Galicia, La Rioja, Extremadura, El Hierro, And Teruel: Know More About Spain’s Hidden Gems For Sustainable Tourism And Authentic Experiences

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Spain is already location to immoderate of nan astir beautiful beaches successful nan world, on pinch lively cities and a fascinating history, but successful caller years, galore of nan country’s much celebrated locations person felt nan strain of over-tourism arsenic holidaymakers flock successful their thousands to spot what it’s each about. From protests successful Barcelona to complete congested hotspots successful nan Balearic Islands. residents person vented their anger astatine nan effects of wide tourism. Though tourism makes up 12% of Spain’s nationalist GDP, galore areas are offsetting nan load by trading lesser-known locales pinch their one-of-a-kind cultural, historical, and earthy offerings; minus nan crowds.

The Spanish government, tourism boards and section authorities person launched initiatives successful 2025 to pull visitors to these serene corners of nan country. Here are immoderate programs and tips to make nan astir of what these untamed regions of Spain person to offer, from nan verdant greenish seashore of Galicia to nan serene beauty of Teruel — aliases for travelers who conscionable want to acquisition Spain without adding to nan overcrowding. In this article we return a look astatine immoderate of Spain’s champion kept secrets for a sustainable tourism experience, wherever visitors are warmly welcome, and section towns, villages and regions prosper without being overrun pinch wide tourism.

Galicia: Rough-and-tumble, Wild and Free successful Spain’s Green North

One of Spain’s best-kept secrets, Galicia stands connected nan bluish seashore of nan Atlantic. Renowned for its melodramatic cliffs, hidden beaches and ancient sportfishing communities, Galicia is often overshadowed successful favour of nan sunny shores of nan Mediterranean. But, visitors to this verdant, greenish region, they will observe a wholly different broadside of Spain.

The Galicia coastline provides a group of pristine beaches, specified arsenic nan renowned Playa de las Catedrales, known for its unsocial stone formations arsenic good arsenic secluded coves, which are perfect to walk a much tranquil formation day. The rocky landscapes of Galicia are cleanable not conscionable for formation goers but besides hikers and quality lovers. The area is location to nan Senderos Azules, a bid of stepping trails snaking on nan Atlantic seashore and inland rivers, offering a glimpse of nan chaotic beauty of this portion of Spain without resorting to nan crowded paths of nan southbound coast.

What’s more, Galicia’s nutrient civilization provides a sensation of Spain that’s each its own, particularly if you’re a seafood enthusiast. Plates for illustration octopus “a la gallega” and nan region’s celebrated “percebes” (goose barnacles) are a foodie must. Although Spain tends to coalesce astir La Rioja and Catalonia for vino culture, Galicia has its ain wine-growing area wherever visitors tin bask successful nan scenic vineyards of Rías Baixas and sample Albariño, a bright, tart achromatic vino that pairs wonderfully pinch coastal eats.

La Rioja – Spain’s Undiscovered Jewel successful nan Country of Wine

La Rioja, 1 of Spain’s premier vino regions, is different spot that’s beautiful overmuch forgotten astir by tourists. With its historical towns, award-winning vineyards and picturesque Pyrenean foothills, La Rioja – (pronounced La Ree-ohha) – offers a serene measurement to bask life’s finer things without a tourer successful sight.

The region of La Rioja boasts much than 500 wineries, pinch immoderate providing backstage cellar tours and vino tastings – cleanable for anyone who wants to return a sensation of Spain’s incredibly celebrated Tempranillo, Garnacha and Mazuelo wines location pinch them. Marqués de Riscal, from celebrated designer Frank Gehry, stands retired for its architectural wonders, while CVNE, a winery pinch a period of history, invites visitors to recreation backmost successful clip pinch its cellars, which were designed by Gustave Eiffel’s studio.

La Rioja, Other than wine, La Rioja has greatly taste offers. The medieval towns of Haro and Logroño are bustling pinch cobblestone streets, tapas bars and quaint section shops. Visitas a los monastarios románicos de San Millán de Yuso y Suso, patrimonio de la UNESCO. For outdoors types, La Rioja’s landscapes are perfect for hiking, biking and exploring nan less-well-known parts of nan Camino de Santiago visit route.

Despite being small known to world visitors, La Rioja is tranquil and authentic and presents a awesome replacement for group trying to flight nan chaos of Spain’s much tourer infested parts.

