Small but beautiful: 10 picturesque towns in Spain

If you can't think of much else to say about Spain other than Madrid , Barcelona , Seville, and Valencia, then you should change that as soon as possible. This southern European country has some truly wonderful small towns to offer, with something for every taste.

How about hobbit houses that are still inhabited today? Or perhaps a whitewashed hilltop town between mountains and sea? The travel reporter shows you where to find Gaudí's richly decorated early works, where you can swim in the best bays of the Costa Brava, and where fishing villages in northern Spain will cast their spell over you.

In the northeast of Granada, on the Guadix River, lies the backdrop of the small town of Guadix. Around 20,000 locals live here, around 4,000 of them in the cave district that makes this place so special. Under the Moors, the town became important for silk production.

The approximately 2,000 cave dwellings, carved into the tufa and loess rock, resemble a cross between Hobbitland and the Smurfs' houses, with their whitewashed chimneys rising abruptly from the hills. The caves are still inhabited, but they also house a hotel and a museum.

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Guadix's cave district isn't the only thing worth seeing. Architecture enthusiasts will be captivated by the cathedral in the center of the old town: Built over a period of almost 300 years, it combines styles from Gothic to Baroque. And from the imposing Moorish fortress that dominates the cityscape, you'll enjoy magnificent views of the city and its surroundings.

In Guadix you will discover its own cave district, where around 2000 cave dwellings create an enchanted picture.

Source: imago images/Nature Picture Library

Located directly on the Costa del Alzahar, about 110 kilometers north of Valencia , Peñíscola is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. A pretty old town, built on a rocky promontory that juts out into the sea, and a five-kilometer-long beach add to the charm of this small town, which has a population of about 8,000.

Highlights of the old town include the castle, which served as a residence for two popes and invites you to stroll through its palm-lined garden (admission fee applies). The Gothic parish church of Santa Maria and the Museo del Mar (Museo del Mar) are also attractions in the old town. Those seeking nature will find small bays and mountain ranges with Mediterranean flora and fauna in the nearby Serra d'Irta nature reserve.

However, Peñíscola is no longer an insider tip, and it can get crowded in the summer. The castle in the historic old town is a popular tourist attraction in Spain.

At the highest point of the old town of Peñíscola stands the famous castle, which once served as the papal seat.

Source: imago images/Pond5

The scenery is somewhat reminiscent of the towns of Italy 's Cinque Terre. The fishing village of Cudillero in northern Spain , with a population of around 5,000, nestles with its colorful houses into the slopes of the green hills, and fishing boats rock back and forth on the water. Here in Asturias, the world is still in order.

Surrounded by the Costa Verde and hidden in a valley, Cudillero lies like a well-kept treasure. In Cudillero, you can stroll through picturesque narrow streets, enjoy fresh fish in the fish taverns right by the harbor, and gaze into the distance from impressive viewpoints. One of these is the Cudillero Lighthouse, which rises atop a steep cliff. From here, you can enjoy sweeping views across the Asturian coast.

The beautiful fishing village of Cudillero is located in the north of Spain.

Source: imago images/lunamarina

Sun lovers can't swim directly in Cudillero. But just a few kilometers away, you can cool off at Playa de la Concha de Artedo, one of the most beautiful beaches in Asturias. Or at Playa del Silencio, or Beach of Silence, framed by mighty rock formations.

Located in the Basque Country, the small town of Hondarribia is just 20 kilometers from the famous city of San Sebastián and exudes its own unique charm, almost reminiscent of Austria when you look at the colorful wooden balconies decorated with flowers. Indeed, this architectural style is a typical Basque trademark.

Hondarribia has around 17,000 inhabitants, and the old town of this fishing village on the Atlantic coast is enclosed by the ancient city walls. Cobblestone streets lead past numerous Renaissance and Baroque buildings. Afterwards, you can relax on the large sandy beach.

Another special feature of the place is the possibility of country hopping: The city lies at the mouth of the Bidasoa River and is a border town. Across the river lies the French town of Hendaye, which can be reached via a ten-minute boat ride. Doesn't that sound good? Mais oui! We think: sí!

In the fishing district of Hondarribia, Basque architecture and numerous restaurants dominate the streetscape.

Source: imago images/Javier Larrea

Okay, strictly speaking, Comillas isn't a small town, but a village. Only around 2,200 people live here. But this town on Spain's northern coast is definitely not to be missed. Here, lush meadows with grazing cows border expansive sandy beaches. And in Comillas itself stands a building by the famous Antonio Gaudí. But first things first.

Until 1720, Comillas was a whaling town. After that, it lived off fishing and agriculture, until the late 19th century, when seaside tourism arrived in Comillas. The townscape is heterogeneous: old villas alternate with modernist buildings, and monumental structures such as the massive former Pontifical University, which stands on a hill above the town, dominate the cityscape.

In contrast, the compact Villa Quijano, also called El Capricho, designed by Antonio Gaudí here, appears almost modest. The house's most striking feature is the tower, with its bricks covered in sunflowers. It is one of Gaudí's few buildings outside Catalonia and one of the artist's first works.

