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Each year, the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) selects dozens of towns across the globe as the very best tourist destinations, and Spain has just revealed the five candidates it will be putting forward.

 

The ‘Best Tourism Town’ awards choose areas with fewer than 15,000 inhabitants which shine as “examples of rural destinations with cultural and natural assets that preserve and promote rural and community-based values, products and their lifestyle.”

 

The selection is carried out by an Evaluation Committee made up of the Secretary of State for Tourism, Turespaña, Segittur, the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) and the Association of the Most Beautiful Towns in Spain.

 

These are the five candidates from Spain for the 2024 edition of Best Tourism Towns.

 

At the top of the mountain is Casares, a striking white-washed town 16 kilometres from Estepona and 46km from Marbella. It is characterised by steep alleys and bright white facades decorated with flower pots. This Málaga town has an ancient castle, views of the Serranía de Ronda and the Strait of Gibraltar and several pristine beaches.

 

This town at the gates of the Aragonese Pyrenees exudes medieval charm. Aínsa is located an hour and a half by car from Huesca. Already recognised as one of the most beautiful towns in Spain, this rural gem houses an imposing castle and is flanked by two rivers, making Aínsa an ideal destination for lovers of history and nature.

 

The name of this town in Zaragoza is not coincidental as it is the birthplace of Ferdinand II of Aragón. 122 kilometres from the Aragonese capital is Sos del Rey Católico, which houses an old Jewish quarter and its layout is made up of winding streets with stone houses, facades with shields and Gothic and Renaissance windows.

 

The picturesque and cheerful facades and its seafaring essence make Cudillero one of the most charming towns in Asturias. Don’t miss a visit to the Plaza de la Marina, the Mirador del Baluarte, the historic centre, the Humilladero chapel and the path to the Lighthouse.

 

We close the list of candidates for Best Tourism Towns 2024 with a town on the Costa Brava. Pals, 50 minutes by car from Girona, stands out for its Gothic old town, which never fails to transport visitors back in time. The town is located inland, but the municipality extends to the coast, so Pals is an ideal getaway to breathe in history and relax on the beach.

 

 

Images: Wikimedia Commons