1027 Best Sights in Spain

A defunct Poblenou movie theater rescued and reimagined for the digital age, the IDEAL space combines 360-degree projections with virtual reality and cutting-edge light and sound effects for an immersive experience. Recent shows have brought to life the story of Tutankhamun and the works of Monet, Gustav Klimt, and Frida Kahlo.

Sometimes called \"Los Jesuitas\" for the religious order that founded it, the Iglesia de San Ildefonso is named for Toledo's patron saint, a 7th-century bishop. It was consecrated in 1718 after the baroque stone facade with twin Corinthian columns took 150 years to build. Its semispherical dome is one of the icons of Toledo's skyline. This impressive building's tower affords some of the best views over Toledo.

Not to be confused with the marzipan shop bearing the same name, this chapel topped with a Mudejar tower was built specially to house El Greco's most masterful painting, The Burial of Count Orgaz. Using vivid colors and splashes of light, it portrays the benefactor of the church being buried with the posthumous assistance of St. Augustine and St. Stephen, who have appeared at the funeral to thank the count for his donations to religious institutions named after the two saints. Though the count's burial took place in the 14th century, El Greco painted the onlookers in contemporary 16th-century costumes and included people he knew; the boy in the foreground is El Greco's son, and the sixth figure on the left is said to be the artist himself. Santo Tomé is Toledo's most visited church besides the cathedral, so to avoid crowds, plan to visit as soon as the building opens.

The Cíes Islands, 35 km (21 miles) west of Vigo, are among Spain's best-kept secrets. They form a pristine nature preserve that's one of the last unspoiled refuges on the Spanish coast. Starting on weekends in May and then daily June–late September, Naviera Mar de Ons ( 986/225272 www.mardeons.com) runs about eight boats from Vigo's harbor (subject to weather conditions), returning later in the day, for the €26 round-trip fare in high season (tickets must be booked in advance on the website). The 45-minute ride brings you to white-sand beaches surrounded by turquoise waters brimming with marine life; there's also great birding. The only way to get around is your own two feet: it takes about an hour to cross the main island. If you want to stay overnight, there's a designated camping area. The tourist office also has up-to-date information on timetables and crossings. It is mandatory for travelers to the Cíes Islands to first obtain authorization from the Xunta de Galicia online portal (autorizacionillasatlanticas.xunta.gal/illasr).

Once one of Roman Iberia's most important cities in the 2nd century, with a population of more than 10,000, Itálica today is a monument of Roman ruins. Founded by Scipio Africanus in 206 BC as a home for veteran soldiers, Itálica gave the Roman world two great emperors: Trajan (AD 53–117) and Hadrian (AD 76–138). You can find traces of city streets, cisterns, and the floor plans of several villas, some with mosaic floors, though all the best mosaics and statues have been removed to Seville's Museo Arqueológico. Itálica was later abandoned and plundered and used as a quarry by the Visigoths when Seville was preferred. It fell into decay around AD 700. The remains include the huge elliptical amphitheater, which held 35,000 spectators; a Roman theater; and Roman baths. Game of Thrones was filmed here in 2017 and again for the finale of season 7 in 2018. The small visitor center offers information on daily life in the city. You can view the theater from above, outside Itálica, from the platform in Santiponce, the adjacent town (Calle Siete Revueltas).

Welcome to one of Spain's largest botanical gardens, with plants from all the islands grouped by their natural habitat. The cacti and succulents are particularly arresting.

North of Costa Teguise between Guatiza and Mala, this cactus garden with 10,000 specimens of more than 1,500 varieties was César Manrique's last creation for Lanzarote. Look beyond the park and you'll see prickly pear fields: for centuries locals have cultivated these plants for their cochineal, an insect living on the cacti from which scarlet carmine dye is extracted.

