Insider tips from locals: You definitely don’t know all of these 10 holiday destinations

Italy and Spain are popular travel destinations for Germans. Especially in summer, these popular destinations tend to get very crowded. But where do locals actually go on vacation in their own country, and do Germans know these regions?

The vacation rental platform " HomeToGo " also asked this question and analyzed the data from its Italian, Spanish, and German sites. The result is ten insider tips for Spain and Italy that are in high demand among locals, but rarely sought after by Germans. We'll now introduce you to these ten great places in more detail.

Ribadesella is a small fishing village on the eastern Costa Verde in Asturias. Particularly impressive is the wide estuary of the Sella River, which flows into the sea here and divides the town into two parts. The two parts are connected by a large bridge. Directly behind the town rises the Sierra de Escapa mountain range. An interesting blend of medieval town planning and modern architecture awaits you here.

The mouth of the Sella River gives the fishing village of Ribadesella a special appearance.

Source: imago images/Panthermedia

Also worth a visit is the Tito Bustillo Cave to the west of Ribadesella, considered one of Europe's most beautiful cave gems. To the east of the town is the old town with numerous restaurants, bars, and the region's typical cider cider taverns, where you can sample cider. Ribadesella is located on Spain's northern coast. The town is not yet well known among German travelers: among locals, it ranks 14th in holiday searches, but only 429th among Germans.

Huesca is the capital of the region of the same name in Aragon, northeastern Spain. A stroll through the city will reveal some magnificent buildings, including the city's cathedral and the town hall, housed in a 16th-century Aragonese Renaissance palace. One of the most important relics of Aragonese Romanticism is the Monastery of San Pedro el Viejo.

The Cathedral of Huesca is a real eye-catcher.

Source: imago images/Zoonar

Also very close to Huesca is the Centro de Arte y Naturaleza, a museum of art and nature designed by architect Rafael Moneo. Located about three kilometers outside the city, it is primarily dedicated to modern art. Huesca ranks 16th among Spanish tourists, but even lower than 2,500 among German tourists.

Hidden in the northwest of Madrid lies a true gem: the medieval city of Ávila. It's particularly famous for its unmistakable landmark, the old city walls. They're 1,700 meters long, and you can explore every meter yourself, as the walls are still accessible today. From here, you'll enjoy magnificent views of the Plaza del Mercado Grande and the city's cathedral, which, incidentally, is considered the first Gothic cathedral in Spain.

The city walls of Ávila are visible from afar.

Source: imago images/Panthermedia

Ávila is considered a quiet city. It is also famous for its succulent beef steak and the egg yolk confectionery Yemas de Santa Teresa. The name is not accidental, as Saint Teresa of Ávila is part of the city's identity. You'll encounter her everywhere: as a statue, a painting, or even a pastry. You can also visit her birthplace, the Convent of Saint Teresa. The destination is quite popular among locals, ranking 21st in search results, while in Germany it ranks somewhere below 2500.

As the name suggests, the town of Marina di Camerota is located directly on the coast, about 100 kilometers from Salerno, the provincial capital of Campania. The small town is also part of the more than 180,000-hectare Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site in 1998. The region's coast is characterized by rocky cliffs, but also offers numerous sandy beaches.

The tranquil town of Marina di Camerota is a popular holiday resort, especially among locals.

Source: imago images/Pond5 Images

It's also worth exploring the region's caves, including the Grotta Azurra and the Grotta delle Sanguine. In the town itself, you'll find numerous restaurants known for their typical Cilento cuisine, which relies heavily on olive oil, vegetables, and fish. Just outside, you'll find the medieval village of Camerota, which is also worth a visit. Italians enjoy vacationing here, which is why Marina di Camerota ranks 33rd in search results. It's relatively unknown among Germans, ranking 1707th.

Even the ancient Romans vacationed in Gaeta. To this day, it remains a popular seaside and spa resort, especially among locals living above Naples. Gaeta ranks 37th among them on "HomeToGo." Among Germans, however, the place seems to be relatively unknown, as Gaeta appears far down in the search results at 970th. The small harbor town is located on a headland and offers an idyllic harbor promenade as well as beautiful sandy beaches.

A view over the picturesque coastal town of Gaeta.

Source: imago images/Frank Bienewald

If you visit Gaeta, you should also plan a trip out of town, because an extraordinary natural monument awaits you there. On Monte Orlando, you'll find the Montagna Spaccata, which translates as "split mountain." Also nearby is the Grotta del Turco (Turkish Cave). Not only is the cave beautiful, but inside you'll also find a mysterious stone with an imprint that looks like a human hand. Legend has it that a mysterious Turkish sailor immortalized himself here.

