Emily_D

If you read my introduction post, you know that Spain is on my travel wishlist.

http://www.fodors.com/community/foru...eam-member.cfm

What I didn't say was that when I travel, I love veering off the beaten path. I prefer staying away from the tourist areas, instead pretending that I'm a local. I'm talking about visiting those hidden gems that you stumble across randomly or a point of interest only an insider knows about.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best local way to experience Spain?

Thanks!

sparkchaser

I like to travel the same way.

I'm not giving up my secret haunts though.

sparkchaser

Best way to experience Spain: explore side roads and stop by random bars for a cerveza o vino y tapas.

yorkshire

It's fairly easy. Choose small hotels or rent an apartment in a neighborhood. Make time to wander and not just visit museums. Every region has its most famous towns (not that this isn't with good reason), but you can always pick any town not on the "radar."

sparkchaser

I think that advice applies to pretty much everywhere. Universal as it were. And solid.

danon

I assume you speak Spanish.
Except for tourist areas, English is not spoken much in Spain.
If you have never been, there are many " touristy" attractions
that define the country or a region.
Not visiting Sagrada Familia or Alhambra ( to name a couple) would be a shame.

sparkchaser

Speaking Spanish certainly makes things easier.

Questions: Do expat communities count as touristy areas? Or is it some weird "not-touristy" yet "not-authentic" zone?

Spain has several pockets of UK and German expat communities.

PalenQ

https://www.google.com/search?q=cace...=1600&bih=1075

Caceres was one town I had heard relatively little about but which was an asesome absolute gem - especially the historic old town on a hill from the new town. A bit out of the way unless going to Portugal but a sweet place.

Robert2533

"off the beaten path" in Spain is just about anywhere outside of the major tourist destinations. The north coast is full of small villages where a tourist has seldom stepped foot. There are still dozens of roads you can travel inland where very few outsiders have ventured. These places can be found in just about every part of Spain.

Cerveza is a bottle of beer, something a tourist would ask for instead of a caña, a small glass of draft beer, which a local would order ("Una caña, por favor”).

Michael

San Juan de la Peña used to be fairly isolated, as was Garrovillas in the Extremadura. Taüll may be off the beaten track for overseas tourists.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7623190654780/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57622975757180

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7623190654780/

sparkchaser

<i>Cerveza is a bottle of beer, something a tourist would ask for instead of a caña, a small glass of draft beer, which a local would order ("Una caña, por favor”).</i>

Good to know but doesn't change the fact that you're still a tourist

ribeirasacra

sparkchaser, but it is not true. my friends often ask for a Cerveza , it depends on their mood or what is on tap.

Emily it is late here in Spain and after a long day I cannot get my head together to post some ideas.
I promise tomorrow to post some ideas....

emily71

I heard both cerveza and caña during my travels in Spain. I'd also suggest to walk around the towns and don't mind getting a little lost. I think some of my best pictures were off the beaten path in the old town of Toledo, where grandmas were hanging their laundry on the line and small boys were kicking the soccer ball.

I'd also point out that especially in Spain the touristy things are there for a reason. The Alhambra is rightly considered the top sight in Spain and I would never tell anyone not to see it.

I also think just going to the grocery store helps to show how regular people live their lives.

amer_can

There is a new posting on Spanish Fiestas where the author has spent 2 month camping in Spain..even if not intersted in camping the side road sites are interesting and the pictures make it even more interesting. can't remember the address but google it and see what pops up.

Michael

Madrigal de las Altas Torres where Isabella was born might be considered off the beaten track. When we were there, the convent where she resided as a child could be visited.

Robert2533

I actually like the area around the wine region of Ribeira Sacra, Galicia. It's in the middle of the wine country and you could even stay at Casa Santo Estevo, close enough on the highway to Monforte de Lemos and Ourense. You could save money over the price of the Parador Monforte de Lemos where we stayed the last time in the area. There is also the Benedictine monastery in the middle of the Ribeira Sacra known as Santo Estevo. Both are "off the beaten path", more or less unless you know the area, which is quite beautiful, especially during the fall harvest.

HappyTrvlr

We loved the rias baixes, Baiona, El Grove, in Galicia and Ribadesella on the northern coast in Asturias.

ribeirasacra

Little information to go on here Emily, time of year, likes and dislikes, plus mode of transport are always information we need to know to give some great tips.

First I would like to respond to Robert. Is my house off the beaten track enough? The Ribeirasacra is not so well known, but it is becoming more popular thanks to several US wine importers and writers. But it still not overcrowded just yet. I hope it stays that way too.
Yes the Parador in Monforte is nice, however I feel the location is not so nice as Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sill.
But the latter has not been restored in such away as to make it look like a building of the age where as Monforte has been. There is a lot more to this area then just wine there is a lot of history and in particularly old monasteries, some in ruins others are still in use.Other location sin and around Galicia that maybe of interest would be Fragas do Eume: The only riverside Atlantic forests in Europe, so they say. This is a small area and can be visited with a stay in A Coruña if one wants a city stop.
O Courel is truly spectacular. It is a great place to explore nature. Wolves roam freely and some times you may hear about bears entering the area from neighbouring Asturias.
The beaches of Galicia at the moment are packed to overflowing. So they are hardly OTBT.
One other place to suggest in the north of Spain is Taramundi. Often thought to be in Galicia but is actually in Asturias. Here again is some "untouched" countryside. The area is also known for its traditional way of making knives.

If you are after some tips for the south then head for Extremadura.
The city of Merida, has a lot of Roman remains "doted" around. One of particular note is Roman Temple to Diana.
Something a bit newer?, maybe a visit the royal monastery at Guadalupe.
If you are interested in Bird Watching then Extremadura would also be a place for you to visit. Obviously the best time would be spring time.

I always suggest hiring a car do get in and see the true undiscovered sights. Also one night stands do not work, so plan to hang around for say nights (that is basically 2 days) or more if the area is of great interest or you wish to relax.

Emily_D

Thank you all!

Ribeirasacra - this information is so helpful. I'll admit that I always plan my trips based on what other people say can't be missed. I tend to go where the wind takes me. I'll remember to post more info next time about mode of transport, time of year, etc. Thank you for taking the time to give such great recommendations!

Cowboy1968

One of my favorite "hidden gems" is Southern Catalonia, or to be more precise the Terres de l'Ebre region.
You have a little bit of nice tourist infrastructure on the coast (and nice beaches, by the way) but no ghastly high rise tourist cities.
The inland is quite mountanous with Els Port National Park and great opportunities for hikes, short and long, on well marked trails.
More history than one relatively compact region usually can handle - from Templar castles to Civil War trenches.
The awe-inspiring delta of the river Ebro.
THE best wine of the peninsula - Priorat. And many modernisme wineries and beautiful villages or small towns. And Tortosa, the region's small "capital" - also worth a visit.
UNESCO world heritage sites, from the monasteries at the Northern edge of that territory near Reus to pre-historic cave paintings that you just climb up to and visit on your own - because there are no tourists or anyone else around..
And you don't even have to learn Spanish ;-)

http://www.terresdelebre.travel/ing/