Best Places to Visit in Spain

Spain is famous for its beach holidays - and rightly so, with over 8,000 kilometres of coastline, Spain has a diversity of beaches from virgin dunes and rocky crystalline bays, to busy city beaches and iconic resorts.

Beaches aside, Spain has so much to offer the traveller and in this article, we invite you to get to know the many other sides to Spain. Explore its natural parks, mountains and historic cities too.

Whatever you enjoy doing on holiday, you’ll love doing it even more in super, stimulating Spain. We’ve put together some of the best places to visit in Spain and believe us when we say it was tough to whittle it down. There are so many fabulous cities, mountains, beach resorts and natural parks to see. Choose your next holiday in Spain and stay in our wonderful villas in Spain.

 

Get to know Spain’s capital city, Madrid

Sitting in the very centre of Spain, Madrid is at the hub of road and rail networks - perfect if you’re planning to explore other areas. It also has a busy international airport so plenty of flights for you to choose from.

Madrid is ideal for discovering grand palaces; old and new architecture; museums like treasure troves filled with Spain’s history; world-famous art galleries; and football, of course, with two major teams Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid to cheer on.

Must-see places in Madrid are:

• The lavishly-decorated chambers in the Palacio Real - royal palace in Old Madrid
• The grand 17th century square, Plaza Mayor, which was a focal point for the old city
• Another fabulous square, Plaza de Cibeles and fountain, where Real Madrid players and their fans celebrate their many victories
• One of the world’s greatest art galleries, Museo del Prado, including important works by Goya and Velázquez
• Another world-famous art gallery, Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, in an equally impressive building. This has a fabulous collection of 20th century art including Picasso’s Guernica depicting the horrors of the Civil War
• Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza has paintings by famous artists including Titian, van Gogh, Rubens, Goya and Picasso
• Parque del Retiro for relaxing in the fresh air

Spain’s most romantic castle

While in Madrid, you may want to head 90 kilometres north to Segovia to see the dreamy, real-life castle which inspired Walt Disney. Take a look at the castle in the Disney film Snow White and compare it with the imposing Alcázar de Segovia.

Exploring Modernisme in beautiful Barcelona

If Madrid is elegant and grand, Barcelona is avant-garde and sassy. The Modernisme (modernism) style of art and architecture was born in Barcelona and can be seen in extraordinary buildings such as Gaudi’s Palau Guell, La Pedrera and the emblematic Sagrada Familia, possibly Europe’s most surreal church.

Barcelona is beautiful for strolling down La Rambla street, grabbing a bite to eat in the impressive Mercado de La Boqueria indoor market, and getting lost in the Gothic streets off La Rambla before heading to the beach at Barceloneta. Let’s not forget a trip to Camp Nou where the mighty FC Barcelona play or the Olympic Village where the 1992 Games were held.

Also in Catalonia, Costa Dorada and Tarragona offering cultural offering with fabulous beaches. Stay in our wonderful villas in Costa Dorada and discover

Taking a city break in vibrant Valencia

Spain’s third largest city, Valencia, on the east coast is still relatively unknown to many visitors to Spain. And that’s a real shame.

Valencia is full of gorgeous museums, galleries, palaces and fine beaches. Take a look at the Holy Grail in Valencia Cathedral; marvel at the gargoyles on the Gothic La Lonja building; buy local produce in the 350 or so stalls in the Mercado Central market housed in an Art Nouveau building; revel in art at the Museo De Bellas Artes; or wander along the Turia gardens to the modernistic Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias - city of arts and sciences.

Stay in our wonderful villas in Costa Blanca and discover all that Spain has to offer.

Relax in Spain’s most sophisticated beach resorts

Obviously, the best places to go in Spain if you want a relaxing time in the sun are the beaches. The Costa Brava and Costa Blanca have their charms but we’re highlighting the Costa del Sol as it has a fine choice of beach holidays from chic to bubbly and breezy.

Favourite Costa del Sol resorts are:

• Marbella - most famous and most stylish resort on the Costa del Sol. The boats, restaurants and shops in the swanky Puerto Bañus marina are designed for the seriously wealthy.
• Nerja - Often called the 'jewel of the Costa del Sol', Nerja is famous for El Balcón de Europa balcony offering far-reaching sea views
• Torremolinos - high-rise package holiday resort popular with families
• Fuengirola - well-known package holiday resort with a spectacular backdrop of the Sierra de Mijas Mountain range
• Mijas - some holidaymakers prefer to stay in the traditional Spanish village of Mijas at the foot of the mountains and drive 10 minutes to the Costa del Sol beaches, or maybe you’ll chose one of the popular villas in Mijas Costa?
• Estepona - known as the garden of the Costa del Sol with its white streets filled with colourful flowers

Stay in our wonderful villas in Costa del Sol and discover all that Spain has to offer.

Amazing attractions in Andalucía

Spanish culture, history and food are found in abundance in the birthplace of flamenco, Andalucía. Indeed, many of the best places to visit in Spain are found in Andalucía, where three cities share some of the greatest Moorish monuments, such as:

• The famous Moorish fortress-palace, the Alhambra in Granada
• The Torre del Oro tower and La Giralda bell tower in Seville, which is also where flamenco was born
• Cordoba’s remarkable Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral

In Andalucía you will also find fabulous mountain ranges and skiing resorts such as those in the Sierra Nevada; sherry-producing vineyards around Jerez de la Frontera; deserts in Almeria; the Doñana wetlands; world-renowned historic white villages such as Ronda and Vejer de la Frontera; as well as the beautiful Costa del Sol beach resorts mentioned above.

Stay in our wonderful villas in Andalucia and discover all that Spain has to offer.

Head north for Green Spain

Northern Spain is a far cry from its more arid southern counterpart. The four regions in the north - Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia - are much greener with achingly-beautiful natural landscapes.

Top spots to visit include the Picos de Europa, forming part of the Cantabrian mountains; Zarautz in the Basque country for surfing; the food capital of San Sebastián; the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao; and the culmination of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.

We would highly recommend walking part of the Camino de Santiago or Way of St James to fully appreciate the beauty of northern Spain as you will be walking through green countryside, along the coast, through vineyards near La Rioja, charming villages, and through mountain ranges.

So, there you have Spain in a nutshell. Which destination will you choose for your next Spanish adventure?

Stay in our wonderful villas in Spain and discover all that this country has to offer.