This beautiful region of Spain is ideal for escaping tourists.

It's cooler there and the landscapes are varied: everything to attract locals who find fewer tourists there.

France, Italy, Spain... These are the top three destinations in Europe for a great vacation, according to (too) many tourists. Spain has won the hearts of French vacationers, as well as British and German ones in particular. Tens of millions of them cross the border each year, both in summer and winter, to find sunshine, reasonable prices, and long sandy beaches.

And where are the Spanish themselves heading? Not necessarily to the same place. According to several Spanish experts, hotels on the tourist-heavy Costa del Sol on the Mediterranean coast recorded a nearly 10% drop in the number of Spanish visitors last year. And here's where they're going to set down their suitcases instead!

The Spanish have clearly opted for these more northern, less touristy locations: the Basque Country and Galicia, two booming regions. Experts suggest this trend could be linked to climate change, which has caused heatwaves in southern Spain, particularly in the last two summers. In summer, the north of the country is traditionally much cooler.

But that's not the only argument, as Galicia offers many advantages: the beaches are wide and varied, and the water is renowned for its cleanliness. The temperature is a little cooler since it's on the Atlantic coast, but the climate is more pleasant in mid-summer. Galicia is often referred to as the "Spanish Brittany" for the variety of its landscapes and its rich culture.

The city of Vigo also wins many votes, as does the Cíes Islands archipelago, near Pontevreda. It offers superb beaches and beautiful hiking trails, and the Spanish appreciate the relative tranquility here compared to the more touristy areas of their country.

Hiking enthusiasts can also follow pilgrimage routes, including the famous Camino de Santiago leading to Santiago de Compostela. Will it be the same this year? Spanish travelers have clearly made Galicia their secret paradise...