Spain attractions

Billed as “a shipyard turned into a museum,” Bilbao’s Itsasmuseum is located right on the Bilbao Estuary, under the Euskalduna Bridge. Dedicated to Basque maritime history and tradition, the museum’s collection includes a number of historic vessels (many of which are displayed outside) and temporary and permanent exhibitions within.

The largest and only inhabited island in the small Chinijo Archipelago, La Graciosa is home to just 600 people, and it has no roads, natural water supply, or hotels—making it the perfect spot to get away from it all. Its dreamlike landscape of golden beaches, sandy dunes, and volcanic hills offers a change of pace from the busy mainland.

La Ribera is a charming maze of streets encompassing the historic area of El Born and bordering the picturesque Ciutadella Park (Parc de la Ciutadella), Barcelona’s principal urban park. As one of the most popular districts in the Ciutat Vella (Old Town), La Ribera teems with intimate cafés, cocktail bars, artisan boutiques, and traditional Catalonian restaurants, and it’s one of the most atmospheric spots to eat, drink, and sleep in the city.

Located in the city's heart and boasting more than 2,000 years of history, Valencia’s Old Town (Ciutat Vella) is one of the largest in Europe. Recognizable for its narrow, atmospheric streets—and featuring historical landmarks ranging from churches and markets to museums and more—the Old Town is at the top of most visitors' to-do lists.

Las Ventas Bullring in Madrid is Spain's most famous bullfighting stadium, and its uniquely Spanish sport is celebrated in the Bullfighting Museum. Visitors find everything from painting and sculpture, to memorabilia and costumes. With its chronological exhibition, expect to leave with a historical perspective of Spain's bullfighting tradition.

A wine-growing region between Barcelona and Tarragona in Catalonia, Spain, Penedes is certified 100 percent organic. The area is best known for cava, a sparkling white wine native to Spain, but it also produces red, white, and rosé wines. A beautiful, lush area featuring picturesque views of the Mediterranean Sea, Penedes is a can’t-miss destination for oenophiles visiting the country.

Go full throttle at Ferrari Land, the only theme park in Europe devoted to all things Ferrari. Located next to PortAventura theme park outside Barcelona and itself part of PortAventura World, Ferrari Land offers high-speed thrills—including Europe’s highest and fastest vertical accelerator—cutting-edge racing simulators, test tracks, and more.

One of Mallorca’s biggest outdoor weekly markets, Inca Market takes over the island’s leather-making town of Inca every Thursday. Offering more than 100 stalls, the market is a great place for snapping up traditional local leatherware, handicrafts, delicacies, and fresh produce.

The island of Mallorca is home to more than 200 caves and the Cuevas del Ham, or Caves of Hams, are one of the most popular to visit. Located along an underground river called the Sea of Venice, these caves are notable for their spiral and hook-shaped stalactites. Many travelers visit these caves during a multi-destination day trip.

Sierra Nevada, known as the Mountain of the Sun by Andalucia’s Moorish residents, is home to 15 peaks that are more than 9,800 feet (3,000 meters) high, including the highest point on the Iberian Peninsula and Europe’s most southerly ski resort. This national park and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve attracts hikers from around the world.

Malaga’s Museo del Vidrio y Cristal (Museum of Glass and Crystal) showcases more than 3,000 pieces from the 6th century BC to the 20th century. Located in an 18th-century Casa Palacio (“palace house”) in the center of town, the decorative arts museum is one of the few dwellings from this era to be preserved in Malaga.

A vibrant, multicultural barrio (neighborhood) in the heart of Madrid, Lavapiés can trace its history to the 16th century, when it emerged outside the walled city. Cultural attractions include the Reina Sofia Museum, home to artworks by Dalí and Miro, the Teatro Circo Price circus theater, and La Casa Encendida cultural center.

Smugglers once hid their spoils in these 100,000-year-old natural caves in the bay of Puerto de San Miguel. Housing stalactites and stalagmites, fossils, and a 30-foot (9-meter) subterranean waterfall, illuminated with colorful lights, the cave’s exit affords spectacular panoramic views of the ocean and surrounding coastline.

Set on a hillside outside Segovia, the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso (La Granja) was built in the 18th century by Philip V. Formerly a royal hunting ground and later royal residence and summer retreat, the baroque palace offers one of the best examples of a French formal garden in Spain, complete with sculptural fountains.

Regularly dubbed one of the world’s best beaches, this long sweep of blonde sand sits at the northeastern corner of Mallorca, one of Spain’s sun-kissed Balearic Islands. Covering just under 4 miles (6 kilometers), the beach is popular with families who come to enjoy its far-reaching shallow waters and soft sands, and relax in the beach clubs, hotels, and restaurants that throng the shores.

