While many of us dream of owning property in faraway places, the reality is that most people acquiring property abroad tend to buy much closer to home, with Spain by far the most popular overseas country for Britons, with  more than 2.5 million online searches each month.

According to the latest research by property website Rightmove, average monthly searches for property in Spain total 2,513,374 a month – over 74% more than France, the second most searched for location in Europe.

Top 10 European destinations for property-seekers, with the average enquiry price in brackets:

Spain (€156, 940)

France (€217,433)

Italy (€227,411)         

Portugal (€215,001)   

Ireland (€167,537)     

Greece (€191,246)     

Cyprus (€148,082)     

Germany (€370,990)  

Malta (€264,670)       

Turkey (€93,180)

Spain and France are clear favourites for Britons looking to buy a second home, with popular Spanish destinations including Alicante, Nice, Malaga, Tenerife and Lanzarote, while in France, Brits are particularly attracted to Nice, Montpellier, Cannes, St. Tropez, and Marseille.

Chris Please, head of Rightmove Overseas, said: “Over 12 months, we have received an average of 2.5 million searches a month for property in Spain, indicating just how in-demand this sunny country is for property-seekers.

“Whether it’s the large expat community, the sunny climate, the food or simply the easy transition into relaxed Spanish culture that has Britons enthralled, Spain’s proximity to the UK, cheap flights and short travel time has it consistently emerging as one of the most popular property destinations abroad.”