One of Spain’s largest and most popular theme parks, Terra Mítica (Mythical Land) is a starring attraction in Benidorm. Divided into five thematic areas—Rome, Greece, Egypt, Iberia, and the Mediterranean Islands—the family-friendly destination offers roller coasters, rides, water activities, live performances, and other draws.
The Fran Daurel Foundation (Fundació Fran Daurel) in Barcelona is primarily dedicated to modern and contemporary Catalan art. Located within the Spanish Village (Poble Espanyol) in Montjuïc, the museum is home to an outdoor sculpture garden with more than 40 sculptures, frequent temporary exhibitions, and a permanent collection of more than 300 works—including some by Picasso and Dalí.
Located just north of Madrid, the Royal Palace of El Pardo is a stunning 15th century home and former hunting lodge belonging to the Spanish royal family. Visitors bask in the building's ornate interior, complete with original furniture, tapestries, and frescoes. Stroll the manicured gardens, and experience an essential piece of Spanish history.
Revealing the region’s ancient history, Empúries is a hidden gem in the Costa Brava, well worth taking some time away from the beach for. Once a grand city founded by the Greeks and then occupied by the Romans, the area’s archaeological excavations show the remains of buildings, city walls, and even statues.
Oasys Mini Hollywood transports visitors to the Wild West. This former movie set, used for films such as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, has been transformed into a cowboy-themed amusement park complete with mock shootouts and a saloon with can-can dancers. A zoological park and aquatic zone round out the offerings.
With its rhythmic guitars and expressive movements, flamenco is a rich Spanish tradition that no visitor should miss. Skip the journey to Seville, and head over to La Cueva de Lola to experience flamenco in the heart of Madrid. See an evening show, and add dinner and drinks for a fun-filled night on the town.
Founded in 1953 and now known worldwide, Lladró is celebrated for its high-end porcelain pieces. Perfect for fans of the brand, the Lladró Museum, located north of Valencia, hosts two exhibition areas. Visitors can also tour the Lladró factory to meet the artisan producers and see how Lladró’s sculptures are made.
The recently-restored Hermitage of San Antonio de la Florida lies a little off the beaten path but is well worth the detour. Neighbored by a more recent chapel, the original Hermitage is now a museum dedicated to the Francisco Goya frescoes within. Painted over the course of six months and depicting the life of a single saint, they’re true scene-stealers.
Explore the underwater worlds of the Nile, the Mekong, the Amazon, the Ebro, and the Murray-Darling rivers at the Zaragoza Aquarium (Acuario de Zaragoza). This is Europe’s largest freshwater aquarium, offering over more than 5000 animals from 350 species, including Amazon-dwelling arapaimas and endangered iridescent shark catfish.
A small fishing village on the Basque coast west of San Sebastián, Getaria has history, cuisine, and culture beyond what its size suggests. The birthplace of explorer Juan Sebastián Elcano and fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, Getaria is also known for its beaches and trails; its grilled fish and pintxos; and its sparkling white wine, txakoli.
Formally known as Astorga Episcopal Palace of Astorga, the Palace of Gaudi (Palacio de Gaudí) is a modernist Gothic fusion of a cathedral and castle. While other architects helped finish the project over the decades, it’s one of the iconic Catalan architect’s few buildings outside of Barcelona. It boasts turrets, spires, and gargoyles.
One of Portugal's most famous writers and Nobel Prize winner, José Saramago spent the last 18 years of his life in Tias, Lanzarote in Spain's Canary Islands. The Jose Saramago House Museum (A Casa José Saramago) preserves his modernist home, including a study, library, kitchen, sea-view garden, and the bedroom where he died.
One of Sitges’ most spectacular museums, the Maricel Museum (Museu de Maricel) houses more than 1,000 years of Catalan art, situated on the village’s waterfront. Among its extensive collection are many sculptures, but also ornate altarpieces, baroque furniture, and modernist paintings, showcasing the region’s enduring artistic legacy. While you won’t find any bold-face global names here, the hall of neoclassical sculptures—arranged against arches that frame the ocean—is alone worth the price of admission.
At the MónNatura Delta de l’Ebre Nature Reserve—one of Western Europe’s largest wetlands—you can see the restored La Tancada salt works, try your hand at traditional fishing, and, with luck, spot flamingos and other wetland birds. Plus, the observatory offers 360-degree views of the salt pans.
Dedicated to the local painter Julio Romero de Torres, his namesake museum is one of Córdoba’s highlight cultural destinations. Home to the largest collection of his work, the museum is located in a historic hospital building where the artist once resided. Today, the building is also home to the Museum of Fine Arts of Córdoba.
