Come
July and August, Spain’s
most popular beach
resorts are thronging
with tourists – in some
areas, it can be
difficult to get a towel
in edgeways. If you like
the idea of a short-haul
destination with great
weather and plenty of
choice but don’t want to
follow the crowd, then
here are some fantastic
Spanish destinations
that haven’t made it
onto the general tourist
radar.
San Sebastian:
This beautiful, historic
town doesn’t attract
tourists in the same
numbers as Barcelona and
Seville – which is
surprising, considering
that it boasts several
sites of historical and
archaeological interest
as well as one of the
country’s nicest urban
beaches and weather to
rival the sunniest of
the costas. Couples and
singles will love the
abundance of bars,
lively nightlife and
renowned gourmet
culture, while for
families there’s an
amusement park – the
Parque de Attracciones –
right outside town.

La Concha, San
Sebastian
Almuñécar: On the
coast halfway between
the airports of Malaga
and Granada, this
delightful Spanish town
is easy to get to,
packed with things to do
and see, and yet not
nearly as overrun with
visitors as some of the
more built-up resorts
nearby. It sits on a
small hill on the Costa
Tropical, overlooking
some gorgeous beaches
and backed by
vineyard-covered
hillsides and forested
mountains. Inland you’ll
find the Peña Escrita
natural park, a haven
for walkers and
explorers, while the
spectacular underwater
scenery makes diving a
popular activity. With
travel providers offering
budget holidays to the
Costa Tropical, this is
a good choice if you’re
thinking about
family
holidays in Spain.

A typical street in
Almuñécar
Peniscola: If you
haven’t heard of this
pretty lieel 13th
century town, then you
won’t be the only one.
Peniscola, built by the Knights Templar in the
late 1200s, is filled
with reminders of its colourful past. Culture
vultures can enjoy
plenty of sight-seeing,
thanks to the abundance
of ancient castles and
historical architecture,
and there are also
annual film and comedy
festivals that attract
plenty of revelers and
are a great time to see
the town at its best.

Peniscola beach |