Alella, Cabrils, Sant Andreu de Llavaneres and Cabrera de Mar are the most sought-after by families. They combine quiet residential areas, a good range of public, state-assisted and international schools, and a safe family setting. The final choice usually depends on the chosen school.
It depends a lot on the town. Tiana, Montgat and Alella are 15-20 minutes by car from the centre. Llavaneres and Sant Vicenç de Montalt between 30 and 40 minutes. The Alt Maresme (Sant Pol, Calella) between 45 and 60 minutes. By train, the R1 line connects the whole coast with Plaça Catalunya in 35-60 minutes depending on the town.
Both options have advantages. Near the sea you gain proximity to the beach and a more active life, but you lose views and sometimes peace and quiet. On high ground you enjoy open views, greater privacy and milder temperatures in summer, but you depend more on the car. It is a very personal decision that is worth experiencing before buying.
Do you need help choosing the right town?
Every life is different. What is ideal for one family may not fit another. That is why, before you start viewing properties, the most useful thing is usually to have an honest conversation about your situation and filter the map with judgement.
If you would like to discuss your case with us, we can analyse it together and give you a clear view of which towns best fit what you are looking for.
Conclusion: the best town is the one that fits your life
The Maresme has 30 towns and many ways to live well. There is no universal ranking that applies to every buyer. There is a suitable town for each profile, and finding it requires knowing both the area and the right questions.
Before searching for properties, take time to define your real life: how you get around, what you prioritise, what your daily life will be like over the next 5 or 10 years. Once that filter is clear, the map simplifies itself.
And if, at this point, you feel you need a hand to make sense of all the options, that is also part of our job.
Acompaña a propietarios e inversores en el Maresme con una mirada estratégica y profundamente humana. Con más de 20 años de experiencia profesional, especialmente en entornos B2B y distintas industrias, aporta visión, estructura y claridad a cada decisión inmobiliaria. Su forma de trabajar combina análisis de mercado, procesos bien cuidados y una comunicación honesta y cercana, porque entiende que detrás de cada propiedad hay personas, momentos vitales y proyectos importantes. Su criterio profesional y su sensibilidad la convierten en una aliada de confianza para quienes buscan invertir o vender con seguridad y tranquilidad.