Spain attractions

Straddling the Nervión River and connecting two of the city’s most popular attractions—the Guggenheim and Artxanda Funicular—the futuristic, steel cable–suspended Zubizuri Bridge is an architecturally notable landmark. Visit after dark to see the Santiago Calatrava–designed footbridge light up.

Located in the northwestern corner of Cadiz, Genovés Park (Parque Genovés) is a lovely green oasis by the sea. Built in the 19th century, it's the largest park in the historic center, and boasts more than 100 species of plants, complex topiary, a man-made lake with a waterfall and grotto, commemorative statues, and an outdoor theater.

César Manrique, an artist and architect, left an indelible mark on Lanzarote through his creations and activism. Art and architecture meet nature at the César Manrique Foundation (Fundación César Manrique inside his former home, offering a visually stunning glimpse into the Lanzarote native’s craft.

Located in the Urola River Valley in Spain’s northern Basque Country, the Sanctuary of Loyola is a basilica and shrine dedicated to the life of beloved Spanish Basque Catholic priest, St. Ignatius of Loyola. The sanctuary’s impressive architecture and idyllic surroundings draw religious pilgrims and secular visitors from around the world.

Built in the 1920s under the orders of a wealthy textile manufacturer, Enrique Carbonell, Casa Carbonell, with its striking white facade and towering blue domes, has become the most emblematic landmark in Alicante. Located along the maritime promenade, its old-fashioned iron, sandstone, glass and marble work is an elegant contrast to the more modern buildings in the city center.

This area on the east coast of Ibiza has it all: stunning beaches, quaint towns, and historic monuments. The second most visited location on the island, behind only Eivissa, Santa Eulària has become known for its quieter atmosphere compared to the diehard party scenes elsewhere.

Halfway between Barcelona and the French border lies the town of Palafrugell, a jumping-off point to some of the prettiest and most pristine areas of the Costa Brava. Enticing spots include the fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell, Cap Roig promontory, and the beachy villages of Tamariu, Aiguablava, Fornells, and Llafranc.

Built more than 2,000 years ago and discovered in 1998, the Roman Theatre of Cartagena (Teatro Romano de Cartagena) was worth the wait, say its many visitors. Perched on a hillside overlooking the city, the amphitheater held up to 6,000 spectators during Roman times and today houses an in-depth museum.

Located in far northeast Catalonia near the French border, Cap de Creus is the easternmost point of the Iberian Peninsula. A wild and rugged landscape overlooking the Mediterranean, Cap de Creus is home to a lighthouse, nature reserve, hidden coves, and dramatic coastal scenery, with fancifully shaped rocks that inspired Salvador Dali.

One of Spain’s most prestigious galleries, the Museum of Fine Arts in Seville is regarded as second only to Madrid’s Prado Museum. Set in a former 17th-century convent, the museum draws visitors with its vast painting and sculpture collections from the 12th to the 20th centuries, including pieces by Murillo, Ribera, and El Greco.

If you’re a music lover, or you simply enjoy American-style food, then add the Hard Rock Cafe to your Barcelona itinerary. Located in Plaça de Catalunya, the city’s main square, the restaurant serves up the same crowd-pleasing fare and music memorabilia that you’ll find in its other locations around the globe.

Many travelers come to Barcelona to see the colorful broken-tile mosaics or trencadís that are emblematic of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí’s modernist masterpieces. At Mosaiccos, budding artists and craftspeople can learn about the process, try the time-honored techniques, and create their own works of mosaic art. In addition to hands-on workshops, the studio has a shop selling a variety of mosaic-crafted gifts.

Discover the Canary Islands’ viniculture traditions at Monje Winery (Bodegas Monje) in scenic La Hollera on Tenerife. Sample the reds, whites, and rosés; wander the vines; and learn how traditional methods and modern innovation come together. Then, enjoy some of the best views on the island from the terrace at the on-site restaurant.

One of a string of sandy beaches and bays lining Lanzarote’s southern coast, Papagayo Beach (Playa de Papagayo) lies within the Monumento Natural de Los Ajaches Park and is one of the island’s most beautiful beaches. Visit the horseshoe-shaped bay cocooned between sea cliffs and blessed with swaths of pale gold sand for a relaxing day on the beach.

Built on the remains of an old Moorish palace in Ronda’s old town, Casa del Rey Moro (House of the Moorish King is best known for its hanging gardens and water mine. Despite its name, the space was never inhabited by a Moorish king. Visitors are often most excited to see the 14th-century water mine, which was constructed to provide the city with a secret supply of water during times of siege.

