Discover Spain’s Hidden Cities

You could be forgiven for thinking that Spain does not need too much help when it comes to attracting tourists and travellers to its shores. With Madrid, Barcelona and the Costa del Sol on the mainland packed to the rafters all year round, not to mention the Balearic Islands and the Canaries off the coast of Africa, Spain it seems has an abundance of destinations that are very well known and ever popular to overseas visitors.

But there are so many more areas, cities and regions of Spain which are just as fascinating as Barcelona and other well known places of interest. But where are these cities and why should you get off the beaten track to see them when on cheap holidays?

Historical Cadiz

Never heard of Cadiz? If not, you may be amazed to know that centuries ago it was one of the world’s most important ports. These days Cadiz has a reputation as being a city divided between the old and the new. On one side of town you will see yachts of the wealthy that would not look out of place in Monaco or any of the other fashionable port towns of Europe. However, just a few minutes down road you will be transported back into time in the old city. Here is where all of Cadiz’s rich history can be found where the Moorish look of the place and cobbled streets give a much more accurate portrayal of the past importance of Cadiz. The city transmits a very relaxed feel and the fact it is surrounded almost entirely by the sea means you cannot help but sit down at a local restaurant and enjoy fresh seafood dishes just like the locals have been doing for over three thousand years!

Cadiz CC juanpol

Buzzing Seville

There are many things to love about Seville. Seville’s cathedral is one of, if not the, biggest cathedral in the world, with only St Paul’s in London and St Peter’s in Rome coming close to rivalling it in terms of size. The former Jewish ghetto area of Santa Cruz is worthy of exploration and really gets to the heart of Seville. Despite being a former ghetto area, it is a very pretty place to walk around, full of mansions and narrow streets. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Seville has so much more to enjoy, including the Fería de Abril, a festival which begins two weeks after Easter and runs for 6 days. Expect parties, fairs, special events and lots more. Time your visit to coincide with the festival and you could find yourself dancing in the streets of Seville with the locals into the wee small hours!

San Sebastian

San Sebastian has for a very long time enjoyed its reputation as one of the most fashionable destinations and can be found in the Basque region of northern Spain. The Old Quarter is where you will rub shoulders with Spaniards from other parts of the country who tend to flock to San Sebastian during the warm summer months. Expect noisy bars, busy restaurants and classy undertones oozing from every establishment. It has long been the playground of the rich, and things do not look like changing anytime soon. If it is luxury you are after, San Sebastian can compete with the very best.

San Sebastian CC Innovacionweb.com

There are so many options when it comes to spain holidays. Of course the beach resorts and big international cities are always going to be popular. But if you have done these resorts and got the t-shirt, why not try somewhere else – you will not be disappointed!

A special thanks to Ricky Durance from Beat the Brochure for this article.