Are you looking for the best destinations to beat the crowds in Spain this summer?
Spain is a popular tourist destination, with millions of visitors flocking to cities like Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville and crowding the beaches of Ibiza, Mallorca, and the Costa del Sol.
However, if you’re looking for more off-the-beaten-path places to visit in Spain, check out these underrated destinations instead.
From offbeat cities to under-the-radar beach destinations, these are some of the best places in Spain to avoid the summer crowds.
1. Zaragoza
Although it’s a big city located about midway between Madrid and Barcelona, Zaragoza largely flies under the tourist radar.
But Zaragoza is a great place to check out if you want to escape the crowds of Spain’s more popular tourist cities this summer.
This historic city is known for its Mudéjar-style architecture, which combines Moorish and Gothic elements. It’s reachable from both Madrid and Barcelona is less than an hour and a half by train.
2. Bilbao
Bilbao is Spain’s fifth-largest city, but it rarely gets any of the attention that Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville do. However, this city in northern Spain is definitely worth a visit.
If you’re looking for an underrated destination in Spain, Bilbao is it.
This modern port city in northern Spain is known for being the de facto capital of Basque Country, giving it a unique and distinctive flair. It’s a city full of modern art and architecture, with the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao being one of the city’s top attractions.
3. Menorca
Menorca is the most laidback of Spain’s Balearic Islands. It’s largely overlooked in favor of its more popular and flashier neighbors, Mallorca and Ibiza, making Menorca a highly underrated island destination to visit this summer.
You can get to this island on a one-hour flight from Barcelona, or if you prefer to take the scenic route, a ferry that takes anywhere from five to eight hours.
Menorca is home to stunning beaches with white sand and crystal-clear blue waters, but it’s known for having a quieter atmosphere than party-centric Mallorca or Ibiza.
4. Salamanca
Salamanca is Spain’s largest and oldest university town, which gives this small city in northwestern Spain a lively, youthful atmosphere.
The Universidad de Salamanca, which was founded in 1100s, is among the oldest universities in Europe. The city is also known for its history, art, and architecture.
Located under two hours from Madrid by train, Salamanca is a great place to visit this summer if you want to get away from the crowds.
5. Cadiz
Cadiz is a coastal city in southern Spain that is often overshadowed by other popular destinations in the Andalucia region, like Seville, Malaga, and Granada.
However, Cadiz is worth visiting in its own right.
This whitewashed city has been an important port for hundreds of years, with a history dating all the way back to the 16th century. Aside from interesting historical sites, including fortresses and watchtowers, Cadiz is also home to some great beaches within the city and just outside it.
6. Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the traditional ending point for the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage walk, which can take anywhere from five to 35 days to complete depending on the route.
This city is famous for being the supposed burial site of St. James the Apostle in the Catedral de Santiago de Compostela. Additionally, the city is located in the Galicia region of northern Spain, which has a unique and distinctive culture.
It’s not surprising to hear Gallego, the local language in Galicia, being spoken alongside Spanish.
Looking for more underrated destinations in Spain? Check out this hidden gem beach town.
