Spain is one of the largest countries in Europe and also one of the most famous. Well deserved, because few countries can offer their visitors as much beautiful and varied scenery, as beautiful a language, as fascinating a cultural experience and as unique a sense of life as Spain. If you have never been to Spain, now is the time to experience on your next trip what Spain has to offer.
If you want to find out more about Spain, you can read the most important things to know in a complete Spain travel guide.
In this article, we will present 20 sights in Spain that are worth visiting when you travel to the Mediterranean country.
For these top 20 attractions, we prepared an itinerary for a two-week tour of Spain in a previous article. You can find the itinerary for the two-week tour in Spain by clicking here.
So far we have spent about 1 month in Spain. We have been on a couple of road trips, e.g. the Andalusia tour, the East Coast tour and most recently the two-week almost full country tour. So we have seen and we know all 20 attractions on the list.
So let’s see the 20 most interesting places to visit in Spain that we can recommend to tourists.
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
The Sagrada Família is an unfinished church in the Eixample district of Barcelona. It is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, his work on Sagrada Família is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The interior of the Sagrada Família is very natural, with nice warm colors and a modern look. What we like the most is the colored glasses. The huge columns make you feel like you are walking among trees. Gaudí was often inspired by the forms of nature, and in this masterpiece he depicts a forest.
The church is under construction and is expected to be completed in the second half of the 2020’s.
Park Güell, Barcelona
Another masterpiece designed by Antoni Gaudí is the Park Güell in Barcelona. Park Güell is a privatized park system composed of gardens and architectural elements. Park Güell is located in La Salut, a neighborhood in the Gràcia district of Barcelona.
It is an important destination not only because of the interesting geometric shapes, the wonderful tile decorations and the unique vegetation, but also because of the breathtaking panorama of the city.
Montserrat, Catalonia
Montserrat is a stunningly beautiful mountain retreat for Benedictine monks an hour northwest of Barcelona. Not only is Montserrat Monastery of significant religious importance but the natural beauty surrounding the monastery is simply breathtaking. For those who like to relax in nature and enjoy hiking in the mountains, it could be a perfect place.
There is a funicular next to the monastery, which takes you to the top of the mountain where the view is magical. You can also hike, but perhaps the best idea is to take the funicular up and walk down the hiking trail.
You can also visit the monastery from the inside, for which you need to buy a ticket. The exterior is open to the public free of charge.
Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra one of the most visited tourist attractions in Spain. The Alhambra, a medieval Nasrid citadel and palace, is located in Granada. It is one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture. This sprawling hilltop fortress complex encompasses royal palaces, serene patios, and reflecting pools from the Nasrid dynasty, as well as the fountains and orchards of the Generalife gardens.
Colomares Monument, Benalmadena
Also called Castillo de Colomares in Spanish, the monument, in the form of a castle, dedicated to the life and adventures of Christopher Columbus. It is a building that is barely 30 years old.
Without doubt, the Colomares Monument is one of the most photogenic buildings we have ever had the opportunity to photograph.
It also contains the smallest church in the world, covering an area of just 1.96 square meters. Its park offers fantastic views of Benalmadena and the Costa del Sol.
Alcazaba, Malaga
The Moorish fortress was built in the 8th century, although many parts date back to the 11th century. The Alcazaba in Malaga was the palace of the city’s governors. It is the oldest surviving Alcazaba in Spain. The fortress once consisted of more than 100 towers and three palaces, and was protected by three walls, two of which still stand today. At the entrance to the Alcazaba are the remains of a Roman amphitheatre dating from the 2nd century, some parts of which were used in the construction of the Alcazaba.
El Torcal de Antequera
El Torcal de Antequera is a nature reserve in the Sierra del Torcal mountain range located south of the city of Antequera, in the province of Malaga. It is known for its unusual landforms, and is regarded as one of the most impressive karst landscapes in Europe. From the Mirador Las Ventanillas lookout you can see the coast and the city of Malaga. And hiking among special rock formations is the perfect way to relax in nature for mountain lovers.
Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba
Cordoba is home to one of Spain’s most important and Andalusia’s second most important Arab monument, the former Moorish mosque that was converted into a cathedral and is still known as the Mezquita, or Great Mosque. The Mosque-Cathedral is still one of the largest Christian cathedrals in the world. In the colonnade, the 850 columns of marble, jasper and granite form a unique spectacle in the two-colored striped arches.
Plaza de Espana, Seville
Located next to Parque de Maria Luisa, the building was designed to showcase Spain’s role in history, industry and technology. The walls of the semi-circular building on one side of the square are artistically tiled to represent all the provinces of Spain. The buildings are a rare example of regionalist architecture, characterized by the use of local materials. Today it is home to government offices.
In our personal opinion, Plaza de Espana is the most iconic and spectacular building not only in Seville, but in Spain. The beauty, uniqueness and Mediterranean style of the country is often promoted through photos of the Plaza de Espana. A must for photographers, as the whole square offers fantastic opportunities.
