7 lesser-known Spanish towns that welcome visitors

As the second-most-visited country in the world, Spain is no stranger to overtourism. The country set a tourism record in 2025, welcoming 96.8 million visitors. Unfortunately, most travelers never venture beyond the big cities or off the islands, which can burden citizens and undermine the authenticity of the very culture that draws people to the country. However, travelers can escape the big cities and visit the country’s lesser-known towns. 

“Tourism in small towns is usually respectful,” says Dr. Carolina Del Valle, geography professor at the University of Seville, whose primary research focuses on the country’s campaign to revive small, disappearing towns. “Normally, it isn’t aggressive tourism because it isn’t massive.” 

In these small towns and villages, visitors will find a different kind of Spain—one that moves at a different pace—where folks are more connected to the land and to each other and are approachable and welcoming. Luckily, even in the most remote villages, rich arts and culture, ancient history, and a good meal are always within reach. Here are a few towns in Spain that you (or even the average Spaniard) have likely never heard of, and should consider visiting.  

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1. Beget

Go for: Remote mountain cuisine and historical hikes
Off-the-grid is an understatement for a place that wasn’t accessible by car until the 1960s or didn’t have cell service until 2023. But this honey-hued village nestled in the heart of the Catalonian Pyrenees “is like the Paseo de Gracia for Catalan culture: a treasure with cobblestone streets, stone bridges, and an impressive natural setting,” says Xavier Pladeveya, owner of Can Jeroni, one of two restaurants in Beget. He recommends stopping by the 12th-century Iglesia de Sant Cristòfol (Church of Saint Cristòfol de Beget) before sitting down for a seasonally inspired meal.

Hikers can also use Beget as a starting point for the Camí de Nord (Northern Way), a trail through the ancient oak forests of the protected natural area of Alta Garrotxa, which follows a portion of the route taken by Spanish exiles fleeing to France during the Civil War (1936-1939). 

2. Aínsa 

Go for: Epic trails and bird watching
The Aragonese section of the Pyrenees, west of its Catalonian counterpart, is home to the town of Aínsa, which sits just nine miles from the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park. “Aínsa, as well as being a gorgeous medieval town, has the privilege of being in a strategic location to discover the Pyrenees,” says Marta Romero, owner of the five-room boutique Hotel Tierra Buxo in the neighboring village, Arcusa. Romero and her team organize exclusive treks through the park, and to abandoned villages, where visitors can immerse themselves in the region’s history and culture. 

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Romero and her team also work with Aínsa’s birding conservation initiatives; so, visitors can explore the birds of prey refuge at the Eco Museo de la Fauna Pirenaica’s (Pyrenees Bird Center) along the town’s fortress walls, or use the hotel’s on-site telescope from the glassed-in terrace to observe birds in their habitat. “Every year we accommodate more guests interested in ornithology,” says Romero. 

3. Combarro

Go for: Quintessential coastal architecture
While this picturesque Galician fishing village is indeed a stop on the popular Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, Combarro is part of the less-traveled Spiritual Variant detour, meaning you’re less likely to share the streets with hordes of backpackers. 

The quiet inlet outside the city of Pontevedra is known for the stone hórreos dotting the shoreline. These unique raised structures (approximately 60), traditionally used for holding grain and foodstuffs, have become a symbol of Galician architecture and are best viewed from the shore at low tide. 

To avoid crowds, María Traveso of the Galicia Slow Tourism initiative recommends visiting outside the summer months, even though visitors may see more rain. 

4. Priego de Córdoba 

Go for: The world's best olive oil
Priego de Córdoba checks all boxes of a southern Spanish village: white-washed facades, cascading magenta flora, and sweeping hilltop views. But Priego’s shining jewel is its extra-virgin olive oil; the World’s Best Olive Oils have recognized this region in Andalusia for having the “best olive oil in the world” for 14 consecutive years, according to Francisca García, manager of Priego de Córdoba’s regional olive oil certification.

Mills like Aceites Vizcántar organize tours through the 1,000-year-old groves, including visits to the press to observe extraction, tastings, and olive oil-centric meals in the countryside. García recommends visiting during the harvest months, from November to January, to see the presses in action. She also recommends hiking the trails in the mountainous Sierras Subética Natural Park, specifically the trek to the highest peak in the area, La Tiñosa. “You’ll see farmers harvesting their own olives by hand,” García adds.

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5. San Martín del Castañar

Go for: Historic sites and landmarks
San Martín del Castañar is located about 45 miles south of Salamanca, in the heart of the Sierra de Francia. Visitors are taken back centuries thanks in part to carefully preserved places, including the town’s medieval stone houses with rustic wood balconies, Roman paths and bridges, the second-oldest bullring in Spain, and a 15th-century castle watchtower that operates as the visitor center.

Chestnut trees, illustrating the town’s namesake (castaña translates to chestnut), line hiking trails from town. One of them is the Camino de Espejos, a 5.7-mile art-meets-nature trek, with sculptures throughout the forest along the path. In warmer months, cool off with locals in the natural spring pool in the Parque Municipal (central city park).

6. Zumaia

Go for: Geological wonders and txakoli
Venture an hour east from Bilbao to Zumaia to take in one of the Basque Country’s most unsung geological wonders, the Flysch. These are coastal rock formations—formed by alternating deposits of soft and hard sediments—that jut out of the ocean floor like amille feuille pastry, or as the Geopark’s official website notes, “an old book revealing over 15 million years of history.”

“From Deba you can hike to Zumaia via the coastal Ruta del Flysch,” says Isabel Etxaniz, owner of the appropriately named family-run winery, Flysch. At low tide, walk along the rocks and dip your toes into the natural pools. To taste their txakoli, an effervescent white wine, head to any restaurant in town. 

Art fiends should make the 30-minute drive to nearby Chillida Leku, a tranquil outdoor sculpture sanctuary by famed artist Eduardo Chillida. And for those looking to dine at Michelin-star Elkano, the restaurant located in Getaria (four miles from Zumaia) serves a massive, buttery grilled turbot that tastes like the sweet waters of the Cantabrian Sea.

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7. Trujillo

Go for: Ancient history and regional art
If you can get past the veneration of hometown hero conquistador Francisco Pizarro, Trujillo is located in the Extremadura region and is home to a display of history on par with Lisbon and Madrid—of which are equidistant from the town. The best way to explore Trujillo is with a guide like professional guide Guadalupe Parrón, who runs Guía Turismo Trujillo. The tour starts in the Plaza Mayor (where Pizarro’s statue stands), with stops to marvel at Moorish architecture like the Aljibe (an underground cistern) and the 10th-century Alcazaba castle, a popular Game of Thrones filming location.

For regional art, local muralists (just 30 minutes away in Romangordo) create colorful scenes that pay homage to past professions and daily life on building facades and doors using the transpantojo technique, which makes 2D surfaces appear 3D.