According to the Associated Press, the protests have been sparked by rising living costs and housing shortages, with campaigners saying tourism is partly to blame.
The Catalan government has since announced plans to ban holiday lets in parts of the city by 2028.
It’s all left many visitors wondering whether they’re still welcome.
But while Barcelona tries to curb visitor numbers, there are still plenty of beautiful cities across Spain that offer a warm welcome.
One of them is La Coruña, a scenic, crowd-free city in the northwestern region of Galicia.
La Coruña, also known as A Coruña, is a port city set on a rocky peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean.
It’s far less touristy than Spain’s big-name destinations, but still offers a lot to see and do.
The city is known for its long promenade, called the Paseo Marítimo, which runs for over nine miles along the coast.
One of its top landmarks is the Tower of Hercules, an ancient Roman lighthouse and UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s still in use today.
Unlike Barcelona, La Coruña’s beaches are often quiet, even in the summer. The main ones, Riazor and Orzán, are just a short walk from the city centre and perfect for swimming or sunbathing without the crowds.
There’s also great food, especially seafood. Galician cuisine is famous for dishes like octopus (pulpo a la gallega), fresh clams, and empanadas.
The city has a relaxed, local feel, and while tourism is growing, it’s still relatively under the radar.
Culture Trekking, a travel site that explored the city, described it as “calm, spacious and refreshingly tourist-light.”
Others also highlighted its nickname, “The Glass City”, due to the gleaming window galleries that line its waterfront buildings.
So if you’re looking for somewhere with beaches, history, great food and far fewer people, La Coruña might just be the perfect alternative to Barcelona.
