10 best places to visit on your next trip to Spain
1. Prado Museum, Madrid
Perhaps the most well-known tourist attraction in Madrid is The Prado Museum (Monday to Saturday 10am–8pm, Sundays and holidays 10am–7pm, €15). It’s packed full of artworks by luminaries such as Goya (including his famous Black Paintings), El Greco, Raphael, Titian and Velazquez. Its enormous collection encompasses around 7,000 paintings, of which only 1,500 or so are on display at any one time. And good news for skint travellers: the museum is free to enter between 6 and 8pm, which is just one of our top tips for seeing the city on a budget.
2. Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
One of the top tourist attractions in Spain is Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece. The Sagrada Familia, dominates the Barcelona skyline with its many spires carved into curious organic shapes. The architect died after being run over by a tram in 1926, at which time only the crypt and part of the Nativity façade, crowned with its distinctive cypress tree, had been completed. Work has continued intermittently ever since, and the final design will feature 18 towers. The tallest of the towers will be 172.5 metres high and will represent Jesus Christ.
To put that into context, the current towers, which represent the Apostles, are a ‘mere’ 100 metres high. Entry is €15, or €29 if you want to climb up, and the building is open from 9am to 7pm.
Barcelona has plenty of other charming sights – it features as one of our 7 most romantic city breaks in Europe.
3. Cala Benirrás, Ibiza
Benirrás beach lies in a cove that’s perfect for a lazy afternoon spent snorkelling and swimming. But there’s another reason why British DJ Judge Jules named it as his favourite beach on Ibiza. on Sundays, as the sun begins to sink, drummers gather on the sand to drum down the sunset, forming an instant festival atmosphere.
This drumming ritual has been going on since 1991, when people gathered on the beach to protest the Gulf War, and its been happening on Sundays ever since. But make sure to get there early, as the drumming always gathers a guaranteed crowd.
Head this way to check out a few more of the best beaches in the world.
4. Alcazaba Fortress, Málaga
One of the best places to visit in Spain, Málaga is the gateway to the beautiful beaches of the Costa del Sol. Thousands of holidaymakers stream through the airport each year, destined for resorts such as Marbella and Torremolinos. But Málaga itself has plenty of family entertainment to offer. And whereas much of the Costa del Sol has suffered from overdevelopment, Málaga remains culturally rich, as befitting a city that dates back 2,800 years.
The Alcazaba fortress was built in the 11th century during the Moorish period, and it provides breathtaking views of the coast. The castle is enshrouded in lush greenery, and your exploration of its fortifications is soundtracked by tinkling fountains.
Discover more to do on the Costa del Sol, including where to find the best beach as well as Spain’s most terrifying walk.
5. Barrio Santa Cruz, Alicante
The quaint, narrow streets of Alicante‘s old town, Barrio Santa Cruz, are perfect for unguided exploration, an afternoon spent admiring the pristine whitewashed houses, patterned tiles and colourful doors. And you may well stumble across a hidden gem in these twisting streets, turning a corner to come face to face with a startlingly pink church or a charming outdoor restaurant. One eatery that’s worth seeking out is La Tasca Del Barrio (Calle Labradores 22) for its superb tapas menu.
Head this way to check out more great things to do in Alicante.
6. Mount Teide, Tenerife
Mount Teide (El Teide) on Tenerife is Spain’s highest peak at a whopping 3,718 metres, and it’s Earth’s third-tallest volcanic structure. You can drive up to around 2,350 metres above sea level, where a cable car will whisk you almost all the way to the peak. The view from the top is stunning. On a clear day, you can see all the way over to Gran Canaria and the other Canary Islands. The surrounding Teide National Park is just as striking as its volcanic centrepiece, packed with rivers, hillsides and strange landscapes of black rock to explore.
7. Palma Cathedral, Palma de Mallorca
The huge cathedral that dominates the skyline in Palma de Mallorca is quite something to behold thanks to its mash-up between Gothic and Renaissance styles. Work on the original building began way back in the early 1300s. But most of what’s evident today dates from the mid-1800s, when an earthquake severely damaged the building and extensive reconstruction was required.
The result was two bristling rows of Neo-Gothic flying buttresses topped off with a Renaissance façade at one end, making this a unique-looking cathedral. Inside the style changes again. Famed Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí reworked the interior in the twentieth century, adding a canopy inspired by the crown of thorns above the altar. Opening hours are 10am to 5.15pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 2.15pm Saturday.
8. El Cabron Marine Reserve, Gran Canaria
With sea temperatures hovering between 21°C and 23°C in summer, Gran Canaria is the perfect place to learn how to scuba dive. The El Cabron Marine Reserve is one of three such reserves around the island and one of the best places to visit in Spain. It’s home to all manner of sea creatures, from exotic rays to sea turtles to seahorses, and even extremely rare angel sharks. Not only that, it’s riddled with sea caves to explore, included a foreboding cavern named ‘The Chimney’. Davy Jones Diving and Gran Canaria Dive Academy are two local outfits that can offer scuba lessons and equipment.
Check out more of what Gran Canaria has on offer – including a very impressive hole in the ground.
9. Cala Del Pilar, Menorca
Menorca is one of the least developed of the Balearic Islands, and boasts some truly stunning beaches with turquoise waters. Cala Del Pilar is one of the very best, but this remote beach on the north coast requires some effort to reach. The nearest parking is 30 minutes away, and there are no facilities, so you’ll have to bring everything you need. But it’s worth it to enjoy a practically deserted beach framed by red-tinged rocks.
Discover 17 of the most beautiful places to visit in the Balearic Islands.
10. Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote
In Lanzarote’s Timanfaya National Park you can wander across the Montañas del Fuego (‘Mountains of Fire’), a herd of black volcanic peaks that last erupted 300 years ago, leaving utter devastation in their wake. Once you’re done wandering through the eerie, almost alien landscape, head for dinner at Restaurante El Diablo. Here the barbecue is powered by the Earth’s heat – temperatures of hundreds of degrees have been recorded just below the ground’s surface.
Check out our guide for more top things to do in Lanzarote.
10 best places to visit in Spain
| Top places to visit | Where? |
| 1. Prado Museum | Madrid |
| 2. Sagrada Familia | Barcelona |
| 3. Cala Benirrás | Ibiza |
| 4. Alcazaba Fortress | Málaga |
| 5. Barrio Santa Cruz | Alicante |
| 6. Mount Teide | Tenerife |
| 7. Palma Cathedral | Palma de Mallorca |
| 8. El Cabron Marine Reserve | Gran Canaria |
| 9. Cala Del Pilar | Menorca |
| 10. Timanfaya National Park | Lanzarote |
*Published July 2018. Any prices are lowest estimated prices only at the time of publication and are subject to change and/or availability.
Skyscanner is the world’s travel search engine, helping your money go further on flights, hotels and car hire.
