Spain’s most famous tourist destinations – Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Bilbao – are undeniably wonderful vacation destinations. But they can suffer a little from overcrowding and over-tourism. While seeing something like the Sagrada Familia or the Prado is obviously exciting, some of the magic can be lost if you are only catching a glimpse of the attraction through a sea of other people’s heads!
Luckily, Spain is absolutely PACKED with tiny, exquisite vacation alternatives to its bigger-name destinations. In every corner of the country, you can find undiscovered villages, hidden towns and spectacularly beautiful sights with no one else for miles around. Whether hiking up mountains or drinking in the deck views on a 2022 cruise, finding untouched spots in Spain is well worth the extra research.
So read on, and discover some of the most exciting, most secret places to visit in Spain next year!
Albarracin
Albarracin is a bit of a local secret for Spaniards in Aragon. Despite being off the main tourist trail, the town itself has been a national monument since 1961 and was voted as The Prettiest Town in Spain by Spanish nationals in 2018. Pink and orange pastel tones paint the fabulous Moorish and Gothic architecture with a beautiful glow, and with its stunning clifftop location above the Guadalaviar River, it is truly a sight for sore eyes.
Setenil de las Bodegas
Seville, Malaga, or Cadiz are the usual Andalusian destinations but go off-piste a little in this exquisite region and you will find hidden gems galore. Andalusia is famous for its pueblos blancos (white towns), and while spots like Ronda and Arcos de la Frontera get most of the visitors, Setenil de las Bodegas is genuinely amazing and almost unknown. Built largely under a massive rock face to avoid the cost of constructing roofs (!) this ivory-white town is picture-perfect, tranquil and a wonderful vacation choice.
Calella de Palafrugell
For travellers to Catalonia looking to branch out from the busy streets of Barcelona, a visit to Calella de Palafrugell might be just the ticket. A picturesque historic fishing village on the Costa Brava, it is the perfect base from which to explore the rocky coves and charming hidden beaches of this stretch of Mediterranean coastline. The village itself is beautiful too, with gorgeous old architecture kept largely intact making it one of the most attractive towns in the region
