Places to visit in Spain. Spain highlights and best places to visit

2 min summary When to go Map & highlights Catalonia Andalucia Picos de Europa Activities Top 10 walks Cycling Families Advice Responsible tourism

Places to visit in Spain

At twice the size of the UK, Spain is considerably vaster than most visitors expect – and most of it is utterly unexplored. There are mountains, deserts, wild coastlines, lush forests, Moorish pueblos, fishing villages and roads that simply stop in the middle of nowhere. You could spend months whizzing through all the places to visit in Spain, or you could choose a village to base yourself in – and really discover a tiny slice. Fortunately, getting around is easy. There are excellent high speed trains, a very affordable regular train option, metropolitan buses and hire cars for those choosing remoter regions. You can also cycle from inn to inn, or even walk from place to place – some hiking regions are well set up for this.

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Our Spain Vacations

1. Alicante
2. Almeria province
3. Balearic Islands
4. Basque Country
5. Camino de Santiago
6. Catalonia
7. Granada
8. Malaga province
9. Picos de Europa (Asturias)
10. Pyrenees
11. Seville
12. Western Andalucia

Alicante

1. Alicante

The Costa Blanca may be the home of hedonism but Alicante is now making a name for itself as a place to be good to yourself, with a variety of yoga and wellbeing vacations. There are also some excellent walking and cycling trails, taking in coastal plains, steep escarpments, Moorish pueblos, caves and Bronze Age settlements. Get into the local flora – cherry and orange blossoms, orchids and carpets of spring blooms.

Alicante

Almeria province

2. Almeria province

Andalucia’s easternmost province is said to have the best climate in Europe – with 300 days of sunshine a year. This makes it ideal for winter walking breaks – there are empty beaches, the desert setting of many “Spaghetti Westerns” and the Nijar National Park, in Cabo de Gata, a stunning land and marine park with desert walks.

Balearic Islands

3. Balearic Islands

So much more than Ibiza, Magaluf and stag dos. It’s actually incredibly easy to get away from the baying bar hoppers this Mediterranean archipelago; just head to the hills – or just the opposite coastlines for tranquillity and fresh air. There are vineyards, traditional whitewashed guesthouses, hill trails, medieval villages and olive groves; Mallorca and Menorca are our favourite islands to explore.

Balearic Islands

Basque Country

4. Basque Country

The Pais Vasco is an enticing blend of tradition and modernity. Culturally closer to the French Basque Country than the rest of Spain, its language is unrelated to any other. Bilbao is a delightful little city with the distinctive Guggenheim; San Sebastian sits on a beautiful bay; and Guernica is immortalised in Picasso’s shocking painting. The region is famed for its tasty pinxos and meaty stews. Try the local cider, too!

Camino de Santiago

5. Camino de Santiago

This humble trail across northern Spain draws pilgrims from across the globe to share in the classic landscapes, the hearty northern dishes and the very Spanish sense of “solidarity”. Roughing it in hostels is still possible – but plusher accommodation is now springing up along the Camino, meaning you can enjoy the trail’s highlights but with a quiet, comfy bed to collapse into at the end of each day.

Camino de Santiago

Catalonia

6. Catalonia

Frequently described as “not Spain!” Catalonia is a country within a country, where Catalan is the dominant language and landscapes sweep from snowy Pyrenean peaks to sun-soaked Mediterranean coves. There is a Volcanic Park, car-free hiking and walking trails, cuisine influences by the oceans and forests – and the magnificent cities of Barcelona, Tarragona and Girona.

Granada

7. Granada

Both a province and a city, Granada boasts the Sierra Nevada – including the highest peak in mainland Spain, and the ancient Islamic city of Granada – with the opulent Alhambra Palace. La Alpujarra is tucked between the snowy mountains and subtropical coastline, and a haven for photographers and artists, walkers and anyone seeking peace. Granada also retains its free tapas culture – so come with an appetite.

Granada

Malaga province

8. Malaga province

White towns, ravines, tumbling bougainvillea, Moorish tiles and quaint farmstays, Malaga has plenty to offer beyond Marbella and the Costa del Sol. Even a 20 minute drive from the beach can take you to traditional villages – where tourists are welcomed with open arms, yet no English is spoken and fresh food is still purchased from traveling markets. The Picasso Museum is in Malaga city – the artist’s birthplace.

Picos de Europa (Asturias)

9. Picos de Europa (Asturias)

Extraordinarily, this 2,650m high mountain range has not popped up on most hikers’ compasses. The limestone massif is frequently snow-draped, and shelters chamois goats, bearded vultures, Iberian wolves and even brown bears. The villages here are isolated yet welcoming, the food is possibly Spain’s finest – and you’re still just 10km from the craggy Costa Verde.

