The joy of smaller cities in Spain
Some truly off-the-beaten path destinations for travelers wanting to go beyond
Originally published July 2025.
All images are courtesy of the Spain Less Traveled team, unless otherwise stated.
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Willing to go off the beaten path?
Most travelers visiting Spain follow two routes: Either they visit the main large cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Granada or San Sebastián, to discover their history, art and culture or go for beachside resorts and islands to enjoy the sun, the sea and the delicious food.
But just a few visitors venture into the country’s smaller cities. Those cities (some not so small) are usually less known and see little tourism (mostly domestic), but are also full of treasures and are the perfect way to discover and enjoy the Spanish way of life.
Our selection ranks from the large Pamplona (with a population a little over 200,000) to the small Trujillo (with just 8,600 inhabitants). And we’ve selected cities not listed in our top Spanish cities blog.
We at Spain Less Traveled truly believe that amazing Spain travel itineraries include a healthy mix of some of Spain’s thriving monumental larger cities, as well as some of its less known cities and a pinch of its quaint and charming small towns.
And if you need it broken down even further, check out our answer to the “Where should I go in Spain?” question, highlighting the top three destinations and beyond!
Why follow the usual route? Let us create an itinerary that takes you deep into Spain Less Traveled, where every moment feels truly yours.
A map of Spain for travelers
Here is a map of Spain showing its regions and provinces. We have made a selection of 20 cities, and we have tried to have a representation of all Spanish regions. Many of these cities are perfect day trips from bigger cities, like Aranjuez from Madrid, Reus from Barcelona or Antequera from Málaga.
And remember, we can help you string it all together in an order that makes sense and design your bucket list Spain trip. Learn more about our boutique travel services here.
Map of Spain with regional and provincial borders. Image courtesy of VectorStock.
Our top small cities in Spain (in alphabetical order)
Almagro (Castilla La Mancha)
Almagro’s iconic Plaza Mayor
Almagro is a charming little city in the heart of Castilla - La Mancha. It’s a great stop if you’re driving between Madrid and Andalucía, as it’s practically half-way. Getting there with public transportation is a bit more difficult, requiring taking a high-speed train to Ciudad Real and then a local train to Almagro.
Almagro is famous for three main things:
One of the most beautiful and special “plazas mayores” (main square) in all of Spain. Its green painted windows and balconies give it an unique character. During the theater festival in the summer, it’s full of terraces and life.
In the 1950s a “corral de comedias” was discovered almost intact. The “Corrales de comedias” is where live theater was shown in the 16th and 17th centuries. It can be visited and it’s the heart of the famous theater festival (Festival de Almagro) that takes place every summer. Read our post: Showtime in Spain to see our favorites.
Eggplants. “Berenjenas de Almagro” are a local delicacy famous all over the country. They are cultivated in the area, then cooked and preserved in a mix of vinegar, oil, cumin, garlic and paprika. One of Spain’s culinary delights.
Antequera (Andalucía)
Whitewashed Antequera
Located practically in the geographical center of Andalusia, Antequera is your quintessential Andalusian city, full of white houses, magnificent plazas and palaces. The high-speed train station is a bit far from the city center, but it has direct trains to Madrid, Málaga, Seville, Córdoba and Granada. Antequera is a great day trip from Málaga!
Once in the city you can explore and discover its many treasures:
The Alcazaba (old Moorish fortress) is one of the best preserved in Spain! Be sure to check out the gardens as well as the impressive 360 views of the region from the top.
Underneath the Alcazaba, you can find Antequera’s old Moorish quarters which are charming and much less crowded than Granada’s Albaizyn. Don’t miss Iglesia del Carmen, with its elaborate interior decoration. Make sure to look up at the ceiling.
If you are interested in the history of Antequera, the municipal museum is a must. It details the rich history of the city and the region. Admission to the museum is free.
And don’t miss Antequera’s own UNESCO World Heritage Site - the “Dólmenes”. These are some of the best-preserved sites from the Bronze age in the world and are truly one-of-a-kind. Within the city limits itself, you can find two of these: Menga and Viera. And there is a recently opened interactive museum on site as well. Be sure to visit that too.
