Hidden Gems in Spain: Discover This Country’s Most Underrated Cities

Most wine lovers make a beeline for La Rioja, where some of the country’s most famous wines are made. But we recommend Valladolid, as it’s a great non-touristy place in Spain to do some exploring and spectacular wine tasting.

Start with a walk through the city center’s bustling streets. Start in the breathtaking Plaza Mayor, and make your way to the cathedral. On your stroll around the city, you’ll walk in the footsteps of historical giants. The Catholic Monarchs, Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand of Aragon, married here in 1469. Their marriage marked the unification of what we now understand as modern Spain. Christopher Columbus died here in 1506, and Spanish Golden Age writers like Miguel de Cervantes once called these streets home. Valladolid is dripping in history.

After a bit of city walking, it’s time to do some wine tasting. Valladolid is home to robust reds (Ribera del Duero and Toro varieties), refreshing whites (Rueda), and famous rosés and clarets (Cigales). Make sure you schedule a tour of a historic underground bodega (winery). These bodegas dot the surrounding countryside, and some winemakers still crush grapes using methods passed down through generations. Other old, repurposed bodegas have been transformed into underground, traditional restaurants. The perfect day? A winery tour plus a meal in an old winery.

After a day of wine tasting, retreat to the Barceló Valladolid, located just minutes from the city center. It’s the perfect base for exploring one of the most underrated places in Spain.

León’s cathedral will stop you in your tracks. This 13th-century Gothic masterpiece showcases nearly 1,800 square meters of stained glass windows, some of the most extensive in all of Europe. Beyond the cathedral, León's old quarter winds through streets that have welcomed pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago for over a thousand years.

But León has another claim to fame that makes it one of the best hidden gems in Spain: free tapas with every drink. Yes, you read that right. Order a drink at any bar in the old quarter, and the bartender automatically brings you a complimentary tapa. Move to the next bar, order another drink, receive another free tapa. It's called ir de tapas or tapear, and León takes it seriously. It’s a fun way to eat and drink your way across the city. Some tapas you can expect to be served include local morcilla (blood sausage) and cecina (cured beef).

The Barceló León Conde Luna puts you right in the heart of this action. This hotel blends historic charm with modern comfort for an unforgettable stay in one of the most underrated cities in Spain.

Step into Cáceres and you'll swear you've traveled back 500 years. The Old Town of Cáceres was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as it preserves one of Europe's best-maintained medieval quarters and is a standing testimonial to all its inhabitants via its architecture: Roman, Islamic, Northern Gothic and Italian Renaissance. With honey-colored stone buildings, defensive towers, and winding cobblestone alleys that have barely changed since the 15th century, it’s no wonder Game of Thrones filmed scenes here.

Go for a stroll, and lose yourself in centuries past. Noble palaces bearing family crests line narrow streets, while storks build massive nests atop church towers and medieval fortifications. And make sure you step inside the Palacio de las Veletas, which houses an ancient Moorish cistern with horseshoe arches that reflect in the surrounding still water.

As you walk around the city, make sure you look up! Approximately 30 towers still stand in the city from Muslim times, and the Torre del Bujaco is the most famous one. You can climb the tower for sweeping views across old town’s terracotta rooftops. The lack of modern additions means you can photograph the city without catching power lines or contemporary intrusions… It's a photographer's dream. 

After a long day walking around this hidden gem Spain has protected so carefully, why not stay at a quiet, yet modern hotel with a pool?

Hidden in Galicia's green hills sits spectacular Ourense, which offers something unique among Spain's cities: thermal springs bubbling up right in the city. Ourense’s thermal springs have drawn bathers since Roman times. Start by visiting As Burgas, ancient hot springs that are over 2,000 years old. The water emerges from underground at 65°C or 149°F right in the city center. After that, head to the banks of the Miño River to visit more naturally-heated pools. The most famous, Outariz and Chavasqueira, offer multiple pools at different temperatures, from pleasantly warm to seriously hot.

