When you’re planning your trip, you might not really know where to go in Spain. Surely you have an image in your mind about what Spain is like: fun, warm, romantic, historic. But it’s not that easy to figure out what cities will offer you that.
Everyone talks about Madrid or Barcelona when they refer to their trip to Spain, but there is so much more to see and eat. Spain is a big country and way more diverse than you might think. Each region feels like a different country: the scenery is different, there are typical foods, and people have their own traditions – all on top of what the rest of Spain is doing and eating.
Córdoba
This is a very cute and smaller city in the South of Spain. The old town feels like a village with white houses and flowers of all colors. In the summer, it gets really hot, so there are many spots where you can sit in the shade on a terrace and have a nice meal. You’ll also find a lot of history through their Mezquita. That’s a real Spanish experience which is worth the trip!
How long to stay: 2 days
Must-try food: Salmorejo
Seville
There is so much to see in Seville, it’s almost unbelievable! There’s an impressive cathedral, a huge modern structure, an immense and beautiful square with canals you can take a boat ride on, historic buildings, and a palace. You can see Flamenco dance shows, take horse carriage rides, and enjoy a drink under orange trees.
How long to stay: 4 days
Must-try food: Cola de toro (bull’s tail)
Granada
You can’t really understand the appeal of Granada until you experience it. You’ll need to visit the Alhambra to see amazing details worked into the walls, the ceilings, and the gardens. From there, you’ll see the white and breathtaking village of Albaicín. And that is your next destination, to get lost around the narrow streets of white-washed houses, nicely decorated with all sorts of flowers and ceramics.
How long to stay: 3 days
Must-try food: free tapas with every drink
València
There is so much to see in Valencia, but most people just think about the beach and paella. There’s the city center with older and newer buildings, the largest covered food market in Europe, the biggest oceanographic – also in Europe, a really interesting zoo, and a mind-blowing modern structure. Not to mention the yearly celebration of Fallas!
How long to stay: 5 days
Must-try food: Paella
San Sebastián / Donostia
If you’re passionate about trying new things, you’ll want to go to San Sebastián and eat pintxos. With the most Michelin stars per inhabitant, this Basque city is the place where people think about food all the time and try to find new flavours or textures. It’s also a beautiful city to visit, by the beach, with great architecture. If you’re a foodie, you’ll be happy to know Anthony Bourdain came to this city several times for his show and loved the food here.
How long to stay: 2 days
Must-try food: Kokotxas (hake cheeks)
Bilbao
A lesser-known Basque city, Bilbao, has one of the most beautifully crazy modern museums you’ll see. Besides that, it has so many great older buildings in the center that you’ll find yourself just admiring them along with the lush trees and the bridges across the river. You can also take a boat ride on the river and see the city from a different perspective. Since it’s in the Basque Country, Bilbao also has great restaurants for sit-down meals and pintxos.
How long to stay: 2 days
Must-try food: Txangurro (spider crab)
Santander
This northern city feels very elegant. Between the access to the Atlantic Ocean and the grandiose architecture, Santander is a city you’ll want to visit. It’s different from other famous locations and the image Spain gets from the media, in the best way possible. This is where a lot of the locals go for vacation during the summer, so it will show you a different side of this country.
How long to stay: 1 day
Must-try food: Anchovies
Gijón
Lesser known to a lot of people, Gijón is a smaller town with a huge beach by the Atlantic Ocean and very different architecture than the rest of Spain. There’s a strong Celtic influence in this area, which you can see in the moody weather, the music, and traditional clothing. It’s less touristic than other cities in Spain, and you’ll want to go here to get away from the heat in the summer months.
How long to stay: 1 day
Must-try food: Cachopo (breaded veal cutlets stuffed with ham and cheese)
Santiago de Compostela
A lot of people travel to this city because it’s the destination for the Camino de Compostela. Beyond that, though, it’s an amazing city: for the history, the beautiful architecture – with the tallest cathedral you can imagine – and especially for the food! You wouldn’t want to miss going to Santiago de Compostela!
How long to stay: 1 day
Must-try food: Chuleton (beef steak)
Salamanca
You’ll want to go to Salamanca for the Jamón Iberico and the architecture. It’s a lively city because there are a lot of universities there and people from all over the world attend. There’s a lot to see in terms of historic buildings, which are very well preserved. Also, they have a strong tapas culture, which makes it great for food enthusiasts to discover.
How long to stay: 2 days
Must-try food: Jeta (roasted pig’s snout)
Cáceres
Not a lot of people know about this city, but it’s beautiful and worth visiting. You’ll feel like you’re back in time, in Medieval times, in a very romantic way. The old part is all stone and white painted houses, with greenery partially covering them and flowers creating shade for small terraces. There are so many places where you can get a great meal or just sit and relax outside; it’s beautiful.
How long to stay: 1 day
Must-try food: Solomillo De Cerdo A La Torta Del Casar (pork sirloin with cheese sauce)
Zaragoza
The first thing you’ll notice about this city is how immense its cathedral is. It’s astonishing to witness, and you’ll want to take your time to look at it, while drinking a cup of coffee at a nearby terrace. There’s also a big river crossing the town with beautiful stone bridges, creating a nice frame for the cathedral. But that’s not the only reason to go to Zaragoza: it has tall, white, beautiful buildings, which remind us of France. There are also cute old cafes, cozy pubs, and some pretty exciting restaurants.
How long to stay: 1 day
Must-try food: Ternasco de Aragón (Aragon lamb)
Toledo
Just a short train ride from Madrid, sits this medieval wonder of a town. There are even sword shops there! You can get lost in the narrow streets, be surrounded by stone buildings, enjoy a nice lunch in big squares, or go to the viewpoint at sunset and see the old town.
How long to stay: 2 day
Must-try food: Cochifrito (fried pork)
Segovia
Also close to Madrid, Segovia is especially known for its Disney-looking castle, Roman construction, and suckling pig. More than that, this town has a deep cultural identity, which you can experience through its food and architecture. You’ll also love that they have a tapas culture, making it fun to go out at night.
How long to stay: 1 day
Must-try food: Cochinillo (suckling pig)
León
Often overlooked, León deserves a visit. If not for its amazing cathedral and other amazing historic architecture, then for the free tapas you get with each drink. And if you’re visiting in the winter, you might even get to see some snow!
How long to stay: 1 day
Must-try food: Cecina (cured beef)
All photos were taken by Andrei Dima
How to get around in Spain
If you’re in a rush, you may want to fly over – where there is an airport available. Most of these cities have connections with Madrid and Barcelona, so it shouldn’t be a problem. You can use Google Flights or Momondo to find the best flights for you.
But, if you have time, you should take the train – that way you can enjoy the scenery and see more of Spain. This country has some great high-speed rail connections, which are very modern and comfortable, with internet connection and space for your bike, if you want to take one. There are several train companies you can choose from, and some even have promotions with tickets as low as 7 euros. You can use Trainline to figure out what your best options are and buy your tickets directly from there.
Last, if the train can’t get you to your destination, you can take the bus. These are comfortable, clean, modern, and reliable. Most even give each passenger a tablet to watch movies or TV series, so you don’t get bored during your trip! There are a lot of bus operators as well, and one of the biggest ones is ALSA, which has an app where you can get tickets.
If you’re not sure how to get to your destination, you can just use Google Maps or Rome2Rio.