You can even book a private walking tour of Antequera to learn more about the history and culture of the city.
The third part of the UNESCO site, the Tholos of El Romeral, is just outside of town. You can access this with your own car or a taxi.
10 miles south of Antequera, you can visit El Torcal de Antequera. It’s a gorgeous natural park full of stunning karst formations. You can park your car next to the Visitor’s Center and from there, take one of the 3 paths. The shortest one takes about 45 minutes, and the longest one, up to 2.5 hours. Visit to the park is free and you don’t need to book in advance.
Aranjuez (Madrid)
The magnificent royal palace of Aranjuez
Aranjuez is where the Spanish royal family used to spend the summer in the 18th century, since Madrid was too hot. Located about 50 km south of Madrid, it’s one of the best day trips you can take from the city.
Of course the main attraction in Aranjuez is the Royal Palace, a magnificent compound full of art. Don’t miss the Chinese Hall, all covered with porcelain. Curiously the palace has been used in many movies, standing in for Versailles (“The Three Musketeers”) and St Petersburg’s Winter Palace (“Nicholas and Alexandra”).
The gardens of the palace are also a wonder to explore, with many statues, fountains and terraces over the Tagus river.
All the area around the palace was carefully planned during the 18th century, with a geometrical pattern of avenues, plazas and buildings. The whole landscape of the palace and the surrounding areas is part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Arévalo (Castilla y León)
Arevalo’s charming main square
Ávila province (one of the 9 that form the Castilla y León region) is known, well, for the city of Ávila and its medieval walls. But if you continue north on the train coming from Madrid, you’ll get to the sleepy city of Arévalo. With a population of under 8,000 inhabitants, it has the perfect size for a few hours stop or a relaxing overnight.
There are two main sights to visit:
Castillo de Arévalo: The castle, built in the 15th century and perfectly restored is located in the most northern part of the town, surrounded by fields. it was used as a grain silo for centuries, but it’s now a museum. Read about our favourite castles here.
Plaza de la Villa (or Main Square): It really feels like time travelling to the middle ages. The irregular space with different levels is surrounded by charming medieval houses with porticoes, and not one, but two churches: San Martín, of Romanesque style, and Santa María, of Mudejar style. It’s a beautiful space to wander and photograph, but the real action of the town is in Plaza del Real, where the City Hall and many bars and restaurants are located.
Speaking of restaurants, Arévalo is famous all over Spain for its meats: “Cochinillo” (Suckling pig) and “lechazo” (suckling lamb), that you can taste in one of the city’s many “asadores”.
Avilés (Asturias):
Centro Niemeyer, in Avilés
When visiting Asturias, Avilés has always been considered like the “poor sister” of its neighboors Oviedo and Gijón. This was mostly because it had an industrial city image, with many factories and a cargo port. As factories closed due to the reconversion of the region, a lot of space was available. In one of those empty lots next to the river, in 2008, construction started for Centro Niemeyer, a cultural center that was opened in 2011. The massive compound, designed by (and named after) Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, includes exhibition rooms, a concert hall and a viewing tower.
But Avilés also has a charming old town, with beautiful houses and plazas, very lively in the weekends and summer. It’s easily connected by commuter trains to both Oviedo and Gijón, and the Asturias airport is actually located in Avilés.
Unlock the secrets of Spain Less Traveled with a Full Spain Travel Consultation tailored to your passions, pace, and travel style.
Cartagena (Murcia)
The Roman theater of Cartagena
Cartagena is the second largest city in the Murcia region, and it had a reputation for being an ugly city. Not anymore, as in recent years the city has undergone a massive urban renewal, that focused on three areas: the port, the Belle Epoque city center, and the Roman remains. Now it looks splendid.
Cartagena (or Cartago Nova), was a very important city first for the Phoenician, and then for the Romans. Among the many remains form that time, the most important is the Roman theater, one of the largest in Spain, located on the hills near the city center. There are several museums dedicated to the Roman times, and also Casa de la Fortuna (House of Fortune), the remains of a 1st century villa with many frescoes.
Don’t miss our post on the top Roman ruins in Spain!
