Spain attractions

One of Málaga’s most popular attractions, the Alcazaba is an atmospheric Moorish palace and fortress with ornamental gardens. Take in panoramic views of the city as you marvel at the ingenious design tricks the Moors used to protect their stronghold.

Cast your gaze upwards as you reach the southern end of La Rambla, Barcelona’s central boulevard, and you’ll see one of the city’s most prominent landmarks—the Columbus Monument. The slender Corinthian-style column stands 197 feet (60 meters) tall, capped with a statue of Christopher Columbus pointing out to sea. Step inside the structure and take the elevator to the top for panoramic views over Barcelona’s seafront.

The largest and oldest national park in the Canary Islands and home to Spain’s highest peak—Mount Teide—Teide National Park (Parque Nacional del Teide) is one of the top attractions on Tenerife. The rugged landscape of the park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is magnificent—a geological wonder featuring an expanse of rugged lava fields, ancient calderas, and volcanic peaks.

The Cibeles Fountain is one of Madrid’s most famous monuments. Crowning the end of the Paseo del Prado in the middle of the city it’s a landmark for locals and a must-see for visitors.

Perched on the clifftops of El Tajo Gorge, Ronda boasts one of Spain’s most dramatic landscapes and a rich history evident through ancient rock paintings, towering stone bridges, and 14th-century ruins. Today, this pueblo blanco (white town) is an ideal mountain getaway or a day-trip destination for travelers exploring Andalucia, thanks to its dramatic cliffs, local wineries, and rustic charm.

Built in 1180 by Moorish stonemasons, Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue remains one of Toledo’s most celebrated examples of Mudéjar architecture. The Synagogue testifies to an era of multi-faith history on the Iberian Peninsula, when Muslims, Jews, and Christians all lived and worshipped side-by-side.

Designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is hailed as one of the most important architectural works of the 20th century. Within its undulating and reflecting walls on the banks of the Nervión River, you’ll find an abundance of contemporary pieces by artists such as Yayoi Kusama, El Anatsui, Richard Serra, and many more.

Built between 1528 and 1782, after Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand expelled the Moors from the Iberian Peninsula, Málaga Cathedral (Catedral de la Encarnación de Málaga) is one of the city’s top historic landmarks. Designed by architect Diego de Siloé, the cathedral is a unique combination of Gothic, Renaissance, and baroque styles.

Situated along Valencia’s old Turia riverbed, the visually striking City of Arts and Sciences (Ciudad de las Artes y Ciencias) was the work of Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. The spectacular architecture is just part of the appeal of this futuristic complex though, which is also home to a science museum, planetarium, and more—all popular with families.

Valencia Cathedral is famous the world over for its holy chalice, which many believe to be the Holy Grail of Christian legend. It’s also a fantastic place for fans of architecture, integrating Gothic, baroque, and Renaissance elements into its construction.

Housed in the classically styled 1920s Montjuïc National Palace, the National Art Museum of Catalonia (Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya) occupies a spectacular location on Montjüic hill. Its collection features more than 350,000 works (of which around 3,200 are on display), spanning Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, baroque, and modern art, including pieces by Gaudí, Velázquez, and Titian.

Running 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) around the Old Town of Avila, the Walls of Avila are some of Spain’s best-conserved medieval fortifications. UNESCO-listed along with the old town they enclose, the 12th-century walls look much as they would have in the Middle Ages.

Standing between the Royal Palace and the opera house, the Plaza de Oriente is in the heart of historic Madrid. Lined with ornamental hedges, the plaza welcomes thousands of tourists a day on their way to visit the palace.

The Sacromonte district of Granada is the seat of the thriving Gitano gypsy community that settled in hillside caves during the 15th and 16th centuries. Today, Sacromonte is also the epicenter of Granada’s zambra flamenco scene, with performances staged at thee tablaos along Camino del Sacromonte.

Famed for El Greco’s masterpiece The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, the Church of Santo Tomé (Iglesia de Santo Tomé) is a highlight of any visit to Toledo’s UNESCO World Heritage–listed old city. It’s also notable for its Moorish-style square bell tower, a reminder that the site of the original church was a mosque.

Wedged between two branches of the Guadalquivir River just across the Isabel II Bridge from central Seville, vibrant Triana is often described as the city’s heart and soul. Originally home to Roma gypsy families, its colorful reputation is built on its love for flamenco and tapas—two top visitor draws.

