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Best hidden gems in Spain
best hidden gems in Spain

Spain's most beautiful secret destinations

Come and discover the most beautiful hidden gems in Spain. Add these secret destinations to your bucket list; they are away from the beaten tracks and big cities and are known only to passionate travellers and locals.

 

Enjoy the sun and the sweet life of Cadaqués where Salvator Dali used to live with his wife,his  muses and his friends such as Marcel Duchamp. Stroll through an authentic fishing village and  visit Calella de Palafrugell. Succumb to the charm of the city of Ronda or isolate yourself on the island of Bermeo.

 

Book your flights and accommodation at the best price. We suggest thousands of accommodations available in the best hidden gems of Spain as well as the best tours and activities in Spain for an unforgettable stay in Spain.

 


Best hidden gems in Spain - Setenil de las Bodegas copyright  Migel   - European Best Destinations
Copyright Migel

1. Setenil de las Bodegas

Andalusia

 

 

Andalusia is one of the most beautiful regions of Spain. Seville, Malaga, Cordoba, Cadiz are perfect for a gastronomic, cultural  or relaxing city break or an afternoon on the beautiful beaches of Nerja or for a visit to  the "Spanish Wild West", the Tabernas desert in Almeria (ranked among the best film locations in Europe). But Andalusia is also full of beauties and hidden treasures for those who  love venturing off the beaten path. 

 

This little village of white houses is amazing: many astute people decided to build their houses under a huge rock  to avoid paying for new roofs which cost an arm and a leg. Nearly 3000 inhabitants live in this picturesque and very surprising village. The village of Setenil de las Bodegas is worth a visit and is only 20 kilometres from Ronda, another hidden gem of this beautiful province.

 

Book your flights to Malaga or Jerez (1H30 by car), your accommodation at the best price, your tours and activities in Andalusia  such as a "Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas tour".

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Malaga or Jerez (1H30 by car),

 

Where to stay:  If you want to stay in the heart of this village, book at "Casa entre rocas" with a view to the huge rock. 

 


Best hidden gems in Spain - Calella de Palafrugell Copyright Oleg - European Best Destinations
Copyright Oleg

2. Calella de Palafrugell

Costa Brava

This is one of the best hidden gems in Spain and a perfect destination for those who want to escape from Barcelona and enjoy an afternoon of idleness in a sublime old fishing village also famous for the beauty of its coves and small beaches. With its intact architecture, Calella de Palafrugell is one of the most beautiful villages in the Costa Brava.

 

Book your flights to Barcelona and your accommodation at the best price in Barcelona or Calella de Palafrugell.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Barcelona.

 

Where to stay:  "Hotel Alga" just 200 m from Calella de Palafrugell Beach. 

 


Huesca - Best hidden gems in Spain - copyright  Igor Plotnikov - European Best Destinations
Copyright Igor Plotnikov

3. Agüero - Huesca

Aragon

 

This incredible village surrounded by gigantic 200m high rock formations is one of the best hidden gems in Spain.

 

The mountains of "Los Mallos" are appreciated by climbers but also by photographers and instagramers looking for unique places in the world. Be sure to visit the 12th century Santiago church and marvel at its magnificent stained glass windows depicting scenes from the bible. Stroll through the village to discover the best spots to take photos of this exceptional place.

 

Stay in Agüero in mid-August and join in the city festival with street entertainment, theatre, music, good food and good wine.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Huesca Airport (50 min by car from Agüero).

 

Where to stay: “Hotel Sancho Abarca”. The hotel offers massage services and a spa.

 


Best hidden gems in Spain - Mijas-Copyright--Alexander Tihonov - European Best Destinations
Copyright Alexander Tihonov

4. Mijas

Andalusia

This small village, located 30 minutes from Malaga, is one of Andalusia's best hidden gems. Mijas is not that small  but a rather large municipality located on the heights of Torremolinos, in the south of Spain.

 

The most beautiful part of this hidden gem is the old Mijas "Mijas cidade velha". Mijas is recognizable by its white facades with thousands of geraniums hanging on the walls. It's a perfect place for instagramers.

 

Book your flights to Malaga (20min by car), your accommodation in Malaga or Mijas and your tours and activities in Andalusia such as a private tour of Mijas from Malaga.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Malaga (20 min by car) as well as your transfer.

