Spain and Portugal - 5 Must See Cities

Ever wondered what else there is besides Madrid and Porto? Learn the magic of Granada, Faro, Santiago de Compostela, and a few of my other favorite places.

I wanted to share a few of my favorite places with you that you may not have thought of while planning your trip. I'll try to keep it short, as there are so many more things to love about each of these places.

My most recent trip was a 25-day long adventure through Spain and Portugal. While you may think 25 days is plenty of time to see everything, there are still so many things I missed. I decided to make a list of my top 5 cities I traveled to that everyone should experience at least once.

Keep in mind that traveling through Spain and Portugal is very cost effective and easy, making it an ideal vacation. Trains were my preferred method of travel, but even the buses were clean and easy to access via apps. If you have a chance, I recommend taking an overnight train. The upgrade into a comfort plus cabin is well worth it, it was my dream experience.

In Spain, sleeping in is expected, naps are required, meals will last hours, and dinner isn’t until 20:00 (at the earliest), which may have been part of how I knew this was the country for me.

In this article, I tried to pick places that aren’t visited as often. Everyone thinks of Madrid, and yes, you should go there, the atmosphere is amazing, but there is so much more than Madrid and Porto when it comes to Spain and Portugal.

Unfortunately, Faro is the only city on this list in Portugal. While Porto definitely has its draw, Faro was by far my best experience. If you’re after quiet, clean beaches, and amazing restaurants - Faro is for you.

I stayed at Faro Beach Life Hostel while I was there, on the Ilha de Faro, a small strip off the coast of Faro, surrounded by the Atlantic on both sides. It was an amazing place to stay, and was by far my best hostel experience. Almost everyone there other than me was Australian, which made it even more fun to talk to everyone. The hostel was situated towards the gulf of the Atlantic, allowing you to walk along that part of the beach during the day, then step off the stairs into the water after the tide rose at night.

The isle strip is so narrow that all you have to do is walk across the road to reach the true Atlantic beach. When I tell you it’s empty, I’m serious. The water was so calming, and I only saw a handful of other people on the beach all day. It was clean, and the water was clear. There’s a couple beach side stores and shops if you feel like walking along the beach to explore. There’s also easy access to the bus station that leads you into the city of Faro for a couple Euros that comes at regular intervals, so it’s easy to get to and from the Island.

If you’re looking for good food while you’re there (instead of living off hostel frozen pizza), Elementos is a must. The Tuna Tataki and Salmon dishes were to die for.

This was the city that made me fall in love with Spain. It is bustling with culture, and no matter how long you spend there you will never see it all. There’s only a few areas in town to avoid if you’re walking alone, and the locals will be happy to tell you which streets to avoid. There is a cruise port, so if you’re worried about how bad your Catalan is, rest assured that everyone I met spoke English as well because of the constant international business brought in by the cruise port. You can walk through La Rambla, enjoy the shops, and end your walk at the port.

Side note: If you're into tattoos, stop at Inksane Tattoo. I had such a great experience with them.

While you're in Barcelona, make sure you walk through the Gothic Quarter, tour Park Güell, and most importantly, go see La Sagrada Familia. Talk to anyone in the city and they will tell you how much Gaudi meant to them and explain all the architecture he put up. I didn’t tour the inside of La Sagrada Familia, as it was spur of the moment and tickets are normally bought months in advance, but just seeing the outside was good enough for me. I’ll definitely be returning to see it once the 100-year construction is complete. There is so much to see in Barcelona it’s hard to even write it all, which is why it’s #2 on my list. Spend a few days here, take it in, and talk to the locals if you want more recommendations on what to see. There’s even the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc for those interested in an after-dinner show. Keep in mind, most restaurants won’t even be open for dinner until 20:00, and dinner will last at least two hours.

Barceloneta is the main beach of Barcelona, but unless you’re up for chaotic crowds and no room to stretch out, I would recommend heading down to #Torremolinos. Even thought Barceloneta did have lots of cute Spaniards working out on the beach, I spent a majority of my time in Torremolinos, and it was an experience I’ll never forget. At most places, you do have to pay to have your chair reserved for you, but it is worth the 10 euros. You can leave, get food, come back, and your spot is still there for you. Plus, many of the places will even bring your drinks down to you, as those spots on the beach with chairs are ran by the restaurants they’re in front of. Walk along the beach in the evening and you’ll see hints of the florescent algae and get to hear the nightlife of the city. And for those wondering, yes, Spain is full of topless beaches, but people are expected to be appropriately dressed elsewhere.