In the beautiful promenade facing the port you can admire a replica of the first electricity-powered submarine ever, designed by Cartagena born Issac Peral and launched in 1888.
If you are foodie interested in a more off the beaten path food tour, you can combine a tapas tour with a visit to the Roman theater. Such a cool experience!
Castro Urdiales (Cantabria)
Located in the most Eastern part of Cantabria (actually it’s closer to Bilbao than Santander), Castro Urdiales is a city with two faces. One not very beautiful because the proximity to Bilbao has turned it into practically a suburb of the city, with hundreds of apartment blocks. But in the core, it keeps almost intact its seaside charm. The skyline formed by the port, the Gothic church of Santa María and the castle (with a lighthouse inside) is unique. You can add to that an old town full of small alleys and quaint houses, a City Hall of Florentine style, a beautiful promenade with elegant cafés and terraces, and two very good beaches (Brazomar and Ostende).
The recently renovated market, or Modernist style, is the perfect place to buy fresh fish from the Cantabrian Sea. And in the afternoons, you can attend the fish market in the old port, when fishermen returning from the sea sell their catch.
More about Spanish markets here!
Ciutadella de Menorca (Baleares)
The covered sidewalks are a typical feature in Ciutadella de Menorca
Ciutadella de Menorca is a fascinating city, full of history, art and joy of life. It’s probably one of the most Mediterranean cities in all of Spain. The second largest city in Menorca, it has a compact old town (mostly pedestrian only) that includes a lot of attractions that justify an overnight stay in the city.
Charming little plazas, such as Plaça de la Catedral and Plaça Roser, and others bigger and full of terraces and activities at night, such as Plaça des Born, Plaça d’Alfons III and Plaça Nova. Small urban palaces turned into museums such as Can Saura and Palau Torresaura, and loggia-covered streets where shopping and discovering the islands delicacies, such as Ensaimada (a fluffy pastry with many different fillings), the famous cheese of Maó and the delicious Minorcan gin.
Read all about the best food in Spain.
Also, Ciutadella is the perfect base to discover the best “calas” (coves) in the island.
Haro (La Rioja)
If you want to taste the best Rioja wines without worrying about drinking and driving, Haro is your place. There are more than 20 wineries and cellars in the town, so you can walk easily from one to the other. Rioja wines are excellent and the most famous internationally.
But besides the wines, Haro has a lot to offer. A small but well-kept old town, with many old palaces, a stately City Hall building, the beautiful late Gothic church of Santo Tomás, and the “Torreón”, a medieval tower that you can climb for a great view of the city.
Haro also has a great food scene, as Rioja cuisine is one of the most reputable in all of Spain. There is also a dediacted tapas crawl street: “La Herradura”, where you can go from one bar to the other tasting the different specialities they offer.
Read our guide: wine in Spain.
Jerez de la Frontera (Andalucía)
The beautiful equestrian school of Jerez.
And speaking of wines, the other city in Spain that can offer a similar wine tasting experience like Haro is Jerez de la Frontera. Located midway between Seville and Cádiz (closer to the last one), Jerez is the birthplace of sherry (“jerez” in Spanish). There are plenty of wine cellars in the regal city center.
Tío Pepe is the most popular and most touristic, but there are also smaller sherry producers. For example, Bodegas Fundador is a great option! (Plan ahead, as most of the cellars require booking in advance and can sell out).
Jerez is also famous for its Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre, an amazing horsing school with extravagant buildings and an incredible horse show at noon. You should book your tickets weeks in advance, especially in the high season. And for all of you concerned about animal welfare, these horses are treated like royalty, and you can also visit the barns to check them out.
Besides those two main attractions, you can also visit the “Alcázar”, a castle with beautiful Arab baths, the impressive Baroque cathedral and one of the most beautiful train stations in Spain, of Neo-mudejar style.
Jerez is the birthplace of Lola Flores, one of Spain’s greatest performers, and the city has recently opened a small museum dedicated to this unique woman.
Check out our Cádiz Travel Guide for more information.
Lugo (Galicia)
Everybody visit and talks about Avila’s city walls, but there is another city in Spain that is also surrounded by walls, and walls that are many centuries older. This city is Lugo, probably the only city in the world fully surrounded by Roman city walls.