 

Where to stay: "TRH Mijas", a charming Andalusian style hotel.

 


Best hidden gems in Spain - San Andres - Copyright Olena Tur    - European Best Destinations
Copyright Olena Tur

5. San Andres

Santa Cruz - Tenerife

San Andres is a charming village just a few kilometres from Santa Cruz of Tenerife on the Canary Islands. San Andres is not just charming, it is also the oldest village on Tenerife island.

 

If you are not an architecture or history enthusiast, San Andres is also the good place for you: the village faces Las Teresitas beach, the most beautiful golden sandy beach in Tenerife; it is perfect for relaxing after a visit in the village of San Andres.

 

How to get there: Book your flight tickets and accommodation at the best price in Tenerife today for a dream holiday on the Spanish islands.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Tenerife.

 

Where to stay: "Jardin de la Paz". Top location, highly rated by recent guests.

 


Best hidden gems in Spain - Cudillero Copyright  Lukasz Janyst    - European Best Destinations
Copyright Lukasz Janyst

6. Cudillero

Asturias

 We visited this beautiful village during a road trip to Asturias, one of the most beautiful regions in Spain. We advise you to book your flights to Asturias Airport or San Sebanstian, rent a car and explore this region.

 

Take time to make several stops in Bilbao, Bermeo, Playa de Torimbia, Santander, Ribadeo, Vigo (a beautiful city famous for the beauty of the Cies Islands beaches that face the city). 

 

Cudillero is one of Spain's most secret destinations and one of the most beautiful fishing villages in Asturias. It's the equivalent of "Cinque Terre" in Spain. A small fishing village with typical houses with colourful facades.

 

Take time and wait for the 17 o’clock fishing boats to buy your fish and cook it. If you are not a great cook  we recommend the restaurants located in the main square of the village.

 

Book your flights to Asturias Airport (15 min by car), accommodation at the best price and treat yourself to a road trip to discover the best hidden gems in Spain.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Asturias Airport (15 min by car).

 

Where to stay: "Casona de la Paca". Set in the beautiful fishing village of Cudillero.

 


Best hidden gems in Spain - Porto Colom Copyright  vulcano - European Best Destinations
Copyright Vulcano

7. Portocolom

Mallorca

 Portocolom is one of the most beautiful seaside resorts in Europe and one of the best hidden gems of the Balearic Islands. Located in the south-east of the island of Mallorca, a wild part of the island where nature is preserved, Portocolom is a perfect destination for travellers looking for the most beautiful secret destinations for their holidays. The beach of "Cala Marsal" and its turquoise blue waters are only 800 metres from Portocolom.

 

Book your flights to Palma de Mallorca (50 min by car), your accommodation at the best possible price and enjoy the best tours and activities in Mallorca such as a North Coast catamaran cruise with lunch.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Palma de Mallorca (50 min by car).

 

Where to stay: 'Orange Colom - Seaside Apartments' have a swimming pool on the seafront.

 


Best hidden gems in Spain - Ronda Copyright  ESB Professional - European Best Destinations
Copyright ESB Professional

8. Ronda

Andalusia

 Rewarded by travellers around the world as one of Europe's best hidden gems, Ronda is also one of Spain's most beautiful secret destinations.

 

Ronda is one of the pearls of Spanish tourism, a destination visited each year by travellers looking for destinations off the beaten track. Only 1h20 from Malaga city centre, Ronda is a perfect destination for a day trip to the most beautiful places of Andalusia.

 

Book your flights to Malaga, your accommodation at the best price in Malaga or Ronda and your best tours and activities in Andalusia such as a day-trip to Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas, another hidden gems of Spain.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Malaga and your transfer.

 

Where to stay: "Catalonia Ronda" located in Ronda Town Centre, this hotel has an infinity pool and a rooftop terrace.

 


Best hidden gems in Spain - Tossa de Mar Copyright  S-F - European Best Destinations
Copyright S-F

9. Tossa de Mar

Costa Brava

Tossa de Mar is one of the best hidden gems of the Costa Brava and one of the most beautiful secret destinations in Spain.

 

Because you are not like the others, because spending 5 days in Barcelona is nice but you need to discover new landscapes, new places, we advise you to treat yourself to a  short break to Tossa de Mar.

