Where to Go
You have free time...where should you go?
Plan Out Your Trip:
Check out metro/train/bus times before you plan to go
Note: This list is in order of what we consider must-sees, then should-sees, then nice-to-sees
Consider seeing two places in the same weekend — for example, you can stop at Park Güell while you’re in Barcelona to see La Sagrada Familia. And you can see the incredible Alhambra on your way to a weekend in Malaga.
1. Barcelona
From its significant role in the community of Catalonia, Barcelona is home to many significant highlights of Spain
Best things to see/do:
La Sagrada Familia (DO NOT MISS THIS!)
Park Güell
La Rambla (take a walking tour here with Rick Steves!)
FC Barcelona futbol (soccer) game
Casa Batlló
Casa Milà
Mercado de La Boqueria
Montjuïc
Cathedral of Barcelona
Ciutadella Park
Aquarium Barcelona
Arco de Triunfo de Barcelona
2. Madrid
As the capital and most populous city of Spain, Madrid is the second-largest city in the EU.
Best things to see/do:
Royal Palace of Madrid
Museo Nacional del Prado
Puerta del Sol
Temple of Debod
Plaza Mayor
3. Andalusia (or Andalucia)
This region is home to some main cities with incredible sights! It’s known for a lot of ‘stereotypical Spanish’ things like bullfighting, warmth, flamenco dancing, tapas, fiestas, beaches, etc. When Fransisco Franco decided to promote Spain for tourism, he deliberately chose features from Andalucia. This is why these images are typical stereotypes for people who when they think of Spain.
Best things to see/do:
Alhambra
Royal Alcázar of Seville
Costa del Sol
Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba
Plaza de España
Catedral de Sevilla
3. Other parts of Spain
Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia
Aqueduct of Segovia in Segovia
The Central Market of Valencia in Valencia
Beaches in Mallorca, Menora, & other islands
Great Resources
Rick Steves — He has some great resources like free audio tours and other tips for exploring Spain!