Whether it be a family excursion or a little swing with your friends or a me-time solo trip, the pleasure of traveling is heavenly!
One cannot travel enough through this country. It is heaven on earth, Consisting of mountains, beaches, historical structures, wildlife, rich heritage and the catalog is endless! Any time is best to visit this country. To put an end to your hunt, we have got some ultra breathtaking locations which will make your expedition a dream come true.
Here a few of the best cities to visit in Spain:
1. Malaga
Malaga, on Spain's Sunshine Coast, is a mix of the traditional and the modern. See beautiful churches, eat fresh fish on the markets or visit the Picasso Museum. A special experience is during the Holy Week, when a grand procession takes place during Holy Week. Málaga is highly popular among most tourists. The reasons are obvious.
Depending on the time of the year you go to Andalusia, Malaga can be a great place to take a swim in the sea - while it is hot in May, the water is very cold, however, not all people mind that. In the summer, the water is warmer and thus better if you want to spend the time on the beach - Malaga has a very long, sandy beach. Aside from that, you can visit the Alcazaba, Museo Picasso, Málaga Cathedral, Roman Theatre and Gibralfaro.
Málaga is in Costa del Sol, arguably the part of Spain where the weather is best all year around. Secondly, flights to Málaga are usually cheap and easy to find. Depending on the time of the year you go, Malaga has a long, big beach, so there is a chance that you can go for a swim while you are there - it also has a lot of cafes and restaurants on the beach, so even if you don’t get a chance to swim there, you can enjoy the atmosphere alone.
Malaga historic centre has many nice cafes and restaurants. There are great museum and Galleries. The weather is suitable for doing outdoor activities. If you want to learn Spanish, there many qualified language schools. The sea food market provide you fresh vegetables and sea food, if your stay allow you to cook. The city is not expensive and very friendly. It will be a great experience to stay in Malaga for some days or weeks.
As for the places worth visiting, you should go for the Alcazaba, Museo Picasso, Málaga Cathedral, Roman Theatre and Gibralfaro. While Málaga appeals most to travelers that prefer to relax and stay by the beach, it can also be a decent city for cultural tourists.
For example, it has the nice Picasso Museum that contains some of Pablo Picasso’s greatest pieces of art. Carratraca is a small town in the province of Málaga surrounded by hills. Bedside the awesome views the best attraction is the restaurant Casa Pepa with it's yummy food. If you are lucky you can see the grandma of Antonio Banderas in the kitchen.
The city is stuffed with unique frameworks which symbolises the rich heritage, ancient culture and traditional values of Spain. Malaga is worked through the coastline which enhances its beauty through blue lagoons and lively beaches. To get yourself started with the exploration run into ‘La Manquita’ cathedral whose building began in 1528 and lasted over 250 years.
The city is the heart of Spain which offers historical monuments as well as modern classics. Coffee, wine and anchovies are great options to try in this city to pop up your taste buds. Malaga also celebrates it’s fair every year since the tradition began during the 1400s.
Verdiales is the oldest of the Malaga songs, which is performed with a small batch of orchestra players, violins, guitars, cymbals, tambourines, castanets and a lute. This city is perfect for touring around with a purpose to understanding the culture of Spain.
“Some journeys take you farther from where you come from, but closer to where you belong”
By: Ron Franscell
2. Granada
In Granada, the main attraction is the Alhambra (Moorish fortress) and one of the places that Granada is mostly famous for. However, you HAVE to buy the tickets before going there or joining a group if you can because the number of people that visit it is really huge, so if you go there without any previous plans, you might find yourself being unable to get the tickets.
Expect that you’ll spend 4–5 hours in the Alhambra alone - afterwards, you can go to the city centre to see how it looks, you can also go for shopping in the narrow streets and find a good tapas bar while you’re there. Other attractions (aside from the Alhambra) include the Generalife (a summer palace of the Moorish kings), Royal Chapel of Granada, Monasterio de San Jerónimo, Arc of Elvira, Granada Cathedral, Paseo de los Tristes, Mosque of Granada and House of Shots.
Granada is probably more famous because of the Moorish fortress of Alhambra located near the city. Alhambra itself is very exciting - it is big and it will take you good 4–5 hours to see every corner of it and even more if you decide to stay longer in the areas you visit. Overall, it is one of the places to visit if you ever find yourselves in the city.
Besides the Alhambra, some other places to visit in Granada is the historical center, the Generalife (summer palace of the Moorish kings), Royal Chapel of Granada, Monasterio de San Jerónimo, Arc of Elvira, Granada Cathedral, Paseo de los Tristes, Mosque of Granada and House of Shots.