 

Located just 1:30 from the centre of Barcelona, Tossa de Mar seems unreal: several fine golden sand beaches and a magnificent medieval castle await you. A sweet scent of  pine trees is floating in the beautiful fishing village. Tossa de Mar is a destination to put on top of your travel bucket list if you want to discover the most beautiful places in Spain.

 

Book your flights to Barcelona (1h20 by car), your accommodation at the best price and your tours and activities in Costa Brava such as a "Best of Costa Brava with boat ride and Tossa Visit".

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Barcelona (1h20 by car).

 

Where to stay: "Gran Hotel Reymar & Spa Superior", a beautiful seafront hotel. 

 


Best hidden gems in Spain Cala Figuera Santanyi Copyright Vulcano - European Best Destinations
Copyright Vulcano

10. Cala Figuera

Mallorca

Only 60 kilometres from the capital, Palma de Mallorca, Cala Figuera is a small corner of paradise; it is quiet and unspoilt from mass tourism. The lack of large beaches makes this small fishing village one of the quietest places on the island of Mallorca in summer.

 

Book your flights to Palma de Mallorca (50 min by car), your accommodation at the best price and your activities & tours  in Mallorca such as a "4-hour private wine tour with tasting & tapas".

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Palma de Mallorca (50 min by car).

 

Where to stay: "Hostal Restaurante Cala". Couples particularly like the location.

 


Best hidden gems in Spain - Juzcar Copyright  Pabkov - European Best Destinations
Copyright Pabkov

11. Juzcar

Anda

Gargamel was an alchemist who tried hard in all his life to find the Smurfs’ village; those little blue creatures were essential in his recipe to turn lead into gold. What he did not know is that the village of Smurfs is located in Andalusia.

 

The village of Juzcar (2 hours from Malaga airport) was once a beautiful village of white houses. A "pueblo blanco" as there are many in the south of Spain. Some tourists used to visit the village, but other destinations like Mijas, with its beautiful geraniums hanging on the facades, used to attract many more travellers.

 

For the filming of the film "The Smurfs" all the houses in the village of Juzcar were painted in blue by the film crew, with the promise of repainting all in white once the shoot was over. The locals quickly realized that being the only blue village in the middle of a region full of white villages was interesting to attract more travellers. So they decided to keep their houses painted blue.

 

Before the shooting of the film, only about 300 tourists used to visit Juzcar each year, they are now more than 60,000 a year now!

 

Book your flights to Malaga (2h by car) and your accommodation at the best price in Andalusia.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Malaga (2h by car).

 

Where to stay: "Hotel Bandolero", a charming boutique hotel featuring a swimming pool, for both humans and smurfs.

 


Best hidden gems in Spain - Cadaques Copyright  Valery Bareta - European Best Destinations
Copyright Valery Bareta

12. Cadaqués

While walking in the alleys of Cadaqués you have the feeling that Salvator Dali’s soul is still hanging. In fact, Dali used to live in "Portlligat", very near Cadaquès. It was his only residence since he used to stay in hotels. His house in Portlligat is a museum now and is well worth a visit; you can’t miss it: there’s a giant egg on top of the roof! The egg was the symbol of renewal for Dali.

 

Discover  Salvator Dali’s favourite refuge, his muses, his close friends like Marcel Duchamp while walking in the streets of Cadaques and Portlligat.

 

Book your flights to Girona (1 hour by car) or Barcelona (2 hours by car), your accommodation at the best price in Cadaques and your tours and activities such as a "full-day Salvator Dali tour from Barcelona".

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Girona (1 h by car) or Barcelona (2h).

 

Where to stay: "Hotel Sol Ixent", set in the beautiful Cap de Creus National Park.

 


Best hidden gems in Spain - Puerto dela Cruz in Tenerife   - European Best Destinations
Copyright Shutterstock

13. Puerto de la Cruz

Tenerife

 

The Canary Islands are the ideal destination for sun lovers throughout the year.

 

Puerto de la Cruz, located north of the island of Tenerife, is one of Spain's best hidden gems. It is a must-see destination during your stay on the island of Tenerife. If Puerto de la Cruz is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, this beautiful destination has not lost its charm with its traditional restaurants, fishing boats, ... a real postcard.

