麻豆APP

15 Attractions You Should See in Spain

While a two week trip to Barcelona or Madrid is in many ways a dream vacation, it in no way captures nearly everything that Spain has to offer as a country. Spain is a land of immense diversity and changing terrain, the main cities merely scrape the surface of the true history, culture and beauty of the land.

To quantify Spain into 15 unmissable attractions is difficult; even a list of 50 wouldn鈥檛 be easy at all. The following are the attractions I鈥檇 hope someone would recommend to me were I to be heading to the land for a significant amount of time.

Are you ready?

1. The Reina Sofia Museum in Spain

Madrid

The Reina Sofia Museum is the one Spanish attraction that I do every time I find myself in the capital, Madrid. I even left the Madrid airport once during a 7 hour layover, went to the museum for a few hours, and came back again.

It is Spain鈥檚 National Museum of 20th century art, and it鈥檚 astounding. The first level of the museum brought me to tears within twenty minutes.

Amongst some of the best contemporary art in the world, this is also the home of Picasso鈥檚 famous Guernica paining鈥� the original and all of the process works that lead up to its creation.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Wednesday to Monday – 10am to 8pm

ADDRESS: Calle de Santa Isabel, 52, 28012 Madrid, Spain

Metro STATION: Estaci贸n del Arte

Reina Sofia Museum – by Marco Pagni –

2. Gaudi鈥檚 Architecture in Spain

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Gaudi鈥檚 works changed the face of architecture in the world as we know it; visiting Spain without giving a few days of travel to Barcelona is almost blasphemous.

As you make your way through the city, perhaps on foot or in a free guided walking tour, you鈥檒l pass by many whimsical buildings left behind by the creator.

The Sagrada Familia is undoubtably the most recognizable, despite still not being complete. The Park G眉ell in the city center is a great reflection of the mind of Gaudi, and one of the last gifts he gave to the city before he passed.

No need to pay hundreds of euros for exclusive tours of the buildings, simply viewing them from the street is remarkable too.

Sagrada Familia – by Toa Heftiba –

3. Palma Cathedral in Spain

Mallorca

Mallorca is a must for first time travelers to Spain, but I鈥檒l get to that later!

Few people expect this island to hold such astounding architecture, so the Palma Cathedral is really mind blowing once you begin to approach it. It sits in the island鈥檚 capital of Palma de Mallorca, and was constructed in Gothic-style back in the 13th century.

The church has the highest nave in all of Europe, and the rose window, known as the 鈥淕othic Eye鈥�, is one of the biggest in the world. Ironically the church is closed on Sundays but you can visit for free any other day of the week.

Palma Cathedral – by Fay1982 –

4. Santa Cruz in Spain

Seville

A lot of travelers to Spain overlook Seville, writing it off as more of a retirement destination.

The truth is that Seville is divided up into many different 鈥渂arrios鈥�, or neighborhoods, and Santa Cruz is the trendiest of them all. It has been dubbed as the single most 鈥淪panish鈥� neighborhood in the country, where everything you probably imagined Spain to offer comes to life.

The buildings, tapas restaurants, churches and street artists playing Spanish guitar make for a transportive experience; one that is neither a lot like Barcelona, or a lot like Madrid or鈥�

It鈥檚 simply just Santa Cruz, and you鈥檙e finally in 厂辫补颈苍.听

Santa Cruz – by Dubaduba~commonswiki –

5. Dal铆 Theatre-Museum in Spain

Figueres

Despite spending most of his career in 麻豆APP, Salvador Dali was born right here in Figueres, Spain. It makes sense then that this city honored him with a museum; a brilliant one at that.

The outside is enough to suggest exactly what you鈥檙e in for once inside. The bright red building topped with giant eggs (yes) is the tip of the iceberg of what wonders await within.

The exhibits are mostly permanent. There are interactive rooms, grand installations and unfathomable statues. It鈥檚 a bit of an adult Disney Land in there, in the best possible way.

Dal铆 Theatre-Museum in Spain – by Dal铆 Theatre-Museum –

It is 鈧�15 to enter the museum. In the tumultuous spirit of the artist, their opening hours change daily; one should go directly to the museum website to find out what times they can visit on a specific day.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Daily

ADDRESS: Pla莽a Gala i Salvador Dal铆, 5, 17600 Figueres, Girona, Spain

Metro STATION: Figueres

6. El Teide Volcano in Spain

Canary Islands

A living, breathing volcano poses as the highest point in all of Spain. It lives in Tenerife on the Canary Islands, and can be observed from most parts of said island without much obstruction.

Visiting the volcano up close is a popular tourist activity. It is surrounded by the 听Teide National Park, which is vast terrain made of fossilized lava and untouched desert. This was actually the filming location for the movies Clash of the Titans and One Million Years B.

El Teide Volcano – by Ale拧 Makovec –

The volcano and surrounding terrain are also used in the experimentation of vessels to be used in space travel.

This site is admittedly out of the way, but if you鈥檙e venturing to the Canary Islands anyway then it is not to be missed! A breathtaking encounter with nature.

7. San Sebastian in Spain

Bay of Biscay

Spain has a lot of beautiful coastlines and beaches, but holiday makers consistently report San Sebastian to have been their favorite.

It鈥檚 the seaside village in the Bay of Bascay, situated in the Spanish north. San Sebastian boasts white sand, turquoise waters and some of the best Spanish entertainment throughout the streets.

