What could be more challenging than picking favorites among all the charming small towns in Spain? After years of traveling across the country, I’m ready to share my personal favorites. Check out this ultimate list of 22 most beautiful small towns in Spain.

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Top Spanish Small Towns (2025)

Which is the prettiest town in Spain?

There are lots of charming small towns in Spain. If I were to pick the top 3 that stand out the most, I’d suggest Albarracin in Teruel, Cudillero in Asturias, and Valldemossa in Mallorca.

What are small towns in Spain like?

Small towns in Spain typically feature narrow, winding streets and are known for their slower pace of life, strong sense of community, and local culture. Along the Mediterranean coast, small towns are often whitewashed or adorned with colorful accents, while in central Spain, they boast medieval architecture. Small towns in Spain often host local celebrations or even medieval fairs, and are known for homemade cuisine and a traditional lifestyle.

Visiting Spanish Villages

It’s still a mystery to me how a country so well-established on the tourist track can still have so many secret villages, fairytale places, dreamy castles, and natural wonders. You could spend decades in a single region of Valencia discovering its hidden gems. Let me share some of the most unique small towns in Spain that I have visited during my 15+ years as an expat. While it’s difficult to cover everything in one post, you can check out an extensive map of the top small towns in Spain that I created for my readers here.

Map of the best Spanish small towns

In the map below, you can check out my favorite small towns in Spain. You can also explore an extensive map of the top small towns in Spain that I created for my readers here.

22 Unique Small Towns in Spain

1. Albarracin

Albarracin is one of my favorite small towns in Spain, as it literally feels like an open-air museum. Located in the region of Teruel, it remains one of Spain’s big unknowns for most international visitors. The town’s medieval architecture, its labyrinth-like cobblestone streets, pinkish buildings tumbling into each other, wooden balconies, charming churches, and ancient castle walls – everything about Albarracin is truly unique. You can read more about my recent weekend in Albarracin in this post. While it is the most famous small town in Teruel, keep in mind that the province is full of hidden gems, which you can check out in this post.

2. Mojacar

Mojacar could easily be called the prettiest of all the famous white villages of Southern Spain. Located in the province of Almeria, Mojacar is one of the most picturesque places in the Mediterranean. You can read more about my visit to Mojacar in this post.

3. Cudillero

Cudillero is one of the biggest gems among the picturesque fishing villages in Northern Spain. It is often called one of the most colorful places in the whole country and was an absolute highlight of my 3 days in Asturias. You can check out other top small towns along the Asturian coast in this post.

4. Alquezar

Alquezar was the highlight of my first visit to the region of the Spanish Pyrenees. On top of that, one of the most epic local hikes, Pasarelas del Vero, also starts within this medieval village. The name of the village, Alquezar, comes from the Arabic Al-Qsar, which means fortress. This town is often called one of the most beautiful places in the Spanish Pyrenees.

5. Morella

Morella is a small medieval town in the Spanish province of Castellon, which looks like it is straight out of a storybook. While I visit Morella almost every year, this summer I was lucky to attend a rare Sexenni celebration in this small town, a lively Spanish festival that takes place only once every six years. You can read more details in this post.

6. Ronda

Ronda is one of the top places to visit in Southern Spain and the third most visited small town in the region. Ronda’s biggest gem is the New Bridge, considered one of the most unique landmarks in Spain. Ronda is an absolute must-stop on every Andalusia road trip.

7. Villajoyosa

Villajoyosa is one of the most colorful places in Spain, considered one of the gems of Costa Blanca and a popular getaway from Benidorm. This coastal town is known for its great beaches and is an excellent spot to shop for Spanish food souvenirs, as it houses three local chocolate factories: El Valor, Chocolates Perez, and Clavileño.

8. Santillana del Mar

Santillana del Mar is another gem of Northern Spain known for its stunning old charm. It is located near one of the most important Spanish national landmarks, the Caves of Altamira, which contain 36,000-year-old paintings. Unfortunately, visiting the caves in recent years has been challenging, as local authorities limit the number of visitors to 260 per year. However, the local museum houses a reproduction, “Neocueva de Altamira”.

9. Guadalest

Guadalest is one of the top small towns in Alicante, located by the Guadalest Reservoir. This charming village is known for its picturesque setting and can be accessed by walking through the Portal de San Jose, a tunnel carved out of the rock. While the town itself has fewer than 200 inhabitants, its dramatic location and proximity to Benidorm have made it quite a popular tourist destination.