Picos de Europa (Asturias)

Pyrenees

10. Pyrenees

Stretching across the French border, the Spanish Pyrenees are a final frontier of world-class mountain biking, hiking and climbing, kayaking and rafting, and even strange volcanic scenery. The Pyrenees are as diverse as anywhere else in Spain – from the lush Basque foothills of the west, to hidden ski slopes, 3,400m peaks, steep railways, medieval villages, glacial lakes and monasteries clinging to cliffs.

Seville

11. Seville

Seville proudly flaunts just about every Spanish cliché – but it’s for real. The whitewashed, Moorish buildings, streets fragranced with orange blossom, the exquisite Alcazar palace, the sounds of flamenco tapping down from wrought iron balconies, tapas bars on every narrow street corner, and year-round sunshine. Siesta through the heat of the day and fiesta in the plazas by night. It’s sultry, seductive and super Spanish.

Seville

Western Andalucia

12. Western Andalucia

The Moorish heartland of Seville, Cordoba, Cadiz and Huelva is peppered with 11th century fortresses, cathedrals converted into mosques and back into cathedrals, ancient Jewish Quarters, miles of orderly olive groves and windswept Atlantic coastline, heated by Saharan breezes. A frying pan in summer, springlike in winter, and the birthplace of sherry and flamenco. Catch a festival here if you can.

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Spain travel times

The following times give you a rough idea of the travel times between the main attractions in Spain. The AVE, AVI and AVANT are high speed trains.

Madrid – Seville: 6hrs 30 mins by car Madrid – Seville: 2hrs 20 mins by AVE Barcelona – Valencia: 3 hours by train Madrid – Barcelona: 2hrs 30 mins by AVI Seville – Cordoba: 45 mins by AVE Barcelona – Girona: 35 minutes by AVANT Barcelona – Tarragona: 1hr 20 mins by train

More about Spain

Best time to visit Spain

Spain holds a rich variety of landscapes which will no doubt have an effect on the best time to visit Spain where personal interests are concerned.

Spain travel guide

Our Spain travel guide includes everything from a brief history of Spain to food, shopping & people to help you travel like a local on your Spain vacation.

Things to do in Spain

Our top activities in Spain take you off, or on, the beaten track and range from cycling and languages to a trek on the Camino de Santiago.

Activity vacations in Spain

Areas like the Altiplano de Granada and Sierra de Castril mountains will make you forget days by the pool, offering everything from hiking and biking to canyoning.

Top 10 walks in Spain

Unlock the secrets of Spain as you walk the country’s mountainous interior and wonderfully wild coastlines, discovering an authentic slice of Spanish life, with not a parasol in sight.

Things to see & do in Catalonia

Catalonia packs a world of landscapes into one region, from 3,000m snow-capped Pyrenean peaks, to the warm turquoise waters of the Mediterranean.

Things to see & do in Andalucia

Rich with influences from Moorish, Roman, Greek, Phoenician and Byzantine civilisations, Andalucía is one of the most diverse and fascinating regions of Spain.

Things to see & do in the Picos de Europa

You’ll have a wild and wonderful walking vacation in the Picos de Europa, where small group and tailor made trips get your adrenalin pumping against the most bucolic of backdrops.

Yoga vacations in Spain

Yoga vacations in Spain rejuvenate the senses with a combination of Pilates, language lessons and guided meditation adding to the joys of year round warmth and sensational Spanish cuisine.

Cycling vacations in Spain

Leave the tourist trails on two wheels and see a side of the country far removed from the costas and the big smoke.

Spain with kids

From the sites of spaghetti westerns to whitewater rafting, we know what to do with little ones so all you have to do is pack and go.

Spain travel advice

We value tips from our friends in Spain really highly so read on for recommendations from the experts and from travelers who have been there.

Responsible tourism in Spain

Travel right in Spain and you’ll quickly discover why the brain drain, dolphinaria, bull fighting and corruption in the construction industry are all worth researching.

All our Spain guides

Find all of our Spain guides in one place, from guides to Andalucia, Valencia or the Canary Islands to advice on activity vacations including walking and cycling.

More relevant guides

Written by Vicki Brown

ABTA member P7085 so you are fully protected

Photo credits: [Page banner: Mathew MacQuarrie] [Alicante: Erik Brockdorff] [Almeria Province: Ventura Carmona ] [Balearic Islands: Misty] [Basque Country: Vicente Villamon] [Camino de Santiago: Fresco Tours] [Catalonia: Paul Kelley] [Granada: Victoriano Izquierdo] [Malaga Province: Toprural] [Picos de Europa: Light Chaser] [Pyrenees: Kitty Terwolbeck] [Seville: Noemi Galera] [Western Andalucia: Vidar Nordi-Mathisen]

Places to visit in Spain