The twisting alleyways and traditional whitewashed houses add to the tourist charm of the Jewish Quarter. On some streets, bars alternate with antiques and souvenir shops, but most of the quarter is quiet and residential. On the Plaza de la Alianza, pause to enjoy the antiques shops and outdoor cafés. In the Plaza de Doña Elvira, with its fountain and azulejo benches, young sevillanos gather to play guitars. Just around the corner from the hospital, at Callejón del Agua and Jope de Rueda, Gioacchino Rossini's Figaro serenaded Rosina on her Plaza Alfaro balcony. Adjoining the Plaza Alfaro, in the Plaza de Santa Cruz, flowers and orange trees surround a 17th-century filigree iron cross, which marks the site of the erstwhile church of Santa Cruz, destroyed by Napoléon's general Jean-de-Dieu Soult.

Nearest the river stands the Catedral Vieja (Old Cathedral), built in the late 12th century and one of the most riveting examples of the Spanish Romanesque. Because the dome of the crossing tower has strange plumelike ribbing, it's known as the Torre del Gallo (Rooster's Tower). The much larger Catedral Nueva (New Cathedral) went up between 1513 and 1526 under the late-Gothic architect Juan Gil de Hontañón. Controversially, a 1992 restoration added an astronaut carving to the facade as a wink to the modern era—see if you can spot it. Both cathedrals are part of the same complex; enter the new to get to the old.

San Sebastián's crown jewel is this sandy stretch that curls around the uninhabited Isla Santa Clara. One of the most famous urban beaches in the world, La Concha is filled day and night, rain or shine, with locals and tourists who go to swim, jog, stroll, and admire sand sculptures. The beach has clean, pale sand and few rocks or seaweed—but scant shade, near the promenade wall. Lounge chairs are available for rent. The calm surf makes it a favorite pick for families. Amenities: lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; sunset; walking.

The shrine of La Moreneta, one of Catalonia's patron saints, resides in a Benedictine monastery high in the Serra de Montserrat, surrounded by—and dwarfed by the grandeur of—sheer, jagged peaks. The crests above the monastic complex bristle with chapels and hermitages. The shrine and its setting have given rise to countless legends about what happened here: St. Peter left a statue of the Virgin Mary carved by St. Luke, Parsifal found the Holy Grail, and Wagner (who wrote the opera Parsifal) sought musical inspiration here.

The shrine is world famous and one of Catalonia's spiritual sanctuaries, and not just for the monks who reside here—honeymooning couples flock here by the thousands seeking La Moreneta's blessing on their marriages, and twice a year, on April 27 and September 8, the diminutive statue of Montserrat's Black Virgin becomes the object of one of Spain's greatest pilgrimages. Only the basilica and museum are regularly open to the public. The famous Escolania de Montserrat boys' choir sings the Salve and Virulai from the liturgy on weekdays at 1 pm and Sunday at noon.

This is Trujillo's old town, enclosed by restored stone walls. Follow them along Calle Almenas, which runs west from the Palacio de Orellana-Pizarro, beneath the Alcázar de Los Chaves, a castle--fortress that was converted into a lodge in the 15th century and hosted dignitaries including Ferdinand and Isabella. Continue west along the wall to the Puerta de San Andrés, one of La Villa's four surviving gates (there were originally seven). Views from the hilltop are particularly memorable at sunset, when spotlights illuminate the old quarter.

One of northern Spain's most impressive archaeological sites, this mountainous area of former Roman gold mines—located 24 km (15 miles) south of town—is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The landscape is the result of an ancient mining technique in which myriad water tunnels were burrowed into a mountain, causing it to collapse. Miners would then sift through the rubble for gold. What's left at Las Médulas are half-collapsed mountains of golden clay with exposed tunnels peeking through lush green forest. Take in the best panorama from the Orellán viewpoint. There are hiking paths and a small archaeology exhibit (closed at time of writing). The visitor center organizes 3-km (2-mile) walking tours—call or email ahead to book ( [email protected]).

This important archaeological site is about 2½ km (1½ miles) southwest from the village of Santa Fe de Mondújar and 19 km (12 miles) from Almería. These ruins, scattered on a windswept hilltop, were the birthplace of civilization in Spain nearly 5,000 years ago. The large, dome-shape tombs are evidence of a fairly advanced society, and the formidable defense walls show that it had something to protect. A series of concentric fortifications shows that the settlement increased in size, eventually holding some 2,000 people. The town was inhabited from 2700 to 1800 BC. Free guided tours are available: email to book. 

