1027 Best Sights in Spain

Surrounded by Albariño vineyards, this 15th-century stone manor house stands in pleasant contrast to its 100-year-old boutique wine cellar, built in an art deco style. Winemaker José Hidalgo produces a silky Albariño with notes of citrus and floral aromas here. Reservations are required.

The barons who ruled over Galicia's peasants and the rest of its feudal society lived in pazos like this one, 27 km (17 miles) southeast of Santiago de Compostela. Here you can stroll the gardens to the lily pond and lake, where a stone boat stays miraculously afloat.

The jewel of this property is the camellia garden, one of the largest and most impressive collections of flowers in the world. The camellias bloom November–May and peak February–April. The 15th-century manor house is decadently furnished and also worth a visit, as are the attached bodega and chapel. Group activities like cooking demonstrations, live bagpipe concerts, and extended tastings can be organized and booked in advance. There are also guided tours, which last about two hours and include the gardens, winery, pazo, chapel, and a tasting.

Step into this rich 12th-century building to view an unusual example of Romanesque civic architecture, with a cool, clean, vaulted dining hall. The little figures carved on the corbels in this graceful, 100-foot-long space are drinking, eating, and listening to music with great medieval gusto. Each is different, so stroll around for a tableau of mealtime merriment. The palace is attached to the cathedral. However, the entrance varies---it's best to ask at the cathedral museum where to enter the Pazo de Xelmírez.

The dramatic silhouette of the Peña de los Enamorados (Lovers' Rock) is an Andalusian landmark. Legend has it that a Moorish princess and a Christian shepherd boy eloped here one night and cast themselves to their deaths from the peak the next morning. The rock's outline is often likened to the profile of the cordobés bullfighter Manolete.

The landscape of Calpe is dominated by this huge calcareous rock more than 1,100 yards long, 1,090 feet high, and joined to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. The area is rich in flora and fauna, with more than 300 species of plants and 80 species of land and marine birds. A visit to the top is not for the fainthearted; wear shoes with traction for the hike, which includes a trip through a tunnel to the summit. The views are spectacular, reaching to the island of Ibiza on a clear day. Online reservations are essential as daily capacity is limited to 300 visitors. Website is in Spanish, but there's a how-to-reserve guide in English

Benasque is the traditional base camp for excursions to Aneto, which, at 11,168 feet, is the highest peak in the Pyrenees. You can rent crampons and a piolet (ice ax) for the two- to three-hour crossing of the Aneto glacier at any sports store in town or at the Refugio de la Renclusa, a way station for mountaineers an hour's walk above the parking area, which is 15 km (9 miles) north of Benasque, off the A139. The trek to the summit and back is not difficult, just long—some 20 km (12 miles) round-trip, with a 4,500-foot vertical ascent. Allow a full 12 hours.

Peninsular Spain's second-highest mountain is 11,125 feet high. The view from its summit across the Alpujarras to the sea at distant Motril is stunning, and on a very clear day you can see the coast of North Africa. When the snow melts (July and August), you can drive or take a minibus from the Albergue Universitario (Universitario Mountain Refuge) to within around 400 yards of the summit—a trail takes you to the top in around 45 minutes. It's cold up there, so take a warm jacket and scarf, even if Granada is sizzling hot.

To help plan your rambles, consult the scale model of the park outside the visitor center; staff inside can advise you on suitable routes. Maps and guidebooks are available in English.

Lava flows formed these seaside natural pools, to which stairs, paths, and railings have been added for easy access. There's a pleasant café selling drinks and snacks and a conventional swimming pool that comes in handy when the surf is rough. Far from luxurious or exclusive, the pools are owned by the town and popular with born-and-bred tinerfeños of all ages.

The Pizarro family residence is now a modest museum dedicated to the connection between Spain and Latin America. The first floor emulates a typical home from 15th-century Trujillo, and the second floor is divided into exhibits on Peru and Pizarro's life there. The museum explains the \"Curse of the Pizarro,\" recounting how the conquistador and his brothers were killed in brutal battles with rivals; those who survived never again enjoyed the wealth they had achieved in Peru. Glaringly absent from the museum is any mention of what Pizarro's conquests wrought: mass murder of Incas, feudalism and enslavement, forced conversions to Catholicism, and so on.