10. Cadaques

Cadaques is well established on the tourist track as part of the famous Salvador Dali Triangle. Known as one of the biggest gems of the Costa Brava, Cadaques is one of the most picturesque destinations to visit on a weekend break from Barcelona.

11. Peniscola

Perched on a rocky headland along the Mediterranean Sea, Peñiscola is known for one of the most unique castles in Spain and one of the most iconic Game of Thrones filming locations in the country. This small town is conveniently situated on the road between Barcelona and Valencia, and you can check out more details in this post.

12. Alcala del Jucar

Alcala del Jucar is one of the lesser-known small towns in central Spain, known for its whitewashed houses, narrow winding streets, medieval castle, and local cave-houses. There are quite a few caves not to be missed, including Cueva del Diablo, Cuevas de Masago y Duende, and Cueva del Rey Garaden, and the town itself is considered one of the biggest gems of Castile La-Mancha region.

13. Lanuza

Lanuza is a tiny, almost hidden village nestled in the Pyrenees of Aragon, but it has such a stunning natural setting that it is often called the village from Frozen in the Spanish media. Lanuza was one of the highlights of our recent family trip to the Aragonese Pyrenees. You can discover other top small towns in the Pyrenees in this post.

14. Besalu

The small town of Besalu is famous for its well-preserved 12th-century bridge, one of the most unique in all of Europe. The cobbled streets, old stone buildings, and charming town squares make it a popular stop on any Pyrenees road trip from Barcelona.

15. Bocairente

Bocairente is one of the most unique villages in the region of Valencia, often referred to as a Spanish hidden gem. The town is known for its stunning medieval architecture and ancient caves. Bocairente is a popular stop on any Valencia to Alicante road trip, and you can read more details about my visit in this post.

16. Sos del Rey Catolico

Sos del Rey Católico, located in the province of Zaragoza, was such a discovery during my Aragon road trip. This town feels frozen in time, with its unmatched medieval architecture. Sos del Rey Católico is historically significant as the birthplace of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, one of the most important figures in Spanish history.

17. Ujue

Ujue is such a charming Spanish medieval town that feels like something straight out of a storybook. It was one of my favorite discoveries on a recent Navarra road trip. Its cobbled streets, unique Church of Santa Maria, ancient stone buildings, and stunning views of the surrounding countryside create a serene atmosphere.

18. Calatañazor

Calatañazor is a tiny, hidden village in Castile-Leon, known for its well-preserved medieval layout, with narrow streets lined with stone houses that truly make you feel like you’re traveling back in time. During my recent trip to Soria, Calatañazor felt like such an open-air museum.

19. Trujillo

The small town of Trujillo is one of the most beautiful places in the region of Extremadura. Known for its well-preserved medieval and Renaissance architecture, Trujillo boasts a stunning main square, Plaza Mayor, surrounded by noble houses and the impressive Trujillo Castle. The town has recently gained attention as one of the filming locations for HBO’s House of the Dragon.

20. Valldemossa

Located in the stunning Serra de Tramuntana mountains on the island of Mallorca, Valldemossa is one of the most picturesque small towns in the whole of Spain. Visiting Valldemossa was an absolute highlight of my 3 days in Mallorca, even though this charming village has become one of the most popular places in the Spanish islands. It is particularly popular as a romantic destination; years ago, George Sand and Frédéric Chopin spent a winter here during their romance.

21. Horta de Sant Joan

Horta de Sant Joan is one of the most unique places to visit in the region of Tarragona. Besides small town charm, it is particularly famous for Pablo Picasso, as the famous Spanish painter once spent a year there, painting local rural landscapes and recovering from his burnout in Paris. There is also a small museum dedicated to Picasso, showcasing the evolution of his works. In addition, Horta de Sant Joan is located right next to the lesser-known region of Matarranya, full of hidden villages.

22. Chinchon

Chinchon is a charming town known for Spain’s most unique town square, Plaza Mayor, which is surrounded by traditional buildings with colorful balconies. The square has been the site of many historical events, as well as a popular filming location. Chinchon can be visited on a day trip from Madrid and is considered one of the most unique small towns near the Spanish capital.

Complete map of the Spanish small towns

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