Spain is one of the most visited country in the world, each one of its region has its own culture that you can immerse yourself in. Delicious paellas, beautiful beaches, amazing architecture, and scenic coastline, are just a few things that will make you want to visit Spain.
10 Hidden Gems In Spain
1. Setenil De Las Bodegas
Setenil de Las Bodegas is a small Spanish town located in the south of Spain in the Cádiz province. As the Andalucía area have a lot of white villages that are charming, but Setenil de Las Bodegas is different that the rest as the houses not only are built into the surrounding cliffs, but the overhang is impressive.
You can get to Setenil de Las Bodegas easily when in Andalucía, I went there from Malaga which takes 1h 20 min by bus. Setenil is located in the area surrounding Ronda so you can get there from Ronda which takes 30 mins, you can also get there from Sevilla which takes 1h 45 mins as well as from Cádiz. You can buy bus tickets from the ticket counters at the bus stations. If you are staying in Andalucía for a while, you can rent a car and easily get there. I booked a bus through Omio when I was there.
Setenil is a really small town so it is better to move around on foot since it will be hard to use a car with the amount of narrow streets available, but there is a lot of hill hiking involved since the whole town is build on a rock and into the surrounding cliffs so you will be going up and down a lot.
The weather in Setenil de Las Bodegas is different, the summers are short and warm but the winter is long and cold. There is more rainfall in the winter than the summer, but the houses built into the rocks are built that way to make the winter warmer and the summer cooler.
You only need about half a day to spend in Setenil de Las Bodegas, so if you are staying somewhere in Andalucía then you can catch a bus early in the morning and then go back in the afternoon. Depending on your time, you can stay there for a full day as well and leave the next day. This is the Airbnb I stayed in, and this Setenil is a small town then you won't find big hotels, simply Airbnbs and holiday homes.
You can book your accommodation through Booking.com, which is the one I use the most, or if you wan to stay in a hostel you can book through HostelWorld. You can also use Agoda, Trivago, or Vrbo to book your accommodations. I know most people have a favourite website or app to use, so just choose what you prefer best.
2. Ronda
Ronda is another town in Andalucía that is filled with historical ruins and amazing views. Unlike Setenil, Ronda is located on a rock plateau, and it is also another white village.
You can reach Ronda from Málaga just like Setenil, and it takes about 2 hours to get there, and you can also get there from Sevilla which also takes two hours.
Moving around Ronda is just as easy as Setenil, since it is a small town, you can walk around. Exploring on foot is honestly the best and easiest way to move around Ronda, but if you have rented a car to explore Andalucía, then you will find a lot of parking areas around the centre of the town.
Similar to Setenil, you only need one day in Ronda to explore, and since both towns are so close to each other, you can explore Setenil during the day and then explore Rona during the evening, sleep there, and leave the next day.
3. Grazalema
Grazalema is another town located in Andalucía, that is also a white village (There is a ton of white villages in Andalucía). Grazalema is located in the northeastern part of Cádiz, and it is situated on the foothills of La Sierra del Pinar mountain.
You can easily reach Grazalema from Cadiz, or even Málaga or Sevilla, when in Andalucía you don’t have to worry about reaching a specific town because you can easily get there from anywhere. You will find buses easily, but if you rented a car, you will be able to move around Andalucía with ease.
Grazalema is small so moving around and exploring on foot is the best thing. Also, when walking around, you get to see things you wouldn’t be able to see if you use transportation, and that is applicable to anywhere in the world. So, make sure to wear comfy shoes.
You only need between 3 to 4 hours to really explore Grazalema, so aim for a day trip, and there is no need to stay overnight there.
4. Arcos De La Frontera
Arcos de la Frontera; another village located in Andalucía, in Cádiz. Arcos de la Frontera is another white village in Andalucía, and it so captivating and impressive. It looks over the Guadalete River, and there; you will find a very unique mixture of architecture which includes Roman, Baroque, and Moorish.
Like the other villages in Andalucía, you can easily get there from Cádiz, or any other place in Andalucía. Honestly, the best option would be to rent a car, move freely around Andalucía, visit nearly every town and village there, and spend 2 amazing weeks there.
Arcos de la Frontera is small, so you would walk around to explore without having to worry about transportation.
Aim to spend a day there and enjoy.
5. Frigiliana
Frigiliana is located in southern Spain, and it is known for its Moorish architecture and narrow streets that beautifully decorated with ceramic mosaic. This is another town that is part of Andalucía’s famous white towns.
To get to Frigiliana you need to get to Nerja first, which is not hard. You can find buses easily from anywhere in Costa del Sol which go frequently. Once you reach Nerja; which should take between 45 minutes to 1 hour, you can then find a bus to get to Frigiliana, which only cost €1. Frigiliana is closer to Málaga and easier to get to from there.
Walking around foot once again is your option here, since Frigiliana is a small town, it is easy to explore and enjoy on foot.
A day trip in Frigiliana is a great way to explore and enough time as well.
6. Cudillero
Moving away from Andalucía, Cudillero is located in Asturias which is in the northwest of Spain. Cudillero is known for its fishing industry, and tourism as well, so you will find many tourists there. Now, if you are interested, a legend says that it was founded by the vikings, and also a fun fact about it, is that people there speak another dialect called Pixueto.
If you are already in Asturias, then it will be really easy to get to Cudillero, since most people will go on a day trip from there. From Gijón or Oviedo, catch one of the FEVE trains that travel directly to Cudillero, it costs around €7.