Reached by walking down Passeig Joan de Borbó and turning left at Plaça del Mar, the adjacent beaches of Barceloneta and Sant Miquel are the easiest to get to and hence the busiest—though they're also the most fun for people-watching. Note that itinerant beach vendors can be a nuisance, and pickpocketing has become increasingly problematic in recent years. The calm waters are easy for swimming, and there are several companies that provide surfing and paddleboard rentals and lessons. Take note of Rebecca Horn's contemporary sculpture of towering, rusting cubes, L'Estel Ferit, a popular meeting spot on Sant Miquel beach. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; surfing (mostly in winter); swimming; walking.

Closest to the Poblenou metro stop, this open-minded, everyone's-welcome beach is a thriving gay enclave and has the city's only designated nudist section, tucked behind the dune. The water-sports center Base Nàutica de la Mar Bella rents equipment for sailing, surfing, and windsurfing; at street level, you'll find a very popular skate park. Outfitted with showers, drinking fountains, and a children's play area, La Mar Bella also has lifeguards who warn against swimming near the breakwater. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; nudists; swimming; windsurfing.

One of Barcelona's most popular beaches for sports lovers, aficionados of volleyball (as well as its foot-based equivalent, footvolley) assemble nets, year-round, to play social tournaments that make great from-your-towel viewing. The wide beach sits just east of the newly rebooted Port Olímpic, and directly opposite the neighborhood built as the residential Olympic Village for Barcelona's 1992 Olympic Games. Vendors sometimes prowl about, offering everything from cold drinks to massages, albeit less intensely than at Barceloneta. Pickpocketing has been an issue here, too, so keep an eye on your belongings. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking.

Barceloneta's most southwestern platja (at the very end of Passeig Joan de Borbó), Sant Sebastià is the oldest of the city beaches; it was here that 19th-century locals cavorted in bloomers. In contrast, Ricardo Bofill’s metallic, sail-shape W hotel now stands at the end of a promenade lined with outdoor gyms (frequented by the buff and the beautiful) and populated by sun-ripened skaters and joggers. In 2022, the walkway was extended further around the W hotel: steps lead up to a viewing deck with a panoramic perspective over the city and the sea. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; swimming; walking.

Sweeping past the Vila Vella, this well-maintained, soft-sand Blue Flag beach runs along the front of town to meet the base of the Cap de Tossa. One of the most photographed coastlines in this area of Spain, it is also, at the height of summer, one of the busiest. Conditions are normally fine for swimming (any warnings are announced via loudspeaker). Running behind the beach, there is no shortage of cafés and kiosks selling ice cream and snacks. There is no natural shade, but you can rent deck chairs and umbrellas. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers (if drought conditions allow); toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming.

Just northeast of the town center, this small sandy crescent is a pleasant Blue Flag beach that's popular with local families. The sand is coarse, but the calm, shallow waters make it ideal for children. Fishing boats bob peacefully in the water nearby after completing their morning's work. At the top of the beach there is a second cove called Sa Banyera de Ses Dones (the women's bathtub), which provides ideal conditions for diving, though if the sea is not calm, it is dangerous for swimmers. By day there is little natural shade, so bring adequate sunblock and an umbrella if you plan a long beach session. It gets extremely busy in high season. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming.

One km (½ mile) east of Llanes is the pristine and secluded Playa Ballota, with private coves and one of the few stretches of nudist sand in Asturias. Amenities: food and drink (seasonal). Best for: nudists; swimming; walking.

Playa Costa Calma is actually made up of three gorgeous white-sand beaches, a large one flanked by two smaller ones. You can walk along all three at low tide, but don't be caught by the rising tide: the rocky outcrops between the beaches will prevent your return. Lounge chair and umbrella rental is available near the hotels. Windy conditions draw windsurfers. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunrise; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Barlovento, situated within Jandía Natural Park, is spectacularly unspoiled. The fact that it can be reached only by 4x4s or other heavy-duty vehicles means it receives few visitors; in low season you might well have this 6-km (4-mile) stretch practically to yourself. Take plenty of drinking water, and watch out for strong currents, especially when the wind is strong. Amenities: none. Best for: nudists; solitude; sunset; windsurfing.

