STOP Doing This in Spain! (Most Tourists Get It Wrong)

So you’ve finally booked that trip to Spain—sunshine, sangria, and selfies in front of a big cathedral, right? Fair enough. But before you start ticking boxes on your standard tourist to-do list, here’s a little tip that’ll take your whole Spanish holiday up a notch: stop doing what everyone else is doing.

It’s not that the famous places aren’t worth it—they are. But you’ll totally miss the real magic of Spain if you don’t step off that very well-trodden path just a bit.

Hi, Im Matt Robson, travel guru and main content writer at SpainGuides.com and here’s what most tourists get wrong and what you can do differently.

Everyone's Going the Same Way—And Missing Out

You land in Barcelona, take a blurry photo of the Sagrada Familia, then hop on a train to Madrid for a whistle-stop museum tour and tapas in Plaza Mayor. Maybe you throw in a flamenco show in Seville for good measure. Sound familiar?

Those places are brilliant, no doubt, but they’re also jam-packed with tourists doing the exact same thing. What you don’t realise until you wander off-course is how diverse and deeply layered Spain really is.

Try North for a Change

Spain's north is like a well-kept secret that locals don't shout about too much—probably because they want to keep it to themselves. Places like Oviedo, Santander, and Bilbao have this relaxed, lived-in charm. In San Sebastian, the pintxos bars are tucked into narrow streets, and the views from Monte Igueldo are the kind that make you stop mid-bite.

Over in Galicia, you'll find spots like Santiago de Compostela, where pilgrims from all over the world finish their epic walk. But just outside the city, you’ve got cliffs, eucalyptus forests, and quiet little fishing villages where the octopus is fresh and the wine is poured like water.

The Underrated South (Beyond the Cliches)

Now, yes—Andalusia gets a lot of love. But most people zero in on Granada, Seville, or Cordoba, and don’t venture any further. Head towards the Alpujarras, where little villages like Capileira and Bubion cling to the hillsides like white cubes. Or cruise down to Cadiz, a scruffy-beautiful port town that oozes character, where locals sit outside bars till midnight, laughing over plates of pescaíto frito.

Stop Eating Where Everyone Else Eats

One of the biggest things tourists get wrong in Spain? Eating in the wrong places—usually wherever’s closest to the main sights. You’ll end up with a sad tortilla and a bill that hurts.

Walk a Few Streets Over

The magic happens when you move away from the obvious spots. Duck down a side street, find a place with handwritten menus and zero English spoken, and you’ll suddenly discover the best meal of your trip.

In Valencia, that might mean skipping the touristy beachfront restaurants and heading inland to Ruzafa, a buzzing little neighbourhood with quirky cafes, natural wine bars, and family-run tapas joints where the food is cooked with love.

And remember—dinner doesn’t start till 9pm. Locals will still be sipping vermouth at 7. Don’t fight it. Lean into it.

Spain Isn’t Just the Coast

People often get fixated on beaches, especially along the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca. Yes, they’re pretty. But Spain's inland cities are full of character, beauty, and surprise.

Cities That Steal Your Heart

Toledo, just outside Madrid, is like stepping into a fairytale. It’s all winding alleyways, medieval bridges, and sweeping views over the Tagus River. Then there’s Salamanca, glowing in golden sandstone and packed with student energy thanks to one of Europe’s oldest universities.

Zaragoza is another underrated gem—there’s the jaw-dropping Basilica del Pilar, and just across the bridge you’ll find indie cafés, art spaces, and buzzing tapas bars full of locals who’ll treat you like an old friend if you stay long enough.

Don't Skip the Islands—but Do Them Right

People think they know Tenerife and Mallorca, but usually they only know the resort bits. The truth is, the islands are full of wild nature, gorgeous villages, and cracking local food if you just get out of the hotel zone.

Go Where the Tour Buses Don’t

In Tenerife, take the drive up to Teide National Park—it looks like another planet. The little town of Garachico, with its lava rock pools and cobbled streets, feels a million miles from the beach clubs. Over in Mallorca, instead of sticking to Palma or Magaluf, try Soller, Pollença, or the magical coves of the east coast where the water looks like something off a postcard.

Let Yourself Get Lost—Literally

One of the best things you can do in Spain is put the map away and just wander. In places like Ronda, you’ll find yourself on a little backstreet with views down into the gorge that make your jaw drop. In Sitges, a short train from Barcelona, you’ll turn a corner and stumble into a local art gallery or a tiny beach with not a soul on it.

Local Fiestas are the Best Kept Secret

If you’re lucky enough to hit a town during its local fiesta, drop everything and go. Doesn’t matter if it’s small or massive—Spain knows how to throw a party. It’s where you’ll see grandparents dancing, kids running wild, fireworks booming overhead, and music in the streets till morning.

Places like Pamplona are known for the big ones, but even a little village near Alicante can surprise you with days of celebration, food stalls, and that addictive, joyful chaos.

Final Word—Spain Is What You Make It

So yeah, you could do the classic Spain trip. You’d enjoy it, no doubt. But if you’re up for a bit of adventure, a few side steps from the usual path, and you let Spain show you the quieter corners and local secrets—it’ll be so much more than just a holiday.

You’ll come home not just with photos, but stories. The kind of memories that sneak up on you months later and make you smile out of nowhere.

So next time you’re heading to Spain—just… stop doing what every tourist does. You’re better than that.