Top Places to Retire in Europe in 2025

As careers begin to wind down and the pressures of working life begin to fade, priorities can often start to shift.

At this point, the idea of ‘going where you’re treated best’ may take on a new meaning. 

Where once you might have looked for business hubs and fast-paced city life, now it’s about peace, comfort and finally enjoying the freedom you’ve earned. 

In other words, it’s time to start thinking seriously about your dream retirement destination.

That dream might look very different from where you live now. You might crave sunshine over skylines, quiet over crowds and a slower pace of life surrounded by nature and culture.

Similarly, access to quality healthcare, a welcoming community and a relaxed lifestyle start to matter more than proximity to an office or airport.

Europe has always been a favoured destination for retirees and with good reason. It’s safe and well-connected, everything tends to work well, and the level of healthcare is high. Plus, an EU residency opens the door to travel and live across multiple countries.

Many European countries actively welcome expat retirees, offering retirement visas to anyone who can demonstrate they have the financial means to support themselves.

So, if you’ve been working hard to build a solid nest egg, Europe could be the perfect playground for the next chapter of your life. 

With so many countries in the EU – and beyond – to choose from, picking your ideal base can feel overwhelming. So, the Nomad Capitalist team has put together a list of 10 of our favourite places to retire in Europe in 2025.

10 Best Places to Retire in Europe in 2025

Spain

Spain is a favourite retirement destination for those who appreciate its hot summers, mild winters and easy pace of life. 

There’s no shortage of picturesque coastal destinations to enjoy here: The Costa Del Sol and Costa Blanca are among the popular regions for expats in mainland Spain, while the Balearic and Canary Islands offer excitement and relaxation in equal measure. 

Spain suspended its golden visa in April 2025, but non-EU nationals can still gain residency through its non-working residence visa, provided they can demonstrate passive income of at least €3,000 per month. 

Note, however, that Spain is not as tax-friendly for foreign retirees as some of the other entries on this list. You’ll be charged up to 47% income tax on your worldwide income, depending on your annual earnings.

Greece

Greece also enjoys blazing hot summers, while the winters don’t get particularly cold as in much of Europe. 

Greece is all about island life and island hopping. There are countless locations to explore and popular tourist destinations like Corfu or Crete can be as exciting or relaxing as you decide to make them. 

Other smaller islands are available if you don’t want to be bothered, while Athens and Thessaloniki are fascinating mainland destinations. 

The locals are generally friendly to all outsiders, and there’s a fair amount of English spoken in the popular tourist destinations.

Similar to Spain, Greece has a relaxed pace of life that appeals to retirees. Greece has a golden visa, which allows you to obtain permanent residency if you invest in local real estate. 

The minimum amount you need to spend depends on where the real estate is based. If you buy in low-population areas, the threshold stands at just €400,000, whereas it’s €800,000 elsewhere. 

Alternatively, you can get a renewable temporary residency by demonstrating a pension income of at least €2,000 per month. 

Italy 

Whether you opt for Tuscany, Sicily or the Amalfi Coast, there’s no shortage of stunning destinations in Italy. 

Famous for its food, culture and passionate locals, there’s so much to love about this country. 

If you want to live in a delightful small village and fancy a hands-on project, you could even get paid to move there, although this generally involves renovating an abandoned house or starting a small business. 

Italy has a golden visa, available by investing as little as €250,000 in a local start-up. However, the easiest route to residency for non-EU retirees is through its Elective Residency Visa (ERV), which is available to those earning at least €2,600 per month in passive income. 

Monaco

Perched on the French Riviera, this tiny principality is characterised by luxury yachts, high-end boutiques and Michelin-star restaurants.

Wealthy residents are attracted not only to its 0% income tax policy but also to the immaculate infrastructure and high levels of security. 

To secure residency in Monaco, you’ll need to make a significant deposit in a local bank. The official minimum deposit is €500,000, but some banks will not accept less than €1 or even €2 million.

It can be challenging to secure suitable property due to the limited supply in this sovereign state covering just over two square kilometres. 

Still, many wealthy individuals decide this is a price worth paying to secure the tax benefits and be a part of Monaco’s exclusive social scene.

Georgia

This is an up-and-coming nation in Eastern Europe that can be a delightful retirement spot for foreigners, even if your nest egg isn’t the largest. 

The cost of living in Georgia is extremely low, but there are delightful surroundings in the capital,Tbilisi, or smaller towns along the Black Sea.

You can obtain a renewable one-year residency by buying a property worth US$100,000. For US$300,000, you could buy a luxury villa in Batumi and enjoy your retirement in style with a five-year renewable residence permit. 

With Georgia’s territorial tax system, you won’t pay any tax on foreign-sourced income, including withdrawals from foreign pensions.