Giralda Tower, Seville
The Giralda Tower, linked to the Cathedral of Seville, is a remnant of the former Muslim mosque and now functions as the bell tower of the cathedral. The lookout at the top of the Giralda is accessed via 35 ramps, which is well worth the effort as it offers a fantastic view of the whole of Seville from the top.
Torre del Oro, Seville
The Torre del Oro is a monument in Seville, Spain. The tower was built in the 13th century to protect the port. Today, the tower houses a maritime museum. The museum also has a viewing terrace.
Puente Nuevo, Ronda
The symbol of Ronda is the Ponte Nuevo, meaning new bridge in English, which was built in the 18th century. The bridge connects the two main parts of the city, which are divided by the Guadalevín River. Its sight attracts the eye, and luckily we have plenty of opportunities to admire it from different points of the city. From Ponte Nuevo, you can get a wonderful view of the gorge known in Spanish as El Tajo de Ronda.
Turia Garden, Valencia
The Turia Garden is a public urban park in the city of Valencia, in the old Turia riverbed. It currently covers around 136 hectares and is almost 8.5 km long. The garden runs through the city from the City of Arts and Sciences to the new Bioparc Valencia. Its linear shape crossing the city means that a large population lives near the park, making it probably the most visited park in Spain.
Next to the garden is also the famous Torres de Serranos, Valencia’s iconic landmark.
By the way, there are several bridges over the garden, from where you can take wonderful photos.
Balcon del Mediterraneo, Benidorm
The Balcony of the Mediterranean, an iconic site in Benidorm and the Costa Blanca, is a small peninsula observation deck with a unique design offering breathtaking views of the Mediterranean.
The observation deck is built in true Mediterranean style, with white walls and blue decorations, and is a truly magnificent place to visit.
Santa Barbara Castle, Alicante
Santa Barbara Castle is a castle located in the centre of Alicante, Spain. It is located on the Benacantil hill, a 167 m high hill bordering the sea, from where the whole of Alicante Bay and the surrounding area can be seen.
Archaeological remains dating from the Bronze Age, Iberian and Roman periods have been found on the site, although the origins of the current fort date back to the late 9th century, during Muslim rule.
The reason it was added to our list is the view, which is the most beautiful in Alicante. Worth a visit if you are in the southeast of Spain.
Pink Lake of Torrevieja
A relatively little-known place in Spain is the pink salt lake of Torrevieja. But we think it should be on the list.
The pink lakes are exclusive locations that are rarely found anywhere else in the world. The pink color of these lakes is usually due to their high salt content.
The easiest access to the pink lake is from the east side, not far from the parking lot “Las Salinas, Baños De Barro”. From the street, a short walk will take you to the lake, which often has salt on the shore and the water of the lake is various shades of pink. The lake is also used for swimming, although we don’t recommend it – and we don’t know if it’s allowed.
El Retiro Park, Madrid
The Buen Retiro Park or El Retiro Park is one of the largest parks in Madrid, the capital of Spain. The park was owned by the Spanish Monarchy until the end of the 19th century, when it became a public park.
The park is perfect for a good walk. Along the way you can find a lake with boating facilities, fountains, flower gardens and lots of green space. The park is also home to the famous Crystal Palace, which is currently used for exhibitions.
We think if you are looking for a park to relax in Madrid, the Retiro Park is the perfect choice.
Plaza de la Armeria, Madrid
Luckily, Madrid city centre is easy to walk around once you are nearby. The square between two very important attractions is called Plaza de la Armeria. The Royal Palace of Madrid and the Cathedral opposite it are probably the most beautiful sites in Madrid. And from the square you can see a magnificent sunset when you are visiting Madrid.
Plaza Mayor, Madrid’s other famous square, is also a short 700-metre walk away. And around them are several great parks with interesting sculptures and beautiful fountains.
Castle of Segovia
Segovia is a lesser-known tourist destination in Spain. It is a truly hidden place, known only to the more curious travelers. However, it is just a short drive from Madrid. Its ancient aqueduct, the fabulous Alcazar (which served as one of the temples of Walt Disney’s Cinderella’s castle) and one of the most impressive cathedrals in all of Spain are three of the attractions that make it a must-see for a day trip. The city centre was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.
Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, Zaragoza
Located on the banks of the Ebro River, Zaragoza is Spain’s fifth largest city and the capital of Aragon, which has become a lively, modern city.
The Basilica del Pilar (its Spanish name) is a Roman Catholic church, the largest and one of the most important Baroque churches in Spain, and the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Zaragoza.
Zaragoza has several other attractions, such as the Aljafería Palace. As a tourist, though, what is most beautiful is the riverside, with the cathedral next to it. It is well worth a visit if you are in Spain.
So that was the list of the top 20 places to visit in Spain. We hope the list has been useful and has given you some ideas for a trip to Spain. If you are inspired to make a trip to Spain, read our other articles to find out more about the Spanish attractions.
