1027 Best Sights in Spain

These water caverns, turned into an architectural destination by César Manrique, are situated 15 km (9 miles) north of the Costa Teguise. They were created when molten lava streamed through an underground tunnel and hissed into the sea. Look for the tiny albino lobsters on the rocks in the underground lake—this blind species (Munidopsis polimorpha) is found nowhere else in the world. There's a pleasant if basic restaurant by the lake, and the Casa de los Volcanes (opened in 2023; additional fee) is a good museum of volcanic science.

Filled with more than 4,000 varieties of tropical trees and plants, and sonorous birds, the Jardín Botánico was founded in 1788, on the orders of King Carlos III, to propagate warm-climate species brought back to Spain from the Americas. The gardens close in stormy or excessively windy weather.

Enter Madrid's "secret garden" through a swinging wrought-iron gate at the north end of Plaza de la Paja. Hiding in plain sight, the 18th-century grounds are a little-known oasis with a burbling fountain, mampuesto stone paths, low-cut boxwood hedges, and a small arbor. Shaded benches around the perimeter feel a world away from the bustling plaza mere steps from where you sit.

From the Plaza de Santa Cruz, you can stroll through these gardens, home to a statue of Christopher Columbus. In summer there's welcome shade and refreshing fountains.

The manicured gardens to the north of the Palacio Real, located where the royal stables once were, are a pleasant place to rest or watch the sun set. Renovated in 2022 as part of the Plaza de España overhaul, they are named for the prolific 18th-century architect who designed the Puerta de Alcalá, Royal Botanical Garden, and San Francisco el Grande convent, among other key sights.  

Here's a sound you don't often hear in the interior of Mallorca: the rush of falling water. The irrigation system in these gardens nourishes around 40 varieties of trees, climbers, and flowering shrubs. A 17th-century manor house furnished with antiques and painted panels has a collection of original documents that chronicles the history of the estate.

This gorgeous Navarran hamlet 54 km (33½ miles) southeast of Pamplona, perched atop a lush riverbed and gorge, is the birthplace of the 16th-century Roman Catholic missionary Francis Xavier, cofounder of the Jesuit order. There's a fine castle, cathedral, and monastery, comfortable hotels, a couple of restaurants, and an impressive visitor center with rotating exhibits. Whatever your religious persuasion, it's a beautiful stop on your travels in the Pamplona area.

The remains of this 13th-century mikvah, or Jewish ritual bath, were discovered in the 1960s; it's one of the few surviving in Spain. A stone stairway leads down into the chamber where the water was drawn from the river, but little else indicates the role that the baths played in the medieval Jewish community. Access is by guided tour only (organized through the tourist office).

This museum 12 km (7½ miles) east of Pamplona commemorates Jorge Oteiza (1908–2003), the father of modern Basque art. In his seminal treatise, Quosque tandem, Oteiza called for Basque artists to find their own aesthetic and not acquiesce to the Spanish canon. Rejecting ornamentation in favor of essential form, he created the school of artists from which Eduardo Chillida (1924–2002) emerged. The earth-tone concrete slab of a building housing the museum was Oteiza's home for more than two decades.

A 20-minute drive southwest to the village of Balmaseda is in fact a one-way ticket to chocolate-and-coffee heaven. On an hourlong factory tour, learn firsthand what goes into making some of Spain's finest \"bean-to-bar\" chocolate and award-winning single-origin coffees—and how both delicacies tie into Spain's rich food history—during a tour that culminates in a heady tasting. 

Set inside the glassy MAPFRE Tower near the Port Olímpic and named after the chemical symbol for potassium bromide---a salt used in wet-plate photography processing---this smart photography venue showcases comprehensive temporary exhibits of international names such as William Eggleston, Tina Modotti, and Consuelo Kanaga. 

Designed by the world-renowned Spanish architect Rafael Moneo and located at the mouth of the Urumea River, the Kursaal is a multipurpose performance venue that's home to the Basque Country's symphony orchestra. Its translucent cubelike buildings aim to bridge the natural and artificial worlds and to create a visual stepping-stone between Monte Urgull and Monte Ulia. The market-driven ground-floor restaurant, Muka ( see separate entry), is exceptional.