Catalan for “greenhouse,” this striking, plant-filled iron structure was originally built by Josep Amargós i Samaranch as a reception and lecture hall for the 1888 Universal Exposition. Despite being one of the outstanding moderniste buildings of Ciutadella Park, it bumbled along as a restaurant before falling into disuse in 2006, then inevitable disrepair. In December 2023, following months of restorative TLC, it opened to the public once again; becoming the first completed project in a vision to turn Ciutadella Park and its surroundings into a science and heritage hub.

Built in the foothills of the Sierra Morena by Abd al-Rahman III (891–961) for his favorite concubine, al-Zahra (the Flower), the construction of this once-splendid summer pleasure palace was begun in 936. Historians say it took 10,000 men, 2,600 mules, and 400 camels 25 years to erect this fantasy of 4,300 columns in dazzling pink, green, and white marble and jasper brought from Carthage. A palace, a mosque, luxurious baths, fragrant gardens, fish ponds, an aviary, and a zoo stood on three terraces here; for around 70 years the Madinat was the de facto capital of al-Andalus, until, in 1013, it was sacked and destroyed by Berber mercenaries. In 1944, the Royal Apartments were rediscovered, and the throne room carefully reconstructed. The outline of the mosque has also been excavated. The only covered part of the site is the Salon de Abd al-Rahman III (open weekends only in 2025, after 13 years of restoration work; book via the website); the rest is a sprawl of foundations and arches that hint at the splendor of the original city-palace. Begin at the visitor center, which provides background information and a 3D reconstruction of the city, and continue to the ruins, around 2 km (1 mile) away. You can walk, but it's uphill, so consider taking the shuttle bus (€3, or included in the €9 bus ticket from the Paseo de la Victoria in the city center). Services run twice daily Tuesday–Friday and Sunday, and thrice daily on Saturday. The tourist office can provide schedule details. Allow 2½ to 3 hours for your visit. You can visit the ruins at night Tuesday–Saturday between mid-June and mid-September.

Approximately 16 km (10 miles) north of Guía de Isora, tucked deep in the Macizo de Teno mountains, lies Masca, colloquially known as the Macchu Picchu of the Canaries. If you squint, you can see the resemblance—the huddle of houses is perched on a misty ridge beneath a massive, pyramid-shape rock. Descend the cobblestone steps into the town center, grab a quick coffee or sandwich, and, if you're feeling adventurous, embark on the three-hour (each way) hike down to the beach.

What was once Madrid's largest slaughterhouse is now one of its most vibrant arts and culture centers. The Matadero Municipal de Legazpi was in operation from 1925 to 1996; at its peak, it comprised 64 buildings and processed more than 500 cattle and 5,000 sheep per day. The complex is a stunning example of Spanish fin-de-siècle civil architecture, all stone-and-redbrick facades punctuated by wide doorways and arched windows. Today its bays are thronged with families, tourists, and plenty of pierced-and-tattooed artists. Events range from film screenings to poetry slams to art exhibits and design fairs. La Cantina, the restaurant on the premises, is pleasant for a drink, though the food is nothing special.

This bustling food market (at nearly 88,000 square feet, one of the largest in Europe) is open from 7:30 am to 3 pm, Monday through Saturday. Locals and visitors alike line up at its more than 1,200 colorful stalls to shop for fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, and confectionery. Hop on a stool at The Central Bar, located in the heart of the throng, and taste award-winning chef Ricard Camarena's casual yet no less tasty take on tapas and bocadillos (sandwiches), while enjoying front-row-seat viewing of the action.

Designed by architect Joaquín Vaquero Palacios, this charming stone building, built in 1941, houses a bustling traditional food market. It fills up around 11, when locals come to shop, but the operating hours are roughly 8 am to 3 pm. Whether you snap up local cheeses and tinned fish to take home or merely ogle Galicia’s wondrous bounty of shellfish and produce, don't miss this market, one of Spain's most underrated foodie destinations.

