10 Best Places to Visit in Spain

Spain has for a long time been a must-visit destination for most visitors from various parts of the world due to its great weather, ancient heritage, amazing culture, and other attractions. Regardless of your taste in dishes, attractions, fine art among others, this great country has almost everything for everyone. It also has a lot of airports which makes it easier to move from one part of the country to another. Although it’s much convenient to visit all the places of interest, the choice of where to go during your vacation isn’t easy. Below are the top 10 best places to visit in Spain especially if you’re a first time visitor:

1. Barcelona

It’s among the top destinations in Spain that is located in the northeast. Barcelona is well known for its tourism adventure where you can enjoy its vibrant culture, lively shopping, historic architecture, and buzzing nightlife. In Barcelona, you’ll get to see some architectural marvels from the most famous architect in Spain known as Antoni Gaudi that has the Sagrada Familia church and the Casa Batllo. All these structures have amazing designs, colors, and shapes. You can also enjoy some activities such as La Rambla strolling, and sunbath in some popular beaches.

2. Granada

Located in Southern Spain at the foot of Sierra Nevada mountains. As Granada’s province capital city, it offers a wide range of animated nightlife, traditional cultures, and amazing attractions such as the Alhambra that is known to encapsulate the Andalusian history. Most people who visit Spain come expressly to visit the Alhambra. It offers an excellent ornamental architecture, breathtaking city views, dripping water features, and lush gardens.

3. Spanish Islands

If you want to see some of the beautiful and best islands across the entire European continent, Spain is the place to be. You’ll get to see the Spanish Islands divided into two categories i.e. Canary and Balearic Islands. In the Spanish east mainland, the Balearic Islands which include Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, and Formentera are seen. Out of the four islands, Ibiza is famous for partying while Mallorca is the popular and largest island of all the four. On the other hand, The Conary Islands are found in Morocco’s southern coast in the Atlantic. All these islands are popular due to their natural attractions, beautiful beaches, and a good climate.

4. Madrid

This is the largest and capital city of Spain. Madrid is popular as a nightlife scene and has a combination of many ethnic groups that make it a colorful cosmopolitan city. Madrid city has several and well-known tourist attractions situated within the city center such as the Royal Palace which is the residence of Spain’s monarch. Puerta del Sol is termed as the heart of Madrid because it’s the largest plaza serving as the scene of essential gatherings, important festivals, and street performers. In addition, there’s a hub, particularly for the public transportation network. Plaza Mayor is another key square in Madrid because it’s popular for San Miguel Market.

5. Santiago de Compostela

This is the capital city of the Galicia region which is situated in northwestern Spain. It acts as the final destination in Spain when it comes to traditional pilgrimage termed as Camino de Santiago. Camino de Santiago is fundamental, especially to Christians because they believe that this traditional pilgrimage is where an Apostle of Jesus Christ known as St. James was buried. Recently, Santiago de Compostela city acts as a tourist attraction for individuals who want to know more about its tradition and religious history. The main arriving point for many visitors is the main square known as Praza do Obradoiro. This square is located within the city and is the scene of several important landmarks.

6. Toledo

Toledo was the capital city of the Spanish until the 16th century. Toledo is situated on a mountaintop, specifically in central Spain. Toledo is also termed as the city of Three Cultures because it was inhabited for many centuries by Christians, Muslims, and Jews. Recently, Toledo is well-known for its wealth of architecture and historic art of the Roman Empire. Medieval street in Toledo has several tourist attractions sites of the old architecture such as a synagogue, stunning cathedral, and mosque.

7. Valencia

Valencia is among the largest as well as the most popular cities in Spain. Valencia is situated in the eastern part of Spain, specifically in the region of Valencia. Valencia has many impressive landmarks, an entertainment complex termed as the City of Arts and Science, and a massive culture. These buildings were constructed after redirecting the Turia River. The City of Arts and Science contains a number of artistic buildings such as a planetarium, science museum, and aquarium. Fellas Festival is hosted in Valencia every March of the year. In this festival, each neighborhood is supposed to display papier-mache figures of all colors and sizes. These figures are, therefore, ceremoniously burned at the end of the week.

8. Seville

Seville is among the best places to visit in Spain because there are exceptional lively festivals, tourist attractions, and buzzing nightlife. Seville is not only the capital city of Andalusia but also it acts as the region’s cultural and financial capital. There are several important and beautiful historic landmarks in Seville such as the popular Grand Cathedral. In this cathedral, it’s believed that it is the place where the famous Christopher Columbus was buried. Real Alcazar is another significant building in Seville that has luxurious gardens because of its extravagant marshy palace.

9. Cordoba

Cordoba is situated in the southern part of Spain, specifically in the Andalusian region. Cordoba acts as the capital of Cordoba province. The Mezquita has several tourist attractions along the labyrinth of tiny plazas, medieval streets, and whitewashed courtyards. Mezquita was initially a mosque but recently its a cathedral. In addition, Cordoba has several places of interest such as the street of flowers, the Fortress of Christian Monarchs, and the Jewish Quarter.

10. San Sebastian

San Sebastian is situated on the north side of Spain, particularly in the Basque country. It acts as the capital city of Gipuzko province. San Sebastian is an impressive seaside city because its on the coast of the Bay of Biscay. There are beautiful beaches and culinary traditions. There are several buildings reconstructed in the 19th century which were affected during the Napoleonic wars. Playa de la Concha is among the popular beaches in San Sebastian, which offers water activities such as kayaking, swimming, and water skiing.