At this point, you’re probably tired of hearing how Barcelona is overrated, expensive, overcrowded, and this, that, and the other.
Listen, we’re not here to trash Spain’s most vibrant, cosmopolitan, sun-kissed coastal city.
If you can get past the touristy tapas bars slinging watered-down sangria for $10 a pop, buzzing La Rambla crowds, and Insta-perfect Sagrada Família terrace shots, it can actually be great fun.
But maybe you’re flying to Spain this summer to relax, unwind, and actually enjoy yourself, without endless lines or battling dozens of savvy European holidaymakers for beach space who know exactly how to game the system.
In that case, ditch Mediterranean Spain and head north to the Atlantic Coast instead.
Here are 4 absolutely underrated Spanish gems with far fewer crowds (and prices) you don’t want to miss this year:
A Coruña
Galicia
Tucked away in Galicia, out in the northwest of Spain, A Coruña is probably Spain’s most underrated coastal getaway for a relaxed beach break… with a dash of ancient culture.
The local “Barceloneta” is the crescent-shaped Playa de Riazor, wedged between glassed-in buildings and an azure Atlantic, a prime spot for sunbathing and summer surf sessions. Practically joining Riazor, Playa de Orzán is just as scenic and a touch quieter than the main stretch.
Now, this isn’t the Mediterranean: the North Atlantic can feel pretty bracing, even in peak summer, but trust me, a dip in those chilly waters when it’s pushing 86°F is all the refreshment you need. Well, that and an ice-cold pint of Estrella Galicia from one of the beachfront bars.
Other than beachtime, you might want to lace up your walking shoes, because you’ll be doing a fair bit of sightseeing around town.
A Coruña has a labyrinthine Old Town dotted with historic buildings, from the arcaded Plaza de María Pita to the postcard-ready Avenida de la Marina, lined with wall-to-wall glass-fronted galerías that earned it the nickname “City of Glass”.
The wow factor you’ve been waiting for is a scenic 35‑minute coastal walk from the heart of the Old Town: the Tower of Hercules, a perfectly-preserved 1st‑century Roman lighthouse, the last of its kind still standing, perched on a grassy headland high above the wild Atlantic sea.
Average Prices In A Coruña
- Meal in a local tapas bar: €13.50 ($14.70)
- 3-course meal in a mid-range restaurant (for 2 people): €50 ($54.50)
- Budget hotel (per night): €35–€60 ($38–$65)
- 3-star hotel (per night): €60–€110 ($65–$120)
- Local transportation (one-way bus/tram): €1.30 ($1.40)
- Average museum entry fee: €3–€8 ($3–$9)
*Averages drawn from price-comparison tools like Numbeo and BudgetYourTrip
Be sure to check the latest travel advisories for Spain before your trip.
San Sebastián | Donostia
Basque Country
The town of two names—San Sebastián for Spanish speakers, Donostia in native Euskera—this is that laid-back coastal resort with half the Sitges crowds you’ve been dying to find.
Set along the Bay of Biscay, a crystal-clear water gem in the Basque Country, San Sebastián boasts Playa de la Concha, a long crescent-shaped beach framed by picturesque waterfront houses and seafood terraces.
It does get lively in summer, but it’s nowhere near Costa Brava’s mob scenes.
You’ll share the sand with dozens of locals, and maybe the odd cross-border visitor from the French Basque Country, but hardly any lederhosen, beer buff Germans staking out spots on the sand as early as 6 a.m. Yep, no gammon-colored, Speedo-clad Hans in socks with flip-flops.
Again, maybe there’ll be a few rowdy frog-eating day-tripper from nearby Bayonne and Biarritz. Still, nothing you can’t handle with a tinto de verano in hand.
The city’s main draw, though? A cobblestoned Old Town with winding lanes flanked by colorful houses, pintxo bars (the Basque equivalent to tapas), and five-star rated restaurants helmed by award-winning chefs. On that note, Paco Bueno’s fried squid and prawns will send you straight to heaven.
By the way, you can soon fly nonstop to Basque Country straight from New York. Those flights are landing in Bilbao, the largest city in the region, a short 1h13 drive to Donostia.
