1027 Best Sights in Spain

This is the major village in the area, with streets lined with restaurants specializing in various types of paella. The most traditional kind is made with rabbit or game birds, though seafood is also popular.

Playazo literally means \"one great beach,\" and this sandy cove is certainly one of the gems in the Cabo de Gata nature reserve. Just a few minutes' drive from the village of Rodalquilar (once home to Spain's only gold mine), the yellow-sand beach is surrounded by ocher-color volcanic rock; an 18th-century fortress stands at one end. These are sheltered waters, so bathing is safe and warm, and the offshore rocks make for great snorkeling. This beach is deserted during most of the year, and its isolation and lack of amenities mean that even in the summer months you won't come across too many other beachgoers. Although nude bathing isn't officially allowed here, it is tolerated. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; sunrise.

Something of a Costa del Sol secret, this quiet 4-km (2½-mile) beach of gray sand has long, empty stretches with plenty of room for towels, even in high summer, making it a great place to relax, walk, or swim. The water's safe for swimming when waves are low, but watch out for the undertow when it's windy. Between San Pedro and Estepona, and flanked by residential developments, El Saladillo has the occasional beach bar. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (mid-June–mid-September); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: solitude; sunset; walking.

This 11th-century wonder is the oldest Romanesque church in the province. The flora and fauna carvings on its capitals, along with geometric patterns and four-headed monsters, are notable.  

The always-entertaining fishing quarter and harbor are below the city near the bus station and the mouth of the Francolí River. Restaurants in the port, such as the popular El Pòsit del Serrallo ( Moll de Pescadors 25), offer fresh fish in a rollicking environment.

This hair-raising cable-car ride over the Barcelona harbor, from Barceloneta to Montjuïc hill, is a serious adrenaline rush. Swaying 100 feet or so in the air, the windowed gondola, which holds 19 people, travels the mile-long route in about 10 minutes—every one of them packed with fabulous bird's-eye views. Cable-car access is from both ends, though most people leave from the Torre de San Sebastián (San Sebastian tower) in Barceloneta heading to the Torre de Miramar on Montjuïc. The Torre d'Alta Mar restaurant in the tower at the Barceloneta end serves up high-end dining, in every sense. 

Nearly every July 13 since 1375, the "Tribute of the Three Cows" unfolds in the heart of the Roncal Valley on the French border. Local mayors, dressed in traditional gowns, gather near the summit of San Martín to receive the symbolic payment of three cows from their French counterparts, in memory of a settlement of ancient border disputes that's believed to be the oldest surviving "pact" of its kind in Europe. Feasting and joyous imbibing follow.

Within Zaragoza's Centro de Historias, EMOZ houses one of the finest collections of origami in the world. These eye-popping exhibitions change themes seasonally and reveal the surprising story of Zaragoza's historical connection to the art of paper folding.

The Greco-Roman ruins here are Catalonia's most important archaeological site, and this port is one of the most monumental ancient engineering feats on the Iberian Peninsula. As the Greeks' original point of arrival in Spain, Empúries was also where the Olympic Flame entered Spain for Barcelona's 1992 Olympic Games.

Built between 1792 and 1798 by Italian architect Francisco Fontana, this neoclassical chapel was financed by King Carlos IV, who also commissioned Goya to paint the vaults and the main dome. Goya depicted events of the 13th century (such as St. Anthony of Padua resurrecting a dead man) as if they had happened in his own time five centuries later, with naturalistic images never used before to paint religious scenes. Opposite the image of the frightening dead man on the main dome, Goya painted himself as a man covered with a black cloak. Goya, who died in Bordeaux in 1828, is buried here (without his head, which was stolen in France) under an unadorned gravestone.

Destroyed by Dutch attackers in 1599, this charming little chapel (open until 2 pm daily) was rebuilt in the 18th century. Inside is a fine baroque altarpiece with rich gold leaf and wooden details. The chapel is generally open only before and after Mass.

Most Madrileños have no idea that the city's (and greater region's) oldest Mudejar church, erected in the 13th century, is located in Carabanchel. Though currently under renovation and closed to the public, it remains exceptionally well-preserved. The hermitage has a rectangular floor plan and a six-story brick-and-stone belfry with two bells (these were added in the 20th century). Note the intricate Moorish-influenced arches above the doorways and windows fashioned out of brick. If by some stroke of luck you gain entry to the church—it purportedly opens occasionally on Saturday at 11 am—you'll find colorful medieval frescoes and a well within.

