Travel Guide
No Crowds & Timeless Marvels: Lesser-Known City Hyped As Spain’s 2025 Hotspot
Jan
Barcelona, Madrid, and numerous Spanish islands have a new report to thank for getting the figurative monkey off their backs, hyping up an undiscovered destination as Spain’s 2025 hotspot.
As Spain has skyrocketed in popularity (much to locals’ chagrin), there’s a lesser-known city with no crowds and timeless marvels waiting to be discovered.
Best of all, there are no ‘anti-tourism’ protests or stink-eyed “Karens” to deter you. Ah, how refreshing.
Instead, you’ll be welcomed by friendly locals happy for an economic jolt, savory tapas bars, captivating UNESCO-recognized architecture, and of course, traditional markets and cheap wine.
It is the capital of Asturias, after all, a region teeming with stunning natural beauty and unmatched flavors.
Oviedo: Spain’s Best Alternative To Been-There-Done-That Cities
ABTA is a U.K. trade association representing tour operators, travel agents, and other travel-related businesses.
TimeOut just revealed the ABTA has set their sights on Oviedo, Astoria’s lesser-known gem, as Spain’s 2025 go-to destination to beat the crowds in cities where tourists no longer feel welcomed anyway.
Between protests, unsightly anti-tourism graffiti, and locals wrongly taking action into their own hands on occasion, places such as Oviedo have new acclaim for travelers seeking to enjoy the delights of Spain without the hoopla of overtourism concerns.
Oviedo is home to over 200,000 residents and dates back to the 8th century, officially becoming the Asturian capital in 810 AD.
So, when I say this city is a treasure trove of timeless charm, that’s a literal statement. While it may be enticing to visit such icons as Barcelona and Madrid, imagine experiencing similar historic marvels without fighting off pesky eye-gauging selfie sticks.
That’s the case here with such religious sites as the 9th-century Church of Santa María del Naranco and Church of San Julián de los Prados, and the unmissable Oviedo Cathedral anchoring the city center.
Diving deeper into Oviedo’s fascinating timeline, one hidden gem not to miss is the Archaeological Museum of Asturias, beholding archaeological relics from various parts of Asturia.
There’s no shortage of sites to see despite being much smaller than Spain’s metropolises. Oviedo’s picturesque plazas are wonderful to explore and take memorable photos as you peruse local markets and indulge in local eateries, where free tapas are a must at such places as Jamōn Jamōn.
Wine & Dine In Oviedo
There’s no such thing as a bad meal in Spain, but why not go to the heartland of the country’s renowned cuisine?
Being the capital of Asturias, there’s no better place to chow down on local dishes and sip fine wine at ultra-cheap prices.
This foodie paradise is teeming with savory dishes hard to find back home, like Fabada Asturiana, a bean stew considered a staple of the region, among other artery-clogging entrees like Cachopo, a beef filet commonly filled with ham and cheese, and of course, satisfying your sweet tooth with Carbayones.
Seafood is a whole other level, too, mixing common catches like octopus and monkfish into unforgettable meals.
As for wine, there’s certainly no shortage of vineyards to enjoy, but another way to pick your poison is by indulging in another Asturian delicacy, Sidra, or as well-known back home as cider.
You’ll find many Sidrerias to enjoy, perhaps even more than wine. La Finca Sidrería Agrobar is a popular spot located in the city center near all the aforementioned historic sites.
How Affordable Is Oviedo?
Airfare is typically the most expensive part of any trip. While Oviedo doesn’t have its own airport per se, Astoria does in nearby Santiago del Monte, about 17 miles away, and connects major hubs like London, Rome, Barcelona, and Lisbon on budget carriers, Volotea and Ryanair.
So, you’re off to a solid start, financially speaking. Hotels are easy to score great deals too, and being such a historic city, Oviedo’s timeless allure translates to their array of accommodations from $40 old-timey boutique hotels to $80 Airbnbs.
If it were me, though, I’d splurge on a 5-star hotel where the old world meets modern luxury at Eurostar Hotel de la Reconquista, just 2 blocks from scenic city park, Campo San Fancisco, surrounded by cozy cafes, quirky monuments, and staggering cathedrals.
As mentioned, food and wine won’t break the bank either. According to Expatistan, a bottle of local red wine costs $6, for reference.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