Along with Barlovento next door, Playa de Cofete is one of Spain's most pristine beaches. The 14-km (9-mile) strip of golden sand faces north, making it perfect for sunbathing, walking, and getting away from it all. Currents are strong, particularly when it's gusty, so inexperienced swimmers should skip this one. Take plenty of drinking water. Amenities: none. Best for: nudists; solitude; sunset; walking; windsurfing.

Also known as Grandes Playas, Playa de Corralejo runs about 3½ km (2 miles) south from the Tres Islas hotel to the Playa de la Barreta. Its white sands are fringed by high sand dunes on one side and the ocean and Isla de Lobos on the other, so views are magnificent. Like many Fuerteventura beaches, it's windy, so waves can be rough. Lounge chairs and umbrellas are available on some parts of the beach, and nude sunbathing is common at the more remote spots. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: nudists; sunrise; walking; windsurfing.

Near the Jardín de Cactus, Playa de la Garita is a wide sandy bay of crystalline water favored by surfers in winter and snorkelers in summer. Almost a kilometer (½ mile) is safe for swimming, making this a popular spot for families. The beach gets busy in the summer but is reasonably quiet the rest of the year. Lounge chairs and umbrellas are available for rent. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; surfing; swimming.

There's plenty of golden sand at this wide, urban beach. The boardwalk fills with beach bars in summer. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (in season); showers; toilets; parking (no fee). Best for: partiers; sunset.

This wide (nearly 450 feet) and popular grand municipal beach stretches north from the port and the America's Cup marina more than a kilometer (½ mile) before it gives way to the even busier and livelier Platja de Malvarossa. The Paseo Marítimo promenade runs the length of the beach and is lined with restaurants and hotels. There's no shade anywhere, but the fine golden sand is kept pristine and the water is calm and shallow. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Sandwiched between Playa del Inglés and Playa de San Agustín, this little sandy beach is protected by a breakwall, making it a favorite with families. Small fishing boats are moored in the bay, and the seafront promenade connects the neighboring resorts. Swimming is safe. There are plenty of lounge chairs and sunshades. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; swimming.

This is the best of Costa Teguise's several small beaches. The sands are protected from high wind and waves by the natural bay formed in the coastline. A pleasant seafront promenade takes you around the beach and into the southern stretches of the resort. Getting a spot for your towel in the summer can be a challenge, especially on weekends. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunrise; swimming.

The co-ed Women's Beach is around the corner from the Maspalomas Lighthouse in Meloneras. A natural beach with gray shingles and small rocks, this quiet enclave currently has no amenities, although the expansion of Meloneras, along with the construction of several high-end hotels, may change that in the future. Swimming is generally safe. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; sunset; walking.

Santa Cruz's beach, Las Teresitas, is about 7 km (4½ miles) northeast of the city, near the town of San Andrés. The 1½ km (1 mile) of beach was created using white sand imported from the Sahara in 1973 and adorned with palms. Beachgoers in the 1970s were purportedly bitten by the occasional scorpion that had hitched a ride from Africa (they've since been eradicated). A man-made barrier runs parallel to the sands and ensures rip-tide-free bathing. Busy in the summer and on weekends, this beach is especially popular with local families. The 910 TITSA bus route connects the beach with Santa Cruz. There's a good choice of bars and restaurants, and plenty of lounge chairs for rent. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; swimming; walking.

Named after the Genovese sailors who landed here in 1127 to aid King Alfonso VII, this beach is one of the area's best known and most beautiful. The long, sandy expanse is backed by pines, eucalyptus trees, and low-rising dunes. The sea is shallow, warm, and crystal clear here—snorkeling is popular around the rocks at either end of the cove. Free parking is available late September through early June; in summer, you must park in nearby San José and take a free shuttle bus to the beach. The beach can also be reached via an easy coastal walk from San José, a 7-km (4½-mile) round-trip. The beach has no amenities to speak of, so take plenty of water if it's hot. Amenities: parking. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; sunset; walking.