This wild stretch of white sand hugged by turquoise waves is popular with nudist sunbathers and can be reached on foot from Ses Salines beach (20-minute walk). It's a 10-km (6-mile) drive from Eivissa by car through the salt flats. The back parts of the dunes serves up views of Eivissa and Formentera on a clear day. El Chiringuito bar and restaurant, one of Ibiza's favorite waterfront beach bars, is known for its relaxed vibe, good food and cocktails, and lively season-opening and season-closing parties. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers. Best for: nudists; swimming.

Even though it's nearly an hour's drive from Palma, this pristine 2 km (1-mile) stretch of fine white sand on Mallorca's southern coast, much longer than it is wide, is one of the most popular beaches on the island—arrive late in summer and you'll be hard-pressed to find a space to stretch out. At times, the water can be a bit choppy, and there are occasional patches of seaweed—but otherwise, the clear, clean water slopes off gently from the shore for some 30 feet, making it ideal for families with younger kids. Es Trenc is in a protected natural area free of hotels and other developments, which makes for good bird-watching. Naturists lay their claim to part of the beach's eastern end. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); toilets. Best for: nudists; partiers; swimming; walking.

The Church of Bethlehem is one of Barcelona's few baroque buildings, and hulks stodgily on La Rambla just above Rambla de les Flors. Burned out completely at the start of the Civil War in 1936, the church is unremarkable inside; the outside, spruced up, is made of what looks like quilted stone. If you find this less than a must-see, worry not: you have all of Barcelona for company, with the possible exception of Betlem's parishioners. This was where Viceroy Amat claimed the hand of the young virreina-to-be when in 1780 she was left in the lurch by the viceroy's nephew. In a sense, Betlem has compensated the city with the half century of good works the young widow was able to accomplish with her husband's fortune.

This 12th-century Romanesque church is part of a 10th-century monastery, still in an excellent state of preservation. It's set on the town's main plaza, Sant Pere, with many cafés and terraces.

Founded in 977, this pre-Romanesque gem contains the relics of St. Vincent as well as the tomb of its benefactor, Pere de Rovira. La Capella de la Veracreu (Chapel of the True Cross) displays a reproduction of an alleged fragment of the True Cross brought from Rome by Bernat Tallafer in 977 and stolen in 1899.

Barcelona's main railroad station until about 1980, and still in use, the elegant Estació de França is outside the west gate of the Ciutadella Park. Rebuilt in 1929 for the International Exhibition and restored in 1992 for the Olympics, its beauty and historical value overshadows Estació de Sants, the city's main intercity and international terminus. The marble and bronze, the Moderniste decorative details, and the delicate tracery of its wrought-iron roof girders make this one of the most beautiful buildings of its kind. Stop in for a sense of the bygone romance of European travel.

Madrid's main train station is a steel-and-glass hangar built in the late 19th century by Alberto de Palacio y Elissague, who became famous for his work with Ricardo Velázquez on the Palacio de Cristal in El Retiro Park. It was the site of one of the 2004 Al-Qaeda train bombings that collectively killed 193 and injured over 2,000, the topic of the worthwhile 2022 Netflix documentary 11M: Terror in Madrid. Today, following renovations by architect Rafael Moneo, the station's main hall resembles a greenhouse; it's filled with tropical trees and contains a busy turtle pool, a magnet for kids.  Beware of detours and delays through 2030. A €491 million renovation is underway that will add train platforms and reroute the station's main entrance through the iconic wrought-iron facade facing Calle de Atocha.

Designed by the engineer Valentín Gorbeña in 1893 and finished by architect Severino Achúcarro in 1898, this colorful train station looks across the Nervión River to the Paris Opéra–inspired Teatro Arriaga, responding with its own references to the colonnaded Parisian Louvre. The peacock-fan-shape, yellow-and-green-tiled entrance is spectacular, along with the immense stained-glass window over the access to the tracks in which facets of Bizkaian life and work are represented, from farmers and fishermen to factory workers and jai alai players. Meanwhile, the graceful arch of the hangar over the tracks is typical of traditional railroad terminals around Europe. 

Andén 0 ("Platform 0"), the so-called ghost station of Chamberí, is now a locomotive museum managed by Metro Madrid. It occupies the grand old Chamberí Station, built in 1919 and defunct since 1966. There are vintage advertisements, old maps, and other memorabilia. Tours (free) and placards are in Spanish only. Don't wait for staff to come fetch you after watching the introductory film—just head down to the platform.

The Olympic Stadium was originally built for the International Exhibition of 1929, with the idea that Barcelona would then host the 1936 Olympics (ultimately staged in Hitler's Berlin). After failing twice to win the nomination, the city celebrated the attainment of its long-cherished goal by renovating the semi-derelict stadium—preserving the original facade and shell—in time for 1992, providing seating for 60,000.

