Americans Are Traveling In Record Numbers To These 3 Lesser Known Destinations In Spain

If you consider Spain, it is most likely locations like Andalusia, Catalonia, and the Balearics that first come to thoughts.

Concentrating a few of the nation’s high seashores and world-renowned landmarks, and boasting an unequalled gastronomy and social scenes, these three areas are most likely Spain’s main areas for tourism.

Given their simple reputation, you’d anticipate them to additionally lead in numbers so far as year-on-year development goes, particularly amongst Individuals. Surprisingly, they’re removed from claiming the highest spot.

The fastest-growing Spanish area when it comes to in a single day stays by U.S. vacationers is, in actual fact, the lesser-known Extremadura, within the southwestern a part of Spain:

Individuals Now Flocking Into Extremadura

Based on data printed by Spain’s Nationwide Statistics Institute, Extremadura has registered a record-breaking 45 p.c enhance within the variety of American guests between January and July of this 12 months, in comparison with the identical interval in 2024.

For comparability functions, it outperforms the runner-up area, the Balearic Islands, which is residence to common seashore locations like Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza (up 14 p.c), and it is considerably forward of the nationwide common of solely 2 p.c.

In precise figures, 15,587 in a single day stays fulfilled by Individuals have been recorded in 2025. This doesn’t imply, in fact, Extremadura is now extra common as a vacation spot than, say, Barcelona or Seville, but it surely does signify it is getting trendier at a surprisingly quick tempo.

That being mentioned, Extremadura is an unlimited area, steeped in historical past, and characterised by its millennia-old cities and mountainous terrain—so the place might Individuals probably be headed?

Metropolis-specific visitation numbers have not been offered, however we will take a wild guess and assume Extremadura’s triad of culture-loaded cities:

Trujillo

Considered one of Spain’s best-kept secrets and techniques, Trujillo is the right place to begin for exploring Extremadura.

Perched on a hill overlooking verdant plains, it’s distinguished by its postcard-ready Outdated City, nearly unchanged for the reason that Center Ages, a sturdy, imposing Trujillo Citadel, which dominates the idyllic townscape, and architectural allure.

The Church of Santa María la Mayor is a major instance of Gothic and Renaissance structure, whereas Conquistadors’ Homes are a set of palatial complexes and dwellings that when belonged to explorers who first made landfall within the Americas.

Trujillo additionally feels quieter than your common Spanish vacation spot, with smaller crowds and a slower-paced way of life, and should you love grilled meats, positively add the Michelin Information-listed Corral del Rey to your restaurant wishlist.

In the event you’re on the lookout for one thing just a little extra, , medieval-themed to go along with the general aesthetics of the place, El Medievo, greatest identified for its pork sirloin with Serena cheese sauce, and scrumptious torrija with cinnamon ice cream.

Cáceres

The shining gem in Extremadura’s crown, Cáceres, is broadly thought of part of Spain’s ensemble of best-preserved medieval settlements.

Image slim cobblestone streets lined with centuries-old homes and taverns, pastoral plazas with storybook-like wishing wells, and monumental fortifications to high it off.

The Outdated City, identified domestically as Ciudad Monumental, is completely encircled by partitions, constructed by the Moors upon their conquest of southwestern Spain, and it encompasses a whopping 30 towers, a number of of which stay intact.

Essentially the most well-known of those towers, Torre de Bujaco, instructions a panoramic panorama of the town’s red-bricked roofs and whitewashed Baroque cathedral, although should you’re hoping to take in all that Outdated World attract while being within the heart of the motion, Plaza Mayor is the place you ought to be headed.

Ringed by historic buildings, it’s the greatest spot to seize some tapas and an low season tinto de verano as you people-watch, and absorb all of the wonderful particulars of the stone-built edifices that encompass you—if we could add, the sq.’s Cafeteria Chocolat’s is residence to the greatest pastries on the town.

Mérida

Informally thought of the ‘Rome of Spain’, and the capital of Extremadura, Mérida is among the most referenced examples of a Roman-era metropolis in Iberia.

It options theaters, temples, aqueducts, and even an city format that is largely preserved from Historic Instances. Earlier than it turned the executive heart and cultural coronary heart of Extremadura, it was formally the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania, and it feels nothing wanting imperial certainly.

Its Roman Theater & Amphitheater, nonetheless internet hosting performances to at the present time, are among the many best-preserved in Spain, and within the coronary heart of the Historic Heart, there stands a Temple of Diana, with surviving columns and an ornately carved fundamental portal.

In the event you’re into museums, you possibly can’t miss out on the Nationwide Museum of Roman Artwork, most likely the perfect of its variety you may discover in Spain, and the everlasting residence of Mérida’s fascinating archaeological finds, or the towering Catedral de Santa María de Mérida.

It is distinguished as considered one of Spain’s oldest cathedrals nonetheless in use, having first served as a Roman temple, and its grandiose nave, and solemn inside nonetheless whisper tales of bygone civilizations and fallen empires.

Vinicius Costa

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Vini, our senior lead author at Journey Off Path, has over 60+ international locations underneath his belt (and at present weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative tales that can have you ever packing your luggage.