History and culture come together in Almuñécar, one of the Costa Tropical’s most appealing destinations. Admire the ruins of a Roman aqueduct, stroll through a Phoenician necropolis, and visit the 16th-century San Miguel Castle, before lounging on one of the town’s two dozen beaches or hiking into the surrounding hills.

A trip to Barcelona isn’t complete without sampling some of Catalonia’s renowned wines, and Familia Torres—one of Spain’s largest and most famous wineries—is the perfect place to start. A sprawling vineyard that reaches across the Penedès region, the winery is owned by the Torres family, whose winemaking legacy dates back more than 150 years.

Designed to resemble a fortified medieval castle, Torre Bellesguard is an underrated gem from celebrated Catalan modernist Antoni Gaudí. Some of its most striking features include oddly angled gabled windows, narrow walkways, crenellated walls, and a tower topped with a mosaic representing the Catalan flag. Inside, the grand interiors are awash with Gothic and art nouveau detailing.

At the base of Mount Urgull, San Sebastián’s must-see San Telmo Museum dives into the heritage of the Basque people, from Neolithic times to the present. Housed in a 16th-century Renaissance monastery, collection highlights include archaeological artifacts, 11 murals by José María Sert, oil paintings by El Greco and Joaquín Sorolla, and rare photographs.

While it looks like yet another classic Mediterranean fishing village, El Roc de Sant Gaietà is a recent addition to the coast up from the city of Tarragona. This scenic village on the Costa Dorada incorporates a mix of Romanesque, Arabic, and Gothic architecture to give its 20th-century waterfront a sense of history.

The Frederic Marès Museum (Museu Frederic Marès) houses a collection that was the life’s work of eccentric traveler and sculptor Frederic Marès. Opened in 1948 within Palau Reial Major—a former complex of noble residences in the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic)—the museum showcases an array of artifacts, including some of Marès’ own works. It’s a fascinating space crammed with an eclectic selection of Spanish artistic curiosities.

The Basílica de Santa María de la Victoria is located at the edge of Malaga Old Town. It is one of the city’s oldest churches and, some say, the most beautiful in all of Andalucia. Don’t be fooled by its plain exterior: Inside, a baroque whirl of chapels, sculptures, religious artifacts, and an ornate crypt await.

Housed in the former seaside home and workshop of Santiago Rusiñol, the Cau Ferrat Museum (Museu del Cau Ferrat) contains the artist’s collection of artworks, spanning ancient and modernist work. In addition to Rusiñol’s own sculptures, you can see pieces by Picasso, El Greco, and Casas. There’s also a vast collection of wrought iron sculptures and adornments, which Rusiñol sought out throughout his life.

The sweeping coastal winds and long sandy beaches of El Médano provide some of the best conditions for windsurfing and kite surfing on Tenerife. Perched along the southeast coast, the traditional Spanish town offers a laid-back alternative to the island’s busiest beach resorts, making it a popular spot for both families and adrenaline seekers.

A well-preserved archaeological site offering a glimpse into the ancient history of Andalusia, the Roman Necropolis Museum (Museo de la Necropolis Romana) offers many excavated sites to explore. Visitors can see the Puerta de Sevilla gate, an amphitheater, and a range of tombs or family mausoleums first discovered in the late 19th century. This museum and historic site provide a rare, in-depth look into the ancient Roman history of southern Spain.

Stretched along Malaga’s portside, the Palmeral de las Sorpresas (Palm Grove of Surprises) is a contemporary palm-lined promenade serving as a scenic corniche and leisure space between the city’s ferry and cruise terminals. Visitors stroll and relax under a striking white pergola, enjoying the sea views, palm gardens, and cafés.

The buzzing shopping street of Calle Triana slices through the heart of Vegueta, Las Palmas’ oldest district. Lined with elegant 16th- to 19th-century buildings, the boulevard’s historic architecture is a backdrop to this modern shopping area, home to a wide selection of high-street stores, clothing boutiques, restaurants, and cafés.

Running along the east bank of the Guadalquivir River, El Arenal is part of Seville’s historic old town. As well as hosting upscale residential properties and atmospheric tapas bars, it’s also home to several important city sights, including Spain’s oldest bullring, a celebrated flamenco bar, and a smattering of museums in historic buildings.

Just off Martyrs Square, Hammam Al Andalus Malaga Baths is notable for its Moorish-inspired architecture, which encompasses horseshoe arches, colorful tiled walls, and star-shaped skylights. This is one of the few remaining places to experience age-old rituals of purification.

El Tablao de Carmen is a popular Barcelona flamenco show, designed to honor one of the world’s greatest flamenco dancers, Carmen Amaya. Known for her skill, passion, technique, and fiery personality, Carmen—a native of Barcelona—performed at this very site for King Alfonso XIII of Spain for the opening of the 1929 Universal Exposition. Today, El Tablao de Carmen hosts top-class performances, including dinner shows.