10 Charming Towns in Spain for a Unique Day Visit
June 7, 2023
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Everyone loves exploring big-hitting places such as Madrid, Barcelona, or Seville. But what’s best about Spain is that we have a heap of various little towns and pretty villages spread across the country, each with a unique charm and personality!
In this article, I’ve gathered the 10 most beautiful towns in Spain that capture tourists’ hearts, making it almost impossible to pick just one.
Whether you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city or just getting to know little towns with history, countryside views, and lovely locals, this post is for you!
Each fascinating town will leave you wanting to stay in Spain for a little longer. So, let’s get into them!
Table of Contents ▼ ▶
1. FRIGILIANA, MÁLAGA
One of the most beautiful villages of Andalusia is Frigiliana. It is a quiet town just 50 kilometers from Malaga City. It is located in the province of Malaga, between the Mediterranean and the mountains of Alhama, Tejeda, and Almijara.
Its white houses, cobbled streets full of plants and flowers, and the beautiful environment surrounding it have made this one of the most beautiful villages in Spain.
The best way to get to know this town is to lose yourself in its beautiful streets. In the streets of the town, you will discover staircases, passageways and hidden courtyards, and corners with tiles that tell stories and local legends.
One of the most famous streets in Frigiliana is the Calle Alta or the Calle de la Amargura, decorated with some ceramic mosaics typical of the village.
On the other side, Hernando el Darra Street is one of the most photographed corners of the village. But the main street of Frigiliana is Calle Real, full of souvenir and craft stores, which runs through the old part of the village.
Every time I go, I love visiting one of the most picturesque corners in Frigiliana: the Torreón. In the 18th century, there was there a municipal cereal deposit.
In Frigiliana, they settle various cultures throughout history. Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans passed through here. However, it was the Arabs who left their mark on the architecture, with villages of narrow, winding, and steep streets, as well as on the gastronomy.
Are you going to miss coming to this charming town?
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2. CUDILLERO, ASTURIAS
Not so long ago, the hallmark of Cudillero was the smell of sea and saltpeter from the sharks that hung for months from the door of the sailors’ houses.
Cudillero is located on the western coast of Asturias. To know more about its history, we must date back to the 13th century. During that time, the population was fully engaged in fishing. And so, it has been throughout the centuries until today; that is why when we talk about Cudillero, everyone knows it is a fishing port.
Cudillero has an incredible landscape with unique beaches, green valleys, rivers, waterfalls, and cliffs.
In the municipality, there are three well-differentiated cultures:
- The mariñana (fishermen and farmers located in the marina).
- The xalda (villagers of the interior valleys)
- The vaquita (discriminated shepherds who occupied the highest parts of the mountains).
But what catches a visitor’s attention is their beautiful houses, painted in a full range of pastel colors, which fall in the form of an amphitheater towards the port. This image makes up one of the most emblematic images of Asturias.
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Every time I go, I go the route of the viewpoints, walking through the most photogenic streets and reaching this authentic town’s best views. You can’t miss going to the viewpoints, you will not regret it!
Cudillero has a large concentration of bars and restaurants. Even in the months of high season and with the town full of tourists, you will still have options to taste the rich Asturian gastronomy. Of course, as you can imagine, you should order It fish and seafood.
Fact: Cudillero has been, on several occasions, a movie set.
3. ALTEA, ALICANTE
Altea has a charming atmosphere, full of white facades and sidewalks made of stone. This town is a perfect option for a one-day visit, combining sun, beach, and cultural tourism.
Altea is known for being a source of artistic inspiration, history, and beauty. Nowadays, it is considered one of the most beautiful villages of the Valencian Community; it’s a must-see destination on the Costa Blanca.
I recommend you stroll through the port as the views are incredible, and walking around here is very relaxing. In this area, there are a lot of restaurants where we can taste the Mediterranean fishing and rice cuisine.
The old town of Altea is one of the most beautiful things. It is a visual delight for the stone streets, craft stores, and architecture of the houses with their blue tiles. You will find lovely squares like La Plaça de L’Aigua or the Plaza de la Cruz here.