In Granada, one of the eight that make up the region of Andalusia, you can admire the Alhambra Palace and the Generalife while visiting Spain. The Nasrid palaces built by the Nasrid dynasty is a true example of Muslim art. Practice skiing or snowboarding in any of the tracks of the Sierra Nevada, at 3478 meters high. Alhambra in Granada is another beautiful and unique palace and fortress complex of the world.
Would not you like to stay in a cave house? Many families of Granada live in this way in Guadix, Marquesado, Sacromonte. In the Sierra Nevada National Park is the beautiful town of Pampaneira. But beware of the mysterious Fuente de San Antonio in La Chumpaneira, in the center of the square. It is said that whoever drinks from its waters, loses his bachelorhood unless a rooster sings.
Aside from the natural wonders (the famous of which is the Sierra Nevada), there are numerous cities in the province that are worth visiting and are quite exciting.
This territory was ruled by Islamic leaders for more than 700 years much longer than any Iberian provinces. The first thing you would want to visit is Alhambra, which is the most visited monument in Europe. It falls near to the Mediterranean coast line with only 45 minutes drive away. Granada is also famous for tapas and there’s a twist to it, you will be served free drinks with the food you order!
Now this is what we all need in a vacation. This beautiful place is covered with luscious green trees all around, you will pass by trees at every corner. This gives a much delightful view in the winters when they are lathered in the light snow. You will also get to observe a diversified flora and fauna due to varied habitats. Granada is a charming zone of Spain and one cannot get enough of the city.
Maybe you do not know, but the coast of Murcia is one of the few places in Europe where it is possible to see cetaceans. The mild climate and the depth of the waters make common dolphins, striped dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, pilot whales or common fin whales inhabit the waters of Murcia. The south of Murcia is, with permission from the Canary Islands and the Strait of Gibraltar, one of the best areas of Spain to see these animals in freedom.
From the port of the town of Mazarrón sailboats and boats depart to make these sightings and also allows you to combine different activities (snorkeling, kayaking or bathing) with sightings in areas of the Marine Reserve of Cabo Tiñoso, Mazarrón, the Regional Park of Cabo Cope or Eagles.
3. Salamanca
Salamanca is one of the highlights in northwestern Spain. Somewhat close to the Portuguese border, it isn’t that easy to get to Salamanca - most likely, you’ll have to take a bus or a train.
However, it’s all worth it when you’re there. Salamanca is a historic city with beautiful architecture, and it is one of the most popular cities among foreign exchange students. September is the best month to visit, as there are many festivals. This is also when most people arrive at the city, so it’s the perfect opportunity to socialize. Salamanca is arguably, after Madrid and Barcelona, the city in Spain with the best nightlife.
You will get hitched to this wonderful place filled with older buildings. The Plaza Mayor is one of Spain's major attractions, the cathedral is a massive piece of quality art. Salamanca has harboured many great literary heroes. Its University was founded in 1218, one of the oldest centres in the world. If you are a meat lover, you cannot simply skip this place.
At every restaurant you will find amazing meaty cuisine which are traditional as well as modern flavours. The city shines with golden hues due to the sandstone material of the buildings all around. The place may not hold the reputation of a great nightlife compared to Madrid and Barcelona, but it has its own charm and beauty. One cannot miss enjoying the bright nights with savory treats.
Area surrounding Salamanca is perfect for road trips filled with trees and superb views. Without giving it a second thought, book it!
4. San Sebastian
Travelers love Spain for the diversity and landscape it offers. Plus the churros and the paella, yum! However, most travelers go to the more popular locations in Spain like Mallorca, Barcelona, Seville, and maybe Tenerife to name a few. The Basque country (and the resort town of San Sebastian inside) is often unexplored!
For starters, it is absolutely gorgeous, and not very touristy if you like that. Plus it has a deep relationship with the different elements of nature! So if you want to visit a top notch place with the above + some great shopping and great museums, then San Sebastian is the place for you!
San Sebastián is also redefining the Basque image around the world with its extraordinary gastronomy. The city can proudly boast of being the home of two restaurants classified in the list of the 50 best restaurants in the world and, in addition, it has 16 Michelin stars distributed in 9 restaurants.
It is also one of the best places to taste some snacks in Spain with pintxos - miniature culinary creations, similar to Spanish tapas, but better. Pintxo bars are increasingly popular with foodies who visit San Sebastián, but the Spanish city’s cider has a history that dates to pre-Roman times. The original Basque cider houses were a meeting of its pastoral and seafaring culture.
Modern-day ones continue the tradition of gathering people over simple food native to the region. Just 20 minutes along the coast, the beautiful town of Hondarribia is fast becoming a must go for foodies in Spain.
