Spain Attractions: 30 Best Places to Visit

Spain –  one of the most interesting and alluring destinations in Europe, and it goes without saying: a mild climate, picturesque coastlines and a rich culture where the Arab heritage emerges through the European renaissance. And this is only the mainland, and in fact Spain is also the islands: Canary and Balearic. We have compiled for you the TOP 30 places that you definitely need to see with your own eyes.

1. Sagrada Familia or Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

The largest and most famous architectural creation of Antonio Gaudí is located in the center of Barcelona. The building of the Sagrada Familia has not yet been fully completed; after the death of the architect, the facades were built according to his surviving drawings; it is planned to complete the completion of all the towers by 2030. There are almost always huge queues near the entrance to the Sagrada, you can climb the Nativity Façade tower by a spiral staircase or an elevator. 

1.   Mount Tibidabo in Barcelona

Tibidabo is the highest point in Barcelona, ​​offering a beautiful view of the city and the sea. There are three main objects of interest at the top –  Temple of the Sacred Heart, similar in architectural design to the castle, it can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. Next to him – & nbsp; big ferris wheel —  a symbol of an amusement park that has been operating here for over a hundred years. A little further, there is another object that can be seen from afar – & nbsp; TV tower designed by Norman Foster. 

1.   Parc Güell in Barcelona

Another creation of one of the main architects of Europe –   Antonio Gaudi. Commissioned by his friend Eusebi Güell, an industrial investor in Catalonia, he designed the park, which is now one of the hallmarks of Barcelona. Although at the time of opening the park was a failed project, as it did not meet the objectives. Guell wanted to get a garden city, where sixty individual cottages are immersed in the beauty of nature. But the land sold poorly, Güell himself died in 1914, the First World War broke out and the park was left unfinished. 

1.     Gothic Quarter in Barcelona

Picturesque and atmospheric, the oldest district of the city of Barcelona. In its center – & nbsp; Gothic Cathedral, and around it are many narrow streets with old buildings. Walking here is very interesting, in every corner a part of Catalan history is hidden. Living in this area is not very pleasant due to old buildings, lack of heating, a large crowd of tourists and, as a result, & nbsp; petty theft on the streets. 

1.     Camp Nou in Barcelona

The home stadium of FC Barcelona was opened in 1957 and is considered the largest stadium in Europe. It has gone through several serious reconstructions and now, in addition to matches and training, this arena hosts large-scale concerts and performances by top artists. 

1.  Salvador Dali Museum-Theatre

In the Catalan city of Figueres  is the largest and most visited surreal architectural object in the world. The museum building was designed by Salvador Dali, he converted the old abandoned theater into a theatre-museum, which now houses many of his works, distributed in chronological order – & nbsp; this allows the viewer to trace the artist's path from impressionism to surrealism. 

1.  Port Aventura

A huge amusement park in the city of Salou, a hundred kilometers from Barcelona. To visit the park, it is better to allocate a few days, in addition, there are many hotels in Salou and a fairly developed infrastructure. A ticket for two days to the park will cost you 70 euros per adult, attractions for every taste and age are open until the evening and are located around the lake, which is also a stage for spectacular shows. 

1. Montserrat

An hour from Barcelona, ​​there is a place saturated with strength and beauty – & nbsp; Mount Montserrat.  At a height of 1230 meters above sea level, you can climb in several ways: by funicular, mountain train or on foot. In the center of the mountain – & nbsp; monastery, the construction of which began in the XI century. It was later destroyed by Napoleon's troops and rebuilt. On Montserrat you can spend the night in Alberga – & nbsp; modest monastery hotels for pilgrims to enjoy the sunrise, go to the morning service and then visit the monastery museum. 

1.   City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia

In addition to beautiful streets filled with madarin trees and ancient buildings, Valencia has a modern science and art cluster. Here you can visit one of the largest oceanariums, participate in interactive programs or, for example, listen to an opera. The city of arts and sciences is perfectly integrated into the natural and cultural landscape, and the Umbracle observation deck with gardens offers stunning views. 

1.   Royal Palace of Madrid

The largest royal palace in Europe is considered the official residence of the Spanish kings. It was built in the 18th century for King Charles III. The current king of Spain Felipe VI does not live in it, the palace is used for special occasions. The building also functions as a museum, you can enter the gardens for free, and the palace itself with a ticket for 10 euros. 

1. Almuden Cathedral

Next to the Royal Palace in Madrid is the main city cathedral, it is quite modern. It began to be built at the end of the 18th century, and was opened only in 1993. Entrance to the cathedral is free, but you can leave a donation. 

1. Alhambra Palace

In the south of Spain, in Granada, there is an amazing complex of buildings with a stunning history. The Alhambra was built by the conquering emirs and is an example of ancient Muslim architecture in Europe. Towers, fountains, gardens –  all this is striking in its beauty and thoughtfulness. Now the palace complex functions as a museum of Islamic culture and art, anyone can visit it. The territory of the Alhambra is very large, you will need more than three hours to inspect all the objects. 

1. Fortress Santa Barbara

A medieval fortress on top of a mountain in the city of Alicante was built to protect the valley from enemy raids. It is currently one of the most picturesque viewpoints on the Costa Blanca. You can get to the observation point by walking, by car or by elevator. 