This 2-km (1-mile) stretch of sand running from the Torremolinos headland to Puerto Marina in Benalmádena is a perennial favorite with Málaga residents as well as visitors. Several hotels, including the Tropicana, flank a beach promenade that's perfect for a stroll, and there are plenty of beach bars where you can rent a lounger and parasol—and also enjoy some of the best pescaíto frito (fried fish) on the coast. The gray sand is cleaned regularly, and the moderate waves make for safe bathing. Towel space (and street parking) is in short supply during the summer months, but outside high season this is a perfect spot for soaking up some winter sunshine. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (mid-June–mid-September); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking.

Architect Joaquín de Rucoba built this city hall in 1892, on the site of the San Agustín convent destroyed during the 1836 Carlist War. It shares the Belle Époque style of de Rucoba's Teatro Arriaga. The Salón Árabe, the highlight of the interior, was designed by the same architect who built Bilbao's Café Iruña, as their neo-Mudejar motifs suggest.

The sights and sounds of Barcelona seem far away when you stand near this monumental two-tiered fountain by Josep Fontserè, presented as part of the 1888 Universal Exhibition. The waterfall's somewhat overwrought arrangement of rocks was the work of a young architecture student named Antoni Gaudí—his first public work, appropriately natural and organic, and certainly a hint of things to come.

The museum within this Gothic cathedral displays 10th- and 12th-century chests, religious silverware, and paintings and sculptures by Astorgans through the ages, but the real treasure is the cathedral itself. You'll be especially wowed by the chancel, which contains Spain's most elaborate Romanist (Late Renaissance) retable, and by the choir, sculpted from walnut wood in an exuberant Flemish style.

This old Moorish town has twisting streets and white houses with birdcage balconies. Cross the Puente Nuevo to enter La Ciudad.

This botanical garden was created in 1855 by the daughter of the British consul, who married a Spanish shipping magnate—the captains of the Spaniard's fleet had standing orders to bring back seedlings and cuttings from every \"exotic\" port of call. The wisteria pergola, in bloom in early April, is one of the highlights. The garden is just off the exit road to Granada—too far to walk, but well worth the cab fare or the bus journey (No. 2 from La Alameda, then a 20-minute walk or on the Málaga Tour Bus) from the city center.

Barcelona's maritime trade center, the Casa Llotja de Mar, was designed to be the city's finest example of civil architecture, built in the Catalan Gothic style between 1380 and 1392. At the end of the 18th century, the facades were (tragically) covered in the neoclassical uniformity of the time, but the interior, the great Saló Gòtic (Gothic Hall), remained unaltered, and was a grand venue for balls and celebrations throughout the 19th century.

The Gothic Hall was used as the Barcelona stock exchange until 1975, and until late 2001 as the grain exchange. The hall, with its graceful arches and columns and floors of light Carrara and dark Genovese marble, has now been brilliantly restored. The building, which can only be seen on a guided tour, now houses the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce.

The Escola de Belles Arts (School of Fine Arts) occupied the southwestern corner of the Llotja from 1849 until 1960. Many illustrious Barcelona artists studied here, including Gaudí, Miró, and Picasso. The Reial Acadèmia Catalana de Belles Arts de Sant Jordi (Royal Catalan Academy of Fine Arts of St. George) still has its seat in the Llotja, and its museum is one of Barcelona's semisecret collections of art, from medieval paintings by unknown artists to modern works by members of the Academy itself; a 17th-century Saint Jerome by Joan Ribalta is especially fine. To slip into the Saló Gòti, walk down the stairs from the museum to the second floor, then take the marble staircase down and turn right. 

At this visitor center, less than 2 km (1 mile) from the center of El Rocío, you can peer at the park's many bird species from a 3½-km (2-mile) footpath.

Because Puerto de la Cruz has uninviting black-sand beaches, the town commissioned Lanzarote artist César Manrique in 1965 to build Costa Martiánez, a forerunner of today's water parks. It's an immense—and immensely fun—public pool on the waterfront, with landscaped islands, bridges, and a volcano-like fountain that sprays sky-high. The complex also includes several smaller pools and a restaurant--nightclub. 

Europe's major nesting area for the greater flamingo is a shallow saltwater lagoon. In February and March, these birds arrive from Africa by the thousands to breed, returning to Africa in August when the water dries up. Flamingo hatching time is April–June. In winter, regular migrants include cranes, best seen arriving on the lagoon at last light. The visitor center has information on wildlife. Bring binoculars if you have them. Guided tours are available in English (from €10 per person; book ahead online).