Lugo is located in the Eastern part of Galicia, but it has an almost French city charm, due to the use of gray slate roofs. Some of its highlights are of course the city walls, that you can walk on top for free, the cathedral, of Romanesque interior and Renaissance exterior, the archaeological museum, with many Roman artifacts, and a curious modern art center built in the former city prison.
To get to Lugo, there are direct train and bus connections from larger Galician cities such as A Coruña or Santiago de Compostela.
Explore beyond the usual with a Mini Spain Travel Consultation—your first step toward a meaningful journey through Spain Less Traveled.
Pamplona (Navarra)
Pamplona is located in the northern part of Spain, specifically in the heart of the Navarra region. It is the capital of the Autonomous Community of Navarra and historically also of the former Kingdom of Navarra.
Pamplona is famous all over the world for the running of the bulls that take place every July, a practice that we at Spain Less Traveled strongly oppose.
But Pamplona is a beautiful and quiet city, that always makes it to the top of best quality of living in Spain lists. You can explore its castle and ramparts, the picturesque City Hall, and the thriving “pintxos” scene in Calle Estafeta.
Reserve some time to visit the nearby town of Olite and discover its gorgeous castle, right out of a fairy tale.
Reus (Cataluña)
Barcelona is not the only spot in Catalonia where you can admire modernista architecture. If you want to discover some lesser known treasures of the style with a fraction of the crowds, Reus is your place.
Located close to Tarragona, Reus was an important industrial center in the early 1900s, and the wealth generated showed in many splendid houses and palaces.
The center of the town is Plaça de Mercadal, where you’ll find the most important modernist building: Casa Navàs a beautifully preserved private palace that you can visit. Its architect, Domènech i Montaner (author also of Palau de la Musica and Hospital de Sant Pau in Barcelona) also designed the beautiful Institut Pere Mata (a gorgeous hospital with rich decorations).
Gaudì himself was born in Reus, but none of his works remain in the city. There is a great museum dedicated to him, his life and work, with many original drawings and models.
Reus is also famous for its vermouth, with several cellars in the city where you can go for tastings. There is even a vermouth museum, and of course many bars around town where to taste it too.
Think of Reus when planning your visit to Barcelona. It can be a great off the beaten path day trip from the city.
Sigüenza (Castilla La Mancha)
It doesn’t get more medieval in Spain than in Sigûenza.
Sigüenza is a city located in the province of Guadalajara, within the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain.
Sigüenza has one of Spain’s largest medieval old towns. Practically the whole city is like a medieval burgh, excellently preserved. Take your time to walk around discovering its many cute plazas and alleys.
The cathedral is imposing, contrasting its sturdy defensive exterior with a lavish Gothic interior. In one of the chapels you can admire the “Doncel de Sigüenza”, an exquisite alabaster statue of a young man, sculpted in the 15th century.
And of course, at the top of the town you’ll find the castle, a beautiful fortress where you can sleep too, as most of it has been converted into a great “parador”. Check out more Paradores here.
Soria (Castilla y León)
Soria, in the region of Castilla y León, is one of the smallest provincial capitals in Spain, and not well-known even to Spaniards. But it’s quite the surprise.
Soria has one of the best Romanesque heritages in all of Spain, with many churches and monasteries that you can visit. The city center is compact but full of charm, with many plazas full of terraces in the summer (Soria is one of the coldest cities in Spain, so few terraces in the winter). You can also stroll along the beautiful Alameda de Cervantes, a very well kept park with pavillions and restaurants.
In the outskirts of the town, you can take the beautiful walk along the Duero river to the hermitage of San Saturio, a beautiful church half carved in the mountain. Actually, you can also row there with a rental kayak.
And don’t forget to try Soria’s two famous delicacies: “Mantequilla de Soria”, a delicious rich butter with different flavors, and “Torreznos”, deep fried pork skin that it’s the city’s favorite “tapa”.
Trujillo (Extremadura)
Enjoying the night at Trujillo’s Plaza Mayor.