The beaches of Altea are all pebble beaches. Still, the positive factor about this is that they are less crowded than those of Benidorm.
Altea is a great place to visit in one day, you have many things to do and see, and I can assure you your visit will be worth it!
4. POLLENÇA, MALLORCA
Pollença is one of my favorite towns in Mallorca. It is formed by narrow streets full of history and tradition, which stand out for the beautiful scenery surrounding it.
In the past, Pollença had to survive wars and famine, and many years later, they survived thanks to the cultivation of the products of the land and the sea. It was in the 20th century that Pollença began its expansion to become one of the main tourist destinations in Mallorca.
The cobbled streets of Pollença will transport you to the past, and you will find historical buildings and spaces full of culture. Pollença is a great and pleasant place with great stores and restaurants.
You can only leave Pollença by going to the Calvario and climbing the 365-stone steps to the top. It is one of the main sights to see in Pollença. When you reach the top, you can admire a small but beautiful church of the 18th century.
One of the main sceneries of the town is the Plaza Mayor of Pollença, a pleasant space ideal for enjoying a coffee in its quiet terraces.
Also, the Port of Pollença is one of the most important marinas in Mallorca. It is ideal for water sports and a lovely sea meal!
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5. PAMPANEIRA, GRANADA
In the heart of the Alpujarra, Pampaneira draws a postcard of white houses. This beautiful village retains many of the region’s hallmarks that have attracted many travelers.
Its origins date back to Roman times; its urban planning and architecture were done during the Arab-Andalusian period when Pampaneira experienced the best period with its most excellent agricultural development, marked by silk production. This heritage remains to this day.
One of the best things you can do to explore the beauty of this town is to stroll through its beautiful streets and enjoy the views. Pampaneira is known for its narrow, steep, and cobbled streets with water channels in the center. You will be impressed by its traditional white houses, its looms, and local craft stores that fill the streets with colorful carpets.
Pampaneira is also known for its numerous fountains known for its medicinal waters that narrate its Moorish past with the washing places.
In this town, you will find beautiful corners, such as the old Lavadero del Cerrillo and the Fuente Gaseosa de Sonsoles, which, as its name suggests, sparkling water comes out of its pipes.
In Pampaneira, there is a beautiful hiking trail, the route of the Barranco de Poqueira. You will be able to admire views of the mountains in the background. It is one of the most impressive landscapes of the Sierra Nevada.
Fact: The Latin word pampinarius, which means the producer of vine leaves, indicates that this land was famous for its vineyards and wine in Roman times.
6. HONDARRIBIA, GUIPUZCUA
You can’t miss coming to this well-preserved old town, surrounded by a medieval wall, the only one in the province of Guipuzcoa. The city is Hondarribia; it has a long seafaring and tourist tradition on the coast of Gipuzkoa.
According to history, Hondarribia was founded by the Visigoth king Recaredo in the 6th century AD.
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Due to the impressive buildings in this town, it has been declared a Historic-Artistic Monument. The Casco Viejo has beautiful Basque-style houses with wooden balconies painted in different colors. There are also a multitude of baroque buildings.
Aside from Casco Viejo, the Marina neighborhood is the other area you can’t miss when visiting Hondarribia. In this neighborhood, you will find most of the bars and restaurants.
But Hondarribia is not only one of the most charming villages in the Basque Country, but it is also an excellent gastronomy destination. If you are interested in Basque gastronomy, you can’t miss coming to Hondarribia.
You will have the opportunity to eat local products, typical Spanish food, and its pintxos in its wide range of restaurants with some of the best chefs in the region.
Also, if you go in the summer, I recommend you go to its beach, offering sand and calm waters.
7. BESALÚ, GIRONA
Besalú is a medieval village 35 kilometers from Girona, one of Catalonia’s best-preserved medieval sites.
The iconic Romanesque bridge is the first thing you see when you get to Besalú. They created this bridge because the river was in the way of medieval travelers who made the route to the Garrotxa.