1.  Belver Castle in Mallorca

Among the Balearic Islands of Spain, Mallorca is & nbsp; one of the most notable. In the capital of the island – & nbsp; Palme has a Gothic castle that can be seen from almost anywhere on the island. The castle was the residence of collies, then a prison, and now attracts tourists from all over the world with its beauty and authenticity. Inside there is a museum of the history of the island, and from the observation deck you can admire a panoramic view of the azure bay.  

1.     Ibiza Island

Ibiza –  one of the most popular European resorts, surprisingly combining the endless fun of festivals and parties and solitude with nature. The island is quite large in area, there is enough space on it for everyone: pensioners swimming in the sea early in the morning, young people staying on the dance floor until the morning and families with children walking along the shady part of the island. 

1.     Costa del Sol

Coast of Andalusia and the southernmost resort in Spain. Here you will find beautiful beaches, small bays, cozy villages and the birthplace of Pablo Picasso — & nbsp; Malaga. This region has many national parks, friendly people and delicious food. 

1.  Costa Dorada

Gold Coast or South Coast of Catalonia. The beaches here are sandy, with a long gentle entry into the water. Center of the coast —  the ancient city of Tarragona is also a must-see. There is a Roman amphitheater and a city wall built in the third century BC. In addition to historical monuments, Tarragona has a very pleasant atmosphere and a lively city center with cafes, restaurants and shops. 

1.  Burgos Cathedral

The city of Burgos, the capital of the region of Castilla, is famous for its majestic Gothic cathedral. The cathedral is surrounded by fifteen chapels, each of which can be viewed for a very long time: paintings, towers and stained glass windows are made by different artists. 

1.  Seville Alcazar

Moorish-style castle in Seville. It began to be built under the Arab rulers, and finished under the Spanish. Judging by this, this is a complex of palaces with very rich decoration in the style of the best Muslim masters. You can devote a whole day to this place: ponds, fountains, chapels and palaces – & nbsp; it will take a lot of time to see all this. 

1.  Picasso Museum

The legacy of Pablo Picasso in Spain is very great: there is a museum named after the artist in Barcelona, ​​in La Coruña and a large collection in Madrid. But the most famous are the Picasso Museum and the Picasso House in Malaga – & nbsp; hometown of the master. There are more than two hundred works in the museum's fund, and Picasso's house will tell about the early periods of his work, even authentic interiors from the artist's childhood have been preserved inside.  

1. Alcazar in Segovia

A fortress on top of a mountain that has undergone many changes: from the residence of the king to a prison and a military school. The fortress burned down, but was restored and now there is a museum and a military archive inside. 

1.  Salamanca

One of the oldest Spanish cities and the capital of the Salamanca region is  one of the oldest universities in Europe, founded in the 13th century, is located here. In addition to the university building and the atmosphere of the student city, two cathedrals are interesting in Salamanca – & nbsp; New and Old. The most convenient way to get to the city is from Madrid and Barcelona. 

1.     The Escorial Monastery

The monastery is an hour's drive from Madrid and is a huge building that has two museums, a giant historical library and three hundred monastic cell. In addition, the territory of the monastery is also the burial place of almost all Spanish kings. 

1.     Prado Museum

Must-have for any tourist —  a huge museum in Madrid with the most impressive collection of Spanish painting and sculpture. About 2000 paintings are in the permanent exhibition of the museum, among them 30 originals by Francisco Goya. You will have to stand in line for a long time, but it's worth it. 

1.     Royal Palace of Aranjuez

The royal palace complex in the province of Madrid was built in the 17th century as a response to Versailles – & nbsp; just as luxurious, with a rich and thoughtful garden and park ensemble and bewitching interiors. The entrance to the palace, which is now used as a museum space, will cost you five euros. 

1.     Maria Luisa Park

This is the flagship park of sunny Seville, which also functions as a botanical garden. The park contains not only Mediterranean plants, but also shrubs and trees brought from all over the world. Entrance to the park is free and it's a great place to escape the heat on a summer day and wander along winding tiled paths surrounded by fountains and mosaic sculptures. 

1.     Aqueduct in Segovia

The aqueduct in Segovia impresses with its thoughtfulness and engineering manufacturability, it was built in the first century AD and served as the only object for supplying water to the city, and now it has become its symbol. 

1.     Mesquita (Cathedral Mosque of Cordoba)

The main attraction of all Andalusia is  cathedral mosque in the city of Cordoba. During the Roman Empire, there was a temple on this site, but in the 8th century it was rebuilt into a mosque, and the mosque was expanded and completed many times. Now it is one of the largest and most beautiful Muslim shrines in the world. 

1.     Canary Islands

Canary Islands —  It is an autonomous province of Spain, consisting of seven islands. The largest of them are Gran Canaria, La Palma, Tenerife, Fuerteventura. The islands are almost always quite comfortable water and air temperature, but in winter it is very windy and rainfall is possible. The nature of the islands is not very diverse, mainly sand dunes, volcanoes and rare reserves. 

1. Teide National Park

A natural reserve on the top of the Teide volcano on the island of Tenerife. The highest and most spectacular point of the park is located at an altitude of 3700 meters above sea level. In addition to the landscape, vegetation and view, you can find petrified lava flows and caves here.