One of Barcelona’s most iconic public squares, Plaça d'Espanya sits at the foot of famed Montjuïc hill. Both a historic site and a major traffic hub, the plaza was designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch for Barcelona’s International Exhibition in 1929. Plaça d'Espanya is anchored by an impressive fountain in its center that depicts Spain’s rivers and seas. Those headed to Montjuïc hill will inevitably pass through this bustling center.

One of Europe’s largest and busiest cruise ports, Barcelona welcomes more than 2.5 million cruise passengers each year to its docks at the foot of Las Ramblas. The Catalan capital makes a popular stop and starting point for Mediterranean cruises, including liners operated by Princess, Carnival, Celebrity, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, MSC, and Costa.

The baroque facade of the Girona Cathedral (Catedral de Girona) stands at the top of a grand staircase, high above the old city. The structure was built between the 11th and 18th centuries in a variety of styles: The cathedral boasts a Romanesque cloister and tower, Gothic nave (the widest of its kind in the world), and a baroque exterior.

A highlight of Valencia’s Old Town, the Valencia Central Market (Mercado Central, or Mercat Central in Valencian) is also one of the city’s quintessential culinary destinations. Built in 1928 and celebrated for its Art Nouveau architecture, the covered market is one of the largest in Europe, housing hundreds of fragrant food stalls.

Situated side by side, the Cathedral and the Royal Chapel of Granada (Capilla Real) together make an impressive monument to the power of Christian monarchs in Andalucia. The cavernous cathedral houses paintings by Ribera and El Greco; the remains of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragón are interred within the chapel’s shrine.

The Albaicín (also spelled Albayzín or Albaycín) is Granada's old Muslim quarter, and its steep twisting streets underscore a medieval past. Founded in 1228 by the Moors, the neighborhood is dotted with Baroque churches inside old mosques and traditionalcarmenes (villas). Albaicín is also known for having stellar views of the Alhambra.

Guarding the southwestern corner of Cordoba’s Historic Center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs (Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos) is among the city’s most memorable monuments. The Moorish-style fortress has a history dating back to Roman and Visigoth times, before it was transformed into a Christian palace by Alfonso XI in the 13th century.

The Temple of Debod (Templo de Debod), an Egyptian temple built in the fourth century BC, stands in Madrid’s Parque de la Montaña near Plaza de España. While it may seem out of place in the middle of the modern city, the temple was dismantled, shipped, and carefully reconstructed here in 1972 to protect it from flooding caused by the construction of the Aswan Dam. Spain received the temple as a thank you for helping to save Abu Simbel, another archaeological site that was threatened by flooding in Egypt.

The Reina Sofia Museum (Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia) is Madrid's premier modern art destination, featuring mostly works by Spanish artists. Among them isGuernica, a political statement on the Spanish Civil War by Pablo Picasso, as well as a room devoted to Joan Miró's paintings and a collection of about 20 Salvador Dalí pieces.

With its imposing brick façade, 177-foot (54-meter) bell tower, and magnificent rose window—inspired by Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral—the Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi is one of the most notable landmarks of the Gothic Quarter. Built in the 1300s, it’s one of Barcelona’s oldest churches and remains an important center of worship as well as a striking example of Catalan Gothic style.

After King James I (Jaume 1) conquered the Balearic Islands in 1229, he began the conversion of a Moorish-era mosque in present-day Palma de Mallorca (Majorca) into a grand Catalan Gothic-style cathedral overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The golden sandstone façade, the city’s most notable landmark, took more than 400 years to complete.

Soccer fans won’t want to miss a visit to the magnificent Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (Estadio Santiago Bernabéu), home to the legendary Real Madrid football team. Boasting a capacity of more than 80,000 spectators, the Bernabéu is a spectacular place to enjoy the roar of the crowd during a match or go behind the scenes on a stadium tour. The on-site museum showcases trophies and other sporting memorabilia.

One of Valencia’s best-known landmarks, the Silk Exchange (La Lonja de la Seda) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of the city. Built in the 15th and 16th centuries as a hub for the city’s silk and commodities traders, the exchange is a marvel of Gothic architecture.

Located just moments from the bustle of Las Ramblas, Güell Palace—also known as Palau Güell—is one of Antoni Gaudí’s earliest masterpieces. Designed as a private residence for wealthy industrialist Eusebi Güell, it showcases a darker, more experimental take on Gaudí’s signature style. Inside, visitors can discover surreal chimneys, stained glass, and ingenious plays of light and space. It’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-see for architecture lovers.