That most travelers don’t visit (but should!)

Originally published April 21, 2020.

All images are courtesy of the Spain Less Traveled team, unless otherwise stated.

outdoor-dining-square-oviedo — Oviedo’s colorful historic center

Almost anyone who has traveled to Spain knows Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, and Granada. These highlights of Spain are usually included on just about very itinerary of Spain. As they should be. These places are popular for a reason.

But so many travelers to Spain overlook some of Spain’s smaller, regional capitals.

These smaller cities offer a glimpse pure Spain, true Spain off the beaten path also known as Spain Less Traveled. If you want to see everyday Spanish city life, meet locals who are still proud of their regional customs, and hear some of Spain’s different local accents (not much English spoken), then be sure to include some of these regional capitals on your trip to Spain!

These are just a few of Spain’s regional capitals. For even more (20+ actually!) check out our ultimate list of Cities of Spain from A to Z!)

Teruel

Ask many madrileños, and they might question Teruel’s existence. It is a corner of Spain that most Spaniards have not even visited, as it is not very accessible by public transportation.

But Teruel, the regional capital of Teruel province in Aragón is worth the hassle it takes to get there. A splendid combination of modernista and mudéjar architecture welcomes visitors to the city. Home to Spain’s own Romeo and Juliet, Juan and Isabel, also known as los amantes (the lovers) de Teruel, you can visit a museum dedicated to them.

Make sure to save some time to explore the towns near Teruel as they are some of the most beautiful pueblos in Spain. Albarracín and Rubielos de Mora are my two personal favorites. In the cooler months, bring warm clothes. Teruel is one of the coldest cities in Spain!

Murcia

Like the United States, Spain has many regional accents, some more famous (or infamous) than others. Meet Murcia, where the locals speak with such thick accents that national television has to use subtitles when interviewing a Murciano.

The usually sunny regional capital, the City of Murcia, is a great place to listen to this amazingly confusing accent, achopijo! Here you can sample local tapas, made with fresh ingredients as Murcia is known as the huerta (orchard of Spain) while sipping on Murcia’s own beer, Estrella de Levante. The restaurants and bars are around Plaza de las Flores are where the scene is centered.

Make sure not to miss the cathedral, with Baroque and Renaissance style architecture. A stroll along the Río Segura is also a Murcia highlight.

Murcia comes even more alive during their local Bando de La Huerta festival, where locals dress in traditional Murciano garb and teenagers drink by the regions’ first Burger King (true story).

Oviedo

exterior-santa-maria-naranco-asturias — Santa María del Naranco, one of Oviedo’s pre-Romanesque churches

The capital city of the Principality of Asturias in the North of Spain, Oviedo is Spanish culinary heaven.

Many consider Asturias to have some of the best food in Spain, and Oviedo is where you can eat it all. Stroll down Calle Gascona and pick any sidería. The region’s specialties are cachopo (two breaded veal fillets stuffed with ham and cheese) and fabada (a thick stew made with white beans and chorizo). Not a meat eater? No problem! The region’s signature strong blue cabrales cheese is available everywhere.

And don’t skip the sidra. If you are lucky, the bartender will give you a lesson on how to pour it.

Oviedo’s historic center is charming and colorful (pictured above). The cathedral is one of the key stops on the norte route of the Camino de Santiago. Also worth noting, for fans of the cartoon Mafalda, the heroine herself has a statue in the city’s San Francisco park.

Make sure to go up to the green hills surrounding Oviedo to visit the pre-Romanesque churches, Santa María del Naranco, being the most impressive.

Jaén

aerial-view-jaen-town-cathedral-buildings — Jaén, Spain from the mirador at the castle

Visitors to Andalucía, the South of Spain, often only include Granada, Sevilla, Córdoba, and some of the Mediterranean beaches, overlooking Jaén province altogether.

And that is a shame, especially for lovers of olive oil, beautiful ceramics, and castles.

A bird’s eye view of the cathedral and centro histórico show a small city surrounded by olive groves as far as the eye can see. Many buses from Madrid to Granada stop in Jaén, making it a convenient location to break up the journey for a few nights.

After you’ve explored the regional capital, make sure to head to the towns of Úbeda and Baeza famous for their green-glazed ceramics and (you guessed it) world-class olive oil.

Santander

Stately Santander, the capital of Cantabria, was destroyed by a fire in 1941, destroying much its centro histórico. A few buildings survived, including the city’s cathedral.

But what Santander lacks in old Spanish architecture, it makes up in a thriving culture and arts scene, with museums and art galleries. Centro Botín is one of its most visited, featuring rotating exhibitions.

During the summer months, the locals flock to their favorite urban beach, Playa del Sardinero. If you are a cheese lover, be sure to try queso nata de Cantabria. For a beautiful view of the city, walk or take the public escalators/funicular up to Mirador Río de la Pila.

The city’s Palacio de la Magdalena was the court’s official summer vacation home in the early 20th century, making it good enough for royalty.

Nearby, you can visit Comillas, home to El Capricho, designed by Anton Gaudí.

Cáceres

old-town-caceres-santa-maria-church-daytime — Cáceres, Spain (Getty Images)

Located in Spain’s least traveled autonomous region, Extremadura, with easy access to some of Extremadura’s most scenic natural sites, Cáceres is considered to be one of Spain’s most beautiful cities. A few days here, and you will think that you stepped back into the Middle Ages.

Cáceres’ medieval walled city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Thanks to the university of Extremadura, Cáceres is home to a large student population.

Famous for its nesting storks, a day trip to the nearby Monfrague National Park (also filled with storks and other wildlife can be arranged.

Cuenca

One of Spain’s most colorful cities, (with an erotic legend to go along with it), Cuenca makes for a great stop en route from Madrid to Alicante or Valencia as it’s on the high-speed train line. Some like to go to Cuenca on a day trip from Madrid, but it’s worth spending the night. Cuenca lights up beautifully after the sun goes down.

Most famous for its casas colgadas (hanging houses), Cuenca also has a small modern art museum. The cathedral is one of Spain’s more interesting ones. One of my favorite paradores in all of Spain is located in Cuenca. Housed in a beautiful old monastery, the views from the complex at night, across the river from the main part of the city, are to die for.

Hike to the miradores (you will understand why Cuenca has the legend that it does), stroll around the town’s colorful center, and walk along the river on the city’s beautiful green trails. Cuenca is worth getting to know.

León

stained-glass-leon-cathedral — Stained glass in León’s cathedral

Often overlooked, León is one of Spain’s most lively cities. Just head to Barrio Húmedo, in the city’s historic center, and you can join local life too over drinks, and you guessed it… tapas.

León’s gothic cathedral is world-famous for its illuminating stained glass. Very well worth the price of entry just to see that. Anton Gaudí also has one of his works here, Casa Botines.

Also worth a visit is the museum of contemporary art of Castilla and León, housed in a very colorful, very modern building. And the Convento de San Marcos, the old convent now converted into the city’s parador, should be on your León list too.

So there you have it, some of my favorite regional Spanish cities

Want to weave some of these into your Spain itinerary? Enticed to explore Spain off the beaten path, Spain Less Traveled?

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If you loved this, you might like our other in depth guides by region.

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Seven Spain less traveled regional cities: