Spain is wonderful. We have it all: an unequaled gastronomy, an amazing landscape contrast, and a huge historical legacy.
We have selected 30 beautiful places in Spain to visit, at least once in a lifetime. Of course, to this list we would add all the National Parks.
Are you missing somewhere?
Beautiful Places in Spain: 30 Places To Visit Once In A Lifetime
1. Siurana
Tarragona, Catalonia
Siurana is a fairytale town that evokes the memory of the Middle Ages. It is cloistered on the river and to conquer the town they needed the knights of four counts, because the castle of Siurana crossed a border that extended from Coll de Balaguer to Tamarit de Gaià.
It was finally conquered in 1153 after the fall of Lleida and Tortosa which makes it the last redoubt of the reconquest. The most important building of Siurana is its Romanesque church, which has a portal with a figurative tympanum framed by three half-point archivolts. In addition, it is one of the most important climbing destinations in the country and in the world.
2. Salinas of San Pedro del Pinatar
Murcia
The Regional Park of the Salinas de San Pedro, despite its small extension, is one of the destinations that you should visit once in your life. The park is located at the northern end of the Mar Menor and is a good example of the transformation of an old coastal lagoon into salt flats, which, to this day, continue to be a productive asset. Among the fauna and flora that you will find there is the coastal sabina,the reed, the little tern, the stork or the flamenco. Truly one of the most beautiful places in Spain!
Related Read: Why You Should Visit Murcia, Spain
3. Chulilla
Valencia, Valencian Community
Chulilla is a Valencian municipality surrounded by a natural landscape of immense beauty. Rocks, natural pools, the Turia Canyon and lush forests make the municipality a must. But there are many more reasons to visit this curious corner: the Castle of Chulilla, declared a Historic Artistic Monument in 1981, is located on top of the hill that crowns the town. You will also find cave paintings in the Falfiguera ravine that represent human figures, groups of animals, isolated animals and even indecipherable motifs.
4. Laguardia
Álava, Euskadi
Laguardia is probably, and in my opinion, one of the most beautiful places in Rioja Alava. Not only will you enjoy the delicious Basque gastronomy in Laguardia, you will also admire the charm that the town has for itself. Among its attractions include the portico of Santa Maria de los Reyes, which corresponds to the late fourteenth century and whose polychromy was carried out in the seventeenth century ; the clock in the Plaza Mayor is a symbol of the identity of this municipality and is composed of “El Cachimorro” and two dancers. You can not miss the Torre Abacial, the Church and San Juan tower or the subterranean caves of the municipality.
5. Almagro
Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha
Almagro, in the province of Ciudad Real, is a reference in Castilla-La Mancha and an essential destination. The Festival of Classical Theater of Almagro has become an essential event and a tourist attraction for its formula of corral theater. The city has been declared in its entirety Historical Artistic Set and it is that it envelops us in its culture, art, tradition and Castilian gastronomy. The Plaza Mayor, monumental and spacious, has a covered gallery supported by Tuscan columns that make it unique. Other points of interest are the Convent of the Incarnation or the Church of the Mother of God.
6. Cabárceno Nature Park
Obregón de Villaescusa, Cantabria
The Cabárceno Nature Park is not a conventional zoo, it is a space in which the beauty of the karstic landscape and the variety of species that inhabit it stand out. The facilities are the best valued by independent agencies that monitor the living conditions of animals. The park provides food for the animals and the rest of the activities are guided by the instinct of the different species.
7. Mallos de Riglos
Huesca, Aragón
The Mallos de Riglos, in the town of Riglos, is a capricious geological formation. There are trails that will allow you to take a tour of this natural monument. Near the last parking at the entrance of the town, there is the Tourism Office from which the path begins. As you go along the path you will discover a wonderful panoramic view of the Mallos.
8. Besalú
Girona, Catalonia
Besalú, in the Catalan province of Girona, is a village of medieval origin that developed around the Castle of Besalú, whose existence has been documented since the beginning of the 10th century. Other points of interest in the municipality are the Pont Vell, a work dating from the 18th century. XI; the monastery of Sant Pere from the 10th century or the Casa Cornellà, one of the best preserved Romanesque buildings in Catalonia. Without a doubt, an essential destination.
9. Natural Park of the Sierra de Grazalema
Cádiz and Málaga, Andalusia
Surely you never imagined that the place where it rains most of all Spain is in Andalusia. You are right! It is the Sierra de Grazalema, located between the provinces of Málaga and Cádiz. Discover the beautiful white villages that are distributed through spectacular massif as Ubrique, Grazalema, Zahara de la Sierra, Cortes de la Frontera or the famous Ronda, with its impressive New Bridge. Do not miss the Gato cave, the El Saltadero gorge and the Garganta Verde: a canyon with vertical walls over 400 meters high. One of the most beautiful places in Spain!
10. Faro de Orchilla
El Hierro, Canary Islands
Until the discovery of America in 1492, the Canary Island of El Hierro was the limit of the known world. The project of the lighthouse was carried out by Antonio Montesdeoca and the engineer Eloy Campiña. The work was delivered in 1930 after experiencing delays due to the inhospitable nature of the enclave. The Orchilla lighthouse is built with stone extracted from Arucas, on the island of Gran Canaria, to achieve an architectural style that follows the standards of the moment. To this day, the lighthouse is in disuse.
Related Read: Guide to the Canary Islands
11. Salinas de Fuencaliente
La Palma, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
In the most southern part of the island of La Palma we find this Site of Scientific Interest, which is an important stop for migratory birds. The earth, the water and the air convert the salt flats into a landscape of contrasts between volcanic black, oceanic blue and salt white. Undoubtedly, a sight worth seeing, at least, once in a lifetime.
12. Roques de García
Tenerife
We invite you to carry out the Los Roques route. This route will allow you to get to know Roque Cinchado, El Torrotito, El Burro, Roques Blancos. Los Roques are volcanic chimneys that ended up solidifying. You will appreciate flora such as broom, laburnum, rose bushes, pajoneras grasses and magarzas. It’s worth exploring the roads in Tenerife – it’s an adventure!
13. Anaga
Tenerife
Very close to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, there is the Anaga Rural Park, declared a Biosphere Reserve. The mountain range, with deep valleys and ravines, descends to reach the sea and form beautiful Spain beaches. It has an area of 14,500 hectares and covers an important part of the island. It extends through the municipalities of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Tegueste.
14. Caldera de Bandama
Gran Canaria
The Caldera de Bandama is located in the northeast of the island of Gran Canaria. It is part of the natural monument of Bandama. After a winding road of 6 kilometers in which you will travel vineyards and a volcanic landscape without equal , you will reach this unique place. The name owes its origin to the Dutch Daniel Van Dame, who cultivated vineyards in the crater. If you dare, you can get down in 30 minutes to the crater through some trails.
15. Timanfaya
Lanzarote
This photo could have been taken on another planet , but no, it is the Canary Island of Lanzarote, specifically in the Timanfaya National Park. It is the only park of the Spanish Network of National Parks eminently geological and is a perfect sample of the most recent volcanism of the Macaronesian Region. Reddish, brown, ocher, orange and black colors make it a worthy place to visit once in a lifetime.
See also: The Ultimate Lanzarote Itinerary: 3 to 7 Day Itineraries
Watch our video explaining what it was like visiting Lanzarote during the pandemic:
16. Cap de Formentor
Mallorca, Balearic Islands
We move to the Balearic Islands to enjoy one of the best sunsets in the Mediterranean. Where? In the Cap de Formentor, on the island of Mallorca. It is one of the symbols par excellence of Mallorca. A winding road will take you along 18 kilometers to one of the best panoramas you can imagine. There are viewpoints arranged on both sides of the road. Undoubtedly, the Mirador de Sa Crueta, at 232 meters high is the best place to enjoy the views of the islet of Colomer. Everything a must. To visit Formentor, you can stay virtually anywhere on the island because, given its geography, you will be there in a jiffy.
17. Dalt Vila
Ibiza, Balearic Islands
Ibiza is much more than discos, parties and beaches. You have to know Dalt Vila, the walled part of the city that has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Slip on comfortable shoes and tour the charming old town of Ibiza.
18. Cap de Barbaria
Formentera, Balearic Islands
Cap de Barbaria, in the southeast of Formentera, is one of the most popular photographs of the island. The name answers to that the pirate ships that arrived at Formentera did it by here. Its lighthouse was projected in 1924 but finally opened in 1971. A short distance away is the Torre des Garrovet, a watchtower dating back to 1763. Formentera is a destination that you can not miss.
19. La Mola
Menorca, Balearic Islands
The fortress of La Mola, also known as Fortaleza de Isabel II , is a great example of nineteenth-century military architecture in Menorca. It consists of 10 fronts that are divided into two groups: land defense and maritime defense. It was built between 1848 and 1875 with the aim of defending the island from the threat posed by a new British invasion. Menorca is also one of the 5 destinations to escape.
20. Hoces del Duratón
Segovia, Castile and León
We travel to the province of Segovia to discover the Natural Park of the Hoces del Río Duratón. It has an extension of 5,037 hectares that await not only an important natural heritage, but also highlights the cultural heritage , which makes it a very complete tourist destination. Do not forget to visit the Hermitage of San Frutos, the Monastery of Nuestra Señora de la Hoz and the beautiful city of Sepúlveda.
21. Canyon of the Sil
Lugo and Ourense, Galicia
The Sil Canyon is narrower than the Miño river canyon and its walls, some so vertical that they take away the hiccups . You can tour it by catamaran or by car. During the walk you will be able to appreciate how the human being has taken advantage of to plant vineyards , protected with the Denomination of Origin Ribeira Sacra.
22. Cape Finisterre
A Coruña, Galicia routine
Finisterre (Fisterra in Galician) was known in the past as the end of the world. In fact, the Roman general who led the conquest of Galicia, Tenth June Brutus , believed that here the sun ceased to exist. The locals say that the Phoenicians practiced the cult of the sun in Finisterre. At present, a powerful lighthouse of 17 meters high and visible at 32 miles reigns the cape and is one of the places that most pilgrims on the Xacobea route choose to end this spiritual journey.
23. Cathedral and Wall of Lugo
Lugo, Galicia
The Roman wall of Lugo is the only one that is preserved in its entirety from all over the world, for that reason and for its beauty it was declared a World Heritage Site . The Wall measures more than 2 kilometers and has 10 doors. The Cathedral of Lugo, also declared a World Heritage Site, is mostly Romanesque, but has parts of the Gothic and Renaissance. Its main facade is a neo-colonialist project.
24. Redondela lookout
Redondela, Pontevedra
The Campo da Rata viewpoint is in the municipality of Cedeira and has one of the most beautiful panoramic views of Galicia. At this point, you can see from the Cies Islands to the San Simón Cove. It is best to wear comfortable shoes to enjoy the excursion to the viewpoint, because you can not reach the viewpoint directly by car.
25. Castillo de Mendoza
Manzanares el Real, Madrid
The Castillo de los Mendoza is one of the best preserved fortresses in Spain and one of the destinations that you can not miss. It was built in 1475 with a clear Elizabethan Gothic style. It is in the Madrid municipality of Manzanares el Real and offers dramatized visits that will allow you to know the artistic content of each stay of the castle through two seventeenth-century characters: Don Pedro de Zúñiga and Salcedo and Doña Isabel Asensio.
Related Read: Unique things to do in Madrid on a Sunday
26. Monastery of Montserrat
Barcelona
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montserrat has its origin in the year 888, when Count Wifredo el Velloso donates the hermitage of Santa María to the monastery of Ripoll. Later, in 1025, the abbot of Ripoll and Bishop of Vic founded a new monastery in the hermitage and in a short time, it became a point of outstanding visit for the pilgrims, who contributed to make known among the people the miracles that worked the Virgin After a period of decline, which coincides with the confiscations and Napoleonic war, in 1844 recovery begins.
27. Cliffs of Mutriku, Deba and Zumaia
Guipúzcoa, Basque Country
The Geopark of the Basque Coast is between the Cantabrian Sea and the Basque mountains, it covers the municipalities of Mutriku, Deba and Zumaia. The green of the forests and the pastures contrasts with the copper and reddish of the rock and the intense blue of the ocean. The 13 kilometers of cliffs will allow you to see a formation of layers of rock called Flysch, with more than 60 million years old. You can visit a black layer that shows the impact of a meteorite and the extinction of dinosaurs. An essential destination.
28. Cabo de Peñas
Asturias
Cabo de Peñas is the northernmost territory of Asturias, between Gijón and Avilés. It was declared a protected landscape and is part of the Regional Network of Protected Natural Spaces of Asturias. From La Gaviera you can see Cape Vidio, the tips of the Castro, the Narvata del Aguión, the Vaca and Tazones. The lighthouse of Cabo Peñas is the most important on the Asturian coast and is the light that guides sailors since 1852.
29. Cabañeros National Park
Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha
Cabañeros National Park is located between the provinces of Toledo and Ciudad Real. It is one of the most important protected areas of the Iberian Peninsula . Among the most characteristic species of the park are the Iberian imperial eagle, the black stork, the black vulture, the deer, the roe deer and the wild boar.
30. Trujillo
Estremadura
The city of Trujillo, located 50 kilometers from Cáceres, is formed by different eras and architectural and urbanistic thoughts. Why should you visit it? Because of its great historical legacy: Trujillo has been from a Roman town to an important medieval village and even obtained the titles of Very Noble City, Very Loyal, Insigne and Very Heroic.
There are so many beautiful places in Spain that you’ll definitely want to keep coming back.
