With its voluptuous Gaudi architecture, creative soul and golden beaches, Barcelona has become one of the top cities in Britain’s favourite holiday destination. But it’s not all sunshine and sangria. With 15.
6 million tourists descending in 2023, a region-wide drought and high property prices due to the pervasive presence of short-term holiday lets, locals are taking to the streets. Spraying diners on the famous Rambla boulevard with water pistols is just one of a series of protests that have gripped Spain in key tourist hotspots, from Mallorca to Malaga . But that’s not to say you can’t visit Spain this summer, there are plenty of alternative cities that combine culture and beach and are all the more charming for their lack of tourists.
Valencia, Valencian Community Named European Green Capital for 2024 , Spain’s third city is enjoying a moment in the spotlight. Around 350km (218 miles) south along the coast from Barcelona, Valencia has long been in its northern neighbour’s shadow, a smaller city with fewer than a million inhabitants. A network of cycle routes connects the wide golden beaches with the Gothic old town and futuristic architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences, and a 12km-long park meanders through it all, following the route of the old Turia River.
The home of paella, Valencia pulls in fresh produce from surrounding farms and wetlands, and the city’s cultural offering ranges from medieval city gates and Roman ruins to the new Hortensia Herrero.