There’s a reason why Europeans choose Spain to spend their holiday at: Spain offers a combination of sunshine, affordability, diverse culture and immense charming towns to explore. According to Travel + Leisure, Spain averages over 300 days of sunshine per year. And with Spain’s beautiful sand beaches and vibrant cuisine, who wouldn’t want to spend their holiday here?

Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia often make it on the itinerary when visiting Spain, but Spain’s charm doesn’t stop there. Small towns where Europeans choose to holiday can create the best memories. The Edge is here to tell you the places you don’t want to miss when you book your plane ticket to Spain -- with a surprise bonus!

Vejer de la Frontera, Spain

Vejer de la Frontera is a quaint whitewashed hilltop town located in the province of Cadiz, overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar, the narrowest point between Europe and Africa.

The Plaza de España is a vibrant square in central Vejer de la Frontera. It features a unique tile fountain and palm trees that surround it. This can be reached through an arch that overlooks the plaza. Surrounding the plaza is a collection of boutique shops selling unique prints, jewelry and clothing made in Spain. A shop you don’t want to miss is Ecléctica Deco, a charming design, art and home decor shop that offers great souvenirs. It’s located right near the Plaza de España, across from the arch.

Outside of the Plaza de España is a pedestrian path lined with restaurants and perfect for watching a sunset with a view of windmills and the countryside below. The restaurants include traditional Spanish small plates called tapas. This walkway is next to Torre de la Corredera, a 15th century tower in the historic town.

Having opened its doors in 2002, El Jardín del Califa is a restaurant you need to have a meal at. El Jardín del Califa serves authentic Moroccan and Middle Eastern cuisine in the heart of the old town, overlooking the Plaza de España. Using traditional recipes and local ingredients, the restaurant is committed to healthy and wholesome food. A popular menu item is the pastela -- vegetarian or chicken -- fresh from the oven with warqa pastry and Moroccan spices and served with chutney. The menu also offers a variety of tagines, a Moroccan specialty cooked in a clay plot over flame, including vegetable, lamb, beef and chicken. Often with its reservations needed to be booked months in advance, this place is popular for a reason.

Set in a 16th century building, the dining rooms are set in a cozy courtyard with ambiance lighting. In the afternoon and evening, a terrace that overlooks the town and countryside invites you to relax and unwind. Reservations are not allowed for the terrace, but recommended for the courtyard dining room. To get to the courtyard, you have to go through the restaurant and down through the narrow cobblestone walkway.

Tangier, Morocco

Located just 50 minutes from Vejer de la Frontera is the historic port town of Tarifa, Spain. From here, you can book tickets for a ferry from Tarifa to Tangier, Morocco. The ferry operators of Africa Morocco Link and Baleària offer frequent day trips over to Morocco. We at The Edge recommend that you get an early ferry, preferably around 9:00 a.m to ensure that you have maximum time in Morocco. The ferry takes about an hour there and back.

Before going to Morocco, understand the etiquette. Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter mosques in Morocco and ensure that you exchange for the local currency of Moroccan dirhams once you arrive in Tangier.

Tangier’s Medina is another place you won’t want to miss. Full of narrow streets, colorful fabric and people haggling for goods, the culture is expansive. The Medina is pedestrian-only and has a Grand Socco and Petit Socco (French for Big and Little Squares). The Grand Socco is a large, open public square, while the Petit Socco is a smaller, enclosed square tucked inside of the historic medina.

Full of steep, winding streets and stairs, Tangier feels never-ending. Eventually, you’ll find the Kasbah, which sits at the top of old Tangier. The Kasbah is a former palace that now houses a historic museum. Here you’ll find snake charmers, water vendors and a view of the ocean.

Right across from the Kasbah is another restaurant you won’t want to miss: Le Salon Bleu, a quaint traditional Moroccan house situated in what used to be the stables of the Kasbah palace. Le Salon Bleu features a quaint terrace that overlooks a mosque, along with a beautiful wall with spools of yarn in different shades of blue. Le Salon Bleu is known for their kémias, a collection of small plates served in small bowls. You can choose meat or vegetarian. The vegetarian kémias include tomatoes, eggplant, hummus, tabouleh, carrots and more.

Seville, Spain

There’s a good chance you’ve seen Seville pop up on your Instagram feed. Known for its stunning architecture and flamenco culture, Seville is a place you’ll want to spend a day at to soak in the rich history and color. Seville is about a two-hour car ride from Vejer de la Frontera.

The Royal Alcázar of Seville is a UNESCO World Heritage site and royal palace. It has Moorish architecture and tranquil gardens, fountains, bridges and pavilions. Therefore, it’s no wonder that the Royal Alcázar of Seville attracts over two million people who visit every year, according to the España Guide.

Besides its unique architecture, Seville also offers a lively food scene and old town, known as Casco Antiguo. Casco Antiguo includes the Cathedral of Seville and the Royal Alcazar Gardens, a six-hectare garden that blends Islamic, Moorish and Renaissance influence.

While Spain is known for its bustling cities and Barcelona’s Park Güell, Vejer de la Frontera and Seville are places you’ll want to add to your list if you’re going down to Southern Spain. Vejer de la Frontera is a true hidden gem in terms of its cuisine and architecture, while Seville is celebrated for its rich history. And if you want to dip your toes into Morocco's culture, it’s essential to take the one-hour ferry over to Tangier for a day-trip.

Would you want to explore Southern Spain and Morocco? Let us know by commenting on our post or tagging @theedge on Instagram!

Plazas, Spices and Palaces

Vejer de la Frontera, Spain

Tangier, Morocco

Seville, Spain