Average Prices In San Sebastián | Donostia
- Meal in a local tapas bar: €18.50 ($20.20)
- 3-course meal in a mid-range restaurant (for 2 people): €50 ($54.50)
- Budget hotel (per night): €30–€60 ($33–$65)
- 3-star hotel (per night): €55–€95 ($60–$104)
- Local transportation (one-way bus/tram): €1.85 ($2.00)
- Average museum entry fee: €6–€15 ($7–$16)
Santander
Cantabria
If you’re looking for that real, authentic Spanish city, without the performative flamenco and touristy sangria traps, there’s no better bet than bustling Santander… also on the North Atlantic Coast. See a pattern here?
Forget the overpolished, Disney-fied Historic Center with brightly-colored but fake façades, and flower-adorned aperitif patios whose only purpose seems to be luring Instagram influencers.
Santander is where you go for gritty street markets, local neighborhoods where tourists are the minority rather than omnipresent, and legit big beaches so wide you’ll feel like you’re in your own private coastal nook.
Note, this is not Donostia: don’t expect full-on Old World vibes.
Sadly, much of the historic city was destroyed in a 1941 fire, so what you see today is largely 20th-century urban rebuild.
It does have a cathedral, but it’s rather small and not especially photogenic. Now, where Santander’s personality really hits is down by El Sardinero, the local response to Rio’s Ipanema, with broad avenues, wide plazas, and a bourgeois seaside packed with Belle Époque mansions.
A peninsula jutting into the Bay of Santander, La Magdalena is not to be missed, either: walking paths leading to secret coves virtually empty of visitors, epic viewpoints offering sweeping coastal vistas, and the landmark Palacio de la Magdalena, a stunning British-style residence built as the Spanish royal family’s summer retreat.
No medieval lore, but old money vibes through and through.
Average Prices In Santander
- Meal in a local tapas bar: €15 ($16.35)
- 3-course meal in a mid-range restaurant (for 2 people): €50 ($54.50)
- Budget hotel (per night): €30–€50 ($33–$55)
- 3-star hotel (per night): €50–€80 ($55–$87)
- Local transportation (one-way bus/tram): €1.30 ($1.40)
- Average museum entry fee: €6–€10 ($7–$11)
Before planning your trip to Santander, double-check the real-time Traveler Safety Score applying to Spain:
Gijón
Asturias
A Coruña’s more offbeat sister, over in neighboring Asturias, Gijón is your typical Spanish Atlantic coastal leisure hub, with rich maritime heritage, wild beaches running for miles on end, and a picture-perfect old quarter to match.
Its main beach, Playa de San Lorenzo, sits right in the city center, and that’s the beauty of Gijón: mid-size coastal hub as it may be, home to over 240,000 residents, everywhere you need to be is a short walk away.
You can stroll from the historic quarter to the waterfront in minutes, bury your feet in soft golden sands, and soak up the Iberian sun… minus Southern Spain’s maddening crowds.
Speaking of historic quarter, Cimadevilla is that postcard, Instagram-ready, European-pretty spot you’ve been waiting for.
Perched on a hill overlooking a gorgeous bay, it delivers narrow cobbled streets, traditional Asturian townhouses (two to three stories max, often painted soft pastels), and that authentic lived-in feel. Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter wishes.
What I love about Gijón is its fierce regional character: strong Asturian accents, fishing village feel even if it’s a bustling port, and sidrerías (cider bars) pouring homemade sidra straight from barrels, paired with local cabrales cheese and hearty fabada—a white-bean and chorizo stew (sometimes loaded with blood sausage and bacon).
Yeah, hearty doesn’t even begin to cover it.
You’ll feel that sneaky siesta slumber hit before finishing your last gulp of frothy beer, but that’s Gijón’s whole vibe: slow exploring, lingering, and hopping tapas bar to tapas bar.
Average Prices In Gijón
- Meal in a local tapas bar: €15 ($16.35)
- 3-course meal in a mid-range restaurant (for 2 people): €42 ($45.80)
- Budget hotel (per night): €35–€50 ($38–$55)
- 3-star hotel (per night): €50–€75 ($55–$82)
- Local transportation (one-way bus/tram): €1.50 ($1.65)
- Average museum entry fee: €4–€10 ($4–$11)
From mandatory fingerprinting to e-Visas, Spain is changing entry requirements soon. Ensure you know the travel rules in place to avoid being denied boarding at the airport.
