Esme Fox is a professional travel writer who has spent the last 10 years living in Spain. She is based in Barcelona, but can often be found exploring the country, researching for Lonely Planet guidebooks. She has also written for publications such as National Geographic Traveller, Wanderlust, BBC Travel and the Telegraph, among others.
Spain is the second-most visited country in the world after France and many of its major cities and islands have been suffering from overtourism. This summer, locals have even taken to the streets in a series of anti-tourism protests in Barcelona, Málaga, Mallorca, the Canary Islands and more. Thankfully Spain is a vast country, with plenty of fascinating cities to discover away from the main tourist trails (and without the crowds). From UNESCO World Heritage sites and sustainable cities to Gothic architecture and foodie havens, here are some of its most underrated spots. RECOMMENDED:☀️ The best places to visit in Spain🌊 The best beaches in Spain🦐 The best restaurants in Spain🎭 The best things to do in Spain This list was written by Esme Fox, a writer based in Barcelona, Spain. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.