The Forbes Travel Guide Selection Across Spain

Rather than anchoring on Madrid and Barcelona, Forbes Travel Guide's selection moves through fishing villages, mountain gorges and volcanic landscapes. The list spans Spain's northern Atlantic coast, Andalusia, the Balearics and the Canary Islands, mixing small settlements with protected natural areas.

The recommended places include Cudillero, a cliffside fishing port in Asturias; Ronda, the Málaga mountain city above the 120-metre El Tajo gorge; and Cadaqués, the Costa Brava village associated with Salvador Dalí. Other picks include the Picos de Europa peaks and the Cares Gorge trail, the volcanic desert of Cabo de Gata-Níjar, Teide National Park in Tenerife, the islet of Es Vedrà off Ibiza, the limited-access Cíes Islands in Galicia, the white village of Frigiliana and Mallorca's Sa Calobra cove.

Several sites are defined by controlled visitor numbers or difficult access. The Cíes Islands admit 1,800 people per day from mid-May to mid-September and fewer in the off-season, while the Teide summit requires a special permit beyond the cable car station. Sa Calobra, Cadaqués and Cabo de Gata's hidden beaches are reached by winding or unpaved routes, which the guide presents as part of their appeal.

Why the List Skips the Most Crowded Circuits

The Overriding Preference for Limited-Access Places

What connects the choices is not just scenery but controlled or rugged accessibility. Places such as the Cíes Islands, Teide's higher reaches and Cabo de Gata's unmarked tracks are partly protected by queues, quotas or poor infrastructure. That reduces mass-tourist pressure but also means visitors must plan further ahead.

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History and Nature Over Built-Up Resorts

The list leans on natural features such as the El Tajo gorge, Teide's caldera and the volcanic coast, and on older urban fabric including Ronda's 18th-century bridge and Frigiliana's Arab-era irrigation channels. It is a curation argument that these destinations retain a stronger sense of place than large resorts and city circuits.

How to Visit the Featured Places

  • Cudillero: visit at lunch or dinner when the port restaurants open, and try the day's catch at El Faro, Los Arcos or Casa Julio.
  • Cíes Islands: book the ferry months ahead for July or August because the daily cap is 1,800 people and summer tickets sell out.
  • Teide: reserve the cable car for sunset, or obtain the summit permit if you want to reach the top at sunrise.
  • Sa Calobra: drive early in the morning to avoid tourist minibuses on the curving mountain road, then walk through the stone tunnel to the hidden beach.
  • Cabo de Gata: rent a car for the unpaved tracks to beaches such as Cala de Enmedio, or join a kayak tour from San José to reach spots only accessible by sea.