The bridge symbolizes what was the capital of a prosperous country in the 11th century. It is one of the best bridges preserved in Catalonia; it was declared a national historic-artistic site in 1966 for its architectural value.
You should definitely have lunch at Restaurant Pont Vell, it is delicious!
In the town, there’s is a beautiful church, whose front has a stained-glass window with a lion on each side. In the Middle Ages, lions were a symbol of strength, power, and protection offered by the Church against evil and paganism, represented by an ape and a man.
The streets of this charming town are full of craft stores and traditional gastronomic products.
Also, Besalú has been the site of film and television directors. For example, in its streets, they filmed the movie “The Perfume,” a film inspired by a famous novel by Patrick Süskind.
The town has many things to visit, so I recommend a guided tour who knows the history and legends!
8. COMBARRO, GALICIA
Combarro has become a must-see in the last few years in Galicia. Gray granite stone with touches of lichen, painted wood, and the smell of the sea, countryside, octopus, a feira, and cream of orujo makes this town unique. It has been declared of Cultural Interest.
One of the main characteristics of this beautiful village is its hórreos; Combarro is a fishing and agricultural town, in which its hórreos are the local emblem. I’m sure you are now wondering what the hórreos are.
They are traditional and typical constructions that, since ancient times, have been used to store food, grain, or potatoes, especially in the north of Spain.
Combarro is unique because most hórreos are close to the water, and their pillars are covered with the high tide.
The rúa do Mar is the most popular and picturesque street of Cambarro and the street with the most significant number of hórreos.
The best way to visit this beautiful town is to walk through its streets. You can’t miss the beach of Padrón, which is very beautiful.
An excellent option when visiting Combarro is a one-hour boat trip on the Pontevedra estuary leaving from Combarro, where you can taste mussels with a bottle of Galician wine.
9. CHINCHÓN, MADRID
Chinchón is a beautiful town a few kilometers away from the capital of Spain, Madrid. There are several reasons why you should walk through the streets of Chinchon.
The best way to get to know this charming town is to start in its main square, which is one of the biggest attractions of Chinchon due to its history.
It has an irregular floor plan and a medieval style; you will be amazed at its 234 balconies, galleries, and wooden arcades, which have been intact since its construction.
If you are looking for a place to have lunch, this square is an excellent option as it’s full of taverns and restaurants with locals and foreigners. This square was used for livestock fairs, autos sacramentals, royal proclamations, comedy corrals, and bullfights.
I tried great Cordero Lechal on my last visit. It is a typical roast lamb made in a wood-fired oven, in clay pots, and served to diners hot, with crispy outer meat.
If you’re interested in traditional food in Spain, here’s the article that will solve all your doubts!
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There is also a beautiful Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. In its interior, you will see one of Goya’s most important religious works, The Assumption of the Virgin.
10. SANTA GERTRUDIS DE FRUITERA, IBIZA
Santa Gertrudis is one of my favorite towns in Ibiza, a small village with tiny white houses. It is located practically in the geographical center of the island of Ibiza.
Many tourists come here no matter the time of the year, and they all fall in love with this village, just like me. People fall in love with its white houses and typical Mediterranean environment, bringing a bohemian atmosphere to the town.
The most important thing you will find in this town is the Church and the square, a space that has been transformed for the enjoyment of visitors. The Church was finished at the end of the 18th century, and the bell tower is one of the largest in Ibiza.
Santa Gertrudis is considered one of the most atmospheric villages of Ibiza and is very welcoming. It is full of bars, restaurants, and cute shops.
This town has a famous bar, Bar Costa, which pioneered ham sandwiches with toasted bread and tomato.
It’s simplicity and authentic flavor have become a symbol of the town, and everyone leaves Santa Gertrudis having tried one of these sandwiches. You should not be less; you should try one of those sandwiches on your visit to this charming town.
Moral of the story: Please, do not stay in the big cities only! Now that you know the most beautiful regional towns, you must definitely include at least one of them on your list! It will totally help you understand Spain’s roots and culture even better. In the end, it is one of the purposes of traveling!