The mysterious handprint in the Grotta del Turco.

Source: imago stock&people

The fishing town of Llanes in Asturias, Spain, is located directly on the Costa Verde. The Sierra de Cuera mountain range rises in the background. Right in the center, you'll find both the old town and the harbor, where numerous colorful fishing boats are still moored. Whalers once set sail from here, heading for the Atlantic. Also worth seeing are the Church of Santa Maria and the preserved sections of the old city wall.

The port of the idyllic harbor town of Llanes in Spain.

Source: imago images/Zoonar

If you want to explore more of the natural surroundings of Llanes, the coastal path Paseo de San Pedro is a great option. From several viewpoints, you can let your gaze wander over the rocky coves. Also popular with travelers is the Senda de la Costa hiking trail, which runs towards Pendueles. Llanes is ranked 43rd among locals, and it's not quite as unknown among Germans either, ranking at 260th.

Also very popular with locals (search ranking 44) and little known among Germans (search ranking 646) is Palinuro in the Italian Campania region. This coastal town is located about 170 kilometers south of Naples and is known for its rocky coastline and beautiful bays. Once primarily home to fishermen, today it is still a popular port town, but also a popular seaside resort.

Directly in front of the city lies the Cape Palinuro of the same name.

Source: imago images/Wirestock

Along the coast, you'll find several watchtowers, including the Torre del Fortino del Prodese and the Torre du Calafetente. The Cilento National Park is also nearby. Typical of the Italian coast, there are numerous caves worth seeing here, including the Grotte Azzurra, which is bathed in a magical blue light by the sun's rays.

The popular holiday resort of Segovia (search ranking 47th) is located northwest of Madrid in the central Spanish region of Castile and León. It lies almost exactly between the two rivers, the Clamores and the Eresma. Among Germans, the town is not particularly well-known when it comes to vacations, ranking somewhere below 2,500th in search results.

Like something out of a fairytale: The Alcázar Castle in Segovia, Spain.

Source: imago images/Panthermedia

There's a lot to discover here, including the impressive Aqueduct of Segovia, one of the most important legacies of the Roman Empire in Spain. You can't miss it, as it's located in the heart of the city and is about ten kilometers long. Another place worth seeing is the Alcázar of Segovia, a castle that could have come straight out of a fairytale. It was built in the Gothic style at the beginning of the modern era.

The Spanish city of Toledo sits perched atop a hill above the plains of Castile-La Mancha in central Spain. It's also called the City of Three Cultures, as followers of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have lived together here for centuries, shaping the cityscape. So it's no surprise that you can admire a Gothic cathedral, a tenth-century mosque, and two synagogues almost side by side.

The historic city of Toledo in Spain has a lot of history to offer.

Source: imago images/Panthermedia

Toledo is located about 80 kilometers from Madrid and is a popular vacation destination among locals (search ranking 50th). The city is also well-known among Germans, ranking 80th in the search results, not as far behind as other travel destinations. The best way to explore Toledo is to stroll through the alleys and streets of the historic city.

Finally, here's an insider tip for an island in Italy. While it's no longer an insider tip among locals (search ranking 53rd), the island doesn't seem to have made it onto the German holiday calendar yet (search ranking >2500). Giglio is 90 percent uninhabited and is located in Tuscany in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Although it's the second-largest island in the Tuscan archipelago, it's home to just 1,500 people.

The harbor on the small island of Giglio in Tuscany, Italy.

Source: imago images/Pond5 Images

Crystal-clear, emerald-green seas, beautiful sandy beaches, and secluded coves await you here. You can explore the coast on hiking trails, and the towns of Giglio Porto and Giglio Castello offer restaurants and accommodations. A predominantly tourist settlement can be found on the western side of the island, Giglio Campese.

About the method

The "Search Ranking among Locals" is based on searches conducted on hometogo.es (Spain) and hometogo.it (Italy). The rankings were assigned individually for each market. The analyzed searches took place between July 20, 2023, and December 20, 2023, with a check-in date between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. The "Search Ranking among Vacationers from Germany" is based on searches conducted on hometogo.de for destinations in Spain and Italy. The rankings were assigned individually for each destination country.

Looking for more inspiration? You can find tips for all the top travel destinations at reisereporter .