Americans Can Fly Nonstop To These 2 Lesser Known Cities In Spain In 2026

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From Madrid’s elegant fin de siecle boulevards, to Barcelona’s Gaudí-signed cityscape, all the way down to Costa Del Sol’s sun-drenched beaches, Spain has a gazillion wonders that will keep you coming back year after year, after year.

It’s no wonder it’s the second-most visited country in the world, after neighboring France, but popular as it might be, most of Spain remains undiscovered.

If you’re American, that’s particularly understandable considering you can usually only fly nonstop to Madrid or Barcelona. Starting in 2026, however, two exciting Spanish cities you might not even have heard of will be added to your flight map.

Known for their authentic culture, stunning architecture, and friendly atmosphere, they’re all you’ve been craving, and then some:

Bilbao

The largest city in Basque Country, an autonomous region in the North of Spain known for its distinct culture, centuries-old customs, and even language, Bilbao is quickly becoming the country’s next hot thing now that the Barcelona craze is fading.

It may not be directly on the coast, but it is located within short driving distance of beautiful beaches (on the Atlantic), it has an unmatched youthful atmosphere, with art-filled, hippy districts and a riotous nightlife, and the Old Town is like a living postcard.

Known locally as Casco Antiguo, it is a maze of narrow lanes lined with colorful, skinny buildings with covered, glassed-in balconies, and peppered with traditional pintxo bars serving local cured meats, cheeses, and the famous Bilbao draft beer.

If you’re a culture enthusiast, you can’t miss the city’s main landmark, the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum: an undefined building with curving metal forms, overlooking the Nervión River, it plays host to ever-changing contemporary art displays.

Fly Nonstop To Bilbao From Newark

Starting May 30, Americans will be able to fly nonstop to Bilbao (BIO) from Newark (EWR), thanks to United Airlines’ ambitious new route expansion in Spain, which includes the first-ever Transatlantic service to Basque Country.

The flight time is 7h30 nonstop, and the route will operate three times per week, on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays:

Outbound

• Departure time from Newark (EWR): 9:15 PM
• Arrival time at Bilbao (BIO): 12:30 PM (following day)
• Flight duration: 7h30

Return

• Departure time from Bilbao (BIO): 12:30 PM
• Arrival time at Newark (EWR): 5:00 PM (local time)
• Flight duration: 8h30

Santiago de Compostela

More than just the (rewarding) final destination on the Way of St. James, Santiago de Compostela is a major city in northwestern Spain home to a UNESCO-protected Old City, and a monumental cathedral of huge religious importance:

For those who aren’t aware, it is considered one of Europe’s masterpieces as far as Gothic and Baroque architectural styels go, and it’s also said to be the burial site of Saint James the Apostle (hence its status as a pilgrimage hotspot for over a thousand years now).

If you’re not here for the pilgrimage, however, you’ll still be mesmerized by Santiago’s well-preserved medieval streets, charming cafe-bordered squares, and historic buildings, particularly the University of Santiago de Compostela:

It was founded as early as 1495, and it’s an Oxford of the sorts for Spain. In other words, it’s a prestigious institution ranking among Europe’s top-rated centers of knowledge, and it boasts centuries-old edifices, some of which can be visited by tourists, if you fancy seeing firsthand where the magic happens.

Other than admiring the timeless cityscape, make sure you try some of the local Galician seafood, especially the grilled Galician-style octopus. Just in case you’re wondering, there’s nowhere better to try those than El Mesón Do Pulpo.

Fly Nonstop To Santiago de Compostela From Newark

Starting May 22, 2026, United will launch direct flights from Newark (EWR) to Santiago de Compostela (SCQ), marking the first ever Transatlantic service between the U.S. and this particular Spain hub.

Flights will be available three times a week, on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and it will open up a whole new world of possibilites for American travelers headed for the under-the-radar Northwestern region of Spain in 2026:

Outbound

• Departure time from Newark (EWR): 7:15 PM
• Arrival time at Santiago de Compostela (SCQ): 8:15 AM (following day)
• Flight duration: 7h00

Return

• Departure time from Bilbao (SCQ): 10:00 AM
• Arrival time at Newark (EWR): 2:00 PM (local time)
• Flight duration: 7h55

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Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.