Spain has about 17,000 padel courts. The UK has 1,825. That's more than nine Spanish courts for every British one.
Spain is where the game grew up. If you're heading there on holiday, you'll find a court almost anywhere. Here's why, and how to get on one.
Spain vs the UK, in numbers
The gap is the best way to understand it.
| Spain | UK | |
|---|---|---|
| Courts | 17,000 | 1,825 |
| Clubs and venues | almost 4,500 | 551 |
| People who play | over 6 million | 1 million |
Spain's figures come from the FIP's February 2025 report on 2024 data. The 6 million is from a Spanish sports survey by SPSG Consulting, quoted by the FIP, which found 12.7% of the population plays. The UK figures are the LTA's, from May 2026.
So Spain has roughly nine courts for every one we have. The FIP puts it at one court for every 2,800 people, which it calls one of the lowest ratios in the world. In plain words: a court is never far away.
A few more numbers from the same FIP report that show how deep it goes:
- 109,040 player licences in 2024, a record, up 8% on 2023.
- Licences are up 175% since 2012, when there were fewer than 40,000.
- Nearly 40,000 licensed women players, 36% of the total.
- More than 12,000 licensed players under 19.
Kids play it. Women play it. And more than a hundred thousand people hold a federation licence, which tells you how many take it seriously.
How Spain got there: two courts in Marbella
The game started in Mexico. The LTA's history of padel says Enrique Corcuera built the first recognised court on land he owned in Acapulco in 1969.
His friend Alfonso de Hohenlohe played it on a visit to Mexico in 1974, loved it, and took it home to the Costa del Sol. He built Spain's first two courts at the Marbella Club. The LTA calls him the main driving force behind padel becoming an international sport.
From two courts at a beach club to 17,000 across the country. The FIP says the growth has been steady for more than thirty years.
If you're anywhere near Marbella, it's a nice thing to know when you're standing on a court there. That's where Spain's story starts.
Where the courts are
Courts are spread across the whole country, but some regions are packed. Per the FIP's 2025 report:
- Catalonia and Andalusia have the most courts.
- Madrid has 2,300.
- The Valencian Community has almost 2,000.
A closer look at the Costa Blanca
An FIP piece from March 2024 zoomed in on Alicante, and the numbers are worth a look if that's where you're flying. The figures are a year older than the national ones above, so treat them as a floor.
- Alicante province had an estimated 190 facilities and 730 courts.
- That put it level with Málaga as the fourth biggest province for clubs, behind Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia.
- The wider Comunitat Valenciana had some 460 facilities and more than 1,800 courts.
- It had 7,558 registered federation players in 2023.
Put that against home. One Spanish province had 730 courts, about 40% of the UK's whole total. And Málaga province, home to Marbella, sits in the same bracket.
What this means for a Brit on holiday: the Costa del Sol, the Costa Blanca, Barcelona and Madrid all have plenty of choice. I've played in Malaga and Madrid myself. You don't need to plan your trip around padel. Padel will fit around your trip.
How to book a court as a visitor
Start with Playtomic. The app began in Madrid, and it's the same one a lot of UK clubs use, so you may already have an account. Search the town you're staying in rather than your home club. It shows the courts near you, and the matches other players have opened up that still need people.
Pick a level you can back up. Remember those 109,040 licences. You're joining a deep pool of players, so a match booked a level above your real one can turn into 90 minutes of chasing lobs. Start lower and let the results move you up.
Ask the hotel first. Some hotels and resorts have their own courts and lend kit. One hotel listing we found in Alicante offers a two-hour court and lends rackets and balls against a €20 deposit. If your hotel does this, you may not need to fly with a racket at all.
Prices. I'm not going to quote a number, because it changes by club, region, time of day and season. The app shows the price for each slot before you pay. It'll be in euros, and the cost is usually split between four.
Book early in summer. This is my advice, not a stat. In July and August, a midday outdoor court in the south is hard work. Grab the early morning or evening slots, and grab them before the locals do.
Two things to bring that are easy to forget
You don't need much. For Spain in particular, two things.
Overgrips for a borrowed racket. If you're using a hotel or club racket, the grip has been through a lot of other hands. A fresh overgrip takes a minute to wrap and makes a borrowed racket feel like yours. They come in packs of 3 and 6.
Something good for after. This is where I come in. On holiday the game is only half the evening. The other half is a table outside, then dinner. That's the part of the day our heavyweight tees are for: 305 g/m2 of cotton, cut oversized and unisex. The Padel & Pints tee and the Padel & Pizza tee both feel about right for a week of it. Two tees from the 2 for £90 range cost £90, taken off at checkout.
Watching the pros while you're there
Spain hosts some of the biggest dates on the calendar. The FIP calendar lists the Premier Padel Finals in Barcelona from 10 to 13 December 2026. The Hexagon Cup, a separate team event, is at the Caja Mágica in Madrid from 21 to 24 January 2027. Check dates and tickets with the organisers before you book anything.
Padelism is not affiliated with Premier Padel or the FIP.
FAQ
How many padel courts are there in Spain? About 17,000, across almost 4,500 clubs and venues, according to the FIP's report on 2024 data. That's one court for every 2,800 people.
Can tourists book padel courts in Spain? Yes. Playtomic is the easiest place to start, and it's the same app many UK clubs use. Some hotels also have their own courts you can book through reception.
Should I pack my racket for a padel trip to Spain? Not always. Some hotels and clubs lend or hire rackets and balls, sometimes against a deposit. Ask before you travel.
Where did padel start in Spain? In Marbella. Alfonso de Hohenlohe built the country's first two courts at the Marbella Club after playing the game in Mexico in 1974.
Which part of Spain has the most padel courts? Catalonia and Andalusia have the most, followed by Madrid with 2,300 and the Valencian Community with almost 2,000.
Is the Costa Blanca good for padel? Yes. An FIP piece from March 2024 put Alicante province at an estimated 190 facilities and 730 courts, level with Málaga as the fourth biggest province for clubs.
