Spain attractions

Located in the Plaça de Sant Jaume, the Catalan Regional Government Building (Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya) is the seat of the Government of Catalonia and the Presidency of the Generalitat. Built between the 15th and 17th centuries, this magnificent structure includes a variety of architectural elements, with neoclassical, Gothic, Renaissance, and baroque features.

The historic heart of Gran Canaria's capital, Las Palmas, Vegueta is the city’s oldest and most atmospheric quarter. Dating back to the 15th century and protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the neighborhood is brimming with monumental buildings, architectural gems, and lively bars and cafés.

Also known as Plaza de las Flores (Flowers Square), pedestrian-friendly Plaza Bib-Rambla is at the heart of Granada’s bustling street scene. In the center of the plaza is a 17th-century marble fountain featuring Neptune, and the bell tower of Granada’s Spanish Renaissance cathedral peers over townhouse facades with wrought-iron balconies.

Situated in a renovated 18th century building, the Flamenco Dance Museum (Museo del Baile Flamenco) is one of Seville’s most important cultural touchstones. Here, you can attend a live flamenco performance and also learn about the history of the dance form at an interactive museum—an immersive experience you won’t find at other venues.

Tablao Flamenco Cordobes combines high-energy flamenco shows with Spanish and Catalan specialties in the adjacent restaurant, which is inspired by Granada’s Nasrid-style architecture. An award-winning venue founded in 1970, Tablao Flamenco Cordobes is one of the few spaces of its kind on La Rambla, and it attracts some of the country’s top flamenco performers.

With its history, culture, and sun-drenched beaches, Málaga ranks among the most popular destinations on Spain’s Costa del Sol. Situated close to Málaga proper, the Málaga Cruise Port also serves as a gateway to wider Andalucia with its wineries and whitewashed villages, as well as Granada, the region's capital.

The Lope de Vega museum is the former home of one of Spain’s most celebrated writers, Félix Lope de Vega Carpio. A 16th-century playwright from Madrid, he is known as Spain’s answer to Shakespeare. The house has been carefully restored and preserved, giving a unique insight into life during the Spanish Baroque period.

Built atop a shrine in the 14th-century, Bilbao's Santiago Cathedral now towers over the original Seven Streets of the city’s Old Quarter. Follow in the footsteps of Camino de Santiago pilgrims and admire the Gothic Revival facade; elaborate portal—known as the Angel Door—on Correo Street; and the 15th-century Gothic cloister.

The little town of Palamós is a popular Costa Brava vacation choice for independent travelers, and the small cruise port makes it a jump-off point for shore excursions to the Costa Brava and historic Girona. Palamós’ pretty fishing harbor is known for its prawns, but the town offers more than just good seafood. Relax on golden sand beaches, visit rocky coves, and stroll the historic town center.

The picturesque mountain town of Besalú is well-known for its ancient Catholic monasteries and iconic Romanesque architecture, particularly a photogenic 12th-century bridge that has become the symbol of the town. In the Middle Ages, Besalú was a regional capital, overseeing this scenic section of Catalonia.

Since its opening on La Rambla in 1847, the Gran Teatre del Liceu has been a cultural, artistic, and political hub for Catalonia, as well as one of the most impressive opera houses in all of Europe. After fire damaged the theater on several occasions, the Gran Teatre was completely restored in 1999, complete with new technology for contemporary productions.

The Alcaicería was once a lively Arab bazaar and the center of the city’s Muslim silk exchange. The original gated bazaar was almost entirely destroyed by a fire back in 1843, and today the restored shops occupy a smaller space, dotted around Calle Alcaiceria, in the shadows of the Cathedral of Granada.

One of the two remaining gates of the old Valencia city wall, the Quart Towers (Torres de Quart) represent a tangible piece of Valancia’s rich history. Visitors can admire the imposing Gothic-style 15th-century Quart Towers from ground level or climb to the top for sweeping city views.

Located just off the Passeig de Gràcia, the Egyptian Museum of Barcelona contains one of the leading private collections of Egyptian art and artifacts in Europe. Dive into Egyptian life and culture as you browse the permanent collection, which includes more than 1,000 pieces from the collection of its founder, Catalan Jordi Clos, including jewelry, sarcophagi, amulets, mummies, and ancient artwork.

Built into the 16th-century Baluard de Sant Pere fortress in Mallorca’s capital, the glass-and-concrete Es Baluard Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Palma houses more than 800 artworks by Balearic and Mediterranean artists. Bounded by the fortress’ sea-facing walls, this sleek hub features everything from works by Picasso and Joan Miró to abstract sculptures.