There are beautiful beach destinations like Biarritz and some of the best surfing spots in the world. The Basque dances, euskal dantzak in euskera, are a set of dances that represent the culture of the Basque Country and always involve a social act of great interest both for tourists and among the inhabitants of this autonomous community. The Aurresku, called in Basque Ohorezko Aurreskua, is a typical Spanish dance of the Basque Country.
San Sebastian is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain. It’s got beautiful churches and buildings and a wide sandy beach described as one of the best in-city beaches in Europe. Renowned for its mouth-watering Basque cuisine, it’s considered by many to be the greatest gastronomic destination in Spain.
San Sebastian will match your vibe if you are feeling to enjoy a countryside vacation with a classical environment and picturesque beaches. Summers are perfect to enjoy the true beauty, with a perfect sun tanned body and lush surroundings. The city hosts many festivals, cultural programmes and carnivals to add up to your exotic holiday.
You cannot miss the Museo de San Telmo which was built in the 16th century, the baroque church of Santa Maria and the Gothic church of San Vicente. Cuisine is tasteful and suitable for every foodie around. The beaches are perfect at any time of the year. This place will definitely give you a good taste of overall Spanish attire.
5. Girona
Before anything if you are a fan of Game of Thrones you might want to hop into Girona cathedral where few scenes were shot. The views of this place are amazing, you will get to explore a lot. Most of this city is like a corridor with narrow medieval walls all around which is totally varied from the crowded street elsewhere.
This region was once a county for Jews and the place, El Call is still very much like it was before 500 years ago. The heritage of this place is diverse which makes it more fun and joyous for your little country break. You may not get to see Eiffel tower, but you can surely walk across Eiffel bridge which was built just before the tower in Paris.
This place is near to Barcelona which makes it more perfect. You can have a great day around this town!
6. Cádiz
Believe it or not, there’s still one coastal region in Southern Spain that hasn’t been overrun by tourists (yet). Cadiz is mostly visited by Spanish tourists. Conil de la Frontera has it all, a privileged climate with more than 300 sunny days a year, a virgin coastline with paradisiacal beaches, an old town with a lot of history and an exquisite gastronomy. Without a doubt, a fantastic destination and a good base camp to explore the rest of the Province of Cadiz.
It has 14 km of coastline where we find 10 sandy areas between coves and beaches, which are undoubtedly the main attraction of the municipality. The variety of beaches is impressive. The beaches of the south are characterized by being large and infinite sands such as Palmar, Bateles or Castilnovo.
The north, protected by the Levant include the presence of imposing cliffs and virgin coves of great beauty that they seem taken from a postcard, like the Calas de Roche, from Quinto or from Poniente.
Bolonia is a city founded by emperor Claudius near modern Tarifa in the southern end of Spain right next to Cádiz (Gades). The city doesn't have much history other than being close to the copper and tin mines near Cádiz that the Romans (and before them the Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Tartessians) also exploited.
It is an abandonned city by the beach in the province of Cádiz today in between the villages of Zahara de los Atunes and Tarifa. If you walk along the coast from Zahara southwards you will easily stumble upon the remains of the Roman city.
7. Marbella
Marbella is one of the most active tourist venues all year round for its active nightlife and active sea life as well. Favourite of holidaymakers, the impressive and luxurious boating tours are exceptional and a welcome change for your holiday in Spain. and the workaholics can enjoy a healthy game of golf in a golf course too! With more than 125 beaches on a coastline, it's a challenging holiday for you.
The place for all who want to soak up the sun, enjoy the spa and stroll in the old town alleys. But also for those who love golf. There are 36 clubs near Marbella, including well-known golf course Finca Cortesin. Rent a car and visit the flower city of Estepona and nearby villages.
8. Cordoba
Founded by Romans in 169 BC, this place has a lot to provide for your chilled out mood. Cordoba was one of the most important capitals in the entire Europe, which was home to three different ethnic groups: Jews, Muslims and Christians. The Roman bridge was the only way to enter the city for almost 20 centuries and the structure has stood the test of time.
In Cordoba, the main sights you should visit are the Mezquita (cathedral-mosque going back to the period of Moorish Spain), the Calleja de las Flores (Flower Street) in the Jewish quarter, the bridge on the Guadalquivir river, Plaza del Potro one of the many squares in Cordoba, Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos which is a Moorish palace located near the Mezquita and the Roman temple of Córdoba.
Mezquita is the largest mosque as well as temple in the entire world. Its architectural beauty is to itch for! If you are a fan of leather accessories, this place is a must visit. Want some dripping olive oil and slices? Here is where you need to go, Cordoba has some of the largest Olive plantations.
The area is filled with beautiful ancient sculptures which are just breathtaking! This city is also a birthplace for thousands of legends. The richness of its cultural heritage is unbelievable.