Home of Chocolate con Churros, Sevilla is a must see. As someone who had never experienced Fahrenheit to Celsius translation before, I didn’t think anything of it when they told me it would be 45 degrees. Spoiler alert, 45 degrees Celsius is EXTREMELY hot. I learned they have their own micro-climate in that part of the country, allowing it to stay warm year-round, and reach 49 degrees during the summer. Don’t be afraid to take some time to cool down in the afternoon hours. Siesta is expected, and sunburn is a real threat.

The history in Sevilla radiates from the streets. Take a tour through the narrow roads in the Jewish Quarter and hear about The Legend of Susona, Sevilla’s own story of tragic young love and the difficulties of opposing government sides.

I recommend paying for a guided tour through the World’s Largest Cathedral: Catedral de Sevilla. And yes, they do have the world record slip hanging up to prove that they are, in fact, the largest cathedral. It’s way more interesting when you get to hear the facts of each individual room, the story told on the ceiling domes, hear the true story of Columbus, and learn more about the artifacts they keep - including a piece of the crown of thorns worn by Jesus. Bonus: climb the tower at the end of your tour. It does offer amazing views, but be warned, it is narrow and packed. If you’re claustrophobic, this isn’t the thing for you.

Side note: If you’re a GOT junkie, Sevilla has to be on your list, or you’ll be missing out on seeing the real-life Dorne.

Where you’ll find the best pizza of your life, and the original horchatas.

Even though it's a large city, Valencia has the ability to feel very calm and welcoming. You have to stop at Citadella for some amazing pizza and even better desert. The Horchateria de Santa Catalina is the oldest place to get Horchatas in Spain, and they're proud of it. We even stopped in the square for some #paella action. If you aren't sure which restaurant to pick, don't worry, there will be plenty of waiters who come and talk to you about what they have on their menus if they see you struggling.

Valencia is also famous for its oranges, but be warned, the ones growing throughout the city are barely edible. Make sure you stop by a vendor stand to grab some fresh grown oranges, which have every right to be famous. Throwing the peel in the street is perfectly acceptable, so don't worry if you get messy.

Whether it's the atmosphere, food, or beautiful fountains you're after, Valencia has something for everyone. For me, the best experience of Valencia was experience #Valencia vs. #Madrid in downtown Valencia. When people tell you they take soccer seriously, they aren't kidding. They lit up the buildings with the teams colors and had a huge screen set up in the square projecting the game, and it just so happened that Valencia won. The partying didn't stop until morning. Nothing will make you fall in love with this city quite like the people who live in it.

What really gives Santiago it's appeal is the people who arrive from finishing the Camino. Everyone gathers in the square in front of the cathedral to talk about their travels and what they saw, people from every walk of life, every cultural background, and every age group gather to celebrate and have fun. The city is full of cute hole-in-the-wall cafes that will give you a new appreciation for napolitanas.

Unfortunately, I didn't take very many photos while I was there, as many of the places I went don't allow photography. The best part of the Caterdal de Santiago was seeing the depictions of pre-catholic Christ. While I don't want to get into any religious debate, I will say that I am a believer that Christ was probably not a Caucasian brunette, as he was from the Middle East. Getting to see historical artifacts like they have in Santiago really brings you a better picture of what the world was like.

In fact, if you have time, I recommend you do a short portion of the Camino de Santiago, the people you meet will change your life.

Also, for those with the dream of marrying a Spaniard, I recommend Santiago. One of the largest universities is there, and the people in Spain are BEAUTIFUL.

As mentioned, I tried to pick places that aren’t thought of as often and show why you should go there. But make sure you don’t miss Granada. La Alhambra is world famous for a reason, and seeing the gypsy’s dance flamenco in the caves is worth it. Tour the Gypsy cities (not after dark) and enjoy the walk through the gardens and architecture in La Alhambra. If you get a guide (which I always recommend), you'll get to hear about the historical wars that led to the different designs you'll see present in La Alhambra, and understand how much of an impression the Muslim rulers made on this part of the country. The streets are breathtaking to walk through, the courtyards are beautiful, and the restaurants are phenomenal. It’s a perfect photo op for those interested, with towers of colorful flowers near the courthouse.

I'd love to hear your favorite places to go in Spain and Portugal, or any questions you have about my time there!