10 of the Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Spain

The truth is that Spain is chock-full of beautiful places; no abbreviated list could ever do all of the worthy destinations justice. But if one must reach into that bag of awesomely stunning Spanish sights, these are a few that would rise to the top (in no particular order).

1. The Alhambra Palace

One thing is for sure: No list of beautiful places in Spain could possibly be complete without singing – belting! – the praises of Granada’s Alhambra Palace. The 9^th-century Moorish fortress is pure magic, with its rusty-hued walls, Mudéjar-style Nasrid Palace, and ever-fragrant and flowering Generalife Gardens. Get to know the palace from the inside (and especially during an Alhambra half-day tour) or from a distance by visiting the Albaicin neighborhood on the opposite hillside. No matter how you experience it, though, the fortress’s beauty is unsurpassed by few places in Spain, and really even in the world.

The view of the Alhambra from the nearby Albaicin neighborhood

2. Volcanic Marvels of the Canaries

100 kilometers off the coast of northwestern Africa, the Canaries’ seven volcanic islands reach into the sky from the Atlantic Ocean. To get a better view, hike (or grab the teleférico) to the top of Europe’s tallest point, El Teide volcano. Or experience some of the islands’ most impressive volcanic wonders by heading to Lanzarote to see geological wonders such as the lime-green-colored lagoon at El Golfo, and the lava tunnels of the Cueva de los Verdes. Meanwhile, the Canaries are ripe with subterranean allure too, with each of them offering up stellar scuba opportunities, especially on the smallest island of Hierro. Want to hit up all seven islands? Consider spending a week in the Canaries, getting to know the best of what the archipelago has to offer.

The volcanic landscape of El Teide National Park

3. Picos de Europa

Maybe Alp-like mountains don’t come to mind when thinking of Spanish landscapes, but they should: the country’s north is a high-altitude rocky wonderland of peaks and valleys, and this is especially the case in the Picos de Europa. The mountains, composed primarily of limestone, form part of the Cantabrian range, and are dotted by darling pueblos – like Potes and Cangas de Onis – and also offer up outdoor activities galore, such as hiking and white water rafting.

The snow-capped mountains of the Picos de Europa

4. The Beaches of the Balearic Islands

Find beach perfection on the shores of the Balearic Islands, where the sand is powder-soft and white, and the water a “rub your eyes” , “oh my gosh I can’t believe what I’m seeing” shade of turquoise blue. For perhaps the best of Balearic beach experiences, head to the especially remote shores of Formentera, the smallest of the four islands. There, where the tourists are few and the beaches are especially off-the-charts, you’re sure to find a little piece of Spanish paradise.

The unbeatably blue waters of a Formentera beach

5. Ronda

This Malagueñan village straddles a river-carved canyon, the base of which sits some 100 meters below. Take in views from up high and down low via the canyon’s three bridges: the Old, the Arab, and the New (the tallest and most tummy-turning of them all). Then, the pueblo itself is pretty sweet too — not only does it boast the most well-preserved Arab baths in Spain, but, as home to modern-day bullfighting as we know it, the Plaza de Toros will certainly be worth a visit too.

The city of Ronda, which perches atop a river-carved canyon

6. La Sagrada Familia

This work-in-progress cathedral has been under construction for over 130 years now, and still has at least another decade to go; but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t already a spectacular sight. With the majority of both its interior and exterior completed, you can easily appreciate Gaudi’s grand vision, such as the facade that pays tribute to the birth of Jesus, and the inside ceiling which resembles the roof of a forest, its branch-like columns fanning out into a colorful canopy. You may come across loads of cathedrals during your travels, but few will likely compare to the magnificence of this one. Find out more about the history behind this peculiar Catalan masterpiece on a skip-the-line tour of La Sagrada Familia.

The still-unfinished facade of La Sagrada Familia

7. San Sebastián

San Sebastián rises to the top of most any list of Spain’s best beachtowns – but maybe not so much for purely laying-out and sun-bathing purposes. Instead, people are more likely to fall in love with the city thanks to its island-dotted Bay of La Concha, long romantic promenade that hugs the shoreline, and historic quarter filled with old-world streets and bars that serve up the north’s gourmet take on the tapa, called the pincho.

La Concha Bay and the city of San Sebastián that surrounds it

8. Segovia

For the ultimate fairytale-like town, one must head to Segovia, with its Alcazar that resembles (and some say inspired) the famous Disney castle. That isn’t the only majestic sight in the city either: not only are the streets what old-world dreams are made of, but Segovia boasts other unmissable sights such as its Gothic cathedral, and most notably of all, an exquisitely maintained Roman aqueduct that dates back almost 2,000 years.

Segovia’s Alcazar castle in the foreground, with the cathedral in the distance

9. Valle del Jerte

During springtime, head west of Madrid to the community of Extremadura, and, more precisely, the region of Valle del Jerte. Why spring? Because this swath of the country is blanketed by cherry trees, all which come into bloom in a fantastical seasonal show of flower petals. If you don’t make it there to see the flowering trees in action, don’t fret: at least come from May to July for the cherries themselves, which can turn those indifferent to the pitted fruits into full-fledged fans. Apart from all the cherries, stunning sights still abound in these parts, from the Monfragüe National Park to the medieval town of Cáceres.

Blooming cherry trees in the Valle de Jerte. Photo courtesy of Ignacio García via Flickr

10. Cudillero

Discover Spanish pueblo bliss in the northern coastal town of Cudillero. Like an amphitheater to the sea, the fishermen village’s rainbow-colored homes encircle its quaint little cove. And since the Asturian town’s terraced hillside is laced with zigzagging steep paths, lookout-points are plentiful. Indeed, no view is a bad view as you gaze at the village, and Bay of Biscay beyond it.