 

Book your flights to Tenerife (1h by car), your accommodation at the best price and your tours and activities in Tenerife.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Tenerrife (1h min by car).

 

Where to stay: "Hotel Botanico y Oriental Spa Garden". This hotel offers 3 outdoor pools and luxurious accomodation.

 


Best hidden gems in Spain - Olvera Copyright Migel - European Best Destinations
Copyright Migel

14. Olvera

Andalusia

Overlooking the province of Cadiz, Olvera is one of Andalusia's best hidden gems and one of the most beautiful villages in Spain.

 

Olvera is not just another white village in Andalusia, it is a must-see destination for lovers of history, tradition and authenticity. Do not miss to visit  its castle and church or for the greedy ones, to taste the best olive oil in Andalusia! The name of this hidden gem "Olvera" comes from the very large number of olive trees planted in this region.

 

Book your flights to Malaga airport (1h15 by car) and your tours and activities in Andalusia such as a "Pueblos Blancos" full-day trip.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Malaga Airport (1h15 by car).

 

Where to stay: "Hotel Monte Puertatierra",( 100 m from Santa Maria del Mar beach).

 


Best hidden gems in Spain - Soller - Copyright Vulcano - European Best Destinations
Copyright Vulcano

15. Soller

Mallorca

Soller is the most beautiful village on the island of Mallorca. Surrounded by mountains, it is quiet, relaxing and perfect for a family holiday. Although the location is isolated, Soller is well connected to Palma de Mallorca, (30 minutes from  the airport ) by many lines of trams and buses.

 

If you like nature, hiking, gastronomy, Soller is for you.

 

Book your flights to Mallorca (40 min by car). Book your accommodation today at the best price and your best activities in Mallorca.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Mallorca (40 min by car).

 

Where to stay: "Can Roses hotel"; it is a paradise on earth and just 5 minutes walk from the centre.

 


Best hidden gems in Spain - Peniscola copyright Karnavalfoto European Best Destinations
Copyright Karnavalfoto

16. Peniscola

Castelló

Not surprisingly, Peniscola is one of your best hidden gems in Spain because this destination is also one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. Peniscola  is three hours drive from Barcelona.

 

Discover the castle of Pope Luna, the ancient fortifications of Pensicola, its nature reserve and enjoy the Mediterranean climate with very mild temperatures in winter and more than 300 days of sunshine a year.

 

Book your flights to Barcelona (2 hours by car).  Book your accommodation today at the best price in Peniscola as well as your tours & activities in Spain.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Barcelona (2h by car).

 

Where to stay: "Hotel RH Portocristo" with superb views of the sea and the castle of Peniscola.

 


Best hidden gems in Spain - Deia - Copyright Vulcano -  European Best Destinations
Copyright Vulcano

17. Deia

Mallorca

Deia, located on the island of Mallorca in the Balearic Islands is a small hidden gem located west  of the island. The place is visited each year by travellers from around the world.

 

Enjoy sumptuous scenery, unspoiled nature, tasty and healthy cuisine in Deia, near Soller (another great destination for a quiet holiday on the island of Mallorca). Deia has always been an artist village (Pierce Brosnan and Michael Douglas use to spend their holidays there).

 

In the area lie the famous Tramuntana Mountains, where you can take a scenic tour with Historic Railway Ride.

 

Book your flights to Mallorca (40 min). Book your accommodation today at the best price in Deia.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Mallorca (40 min by car).

 

Where to stay: "Belmond La Residencia" for an unforgettable holiday.

 


Best hidden gems in Spain - Pirate Cave Poris de Candelaria in Tijarafe - Tenerife - Copyright Michael Thaler -  European Best Destinations
Copyright Michael Thaler

18. Pirate Cave Poris de Candelaria in Tijarafe 

La Palma - Canary Islands

 

 

The Canary Islands are one of the favourite destinations of travellers looking for sun and warm sea all year round. Few, however, have heard about "Pirate cave Poris of Candalaria" near the town of Tijarafe on La Palma island. The hiking trail is 12 kilometres long.

 

Book your flights to Tenerife + a domestic flight or ferry to La Palma, your accommodation at the best price and your tours and activities in the Canary Islands.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to La Palma or Tenerife + a domestic flight.

 

Where to stay: "Casa Felimar". Boasting sea views.

 


 

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