Just outside Maó in Menorca stand rock pilings that leave people awe-struck. Talatí de Dalt is home to a series of T-shaped stone monuments—known as taulas—dating from 1000 to 300 BC, which were part of the Talaiotic culture. While not much is known about this prehistoric site, it is considered to be one of the most fascinating on the island.
Dedicated to the original peoples of the Canary Islands, the Museo Canario is home to the largest collection of ancient artifacts from the entire Canary archipelago. A must-see for visitors curious about life on the islands before the arrival of the Spanish in the early 15th century, the museum displays a fascinating collection of mummies, skeletons, jewelry, and more.
The history of La Mota Fortress (Fortaleza de la Mota), located on top of a strategic hill, stretches back over a thousand years. The highlights of this well-preserved medieval fortresses in Andalucia include its vast perimeter of walls, seven gateways, three towers, a citadel, and an abbey church.
Admire hundreds of marine species, including clown fish, hermit crabs, sea cucumbers, and more at Lanzarote Aquarium, the largest in the Canary Islands. With more than 30 fish tanks, several interactive pools, and a dedicated underwater shark viewing tunnel, there’s plenty for animal lovers to enjoy.
Located in central Magaluf, weird and wacky Katmandu Park throws steampunk-style attractions, illusions, and escapades into the regular theme-park mix of rides and slides. Explore an upside-down house, scream through 4D adventures, and enjoy a splash park, all in a small but exciting park suitable for all ages.
The Necropolis del Puig des Molins comprises more than 4,000 tombs from the Phoenician-Punic times, considered the world’s finest collection of Punic remains. The island’s first cemetery, dating back to the seventh century BC, features small caves containing sarcophagi and burial sites filled with jewelry, coins, and baked mud figures.
Situated near the mouth of the River Muga on Spain’s Gulf of Roses, the attractive medieval town of Castelló d'Empúries has a rich architectural heritage, thanks to its position as the seat of the earls of Empúries until the 14th century. Cobbled streets, a well-preserved Jewish Quarter, and a 14th-century Gothic church add to the historic appeal.
Plays, operas, and concerts draw cultured crowds to the mural-adorned Teatro Pérez Galdós in the Triana neighborhood of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Ever since a production of the opera La Traviata marked its 1890 opening—as the Teatro Tirso de Molina—the theater has remained a hub through fire, reconstruction, and rehabilitation.
Explore the world of doll art and teddy bears at Artlandya, an unconventional museum unlike any other in Europe. Wander through a traditional Canary Island house filled with over 600 dolls and teddies made from porcelain, felt, wood, and other materials, then stop by the adjoining workshop for a crash course in porcelain doll-making.
On the island of Fuerteventura, this zoological park is home to about 3,000 animals representing 250 species, including large savanna animals such as hippos, elephants, and giraffes. You can watch zookeeper demonstrations, with sea lions, parrots, and birds of prey, and also admire the plant life in the park, including the largest cactus garden in Europe.
Located on the French Basque coast south of Biarritz, Saint-Jean-De-Luz is a former fishing village turned destination resort town. The site of King Louis XIV's marriage to Marie-Thérèse of Austria in 1660, Saint-Jean-De-Luz is today home to a bustling harbor, a golden, sandy beach, and pedestrianized shopping and dining streets.
With more than 70,000 square meters dedicated to the exploration of science, Granada’s interactive museum is the most visited museum in all of Andalusia. Packed with educational and engaging exhibits covering topics such as chemistry, astronomy, natural sciences, optical effects, and human anatomy, the Science Park is a playground for the mind.
The San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Art (Museo de la Real Academia de Bellas Artes San Fernando) is both a world-class arts institution and museum, located in the heart of Madrid. Known primarily for its numerous Goya paintings, the museum's collection also boasts thousands of works of European fine art, decorative pieces, and sculpture.
Celebrated for its Insta-worthy rocktop setting overlooking the Mediterranean, Salobrena is one of Andalucia’s prettiest pueblos blancos (white villages). With its whitewashed Old Town and Moorish castle perched above a modern strip lined with beaches, this spot on Spain’s Costa Tropical offers the perfect mix of sun, sea, and classic Andalucia.
Las Águilas Jungle Park on Spain's largest Canary Island, Tenerife, is a treasure trove of exotic birds, big cats, lemurs, primates, penguins, reptiles, and more. Explore the park, marvel over daily flight and feeding exhibitions, get adventurous on toboggan runs, and then refuel at the onsite snack bars.