While the masses head to Barceloneta Beach, those in search of quieter shores take their towels to Nova Icària Beach (Platja de la Nova Icària). Located between Bogatell and Barceloneta Beaches, this quarter-mile-long (400-meter-long) stretch of sand features great amenities and a local vibe. It’s backed by a wide promenade and the Port Olimpic neighborhood with its abundant restaurants.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Doñana National Park is one of the most important wetland preserves in Europe. With more than 300 species of birds calling the park home during various migratory seasons, Doñana is a biodiverse habitat spread out across nearly 1,158 square miles (3,000 square kilometers) and three regions of southern Spain.

El Pópulo is the oldest neighborhood in Cádiz—a walkable tangle of narrow lanes dating back to the 13th century. It’s home to major attractions such as Cádiz Cathedral (Catedral de Cádiz) and the Roman Theater (Teatro Romano) and serves as an appealing place to sip espresso or nibble seafood tapas at a café overlooking the waterfront.

Located in the heart of Seville, this former Jewish quarter is a labyrinth of narrow alleys, winding roads, picturesque landscapes and some of the region’s most iconic churches. Travelers flock to Barrio de la Santa Cruz’s maze of tiny atmospheric streets, an atmospheric respite from thexa0 Sevillian sunshine, and its lively town squares for community and culture.

Far removed from the golden sands of Lanzarote’s beach resorts, El Golfo is one of the island’s most unique geological areas. The star attraction is the bright green crater lake on a black sand beach, which gets its distinctive color from the Ruppia Maritima algae that lives in the waters.

Dating back to the third century BC, Cartagena’s Punic Wall offers a window into Roman history. It's the Spanish city’s oldest remains and sits beside the crypt of the Brotherhood of San José, where former members were put to rest in narrow stone niches.

Formed more than 150 million years ago by the movement of tectonic plates, the landscapes of El Torcal de Antequera encompass stacked rocks and knobbly karst towers. In addition to its unique geology, the park is also celebrated for the diversity of its plants, which total more than 700 different species.

Toledo’s oldest standing monument, the Mosque of Christ the Light (Mezquita Del Cristo De La Luz) dates back more than 1,000 years. Inspired by the Mosque of Córdoba, it’s the only remaining mosque in Toledo, and was converted to a church in 1186, after the Christian reconquest of the city.

The world’s oldest shuttle or transporter bridge, the Basque Country’s Vizcaya Bridge (Puente de Vizcaya)—also known as the Hanging Bridge, or Puente Colgante—dates back to 1893. Designed by architect Alberto de Palacio, who trained under Gustave Eiffel, the iron and steel bridge is still used by car and pedestrians today.

Situated in the former home and workshop of surrealist painter Salvador Dali, the Salvador Dali House—Portlligat (Casa Salvador Dalí—Port Lligat) showcases the artist’s quirky work and offers a look into his eccentric life. Visitors can explore the house-museum’s maze-like interior, window-framed views, and kitschy decor including everything from mannequins to taxidermy. Outside, you’ll find a surrealist wonderland as well, with curiosities like a funky lip-shaped sofa flanked by giant Pirelli tire signs and an abundance of Dali’s signature giant eggs.

Don’t call it a hill; while this 568-foot (173-meter) mountain in southwest Barcelona is small in stature, it packs some major attractions. A cable car and funicular whisk visitors to the military fortifications of Montjuïc Castle (Castell de Montjuïc) at the summit, which is perched above a wooded park, Olympic sports facilities, the Magic Fountain (Font Màgica), the Joan Miró Museum (Fundació Joan Miró), and the National Art Museum of Catalonia (Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya).

Surrounded by walls and marked with winding cobblestone streets, medieval Pals still has many of its aged stone arches, walkways, and balconies. A Romanesque tower dates back to the 11th century, while the Mirador del Pedró provides a lookout over the sea and surrounding Catalonian landscape dotted with citrus groves and rice fields.

An offshoot of the Parisian art gallery of the same name, the Centre Pompidou Málaga houses over 100 contemporary masterpieces by artists such as Kahlo, Picasso, and Magritte. Here, the exterior is as notable as the interior—Centre Pompidou Málaga is housed within a modernist multicolored greenhouse known as "The Cube."

A 13th-century church with a crypt and a museum, the Seville Church of Santa Ana (Iglesia de Santa Ana) is as much an architectural landmark as it is a place of worship. This Catholic church is known for its Gothic-Mudejar architecture and its wealth of sculptures, paintings, and jewelry displayed inside. The church also offers regular mass services for visitors interested in attending services.

The museum occupies the old Casaramona factory building, a modernist building that was constructed from 1909 and 1912 and was later adapted and expanded for artistic use. Today, the CaixaForum contains more than 800 works of art representing a range of styles and movements. Pieces are displayed across three sections and showcase ancient, modern, and contemporary art, photography from the 20th century, and avant-garde expressionism.