The western entrance to the Alpujarras is some 46 km (29 miles) from Granada at Lanjarón. This spa town is famous for its mineral water, collected from the melting snows of the Sierra Nevada and drunk throughout Spain. Orgiva, the next and largest town in the Alpujarras, has a 17th-century castle. Here you can leave the A348 and follow signs for the villages of the Alpujarras Altas (High Alpujarras), including Pampaneira, Capileira, and especially Trevélez, which lies on the slopes of the Mulhacén at 4,840 feet above sea level. Reward yourself with a plate of the local jamón serrano. Trevélez has three levels—the Barrio Alto, Barrio Medio, and Barrio Bajo—and the butchers are concentrated in the lowest section (Bajo). The higher levels have narrow cobblestone streets, whitewashed houses, and shops.

One of the string of coves on the coastline west of Nerja, this beach of gray sand mixed with shingle is backed by pine trees and scrub that perfume the air. Reachable only via a stony track down the cliffs, this protected beach is one of the few on the Costa del Sol to be almost completely untouched by tourism. Its moderate waves mean you need to take care when bathing. The snorkeling around the rocks at either end of the beach is among the best in the area. This spot's seclusion makes the beach a favorite with couples and nudists—it's reasonably quiet even at the height of summer. Limited parking is available off the N340 highway, but there are no amenities, so take plenty of water. Amenities: none. Best for: nudists; snorkeling; solitude.

Also known as Bosque de Los Tilos, this protected biosphere is home to one of the best-preserved laurisilva forests in the archipelago. Take a leisurely walk beneath mossy lianas and towering laurel trees up to the Espigón Atravesado viewpoint, about one hour each way, or take a three- to five-hour hike along the Marcos y Cordero route, skirting beneath waterfalls. There's also a quick out-and-back trail (30 minutes total, give or take) to the Los Tilos Waterfall; follow signs for \"Sendero a la Cascada.\" There's a well-appointed visitor center at the end of the LP-105 road (follow signs for \"Los Tilos\") with maps and English placards on local history, flora, and fauna.  Mudslides and inclement weather cause occasional closures; check with your hotel or the tourist office for updates.

This huge square, at the west end of Calle Cuna, is home to the world's largest wooden structure, 492 feet long by 230 feet wide. Known in the city as Las Setas (The Mushrooms), the piece is actually meant to represent giant trees, and walkways run through the \"treetops\" affording great views of the city, especially at sunset. Nighttime visits include a light show. Although it's reminiscent of Gaudí, it was built in 2011. At ground level, the Antiquarium (€3; closed Sunday afternoon and Monday) has interesting archaeological remains (mostly Roman), and there's also a large indoor food market.

One of eight beaches making up the sands in Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos, Las Vistas has clean yellow sand and perfect bathing conditions thanks to a series of breakwalls that temper high waves. Lounge chairs and parasols are available for rent. After sunbathing on this Blue Flag beach, take a stroll along the seafront promenade, one of the longest of its kind in Europe. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

Affectionately called le train jaune (\"the yellow train\"), this line runs from Bourg-Madame and La Tour de Querol, both easy hikes over the border into France from Puigcerdà (Bourg-Madame is the closest). The border at La Tour, a pretty hour-long hike from Puigcerdà, is marked by a stone painted with the Spanish and French flags. The carrilet (narrow-gauge railway) is the last in the Pyrenees and is used for tours as well as transportation; it winds slowly through La Cerdanya to the medieval walled town of Villefranche-de-Conflent, where it can also be picked up. The 63-km (39-mile) tour can take most of the day, especially if you stop to browse in Mont-Louis or Villefranche. The last section, between La Cabanasse and Villefranche, is the most picturesque. In low season, the trains have infrequent and unpredictable timetables.

On the Plaza del Mercado, this 15th-century building is a product of Valencia's golden age, when the city's prosperity as one of the capitals of the Corona de Aragón made it a leading European commercial and artistic center. The Lonja, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was constructed as an expression of this splendor and is widely regarded as one of Spain's finest civil Gothic buildings. Its facade is decorated with ghoulish gargoyles, complemented inside by the high vaulting and slender helicoidal (twisted) columns of the cavernous Contract Hall, one of the building's three separate sections. The upper level of the Pavilion of the Consulate of the Sea is particularly impressive, with its ornate 15th-century wood ceiling.