The 8 most underrated cities in Spain

While most people have heard of La Rioja because of its prized wine, its lively capital Logroño is less well known. The city is one of the main stops along the Camino de Santiago, the celebrated pilgrimage route across Northern Spain to the city of Santiago de Compostela. It may be small, but it can definitely hold its own against Spain’s top foodie cities. It’s one of the best places in the country for a night of bar hopping and trying out a ton of tapas dishes and pintxos along the way, as each bar specialises in one ingredient or dish.

Vitoria-Gasteiz is the little-known capital of Spain’s Basque Country, often overshadowed by nearby San Sebastián and Bilbao. Like its neighbours, it’s filled with pintxo bars, and gourmet restaurants, yet without the throngs of visitors. It’s one of Spain’s greenest and most sustainable cities with the largest amount of green space per inhabitant in the country. Surrounded by a green belt and large swathes of wetlands, it boasts more than 150km of cycle lanes, as well as a beautifully-preserved mediaeval quarter and a fantastic contemporary art museum.

Asturias is very different from the most popular regions in Spain – it’s very green, slightly rainy, people drink cider more than wine, bagpipes are played rather than guitars, and the food is more hearty stews than small plates of tapas. Its capital is the compact city of Oviedo, listed by UNESCO for its outstanding pre-Romanesque architecture. Awarded the title of Spain’s Capital of Gastronomy 2024, its cosy historic centre is a great place to hit the cider houses and try some local cuisine.

Mérida is the capital of Extremadura, one of the least-visited and underpopulated regions in Spain. Founded by the Romans in the 1st century B.C., the city is still home to some of Spain’s best Roman monuments. Catch a show at the epic 2,000-year-old Roman Theatre, stroll across its ancient Roman Bridge, marvel at its old aqueduct and stand in awe in front of the Temple of Diana with its graceful Doric columns.

Andalucía’s three big hitters are typically Seville, Málaga and Granada, but those who skip Córdoba are truly missing out. Back in the 8th century, the city was actually one of the capital of the Moorish Empire. Today, there are many vestiges still left over from that time, but the star of the show is the UNESCO World Heritage La Mezquita, an exquisite mosque and a cathedral in one. Visit in May for the Patios Festival when people open their hidden gardens up to the public.

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The Catalan city of Girona lies just 100km (62 miles) north of Barcelona, but it feels a world away from Spain’s most-visited city. Surrounded by old mediaeval walls, which you can still walk on, its Old Town has a particular special quality that feels as if you’re lost in time. Within the walls lies El Call, one of Spain’s best-preserved Jewish Quarters, dotted with narrow alleyways, hidden staircases and elegant stone archways. Even if you’ve never visited before, you may feel as though you recognise Girona, as much of it was used as filming locations for the hit TV series Game of Thrones.

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Murcia lies tucked in between the more famous regions of Andalucía and Valencia. Those who do travel here mainly head for the coast, but its inland capital of Murcia shouldn’t be missed. Surrounded by olive groves and apricot orchards, the city has a delightful old town which is best explored by strolling and stopping at multiple tapas bars in pretty plazas along the way. At its heart lies the flamboyant-style Gothic cathedral, but also worth a visit is the former grand casino, which first opened in 1847 and has been fully restored to its former glory.

The interior of Spain is often forgotten about in favour of the costas, but the vast region of Castilla y Léon has so much to discover. Valladolid lies just northwest of Madrid and is a lively university city bisected by the Pisuerga River. Renaissance architecture abounds and there are a host of palaces and churches to discover. Browse the exhibits at the National Sculpture Museum, then head to one of the tapas bars along the river, which even has its own sandy beach. Visit over Easter Week for elaborate religious celebrations, without the crowds of other tourists.

Sitting on a hilltop overlooking a deep gorge, Cuenca’s honey-coloured buildings and dramatic location are enough reason to visit alone. Set in the region of Castilla-La Mancha, approximately halfway between Madrid and Valencia, this UNESCO World Heritage-listed city combines mediaeval architecture with ancient tower blocks that cling to the side of the rockface, known as the Casas Colgadas or Hanging Houses. Get lost among its narrow winding streets, seek out some of its excellent modern art galleries or explore the surroundings on an array of stunning hiking trails.