Travel Guide
This Secret Medieval City In Spain Offers Authentic Culture & Less Crowds
Apr
Everyone who seems to know Spain almost exclusively thinks of Barcelona and its Gaudí-built wonders, Madrid for the leafy boulevards lined with Belle époque buildings, and Malaga for the golden-sand beaches, but there’s still plenty they don’t know about the vast, incredibly diverse Iberian country.
We’ve already covered extensively lesser-known territories like Basque Country, to the north, and a historical region littered with ancient castles and snow-capped peaks, not to mention Galicia, with its distinct culture and unspoiled Atlantic Coast, so can there be more?
If you’ve been hoping for a secret Spanish destination most tourists have yet to visit that offers not only fewer crowds but authentic cultural experiences, here’s why you should add Cuenca to your list:
A Medieval City With Houses Hanging On Cliffsides
Not to be confused with its direct offspring, Ecuador’s national capital, Cuenca is set in the mountain-traversed hinterland of central Spain.
It was founded by the Moors, Muslim settlers from North Africa who rules over much of the Iberian Peninsula, which Spain founds itself in, for several long centuries—you know, the same guys who built much of Andalusia?
While the world has evolved, and civilizations have risen and fall, it’s remained largely unchanged throughout History.
Cuenca is best known for being perched on a limestone spur, overlooking not one but two scenic rivers, the Júcar and the Huécar.
Bestriding the steep rocks, there are rows upon rows of casas colgadas, hanging medieval houses with beautifully carved covered wooden balconies that seem almost to defy gravity.
They’re part of the reason why Cuenca feels so special:
Nowhere else in Spain, or Europe, for that matter, will you find this exact type of architecture, and it’s no wonder UNESCO has bestowed upon the municipality World Heritage status, but the houses, as fascinating as they may be, should not the only reason why you come here.
What Else Is Cuenca Known For?
The further you walk into the fortress-like Old Town, surrounded by imposing walls, where narrow alleys are paved with cobblestones and skinny edifices seem to come in every imaginable hue of pastel, the more you realize this feels like stepping through a time portal back to the 15th century.
Truly, not much has changed since then, from the timeless facades to the city’s Muslim-era layout.
Though there are certainly modern additions, from cell phone repair shops to tapas bars, that have replaced the old-fashioned taverns, the ancient ‘feel’ is there.
In the midst of the medieval maze, the Cuenca Cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece standing tall over the colorful townscape.
If you’re wondering whether you can step into one of the famous hanging houses just to see what they look like from the inside, check out the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art.
We’re not the greatest enthusiasts of this kind of exhibit ourselves, but it’s your one shot at visiting a Hanging House of Cuenca and admiring its centuries-old foundations (plus, it’s free!).
Cuenca Is One Of The Cheapest City Breaks In Spain
On that note, Cuenca is an incredibly affordable destination:
For instance, some sangria wine and tapas in a local bar should cost you around $8-10, whereas a three-course dinner for one, in a mid-range restaurant in the heart of the Old Town, might set you back by around $30 (the range is actually $20 to $45).
That’s much lower than the average in Spain, where dining out in cities like Barcelona, Valencia, or Palma de Mallorca costs significantly more.
Accommodation is equally inexpensive:
This spring, the centrally-located Arevalos Hotel, within short walking distance of the hanging houses and the cathedral, will cost $53 to book per night, and if you’re really being economical, a private room in Hostal Cortes will be an even-cheaper $38.
Why Is Cuenca So Cheap Compared To Other Spanish Destinations?
You may wonder why Cuenca is so affordable, considering its UNESCO-listed status, medieval charm, and beautiful natural scenery. Have we mentioned that, as it straddles a series of hills, it boasts breathtaking views of gorges and central Spain’s lush countryside?
Well, it’s yet to be discovered by the masses, that’s why.
Though tourism is for sure growing, with record numbers noted for 2024, that only translates into roughly 450,000 visitors, and that’s without differentiating between domestic ones (Spaniards) and foreigners.
Spain hosted over 100 million guests in 2024, and Cuenca accounted for a mere 0.4% of that.
Hidden gem hunters, there’s one diamond in the rough for you!
How To Visit Cuenca, Spain In 2025
Cuenca does not have an airport, so all tourist arrivals will touch down in a major Spanish hub, such as Madrid, Barcelona, or Seville, before making their way there.
That’s a huge detour, so it’s hardly a surprise that Cuenca has managed to retain its authenticity while the rest of Spain succumbed under the weight of mass tourism: only those who are intent on experiencing the local culture will go through the bother of coming.
It’s not like it’s all that inaccessible, either:
Cuenca has a train station, serviced by multiple train lines and well connected to the rest of Spain. For example, getting there from Madrid on those low-cost AVLO trains the Spanish love takes roughly an hour, and tickets start from as cheap as $8.
You better get there quick before the secret gets out and all those Instagrammers obsessed with Old World aesthetics realize there was ever an ‘original’ Cuenca, to begin with.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