Though you can view the stadium for free from the entrance area, the field and indoor areas are not normally open to the public—the exception being with a concert ticket; the stadium occasionally hosts major acts like Coldplay and Bruce Springsteen. Barcelona Football Club ( www.fcbarcelona.com) also played matches here for the 2023--24 season while its home stadium, Camp Nou, was undergoing renovations. Reduced-capacity soccer games are expected to return to Camp Nou from November 2024; however, should you get match tickets, it’s worth double-checking the location.  

The nearby Museu Olímpic i de l'Esport, a museum about the Olympic movement in Barcelona, shows audiovisual replays from the 1992 Olympics, and provides interactive simulations for visitors to experience the training and competition of Olympic athletes. An information center traces the history of the modern Olympics from Athens in 1896 to the present. Next door and just downhill stands the futuristic Palau Sant Jordi sports and concert arena, designed by the noted Japanese architect Arata Isozaki.

Enter the Sierra de la Demanda by heading south from Santo Domingo de la Calzada on LR111. Your first stop is the town of Ezcaray, with its aristocratic houses emblazoned with family crests, of which the palace of Conde de Torremúzquiz is the most distinguished. The town is famous for its mohair (angora goat wool) textiles, of which Mantas Ezcaray is the only remaining producer in Spain; the shop ( Calle Cristobal de Zamudio 12  www.mantasezcaray.com) services fashion houses like Loewe and Armani. Good excursions from Ezcaray are the Valdezcaray ski station; the source of the Río Oja at Llano de la Casa; La Rioja's highest point, the 2,284-meter (7,494-foot) Pico de San Lorenzo; and the Romanesque church of Tres Fuentes, at Valgañón. The hamlet is also known for its wild mushrooms—and the resulting tapas served in its barrooms.

This self-proclaimed artist social club—remodeled from an old textile factory on the outer limits of the Poblenou district—is a great place for emerging young visual artists to find their footing. Part of the complex accommodates work spaces for resident artists and creatives; live performances and festivals are hosted here as well.

This UFO-like tower is 360 feet tall and an excellent viewpoint from which to gaze at some of the city’s most outstanding buildings including the Palacio Real, Palacio de Cibeles (City Hall), the four skyscrapers to the north, and up to 50 landmarks for which you’ll find descriptions in English and Spanish.

The fishing industry is still very important in Calpe, and every evening the fishing boats return to port with their catch. The subsequent auction at the fish market, from around 5 pm, can be watched from the walkway of La Lonja de Calpe.

This fountain is a key spot in Barcelona, the place where all great futbol victories are celebrated by jubilant (and often unruly) Barça fans. It was originally known for the best water in Barcelona, brought in by canaletes (small canals) from the mountains. The bronze plaque on the pavement in front of the fountain explains in Catalan that if you drink from these waters, you will fall under Barcelona's spell and are destined to return.

This scenic little mountain village nestled amid lemon and orange groves, 4 km (2½ miles) north of Sóller, is a worthy scenic detour. Much of its appeal emanates from the narrow pedestrianized streets, blond-stone houses speckled with bougainvillea and topped with red-tiled roofs and views over the Sóller valley.

The town of Alcalá la Real itself was gradually rebuilt, but the hilltop fortress, consisting of the alcazaba and the abbey church that Alfonso XI built, was more or less ignored. Up until the late 1990s, exposed skeletons were visible in some open tombs on the floor of the church. Today visitors can wander around the ruins and visit the small archaeological museum.

This low marble monument runs across the eastern side of the church of Santa Maria del Mar. It honors the defenders of Barcelona who gave their lives in the final siege that ended the War of the Spanish Succession on September 11, 1714, and who are buried in the cemetery that lies beneath the square.

The inscription (in English: "in the cemetery of the mulberry trees no traitor lies") refers to the graveyard keeper's story. He refused to bury those on the invading side, even when one turned out to be his son. This is the traditional gathering place for the most radical elements of Catalonia's nationalist (separatist) movement, on the Catalonian national day, which celebrates the heroic defeat.

From the monument, look back at Santa Maria del Mar. The lighter-color stone on the lateral facade was left by the 17th-century Pont del Palau (Palace Bridge), erected to connect the Royal Palace in the nearby Pla del Palau with the Tribuna Real (Royal Box) over the right side of the Santa Maria del Mar altar, so that nobles and occupying military officials could get to Mass without the risk of walking in the streets. The bridge, regarded as a symbol of imperialist oppression, was finally dismantled in 1987. The steel arch with its eternal flame that honors the fallen Catalans was erected in 2002.