Cordoba is the city one should definitely visit. The main and the most famous attraction in the city is the Mezquita (a cathedral-mosque) which dates back to the period of Moorish Spain. It is by far the most visited spot in the city and, it definitely deserves attention it receives because it can really show you a bit of history.
Aside from the Mezquita, you should visit the Calleja de las Flores (Flower Street) in the Jewish quarter, the bridge on the Guadalquivir river, Plaza del Potro, Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos which is a Moorish palace located near the Mezquita and the Roman temple of Córdoba.
If we want to get out of the classic circuits, a little known suggestion is to visit Antequera and its dolmen of Menga, a megalithic monument declared World Heritage and Cultural Interest by UNESCO, or Cordoba, the only city in the world with four UNESCO World Heritage properties.
Almeria is the Spanish capital of gastronomy, famous for its garden and a gastronomic offer of closeness and Moorish touches - hunting in the Alpujarra, rock fish on the coast and tapas menu to choose from in most of the bars in the city of Indalo.
It is worth noting that the city is not one of the most striking in Spain, but the easternmost province of Andalusia is home to unparalleled landscapes that present on this route along seven beaches with crystal clear waters. Do you need any more motivation?
Discover Sierra de Andújar and Cazorla in southern Spain – two of the world’s most exciting destinations for wildlife-spotters. Amidst the well-preserved Mediterranean forests and scrublands are a number of endangered species. Lynx, otters, wild boars and Europe’s great raptors are just some of the incredible animals you could see on your travels.
9. Bilbao
The Basque Country is a region of northern Spain and southern France still unexplored. But that is something that is changing, as it now begins to appear on tourist itineraries - and rightly so. As one of the oldest and culturally rich regions of Europe, it has much to offer visitors. The name Euskal Herria is used by the natives of the Basque Country to refer to their land.
From modern cities, picturesque villages and green landscapes to first class cuisine and the best wine region in Spain - the Basque Country has something for everyone. Bilbao is the perfect example. The Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Gehry is the best-known example and is also the number one tourist attraction in the Basque Country.
Located in Mount Santiago, between the provinces of Burgos and Álava, the Salto del Nervión, with its more than 200 meters high, pours its waters into an impressive fall towards the bottom of the Delika Canyon.
Altamira was the first place where Paleolithic rock art existence was identified. The system for visiting the original cave is as follows: every Friday of the year there is a draw among the visitors to the museum so that only five people can visit the cave every week without the possibility of reservations or pre-registration.
For those who are not selected, they can visit Altamira Neocave in the museum, with a reproduction of the original cave where there is no lack of the famous polychrome paintings of bisons and deers in the, so-called, Great Hall.
Cantabria is the less touristic part of the Spanish green coast in the North. It boasts a lush, leafy landscape, full of natural preserves and roaring seas battling against its rugged coast. Its caves are incredible to explore. Its capital, Santander, is a charming, aristocratic city full of Belle Epoque flair, and its food is known for its monster-sized portions, its fresh seafood and its generous use of butter.
And after filling the stomach with all that delicious food, a trip to the best wine-growing area in Spain, La Rioja is the perfect idea. The region is full of picturesque villages, such as those found in the French Basque Country, as well as numerous fishing communities along the coast.
A small landlocked region, La Rioja is a region made for food lovers and wine connoisseurs. Its vineyards are a thing of beauty, filled with incredible avant garde architecture, its wine is inexpensive (there are wine public fountains), and its capital, Logroño, boasts an amazing range of tapas and historic buildings.
10. Zaragoza
For those looking for that extra dose of adrenaline, but without falling into mega-extreme sports or being pro surfers, the best suggestion is to do canyoning in Las Gloces (Huesca), cross the Caminito del Rey (Malaga) or jump in the longest zip line in Spain which is 1,300 meters in length and 150 meters in height in Cabezón de Pisuerga (Valladolid).
It's always good to take a route through the areas of Game of Thrones in Spain (the Bardenas Reales de Navarra, the plaza de bulls of Osuna in Seville, the Castle of Zafra in Guadalajara).
Teruel is filled with graceful architecture majorly constructed during the Mujedar period. Religious structures, town halls, cathedrals and castles are main attractions. This place doesn’t hit the top list for many people and is one of the most underrated gems of Iberian provinces but you won’t regret spending a day or two.
The history of this place and its cultural heritage has undergone many changes in the past and you can still vibe along it. You can see beautiful sculptures all around. Teruel is filled with ethnicity and you will thoroughly enjoy it. The views from river Matarranya are simply gorgeous. This place has a lot to offer and you must pack an extra outfit!
If you are someone longing for an exotic trip, without any further delay pack your bags and set out on an amazing discovery.
Bon voyage!