Cudillero is differently worth visiting, it is another small town, but the quality of the things you can do there is high, so focusing on quality instead of quantity is key here. Make sure to get to the top of the hill to get an amazing view of the town. Since its a small town, like the previous ones, you can easily walk and hike around the town to explore.
Again, it is a small town so you only need a day and not more than that, so aim for a day trip from any near towns such as Gijón or Oviedo.
7. Albarracín
Albarracín is a small town located in the hills of east-central Spain, right above a curve of the Guadalaviar River. It is located in Teruel in Aragon. Albarracín is a medieval town with ruins of Alcázar and Moorish castle on the clifftop in the old town. Albarracín is definitely and interesting place to visit filled with a lot of history with medieval and moorish architecture. Archeologists have said that Albarracín have been fortified since the 7th century, so there is definitely a lot of history to learn about the town.
To get to Albarracín you need to get to Teruel from either Valencia or Zaragoza by train which is the easiest way, and then from there you can get to Albarracín. Be aware, that for Albarracín like most small towns in Spain, you will only find one bus available every day, so know what time it leaves, and make sure to reach Teruel first and then take the bus from there to Albarracín.
Walking & hiking around Albarracín is honestly the best way to get it all in and explore the landscape, but be aware to find the right route beforehand. You other best option would be to rent a car to move around if you do not want to hike.
Aim to stay in both Teruel & Albarracín for 3 days, this would be enough for both of them but no less than that.
8. Cíes Islands
Cíes Islands are located in Galicia, off the coast of Pontevedra, in the mouth of Ria de Vigo. It consist of 3 islands, and it was declared a natural reserve back in 1980, and it was even included in Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park that was created back in 2002.
Now, to get to Cíes Islands it might be a bit tricky, since the only way to access the Cíes Islands is by sea. You can get to Vigo, and from there get to the port to find a ferry that would get you there. It will take about 40 minutes to get there.
Cíes Islands are a great place for you to walk around and enjoy the mesmerising beach. This is a great place to relax and enjoy you time there.
Now, the Cíes Islands have no hotels or accommodations, since it is not made for people to stay in since it is a natural park. However, besides going on a day trip there, you can camp there but be aware that there are limited spots.
9. Cadaqués
Cadaqués is located in Girona in Catalonia, more specifically; in the town of Alt Empordà comarca. It is on the Costa Brava of the Mediterranean. A key spot to visit there is Salvador Dalí House Museum, this is the house where he lived and worked from 1930 until 1982.
You can easily reach Cadaqués from Barcelona by a car or a taxi which takes about 45 minutes, but since no train go directly there, you can take a train to Figueres and then get to Cadaqués from there, which would take you 1 to 2 hours. Alternatively, you can get there by bus but be aware that it takes about 3 hours and there are multiple stops in between. The best option really is to rent a car to get there since it is hard to find transportation.
Guess what, you can walk around the town to explore. It is another small town, and Spain is filled with a lot of towns where you can easily walk. Walking allows you to enjoy everything around you and take it all in. But I still do recommend to rent a car to get there.
Aim to spend between 1 to 2 days in Cadaqués to explore everything while still have time to relax. Fun fact, some people would spend between 3 to 7 days in order to relax because it is the perfect spot for that, so if you want to, you can definitely do that.
10. Besalú
Besalú is another town located in Girona in Catalonia, in the comarca of Garrotxa. Besalú had a significance in the early Middle Ages. Besalú is one of Catalonia’s best preserved medieval towns, so it is definitely worth a visit.
It is easy to get to Besalú from either Girona or Barcelona, you can easily find a train from Barcelona, and of course; you will be able to find buses as well.
Walking through Besalú is like wandering around a medieval town, so yes it is absolutely doable to walk around the town to explore.
You only need to visit Besalú for a day trip, so you can stay in Girona and visit Besalú and other towns around.
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How To Get To Spain
Spain’s biggest airport is Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport Airport a.k.a. Madrid’s airport, you will be able to find a lot of international flights that goes there. You can also find other international flights to Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport a.k.a. Barcelona’s airport. You can use WayAway to find cheap flights. You can also reach Spain by train or buses from most cities in Europe, and I like to use Omio whenever I am travelling in Europe to find either trains or buses.
How To Move Around Spain
Public transportation is great in Spain, so you can use the metro, the bus, and the trains. Most cities you will need to use public transportations to move from one place to the other, but in most of the small cities and villages such as Setenil De Las Bodegas; you will be able to explore on foot.
You can book trains and buses through Omio to move from one city to the other, which as I mentioned before is my favourite app to use whenever I am travelling in Europe, and I have used it multiple times when I was in Spain.
Best Time To Visit Spain
The best thing about Spain is that it has an amazing weather all year-round, especially during Spring & Fall, because that’s when it is warm and sunny but not too hot like summer. It is the coldest in Spain from December to March, but if you would prefer that weather then you can visit during that time which won’t be crowded since it’s low season, and also prices tend to be cheaper during that time.
Accommodations In Spain
You will be able to find accommodations in Spain that would suit your budget whether you are on a budget or you’re looking for something luxurious.
You can book your accommodation through Booking.com, which is the one I use the most, or if you wan to stay in a hostel you can book through HostelWorld. You can also use Agoda, Trivago, or Vrbo to book your accommodations. I know most people have a favourite website or app to use, so just choose what you prefer best.