One of the tourist highlights of Comillas is the summer villa El Capricho, which Gaudi designed when he was 31 years old.

Source: imago images/VWPics

Ribadesella lies between mountains and at the mouth of the Sella River, which bisects the town. The shape of this northern Spanish town alone is quite unique: the listed old town in the east is connected to the modern part of the town in the west by a 300-meter-long bridge.

While you relax in the old town around Plaza Nueva in fish restaurants or the so-called sidrerías, bars that serve cider, the beach district on the opposite side invites you to sunbathe with a pretty promenade and Playa Santa Maria.

A top attraction in the town is a stalactite cave rediscovered in 1968. The murals of the Cueva de Tito Bustillo date back to the Stone Age and are displayed in a 700-meter-long gallery. Reservations are recommended. A completely modern spectacle can be experienced every August. The Fiesta de las Piraguas, a major canoeing event, takes place between Arriondas and Ribadesella. Over 1,000 boats compete in the 20-kilometer race.

Ribadesella is divided into two districts by the Sella River.

Source: imago images/lunamarina

Located 250 kilometers from Madrid , the small town of Trujillo in southwestern Spain lies between two river valleys. A stroll through the city, rich in mansions, churches, and castles, feels like a movie set. And you can marvel at different eras, as Trujillo is divided into two parts. One part is characterized by the Moors, who ruled here for 500 years, and the other was built in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Famous people were born in Trujillo, including Nuflo de Chaves, the discoverer of Bolivia , and Francisco de Pizarro, who discovered Peru. As a result, there is also a Peruvian city called Trujillo, named after Pizarro's birthplace. Today, around 10,000 locals live in the small town, which has managed to preserve its authenticity.

Trujillo's impressive Plaza Mayor is the city center. The square also features a giant statue of Pizarro.

Source: imago images/Panthermedia

Aristocratic families once lived around the Plaza Mayor, which is why you'll find Renaissance and Baroque palaces here. And in terms of religious architecture, the Church of Santa María is a striking sight. Its location was once a Moorish mosque. From the outside, you can admire the medieval portals and the late Romanesque tower. Inside, the Gothic high altar from 1480 is worth seeing, among other things. And for those seeking a panoramic view, climb the Castillo de Trujillo and gaze out over the city from there. In spring, you can see storks nesting on the city's numerous towers.

It's dazzling when the white, terraced houses of Mojácar come into view on a spur of the Sierra Cabrera. The small town, with its nearly 8,000 inhabitants, lies between the Andalusian Mediterranean coast and the mountains and offers an endless array of leisure activities.

On the miles of beaches, sun-seekers, sailing enthusiasts, and surfers are treated to more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. Those looking for action on land will also find it in Mojácar: mountain biking, climbing, and even paragliding are possible in the surrounding area.

Afterwards, a stroll through the town is just the ticket. Narrow streets, some of which climb quite steeply, the whitewashed houses; everything seems a little magical. So magical that you'll want to linger in a bar and listen to the legend that Walt Disney was born in Mojácar as a baby named Jose Guirado Zamora. If you'd like to know more about this theory, Tito's Beach Bar is the place to go.

The white town of Mojácar lies between the sea and the mountains and offers sun and numerous leisure activities.

Source: imago images/Marcos G. Meider

About 140 kilometers from Barcelona , the old fishing village of Begur sits perched on a hill on the Costa Brava. On a leafy promontory above the town center, the remains of a castle ruin can be found, and a magnificent view crowns this location. Most of the town's defensive towers have also been preserved. These towers, up to twelve meters high, served as refuges during pirate attacks in the Middle Ages.

In addition to olive and wine growing, and fishing, the coral trade also played an important role in Begur, which now has a population of 4,000. Later, cork trade also took over. Today, exclusive tourism is a key economic factor in Begur.

The town's tourist appeal is due in no small part to the eight beaches in the area. Some of the Costa Brava's most beautiful bays can be found in the municipality of Begur. These include Cala d'Aiguablava with its fine sand and turquoise waters, Sa Riera Bay, ideal for snorkeling, and Platja Fonda, nestled between rocky cliffs and pine forests.

Sa Riera Bay is one of eight beaches that can be found around Begur.

Source: imago images/karnaval

Colorful houses and green trees nestle along the banks of the Ega River in Estella-Lizarra. Approximately 14,000 people live in this small town in northern Spain, located between Pamplona and Logroño. The surrounding mountains protect it from the winds, allowing Estella-Lizarra to benefit from a mild climate.

Among the sights of the historic town is the Palace of the Kings of Navarre (El Palacio de los Reyes de Navarra), located in the city center. Dating back to the 12th century, it is considered the oldest surviving Romanesque secular building. Today, the building houses an art museum. The town's churches also have fascinating, distinctive features. For example, the main church, San Pedro de la Rúa, which is reached via a grand staircase and features elaborate decorative elements.

An old bridge leads into the old town of Estella-Lizarra.

Source: imago images/Pond5

Estella-Lizarra is also known as a stop on the Way of St. James. Pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela pass through here. They may want to soak their feet in the water from Estella-Lizarra's saltwater spring. Located between the town's swimming pool and the Ega River, the spring is said to have healing properties.

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