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Everyone who seems to know Spain, almost exclusively of Barcelona and his Gaudí built miracles, Madrid for the leafy boulevards covered with Belle Époque buildings, and Malaga for the golden sandy beaches, but there is Still enough they not Knows the vast, incredibly diverse Iberian country.
We have already extensively known areas such as Basque Country, in the north, and a historic region strewn with old castles and snow -covered buds, not to mention Galicia, with its various culture and unspoilt Atlantic coast, so Can there be more?
If you hope for a secret Spanish destination that most tourists still have to visit who not only offers fewer crowds but authentic cultural experiences, you have to add this Cuenca To your list:
A medieval city with houses hanging on cliffs
Not to be confused with his direct descendants, the national capital of Ecuador, Cuenca is set in the hinterland of Central Spain.
It was founded by the Moors, Muslim settlers from North Africa who rules a large part of the Iberian Peninsula, in which Spain is located for several long centuries – do you know, the same guys who have built a lot of Andalusia?
While the world has evolved, civilizations have risen and fall, It has largely remained unchanged through history.
Cuenca is best known as on a limestone track, overlooking one but two picturesque rivers, the Júcar and the Huécar.
Fight the steep rocks, there are rows in rows of Casas ColgadasHanging medieval houses with beautifully cut covered wooden balconies that almost seem to defy gravity.
They are part of the reason why Cuenca feels so special:
Nowhere else in Spain, or Europe, will you find this exact type of architecture, and it is no wonder that UNESCO has donated the municipality World Heritage StatusBut the houses, as fascinating as they can be, should not be the only reason why you come here.
What else is Cuenca about?
The further you walk into the fort-like old city, surrounded by the imposition of walls, Where narrow alleys are paved with paved and lean buildings in every conceivable hue of pastel, the more you realize that this feels like you are stepping through a time portal Back to the 15th century.
Since then, not much has changed, from the timeless facades to the Muslim recording of the city.
Although there are certainly modern additions, from repair workshops for mobile phones to tapas bars, which have replaced the old -fashioned taverns, the old ‘feeling’ is there.
In the midst of the medieval maze is the cathedral of Cuenca A Gothic masterpiece Are high over the colorful cityscape.
If you wonder if you can step into one of the famous hanging houses to see what they look like from the inside, view the Museum of Spanish abstract art.
We are not the greatest enthusiasts of this kind of ourselves, but it is your only shot to visit a hanging house of Cuenca and to admire the age -old foundations (plus, it’s free!).
Cuenca is one of the cheapest city breaks in Spain
Cuenca is on that comment An incredibly affordable destination:
Some Sangria wine and tapas in a local bar should, for example, cost you around $ 8-10, while a three-course dinner for one, in a mid-range restaurant in the heart of the old city, you could return with around $ 30 (the range is actually $ 20 to $ 45).
That is much lower than the average in Spain, where dining in cities such as Barcelona, Valencia or Palma de Mallorca costs considerably more.
Accommodation is equally cheap:
This spring, the centrally located Arevalos HotelA short walk from the hanging houses and the cathedral, costs $ 53 to book per nightAnd if you are really economic, in a private room Hostal Cortes will be An even cheaper $ 38.
Why is Cuenca so cheap compared to other Spanish destinations?
You may be wondering why Cuenca is so affordable, given the UNESCO status, medieval charm and a beautiful natural landscape. Did we say that, because it extends over a series of hills, it has a breathtaking view of Gorges and the lush countryside of Central Spain?
Good, It has yet to be discovered by the massesThat’s why.
Although tourism certainly grows, with record numbers noted Before 2024, this only translates into around 450,000 visitors, and that can be made without a distinction between domestic (Spaniards) and foreigners.
Spain organized more than 100 million guests in 2024 and Cuenca accounted for only 0.4% of that.
Hidden gem hunters, there is one diamond in the rough for you!
How to visit Cuenca, Spain in 2025
Cuenca does not have an airport, so all tourist appointments will touch in a large Spanish hub, such as Madrid, Barcelona or Seville, before they go there.
That is a huge detour, so it is hardly a surprise that Cuenca has succeeded in retaining authenticity, while the rest of Spain is shattered under the weight of mass tourism: only those who intend to experience local culture will take the trouble to come.
It is also not as if it is so inaccessible:
Cuenca has a train station maintained by several train lines and well connected to the rest of Spain. For example, there are from Madrid on those cheap Avlo trains that lasts about an hour and tickets start for about an hour From as cheap as $ 8.
It is better to get there quickly before the secret gets out and all those Instagrammers obsessed with the old world aesthetics realize that there was once an ‘original’ Cuenca to start with.
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This article originally appeared on Traveloffpath.com
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