Go on an international tapas crawl here—nibbling on tacos (at Cutzamala), sushi (at Yokaloka), homemade croissants (at Cafés Tornasol), and more—without so much as stepping outside. Doppelgänger, an eclectic tasting-menu-only cubbyhole headed by a young Somali–Spanish chef, is worth seeking out.

Salamanca's gleaming main market is a hangar-like food emporium selling everything from wild game to softball-size Calanda peaches to the finest jamón and tinned seafood money can buy. Standout restaurants include the newly expanded Casa Dani (arguably the city's best Spanish omelet; see separate listing under Restaurants) and Matteo Cucina Italiana (pitch-perfect carbonara and Italian wines).

Built in 1932 by Luis Bellido, the architect behind Matadero Madrid, this soaring brick market isn't found on the city-center plaza that shares its name but rather in the up-and-coming Puerta del Ángel neighborhood. After stocking up on Spanish charcuterie and pantry items (the best souvenirs!), nibble on Chinese-style tripe stew at Bar Paula, vegan huaraches at El Vegicano, and natural wine at La Desahuciada. Take note, weekenders: this is one of Madrid's only traditional markets that stays open on Sunday.

Choose from made-to-order pinsas (ancient Roman pizzas with a cloudlike crust) at Di Buono, local craft beers at Drakkar, refined market cuisine at El 2, updated Spanish street food at Miga Cana, high-octane Thai curries at Kitchen 154, and single-origin coffees and natural wines at Pastora, among other flavor-packed options at this city-block-size gastro-market in the heart of Chamberí.

Built between the 8th and 10th centuries, Córdoba's mezquita-cathedral is one of the earliest and most beautiful examples of Spanish Islamic architecture. The plain, crenellated exterior walls do little to prepare you for the sublime beauty of the interior. As you enter through the Puerta de las Palmas (Door of the Palms), some 850 columns rise before you in a forest of jasper, marble, granite, and onyx. The pillars are topped by ornate capitals taken from the Visigothic church that was razed to make way for the mosque. Crowning these, red-and-white-striped arches curve away into the dimness, and the ceiling is of delicately carved tinted cedar. The mezquita has served as a cathedral since 1236, but its origins as a mosque are clear. Built in four stages, it was founded in 785 by Abd al-Rahman I (756–88) on a site he bought from the Visigoth Christians. He pulled down their church and replaced it with a mosque, one-third the size of the present one, into which he incorporated marble pillars from earlier Roman and Visigothic shrines. Under Abd ar-Rahman II (822–52), the mezquita held an original copy of the Koran and a bone from the arm of the prophet Mohammed and became a Muslim pilgrimage site second only in importance to Mecca.

Al-Hakam II (961–76) built the beautiful mihrab (prayer niche), the mezquita's greatest jewel. Make your way over to the qibla, the south-facing wall in which this sacred prayer niche was hollowed out. (Muslim law decrees that a mihrab face east, toward Mecca, and that worshippers do likewise when they pray. Because possibly of an error in calculation, this one faces more south than east. Al-Hakam II allegedly spent hours agonizing over a means of correcting such a serious mistake, but he was persuaded to let it be.) In front of the mihrab is the maksoureh, a kind of anteroom for the caliph and his court; its mosaics and plasterwork make it a masterpiece of Islamic art. Al-Mansur more than doubled the mosque's size with the addition of the maksoureh, completed around 987.