San Sebastian – by RC7025 –

There are restaurants and tapas bars everywhere you look. San Sebastian holds the highest number of Michelin Star restaurants in a single city in the world. This is the gem of the north, even locals make the journey out here every so often in spite of the heavy tourism.

8. 惭谩濒补驳补 in Spain

惭谩濒补驳补

If you鈥檙e coming to Spain with good weather and a lot of beach time in mind, the 惭谩濒补驳补 on the south coast is your go-to destination. This is by no means the most historic, cultural or architecturally interested part of Spain, but for swimming, tanning and nightlife it鈥檚 quite remarkable.

The perk of 惭谩濒补驳补 is also that it has good weather almost all year round. While the north of the country experiences distinct summers and winters, the south remains a beach getaway during the majority of the year.

惭谩濒补驳补 is a place to be explored on one鈥檚 own time and schedule. No one can really tell you what the best and worst parts are, you simply just have to go.

惭谩濒补驳补 – by NationalMac –

9. Cueva de Nerja in Spain

惭谩濒补驳补

The caves of Nerja are the only thing I would recommend to travelers who are intending the visit 惭谩濒补驳补 during their trip to Spain. Nerja is a town situated slightly outside of 惭谩濒补驳补.

The town holds impressive caves that stretch over 5km underneath the main village. The caves were discovered by accident in 1959, by four men who were wandering around the land looking for bats.

It is believed that the caves formed over 5million years ago when the Earth was hollowed out by water. It left behind a theater of rock formations, natural rooms and surreal colors emerging directly from the rocks.

One can easily get to Nerja by catching the bus from 惭谩濒补驳补.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9:30am to 6pm

ADDRESS: Carr. de Bajada a Playa de Maro, s/n, 29787, 惭谩濒补驳补, Spain

Cueva de Nerja – by Pedro J Pacheco –

10. The Mezquita in Spain

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The Mezquite is the phenomenal Arab Palace that sits in the province of 颁贸谤诲辞产补, Spain.

The mosque dates back to 784 A.D, and was made an official World Heritage Site not long ago. It鈥檚 an exquisite building with much to see, as is the actual province of 颁贸谤诲辞产补 with its many churches, markets and tapas eateries.

The mosque is a great photography spot, boasting aesthetically pleasing archways made of red and white stripes. You鈥檝e likely seen images of it before if you鈥檝e ever looked up this district.

The Mezquita – by Roberto Chamoso G –

11. Asturias in Spain

Asturias

As I mentioned, Spain holds all different types of terrain on its land, and the countryside is often overlooked by travelers who give great preference to the cities and coasts.

Asturias gives a bit of everything. It鈥檚 a coastal, countryside village in northwest Spain, known for its ocean, mountains and rugged architecture.

It鈥檚 a quiet getaway that shows the other side of life in Spain. It has grown in tourism in recent years and actually happens to be one of the best places to eat seafood in the world country. There are also many museums, churches and abandoned heritage sites to explore.

Asturias – by Zarateman –

12. Donana National Park in Spain

Andalucia

In the south of Spain, the regions of Seville, Cadiz and Huelva come together at Andalucia; the result being the Spanish wetlands combined with sand dunes and pine forests.

It鈥檚 a mouthful to say and to even imagine, but indeed the Donana National Park is one of the most attractive natural wonders on the European continent. Donana is held proudly by Spain; the country considers it one of the its best attractions.

This is prime location for bird watching. The landscape feeds and houses thousands of species with alternating migration patterns. Visitors also enjoy spotting wildlife and spending time on the untouched beaches along the coast.

Donana National Park – by Ultratomio –

13. Ibiza in Spain

Ibiza

We all known that one group of really annoying party boys who perpetually brag about their raging summers in Ibiza; or if you don鈥檛 know them, you鈥檝e heard of them.

Indeed this island of Ibiza is one of the world鈥檚 most renowned party islands, famous for sex, drugs and raves, especially in the European summer.

In a surprising turn of events, Ibiza actually has more to offer than just the blackout ragers thrown at the super clubs. The island lies in the Balearic sea, which means the entire circumference is covered with pristine beaches and turquoise ocean.

If you can steer clear of the party strips, then Ibiza is the island getaway of your dreams. Incredible restaurants, laid back bars and eternal sunshine should not be so easily overlooked because of the bad taste Kyle and his friends give you about one part of the destination.

Ibiza – by Philip Larson –

14. Tabernas 鈥淲ild West Dessert鈥� Almeria in Spain

Almeria

The Tabernas desert is a fascinating piece of Spain and something everyone needs to see if they are making the effort to come to the country.听

This is the only desert in Europe to offer 3000 annual sunshine hours, and temperatures from extreme highs to extreme lows.

Because of the Tabernas strong resemblance to the Wild West of America, a lot of movies have been filmed out here at a fraction of the cost of what actually filming in California would be. Most recently, Game of Thrones used this desert scape to conclude their last few seasons.

Tabernas – by Amjad Sheikh –

15.听 La Tomatina in Spain

Valencia

Since its 2019 and we are no longer harming animals for entertainment (looking at you San Fermines bull run), we come to Spain to squash some tomatoes instead.

The absurdity of the Tomatina festival in Valencia, Spain, is a bucket list event for a lot of travelers around the world. The festival takes place on the last Wednesday of August every year, through the streets of Bunol in Valencia.

La Tomatina – by flydime –

The goal? To cover and be covered by thousands of tons of overripe tomatoes. It鈥檚 not only people who get covered by this mess; there is not a street or building that goes untouched by bright red tomato puree in some form. It looks like an actual bloodbath, the only thing harmed being a couple of ripe tomates!