Here are some of the top cities to visit in Spain that is not Barcelona, Madrid, or Seville. Spain is a gorgeous and diverse country, one full of culture and an incredible history.
It’s easy to find something that is suited to your style of travel, be it solo, romantic, or adventurous. Gastronomic experiences are fabulous, as is the wine culture so Spain is also an amazing destination for foodies.
Top Cities To Visit In Spain
Every Spanish region and indeed city tends to have its own traditions, festivities, and often, a unique pace of life. Most visitors tend to gravitate towards the most popular destinations in Spain, namely Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, and to some extent Granada, thanks to the popularity of the massive Alhambra palace.
Those big three are merely the appetizers that are palatable to most, and while they are true, awesome cities to visit, there are plenty of other great cities in Spain. Here are some other must-visit cities in Spain in addition to the three.
Bilbao:
Located in northern Spain, Bilbao is a gorgeous city and the capital of the Basque Country, and a city that is often overlooked by tourists. The highlight of the city apart from its famous pintxos is the awe-inspiring Guggenheim museum designed by the Canadian-American Frank Gehry. A visit is highly recommended. Tip: Buy your ticket in advance.
How long to spend in Bilbao? Bilbao is a smaller port city. Two days would be enough to enjoy the vibrant lifestyle, sample the pintxo, and wander around the old streets, visiting the cathedral and other famous landmarks.
Read More About Bilbao.
Toledo:
Toledo is another one of the cities to visit in Spain. The old city sits high up on a hill and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as of 1986. Toledo is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. Toledo is ideal for a day’s visit from Madrid if you’re short on time, but to enjoy it all, at least a couple of days is needed.
The places of interest include the amazing and beautiful Cathedral Primada and the Monastery of San Juan de Los Reyes. Make sure you sample their absolutely delicious marzipan liqueur which was originally made as a dedication to the Spanish painter El Greco.
Burgos:
Burgos boasts one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world and is part of the Camino de Santiago route. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Burgos.
Lovers of the Romanesque period history will be happy to know that the area has roughly 2,000 monuments from that era. The old town is also a delight full of wonderful restaurants and cafes, and Burgos Castle offers sweeping views of the city.
Read More About Burgos
Salamanca:
Primarily known as a college town because it has one of the oldest universities in the world, Salamanca is another of the top cities to visit in Spain. Without a doubt, its Plaza Mayor is beautiful, perhaps the most beautiful of the many same named plazas in the country.
The whole of the old center is a UNESCO Heritage Site and one that deserves to be seen. For budget travelers, Salamanca is the cheapest city to visit in Spain from the list.
Read More About Salamanca
Cordoba: My top pick for the city to visit in Spain
Cordoba is my top pick for the city to visit in Spain without hesitation if you had to choose from this list. In addition to the mind-blowing La Mezquita and its history of both Moorish and Christian co-mingling, there is the impressive Alcazar de Los Reyes Cristianos, the Jewish Quarter and so much more packed into the historic center.
A true reflection of the way things were when the Moors ruled and a great destination for those interested in Islamic times. Relatively close to Seville, it would make a wonderful addition to your itinerary. Allow yourself at least two days if you can. A guided tour is highly recommended to get the most out of your visit.
Read More About Cordoba
La Mezquita
Alcazar of Cordoba
Girona:
Located in the northeastern part of the Catalonia region, and just an hour away from Barcelona (making for a great day trip) along the river Onyar, the walled medieval city and its towers offer absolutely stunning views.
Just before building the Eiffel Tower, Gustaf Eiffel built the Eiffel Bridge here (Puente de las Pescaderías Viejas), and it’s easily recognized as his work. Game of Throne enthusiasts can enjoy visiting the various sites where filming for the episodes took place.
Getting around Spain transport-wise:
Train travel:
Traveling by train is the most popular form of transportation for the Spanish people. The connections are great and the prices are reasonable if you purchase as far in advance as possible. The fact that you don’t have to go through the rigorous schedule of a flight and can arrive at the station mere minutes before departure is a strong motivation.
The seats are comfortable, and the trains run on schedule like Swiss clocks. The hub is in Madrid, right in the middle of the country. You can check tickets and schedules on Renfe here. No booking fees on their site.
**Tip** If you are using a browser to translate to English, you won’t be able to pay with a credit card, you need to switch back to Spanish for it to work on the payment page.
Travel by Bus
The bus is a great alternative to the train as a form of travel. The biggest bus company in Spain is Alsa and the prices are fair (once again, purchase early). The seats are also comfortable, and most routes offer free WiFi, even though you might be more interested in taking in the beautiful scenery.
The bus is a great way to get around (sometimes taking the same amount of time as a train does), especially to towns that don’t have a train station or airport. You can even take a bus to neighboring countries like France and Italy.
Car Travel:
Automobile rental prices are pretty inexpensive and are a good option for those who love road trips or want to take their sweet time discovering off-the-beaten-path places, of which there are tons. Be aware that some roads are toll roads, so calculate that into your plans.
Can you drive in Spain with a U.S. driver’s license?
You can drive with your U.S driver’s license and an international driver’s license if you are visiting Spain from the U.S. Make sure to get one from AAA or any other provider prior to your departure.
Booking.comWrapping up the 6 top cities to visit in Spain
This is just a sample of what are the best cities to visit in Spain that is not Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville. These cities, in my opinion, offer true glimpses of Spanish life. Ones that are not watered down by the tourist effect that is evident in the big three.
Other top cities to visit in Spain include A.Coruna, Cadiz, Ronda and so many more. This post is not to discourage you from the top ones, but to enhance your visit by including other wonderful places with no two being exactly alike.
Have you visited any of these wonderful places? If yes, which one was your favorite? If not, does any of them sound good to you?
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Enjoyed reading your post and happy that you included Ronda as we really enjoyed Spain’s hill towns when we explored Spain.
Thanks, Annie. It was hard to narrow it down to just six as the list goes on and on. Enjoying your Hawaii posts :-).
We sure do love visiting Spain. I love the cities you have selected to highlight. And since we have not visited Toledo or Burgos yet, we have yet more reasons to head back to Spain. We have found the train a great way to get around on past visits.
I’m so glad you love Spain. I noticed you were just in Spain recently too, and l look forward to reading about your trip. I love train travel, so much less stress. You can’t beat it :-).