Places to Visit in Spain: 20 of the Most Beautiful Cities and a Travel Guide
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Where to go in Spain? The best places to visit and 20 of the most beautiful cities, from Barcelona to Madrid and Seville to Andalusia.
Places to Visit in Spain
Spain, Europe’s second most visited country, feels like a different country in every region. Catalonia’s art, Andalusia’s Arab-influenced history, and Madrid’s royal grandeur... Here are the best places to visit in Spain:
1. Barcelona (The Heart of Catalonia)
When people think of Spain, the first city that comes to mind is often Barcelona rather than the capital. Antoni Gaudí’s daring architecture has left its mark on the city. La Sagrada Familia: The unfinished church. The play of light inside is just as captivating as its exterior. Park Güell: A fairytale-like ceramic park overlooking the city. Las Ramblas: Barcelona’s equivalent of Istanbul’s Istiklal Avenue. It’s lined with street performers and tapas bars.
2. Madrid (Royal Grandeur)
Spain’s capital is a feast for art lovers, with its wide boulevards, vast squares, and world-class museums. Prado Museum: One of the world’s most important art museums, home to masterpieces by Goya and Velázquez. Plaza Mayor & Puerta del Sol: Historic squares at the heart of the city. Retiro Park: A vast, lush green space where locals row and picnic on weekends.
3. Seville (The Fire of Andalusia)
Seville is the capital of southern Spain’s Andalusia region. This legendary city, where flamenco was born, has streets scented with orange blossoms. Alcázar Palace: A palace with magnificent Moorish architecture, where Game of Thrones was also filmed. Seville Cathedral and the Giralda: The largest Gothic cathedral in the world.
4. Granada and the Alhambra Palace
The Alhambra Palace is here, regarded as the pinnacle of Islamic architecture in Europe. With its intricate craftsmanship, water features, and courtyards, it is one of the most captivating structures in the world.
5. Valencia (The Home of Paella)
This seaside city, where Spain’s most iconic dish, “paella,” originated, is famous for its vast futuristic complex, the “City of Arts and Sciences” (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias).
On your trip to Spain, be sure to add Córdoba’s Mosque-Cathedral, Ibiza’s beaches, and Toledo’s medieval streets to your list.