For Cheap Prices & No Crowds, Visit This Secret Medieval City In Spain

Even if you’ve never been to Spain before, we’re sure you’re already familiar with names like Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, and Seville.

The Iberian country is one of the most-visited destinations in the world, yet surprisingly, tourists rarely stray off the beaten path, opting to spend their vacations lounging in the sun in Catalonia, or, if they’re slightly interested in the local culture, sipping tinto de verano in a Sevillano tapas bar.

Believe it or not, despite the tens of millions of international tourists Spain hosts every year, there are still a number of destinations across the country, especially in the north, that remain largely overlooked. This includes the beautiful, uncrowded Logroño:

Spain Without The Crowds

If you’re hoping for smaller or even no crowds whatsoever, normal prices, and beautiful architecture, Logroño ticks all of those boxes, and then some.

In case you need a point of reference, you might have heard recently of Bilbao? It’s the largest city in Basque Country, and it’s just recently started hosting direct flights from the U.S. From Bilbao, it’s a short 1h30 drive south to Logroño.

Logroño itself is not in the Basque Country―it belongs to the neighboring autonomous region of La Rioja―but it is just as charming, and just as quintessentially Northern Spanish.

Picture a warm-toned Old Town where skinny, pastel-colored buildings flank narrow pathways, and their traditional green shutters, leafy plazas bordered by storied cafés, and of course, a monumental cathedral to top it off:

A Priceless Trove Of Medieval Treasures

Logroño’s main appeal, aside from its overall Iberian aesthetics, is its impressive medieval architectural ensemble, and there’s nowhere better to start than the Cathedral of Santa María de la Redonda.

One of the most notable stops on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, starting in France, it is characterized by its twin Baroque towers and ornate main portal, and is home to a small, yet iconic painting of the Crucifixion by none other than Michelangelo.

It may be the largest of them, but Logroño has a plethora of medieval churches to its name. In fact, the oldest church in town is not the cathedral itself, but the smaller Church of San Bartolomé. It features a beautiful, solemn interior and a well-preserved Gothic façade.

For another unique Gothic building, check out the Church of Santa María de Palacio, distinguished by its pyramid-shaped spire, added by the Knights Hospitaller in the 12th century, and a gold-clad altarpiece.

Unspoiled Spanish Charm

The best part is, not only is Logroño downright gorgeous, with a fascinating history, but it is also the closest you get in Spain to a large city unspoiled by mass tourism. Despite its cultural value and population of over 150,000 inhabitants, it has an untouched small-town feel:

Expect no long wait lines at the local Museo de la Rioja, housed in an 18th-century palace, photobombing at the Instagrammable Puente de Piedra (Stone Bridge), a historic pedestrian crossing spanning the scenic Ebro River, and no maddening crowds up the lively, local-frequented Calle del Laurel.

On that note, Bar Soriano (Calle del Laurel 2) serves incredible mushrooms with shrimp, and only a few steps away, at Bar Donosti, you can have the most delectable grilled foie gras—and guess what, it won’t hurt your wallet!

How Affordable Is Logroño?

In general, Logroño is a lot cheaper than cities like Madrid and Barcelona, and when it comes to eating out, and paid activities, it can be a noticeable margin.

This is how much dining out in Logroño will cost you, as per averages sourced from Numbeo:

Type of meal	Price in Logroño (euros)	Approximate USD conversion
Inexpensive/ casual restaurant	€12-€13	$13-$15
Mid-range, 3-course for two people	€50	$55-$60
“Menu del día” / Lunch special	€8-€10	$9-$11

Accommodation is also on the cheaper end of the range: staying at an Ibis Budget in downtown Logroño will set you back $63 (2 adults).

Based on cost-of-living comparisons shown on platforms like Numbeo and Expatistan, Logroño is around 10-15% cheaper to visit than Madrid—and you know, in this economy, you know as well as we do every single cent you can save on a vacation counts.

How To Get There This Fall

Getting to Logroño this fall, the easiest way to reach the city is to land in a major Spanish hub, then use the train.

Though there is an airport nearby, Agoncillo Airport (RJL), it is a small regional airport serving mostly domestic flights. The closest major airport that Americans can fly to nonstop, as we pointed out previously, is Bilbao (BIO), around 1h30 hour away.

Alternatively, you may choose to fly first into Madrid (MAD), 3-4 hours away by car or train.

The total train journey duration from Madrid (Puerta de Atocha) to Logroño is 3h28. There are around 7 trains a day, and tickets average from as cheap as €15 to €65 one-way (check prices at Spain’s national railway operator Renfe).