Beyond Ourense’s thermal attractions, the city’s historic quarter is also worth a walk around. The city’s stunning cathedral blends Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque elements across centuries of construction.

Outdoor enthusiasts must venture just outside Ourense city to check out Sil Canyon. The canyon cuts dramatic gorges through the landscape, and best observed from a catamaran cruise on the water that runs through the canyon, or from gorgeous viewpoints dotting the canyon’s rim.

Overall, Ourense tourism remains refreshingly undeveloped compared to coastal Galicia, making it one of the best non-touristy places in Spain for experiencing authentic Galician culture. Order pulpo a la gallega (Galician-style octopus) with a glass of local Albariño wine, soak in thermal pools at sunset, and feel your stress dissolve on a boat ride through Sil Canyon.

To visit Ourense properly means staying close enough to enjoy the thermal springs multiple times. The city's thermal waters and relaxed pace make it one of the most rejuvenating hidden gems in northern Spain.

One of Northern Spain’s hidden gems is Oviedo. This elegant Asturian capital preserves one of Spain's most charming old towns. But Oviedo's real treasures are its UNESCO-listed Pre-Romanesque churches, architectural wonders from the 9th century that predate the Romanesque style elsewhere in Europe.

One of these churches, Santa María del Naranco, was originally built as a palace around 850 AD. Perched on the city’s Mount Naranco, its elegant arches and perfectly-proportioned spaces influenced centuries of Spanish architecture. Nearby San Miguel de Lillo showcases intricate stone carvings that survived more than a millennium. These Pre-Romanesque Asturian monuments form a UNESCO World Heritage site, yet most tourists have never heard of them. If you’re looking to stretch your legs with an uphill hike, you can walk up to the pre-Romanesque churches from the city center!

Oviedo’s old town is compact, which makes it perfect for wandering. Make sure you visit the bustling El Fontán market and the massive Gothic cathedral. The cathedral is a must-visit for history buffs, as it houses sacred relics that used to draw medieval pilgrims. But modern pilgrims come to Oviedo for different a different reason, and that’s Asturian cider culture. Walk into any sidrería (cider house) on Gascona Street, and watch servers pour cider from well above their heads, splashing it into glasses held low to aerate the naturally still beverage. The action of long-pouring cider is escanciar, and it’s an art form! So much so that Asturian cider pouring was granted UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status.

For families, the Oviedo zoo ranks among Spain's finest, while its surroundings offer hiking, beaches, and outdoor adventures just minutes from the city center. This blend of culture, cuisine, and nature makes Oviedo one of the most underrated places in Spain. And while you’re there, make sure you stay in this charming, boutique hotel right in the city center.

The whitewashed village of Aracena crowns a hill topped by a centuries-old castle and church. But Aracena's real magic lies underground in its Gruta de las Maravillas (Cave of Wonders). Located right in the center of the city, this underground realm extends more than 2,000 meters through chambers filled with otherworldly formations, underground lakes reflecting cathedral-like spaces, and delicate mineral deposits creating natural sculptures.

Above ground, Aracena charms visitors with steep streets winding between white houses draped in flowering plants. The Iglesia Prioral del Castillo, part fortress and part church, rises from the hilltop, offering views across the surrounding oak and chestnut forests. These forests shelter the famous Iberian pigs that produce Spain's legendary jamón ibérico de bellota (acorn-fed Iberian ham).

This is serious ham country! Visit Aracena during the annual ham festival, or simply stop at any local restaurant to taste thin slices of this ruby-red delicacy alongside local wines and regional specialties. The surrounding Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Natural Park offers hiking trails through cork oak forests and past rushing streams, making this one of the secret places in Spain for combining culture, cuisine, and nature.

One of the best hotels in Aracena is the Barceló Aracena. It offers great views of the city and even features a spa. 

These six cities prove that some of the best non-touristy places to visit in Spain lie well outside fan favorites like Barcelona and Granada. From Valladolid's wine country to Ourense's thermal springs, each offers something you simply can't find in Spain's more popular destinations.