Revealed: Spain's quiet and uncrowded hidden gems that still want tourists

Daily Mail​

02-06-2025

Spain might be one of the UK's favourite summer holiday destinations, but protests against tourists in leading hotspots such as Barcelona and Majorca have left some Brits put off.
But while more than 18 million British tourists visited Spain in 2024, there are a few regions that fall outside the limelight.
So, where are Brits unlikely to run into other tourists in 2025?
La Rioja
According to Spain's National Institute of Statistics (INE), La Rioja was the country's least visited region in 2024.
The gorgeous destination, known for its wine production, welcomed just 123,123 visitors last year.
La Rioja is an inland region in northern Spain and deserves far more attention than it tends to get.
Lonely Planet reveals: 'Wine goes well with the region's ochre earth and vast blue skies, which seem far more Mediterranean than the Basque greens further north.
'This diverse region offers more than just the pleasures of the grape, though, and a few days here can see you mixing it up in lively towns and quiet pilgrim churches, and even hunting for the remains of giant reptiles.'
Head to the Museo de la Rioja, a history museum located in an 18th-century baroque building, to find out more about the region's past.
And of course, make sure to visit one of the region's more than 500 wineries to sample one of it's world-renowned reds.
El Hierro and La Gomera
While the Canary Islands are one of Spain's busiest destinations, a couple of the islands get much less attention.
According to Statista, both La Gomera and El Hierro received just 69,000 visitors in 2022.
And Marek Bron, travel expert at the Indie Traveller, told MailOnline Travel that La Gomera is the most underrated of the Canary Islands.
He said: 'It has these very lush forests that feel like rainforests and they're amazing for hiking.'
Meanwhile El Hierro is the smallest Canary Island with far fewer crowds than popular spots like Tenerife and Lanzarote.
Tourists can visit the pretty hidden gem by taking a ferry or plane from Tenerife or Gran Canaria.
Marina Lucense
According to statistics from the INE and Turespana, Mariña Lucense is the Spanish stretch of coast that's the least visited.
The breathtaking region is located on Spain's northern Galician coast where some of the country's least well-known beaches are.
While the weather can't be guaranteed to be sunny, the beaches in Marina Lucense are much quieter than in the Costa del Sol or Costa Blanca.
Visit Spain explains: 'The Marina Lucense has around 100km of coastline where you'll find old whaling ports and a variety of landscapes.'
One of the region's most spectacular beaches is As Catedrais, or the Cathedrals. The 1.5km long beach earned its name from the Gothic-looking rock towers and arches on its sands.
Cabrera Maritime-Terrestrial National Park
Of Spain's 16 national parks, the Cabrera Maritime-Terrestrial National Park is the country's least visited according to INE statistics.
Just an hour's boat ride from Majorca, the archipelago will 'definitely surprise you', says Spain's tourism board.
It says: 'This oasis has one of the best-preserved examples of marine life in the whole of the Mediterranean Sea.
'Its almost untouched sea shore hosts a wealth of species native to the Balearic Islands.'
The national park can be enjoyed on a boat trip and is home to more than 400 botanical species and 200 fish species.