After the Reconquest, the Christians left the mezquita largely undisturbed, dedicating it to the Virgin Mary and using it as a place of Christian worship. The clerics did erect a wall closing off the mosque from its courtyard, which helped dim the interior and thus separate the house of worship from the world outside. In the 13th century, Christians had the Capilla de Villaviciosa (Villaviciosa Chapel) built by Moorish craftsmen, its Mudejar architecture blending with the lines of the mosque. But that was not so for the heavy, incongruous baroque structure of the cathedral, sanctioned in the very heart of the mosque by Carlos V in the 1520s. To the emperor's credit, he was supposedly horrified when he came to inspect the new construction, likely exclaiming to the architects: \"To build something ordinary, you have destroyed something that was unique in the world\" (not that this sentiment stopped him from tampering with the Alhambra to build his Palacio Carlos V). Rest up and reflect in the Patio de los Naranjos (Courtyard of the Oranges), perfumed in springtime by orange blossoms. The Puerta del Perdón (Gate of Forgiveness), so named because debtors were forgiven here on feast days, is on the north wall of the courtyard and is the formal entrance to the mosque. The Virgen de los Faroles (Virgin of the Lanterns), a small statue in a niche on the outside wall of the mosque along the north side on Calle Cardenal Herrero, is behind a lantern-hung grille, rather like a lady awaiting a serenade. The Torre del Alminar, the minaret once used to summon the Muslim faithful to prayer, has a baroque belfry that reopened to visitors in late 2014. Views from the top are well worth the climb, but be aware that it's the equivalent of 12 flights of stairs.

Allow a good hour for your visit.

While most of the 34 levels in the shiny, gherkin-shape tower that pierces Barcelona’s skyline are out of reach (the Jean Nouvel--designed building is now a business center), the exception is a 30th-floor observation deck. You’ll find the expected panoramic views—and they do delight, especially during the pink hues of dusk. What you won’t expect is a multiplatform, suspended art installation that you can scramble up to feel eerily airborne: nerves and agility, withstanding. Called Cloud Cities, it’s a truly unique experience, as is the basement exhibition of real-time big data on the city, from air quality to how many planes are overhead.

A stone’s throw from the Museu Picasso, this privately owned museum displays works by contemporary and modern masters—along with edgy street art—in a beautiful, centuries-old former palace. Small but mighty, the collection includes pieces by Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, and Banksy, plus a towering site-specific statue by graffiti artist KAWS in the entry courtyard.

After a 20-month closure for renovations, this important 16th-century monastery reopened to the public in 2021 with 200 new works from its art collection on display. The plain brick-and-stone facade belies an opulent interior strewn with paintings by Francisco de Zurbarán, Titian, and Pieter Bruegel the Elder—all part of the dowry of new monastery inductees—as well as a hall of sumptuous tapestries crafted from drawings by Peter Paul Rubens. Fifty works from the collection were meticulously restored as part of the recent renovations. The convent was founded in 1559 by Juana of Austria, one of Felipe II's sisters, who ruled Spain while he was in England and the Netherlands. It houses 33 different chapels—the age of Christ when he died and the maximum number of nuns allowed to live at the monastery—with more than 120 immaculately preserved crucifixes among them. About a dozen nuns still live here and grow vegetables in the garden. You must take a tour in order to visit the convent, and tickets must be bought online ahead of time (they sell out fast); those who don't speak Spanish can access an English audio guide through the app.

In the heart of La Vera—a region of steep gargantas (ravines), rushing rivers, and sleepy villages—lies the Monasterio de San Jerónimo de Yuste, founded by Hieronymite monks in the early 15th century. Badly damaged in the Peninsular War, it was left to decay after the suppression of Spain's monasteries in 1835, but has since been restored by the Hieronymites. Today it's one of the most impressive monasteries in all of Spain. Carlos V (1500–58), founder of Spain's vast 16th-century empire, spent his last two years in the Royal Chambers, enabling the emperor to attend Mass within a short stumble from his bed. Both visits and guided tours (reserve at ticket counter) also cover the church, the crypt where Carlos V was buried before being moved to El Escorial (near Madrid), and the monastery's cloisters.

The origins of this cliffside sanctuary can be traced to the 9th century, when a hermit monk named Juan settled here on the peña (cliff). A monastery was founded on the spot in 920, and in 1071, Sancho Ramírez, son of King Ramiro I, made use of the structure, which was built into the mountain's rock wall, to found this Benedictine monastery. The highlight is the cloister, which is tucked under the cliff and dates to the 12th century. Partially in ruin, it contains intricately carved capitals depicting zoomorphic and biblical scenes of Paradise. The church of the new monastery contains the Kingdom of Aragon Interpretation Centre, where audio guides in English are available.