Trujillo is a small town in the region of Extremadura, located about 30 minutes from Cáceres. It’s famous as the birthplace of Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish conquistador that conquered Peru. It’s a beautiful place full of medieval charm.
The main space in town is the magnificent Plaza Mayor (main square), one of the most beautiful in Spain and unproportionally big for a town this small. The plaza, with different levels is presided by the fortified church of San Martin de Tours and the equestrian monument of Pizarro. But there are also many elegant palaces belonging to the returning conquistadores.
And on top of the town you’ll find the castle. The first fortress was built by the muslims in the 9th century and further enlarged by christians in the 15th century.
And if you are a cheese lover, visit Trujillo in the first week of May, when the city celebrates its Feria Nacional del Queso (Cheese National Fair). The whole town transforms to welcome 100,000 visitors. It’s one of our favorite festivals in Spain.
Ùbeda and Baeza (Andalucía)
The chapel of El Salvador, in Úbeda
These two cities, located close to the city of Jaen, always go together. They even share the same UNESCO World’s Heritage listing. Úbeda is bigger and more monumental, but Baeza is more charming and relaxed. They both have amazing Renaissance buildings to discover.
In Úbeda, the main place to visit is Plaza Vázquez de Molina, where you can admire the beautiful chapel of El Salvador, the Palacio del Dean Ortega palace (now a “parador” where you can stay), the Palacio Vázquez de Molina and the Basilica of Santa Maria.
In Baeza, there are three small plazas that concentrate the monuments: Plaza de Santa Cruz, presided by the amazing Palacio de Jabalquinto and the church of Santa Cruz, Plaza de Santa María, with the cathedral, the city hall, the seminar and a charming fountain, and Plaza del Pópulo, with the monumental Arc of Villalar and the cute Fuente de los Leones (another fountain).
Check out our top Spanish Cathedrals here.
Vic (Cataluña)
Vic is a perfect blend of medieval and modernista charm.
Vic is located 70 km north of Barcelona (easily accessible by regional trains), and it displays a perfect blend of medieval town charm and dreamy modernista architecture.
The center of the town is the marvelous Plaça Mercadal, one of the largest and most beautiful of Catalonia. If you visit on a Tuesday or Saturday you can enjoy the street market taking place in the plaza.
Right on the plaza you can visit two modernista masterpieces: Casa Costa and Casa Comella. And if you walk around the old town, you can discover many more palaces.
And Vic is famous all over Spain for its cured meats, especially “salchichón” and “fuet” (both similar to Italian salami).
Vitoria (Euskadi)
Vitoria is the quiet capital of Euskadi (Basque Country)
Even though Bilbao and San Sebastian are famous worldwide, it’s the smaller and sleepier Vitoria that was named as the administrative capital of the Basque Country. In 2012 the city was named the “Green capital of Europe” to reward its commitment to sustainability.
Vitoria has a charming old town, where you can walk around quietly and discover some of the city gems:
Plaza de la Vírgen Blanca, the central plaza of the town, is surrounded by beautiful white balconies.
Catedral de Santa María, a very interesting cathedral that you can visit while it’s being restored, you can access the upper galleries and rooves with private visits focused on the restoration works. A great way to learn about medieval architecture. It was the inspiration to Ken Follet’s “A World without End”.
And of course, this is the Basque Country, you can enjoy “pintxos” in most of the city’s taverns and restaurants.
Xátiva (Valencia)
The castle of Xátiva
Xátiva is a monumental city located 60 km of Valencia, easily accessible by train from the city.
It has two different parts:
The lower city, with the monumental Plaça de la Seu in the center, surrounded by palaces and the beautiful church of Santa Maria. Don’t miss the Almoidì, a beautiful archaeological museum that includes a cistern from Muslim times.
The castle, high in the mountain overlooking the city. It’s a large fortress dating back to Roman times, with Muslim and Christian additions. The views are fantastic. The castle was recently used as a location for the show “Andor”.
Now it’s your turn to discover these great cities in Spain
So there you have it! A curated selection of small Spanish cities where to feel like a local but not missing the amazing art, architecture, landscapes, food and drinks that attract visitors to Spain.
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