Georgia is perhaps most famous for its wines, mountain landscapes and warm hospitality. If you’ve not heard much about this country, we’d urge you to visit and experience it for yourself. Most tourists can visit for 12 months without a visa. 

Montenegro

Montenegro is another promising country that we increasingly recommend. 

If you want to live in a quiet place with stunning coastlines, dramatic mountain views and gorgeous national parks, Montenegro may well be the perfect location.

You can get residency in Montenegro by buying local real estate with no minimum investment requirement. Luxury apartments by the sea are available for around €300,000 to €400,000, but you shouldn’t expect these prices to last long. 

The Montenegrin property market looks set to rocket with its EU membership pending, so now is the time to make a move. 

On paper, the physical presence requirement associated with Montenegro residency seems strict. However, in practice, the authorities rarely enforce this, so it’s possible to use this Balkan nation as a home base while exploring the rest of Europe. 

You’ll pay tax on your pension income, but the maximum rate is just 15%, which is among the lowest headline rates in Europe.

Portugal

Portugal is another European nation where people move for the weather. Hot summers are guaranteed and winters rarely get too cold, particularly in the coastal towns along the Algarve.

Lisbon and Porto are fun cities bursting with character, while Madeira and the Azores offer striking natural beauty.

It’s not uncommon for foreigners to buy several acres of Portuguese farmland to create a peaceful, off-grid lifestyle for themselves.

Indeed, the cost of living in Portugal is far lower than elsewhere in Western Europe, giving your pension payments greater purchasing power.

Non-EU residents can gain residency through Portugal’s golden visa or through its D7 visa. The latter requires you to demonstrate regular passive income worth at least €820 per month.

Cyprus

If you want to spend your retirement soaking up the Mediterranean sun all year long, there are few better places than Cyprus to do it. 

English is widely spoken in Cyprus, and it’s hardly difficult to find a luxury property within walking distance of a beach.

The ‘Pink Slip’ offers retirees the easiest path to residency. To earn it, you must buy or rent an apartment and show proof of enough income to sustain yourself. It can be renewed each year, provided you continue to meet this criteria. 

Alternatively, the Category F permit gets you permanent residency in Cyprus. You’ll be eligible if you buy a property worth at least €300,000 and can show regular income equalling at least €30,000 per year. 

Cyprus tax residents will be taxed on worldwide income, up to a maximum rate of 35%, but its non-dom tax status offers the ability to shield most of your foreign income from tax. 

Malta

Many non-EU citizens are interested in Malta’s residency options, which can quickly be converted into Maltese citizenship. 

Through either the Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalisation (MEIN) program or the Malta Permanent Residency Program (MPRP), you could potentially obtain a Maltese passport within 12 months.

A lot of expats leave Malta once they’ve obtained this citizenship, but the island is a beautiful place to live, and many decide to stay longer. In fact, more than a quarter of Maltese residents are foreigners. 

English is widely spoken on the island, and you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to luxury coastal properties. 

While income tax in Malta can rise as high as 35%, there are no estate, inheritance, gift, property, interest or dividends taxes. 

Ireland

Ireland might not appear to be a traditional retirement hotspot due to the lack of consistently warm weather. However, many expats are drawn to its natural charm and good quality of living. 

Irish communities are among the friendliest and welcoming in Europe. English is the primary language, but you’ll also encounter native Gaelic along the way and, of course, the ‘craic’ this country is famed for.

Wherever you choose to live in Ireland, you’ll likely be a stone’s throw from some charming villages or areas of stunning natural beauty. 

Non-EU members wishing to retire in Ireland will likely do so via its ‘Stamp 0’ residence permit, which requires passive income of at least €50,000 per year and a lump sum big enough to cover any unforeseen circumstances. 

Best European Countries for Expats: FAQs

Retire Where You’re Treated Best

Europe is a diverse continent with a bit of something for everyone.

Whether you’re seeking sun-drenched Mediterranean beaches, charming villages or bustling cities, there are plenty of options for your retirement.

However, if you gain residency in the European Union, you can travel freely to any one of its 27 member states without a visa. Better yet, if you earn citizenship by naturalisation in an EU country, your passport will allow you permanent access to all the others. 

That’s why so many non-EU expats are attracted to Malta’s citizenship-by-investment programs, if only to quickly access an EU passport. 

Indeed, other EU countries require you to live there for five years or more before naturalisation becomes an option. 

Whatever you decide, it will take planning. 

We’ve helped 2,000+ wealthy entrepreneurs and investors ‘go where they’re treated best’ based on their unique goals and desires. To learn more about our holistic Nomad Capitalist plans, get in touch today.