Extremadura – The Hidden Historical Gem of Spain

Extremadura, an inland region whose westernmost separator brushes up against Portugal, is this different portion of Spain that has someway escaped nan announcement of astir visitors. Even if location to 3 UNESCO world practice sites — Cáceres, Mérida and Guadalupe — Extremadura is not a mainstream touristic spot and truthful nary 1 has severely damaged their splendid history and their unspoiled nature.

Cáceres, 1 of Spain’s champion preserved medieval walled cities, is simply a UNESCO World Heritage site, pinch Roman, Moorish and Christian architecture. One of nan world’s best-preserved Roman ruins guidelines here: nan celebrated Roman Theater, wherever classical dramas are produced each summertime successful performances. Another UNESCO site, nan Royal Monastery of Guadalupe is 1 of nan astir important visit sites successful Spain—Christopher Columbus moreover crossed its period connected his measurement backmost from nan New World.

Extremadura is simply a paradise for quality lovers, pinch an abundance of wildlife and plentifulness of options for outdoor activities. Monfragüe National Park boasts 1 of nan largest colonies of achromatic griffon vultures successful nan world, while nan Villuercas-Ibores-Jara GeoPark has striking scenery for hikers and birders. The area is besides location to a thriving nutrient scene, wherever accepted tapas bars service up section delicacies specified arsenic Torta del Casar, a creamy sheep’s cheese.

For those successful hunt of nan existent Spain, Extremadura’s littleknown delights connection an opportunity to recreation backmost successful clip and to soak up nan country’s history successful bid and tranquillity, unmarred by swarms of different visitors.

El Hierro – Spain’s Green Paradise Island

El Hierro, nan smallest and least-visited of nan Canary Islands, is simply a uncommon operation of sustainability and earthy beauty. As nan westernmost of nan Canary Islands, El Hierro is simply a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and 1 of nan astir eco-friendly destinations successful nan world.

The land has an eager purpose to beryllium wholly power aforesaid sufficient, pinch nan usage of renewable power specified arsenic star and upwind power, which makes it 1 of nan astir eco-friendly places to sojourn successful Spain. El Hierro has plentifulness of outdoor activities, for illustration hiking crossed volcanic landscapes and scuba diving successful crystal clear waters. Its varied habitats of heavy forests and sheer cliffs are inhabited by respective type of endemic plants and fauna, making it an emblematic location for those who emotion nature.

With nary nonstop flights from off-island airports, location are less world visitors connected El Hierro, making it an flight for visitors seeking a much quiet, sustainable land experience. It’s a spot wherever visiting visitors tin acquisition secluded beaches for illustration nan black-pebble Timijiraque and reddish El Verodal beaches, arsenic good arsenic observe nan island’s rich | civilization and authentic section food.

Teruel – Spain’s Forgotten Treasure

Teruel is 1 of nan astir far-flung and slightest known provinces successful Spain, lying successful nan east. Teruel, successful nan state of Aragon, is celebrated for its rugged terrain, medieval buildings and heritage. Beautiful arsenic it is, nan region is 1 of Spain’s slightest visited, preserved from wide tourism.

Isolation has spared Teruel from nan tourer radar, but visitors are rewarded pinch beautiful Mudejar architecture, hulking castles and serenity successful nan countryside. The state is known for its truffle hunting, and visitors person entree to hiking trails that return them past 150-million-year-old dinosaur tracks and to waterfalls wherever they tin partake successful chaotic swimming.

For travelers looking to acquisition a portion of Spain unscathed by tourism, Teruel is simply a chance to sojourn a region forgotten. Cons: Because of its distant location, you tin bask nan quiet without nan traffic, truthful if bid and quiet are your benignant of thing, this is your place.

Conclusion: Exploring Spain from nan Underbelly

Spain’s untouristy regions connection an opportunity to sojourn nan state successful a much environmentally friends and authentic manner. From its chaotic Galician beauty to nan vino hills of La Rioja, nan historical splendor of Extremadura, nan eco paradise of El Hierro and nan forgotten countryside of Teruel, location are plentifulness of places dotted crossed Spain wherever travelers tin suffer nan crowds and get a glimpse of a Spain that has mostly gone untouched. These are regions that are cleanable for sustainable tourism arsenic we deliberation nan enriched acquisition of Spain’s culture, history, and landscapes for those who attraction astir not leaving a antagonistic biology & section organization impact.