To soak up the lively spirit of Cartagena, you just need to stroll down Calle Mayor (Main Street)—the avenue exemplifies the best of the Spanish city’s history and culture. Highlights include the palm tree-lined Plaza de Ayuntamiento, the 19th-century Art Nouveau masterpiece of Casino de Cartagena, and the Roman Theater Museum, which traces the city’s millennia of history.

This Benedictine monastery is known for its architecture and decor, including a baroque exterior with gargoyles, and an interior with impressive sculptures and an ornate altar. During the summer months, two 17th-century cloisters provide lodging for visitors and pilgrims walking the nearby Way of St. James (Camino de Santiago).

Praza das Praterías (or Plaza de Platerías), a lovely square in the heart of Santiago de Compostela, is ideal for people watching. The plaza is home to a scenic fountain, an imposing cathedral (the south door opens onto the plaza), and arcades at the perimeter where vendors sell silver items.

Once a home for aged priests, Seville’s Hospital de los Venerables is perhaps best known today for its museum. Browse works by notable Spanish artists such as Diego Velázquez and Bartolomé Murillo, admire the elaborately adorned chapel, then take a stroll through the calm central courtyard.

Clinging onto a cliff within the Aizkorri mountains, this modern architectural marvel holds an important place in the region’s religious tradition and artistic legacy. Melding Franciscan spirituality with avant-garde Basque art, the Sanctuary’s story started when the Virgin Mary appeared in a hawthorn bush, prompting a shepherd to ask, “Arantzan zu?” (“Is it you in the hawthorn?”).

A museum enshrining monastic life now fills this Barcelona monastery—which was founded in 1327 by Queen Elisenda de Montcada. While the nuns are gone, the elegant cloisters remain serene, and exquisite religious art fills some rooms. Just as fascinating are the monastery’s behind-the-scenes working areas, like the dormitory, storeroom, and a kitchen that remained in constant use from the 14th century through 1983.

Cádiz is ancient—settled by Phoenicians more than 3,000 years ago, it’s often called Europe’s oldest living city. The most spectacular evidence of its distant past is the waterfront Roman Theatre of Cádiz (Teatro Romano de Cádiz), which dates to 70 BC. Its semicircular seating accommodated some 10,000 spectators, and it’s among the earliest and best-preserved Roman theaters anywhere in Spain.

One of several attractions within Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences, the Félix Candela–designed Oceanografic (L’Oceanogràfic) is not only architecturally impressive. It also ranks among the world’s best aquariums, with more than 45,000 animals representing over 500 species from the world’s main marine ecosystems.

Not to be confused with the Port Olímpic, the Port of Barcelona is one of Spain’s most important maritime hubs. With ferry connections to Italy, Morocco, and Spain’s islands, ships have been transporting passengers across the Mediterranean Sea from the port for millennia. If you’re not sailing off into the sunset, the most interesting part of the Port of Barcelona to visit is Port Vell (Old Port), a bustling lifestyle destination filled with superyachts.

Elche (or Elx in the Valencian dialect) is a small city on the edge of Alicante. Established over 2,000 years ago, it was inhabited by the Greeks and the Moors at different points in its history. Today, Elche is celebrated for its Palmeral—the distinctive, extensive groves of palm trees that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and other centuries-old landmarks.

One of Malaga’s top galleries, the Carmen Thyssen Museum houses the private collection of Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza, a wealthy art collector. Occupying the converted 16th-century Palacio de Villalón and an adjoining modern annex, the museum rewards visitors with a host of magnificent Spanish art and other works, set in serene surroundings.

Culture and leisure combine at the multipurpose Azkuna Zentroa, Bilbao’s former wine warehouse-turned-cultural center. Behind its 20th-century facade you’ll now find a glut of artistic, literary, and educational offerings including an arthouse cinema, on-site restaurant, library, fitness center, and more. Meanwhile, the 43 pillars, each one with a different design, are notable highlights of the Philippe Starck–designed interior.

Though a little village of some 6,000 people just outside of San Sebastián, compact Astigarraga is the epicenter of Basque Country’s considerable apple cider industry. Following an ancient tradition dating many centuries, the town’s thriving farm-style cider houses (sagardotegi in Basque) serve the bubbly fermented beverage with generously portioned meals.

Some of Tenerife’s most scenic landscapes can be found along La Orotava Valley. Stretching from the Teide Volcano, this picturesque region is dotted with vineyards, banana plantations, and pine-clad mountains popular for hiking. The historic town of La Orotava serves as a base for adventure in the valley.

Palau Sant Jordi is a covered stadium in Barcelona that hosts top sports competitions and high-profile concerts for crowds of up to 18,000 people, all within a venue built for the 1992 Olympic Games. Even if you’re not attending a game or show, it’s worth a stop; outside of the stadium is a series of 36 art pieces created by Aiko Miyawaki, consisting of concrete cylinders topped by metal rings and cables.