The Spain Travel Guide

Barcelona, Spain

• Saint Sebastia Beach, Barcelona
• La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona (Gaudi designed)
• Picasso Museum, Barcelona
• Camp Nou, Barcelona
• Mercat Open-Air Market, Barcelona (food market)
  Barri Gotic, Barcelona (City’s oldest quarter)
• La Cathedral, Barcelona
• Barcelona History Museum
• Our Lady of the Sea Basilica, Barcelona
• Casa Batllo, Barcelona (Gaudi designed, very hallucinatory)
• La Pedrera, Barcelona (Gaudi Designed)
• Catalunya National Art Museum, Barcelona

 

Bilbao, Spain

• Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao
• Old Quarter, Bilbao

 

Madrid, Spain (1992 Europe Capital of Culture)

• Praso, Thyssen
• Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid
• Prado Museum, Madrid
• Mayors Plaza, Madrid
• Thyssen Museum, Madrid
• Palacio Real, Madrid
• El Retiro Gardens, Madrid
• National Archaeology Museum, Madrid
• El Prado Museum, Spain (Country’s most visited museum, and the world’s best Spanish art Museum, and has one of the best collections of European art in the world as well)

 

Seville, Spain

• Real Alcazar Palace, Seville
• Seville Cathedral (one of the largest Christian churches in the world)
• Venerables Scaerdotes Museum, Seville
• Metropol Parsol, Seville

 

El Escorial, Spain (Fortified monastery)

 

Pamplona, Spain

• Running of the Bulls: July 6-14

 

San Sebastian, Spain (2016 European Capital of Culture)

• Playa de la Concha, San Sebastian

 

Cordoba, Spain (Former capital of Islamic Spain and western Europe’s most cultured city where Muslims, Jews and Christians coexist peacefully)

• Great Mosque of Córdoba (Mezquita), Spain
• Mezquita Mosque, Cordiba
• Fortress of the Christian Monarchs, Cordoba
• Archeological Museum, Cordoba
• Medina Azahara ruins, Cordoba

 

Rock of Gilbrator (UK)

 

Granada, Spain (Eight centuries as a Muslim city)

• Alhambra Palace, Granada (UNESCO, fortified palace)
• Chapel Real, Granada

 

Santander, Spain (beach resort)

 

Oviedo, Spain

 

Picos Mountains, Spain

• Picos de Europe, National Park, Spain

 

Figueras, Spain

• Dali Museum, Figueras, Spain

 

Camino, Spain (2000 European Capital of Culture)

• Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, Camino
• Camino de Santiago Trek, Spain (500 mile long trail from the Pyrenees of France to Spanish Mediterranean, Hostels and restaurants along the route, so you can hike with a day pack along the entire route if not camping. Super busy in the Summer, former

 

Andalucia, Spain

 

Cabo de Gata beach cove,

 

Atlantic Beaches, Tarifa to Portugal frontier, Spain

 

Northwest coastline, Spain

 

Segovia, Spain (fortified city)

• Segovia Roman Aqueduct, Spain (UNESCO)
• Segovia Cathedral, Spain
• Alcazar Castle, Segovia (Rapunzel towers, turrets topped with slate witches’ hats and a deep moat make this the prototype castle. Inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.
• Plaza Mayor Square, Segovia (shady nerve center of old Segovia)

 

Salamanca, Spain (2002 European Capital of Culture)

• Central Square, Salamanca
• Nueva Cathedral, Salamanca
• Vieja Cathedral, Salamanca

 

Burgos, Spain

• Santa Maria Cathedral, Burgos (UNESCO)

 

Leon, Spain

• Leon Cathedral

 

Avila, Spain (fortified city)

• City Walls, Avila (best preserved and most complete walls in Spain)
• Del Salvador Cathedral, Avila
• Medieval Fortifications, Avila (one of Spain’s best-preserved bastions, surrounded by imposing walls with monumental gates, 88 watchtowers, and more than 2,500 turrets)

 

Toledo, Spain (fortified roman city, medieval street plan, great for walking and exploring. Unique city where Islamic, Christian and Jewish families have lived peacefully together for centuries)

• Alcazar Fortress, Toledo, Spain
• Old town, Toledo (unique mix of medieval churches, museums, synagogues and mosques set in a labyrinth of narrow streets, plazas and inner patios)
• Toledo Cathedral
• Del Transito Synagogue, Toledo

 

Tarragona, Spain (former Roman city)

• Seaside Roman amphitheater, Tarragona
• Tarragona Cathedral
• Arqueologic de Tarragona National Museum

 

Zaragoza (aka Saragossa), Spain

• Del Pilar Basilica, Zaragoza
• Aljaferia, Zaragoza (Spain’s second finest Islamic era architecture)
• Caesar Augusta Roman Museum, Zaragoza (the best of 4 Roman museums in city)

 

Teruel, Spain

 

Almeria, Spain

 

Albarracin, Spain

 

Monte Perdido National Park, Pyrenees, Spain

 

Torla, Pyrenees, Spain

 

Ainsa, Pyrenees, Spain

 

Jaca, Pyrenees, Spain

 

Huesca, Pyrenees, Spain

 

Sos del Rey Catolico, Spain

 

Santillana del mar, Spain

 

Santiago de Compostela, Spain

• Santiado de Compostela Cathedral, Spain
  • Rooftop tour
  • Grand Square (in front of west side of cathedral)
  • Cathedral Museums (4 floors of cathedral)

 

Onis, Picos, Spain

 

Potes, Picos, Spain

 

Lugo, Spain

• Lugo’s Roman Walls, Lugo, Spain (world’s best Roman wall. UNESCO)

 

Merida, Spain

• Merida Roman city ruins, Merida, Spain (Former Roman city w/ amphitheater and extensive architecture, including two aqueducts. One of Europe’s most remarkable collections of Roman architecture)

 

Caceres, Spain (fortified town)

 

Cuenca, Spain

 

Trujillo, Spain

 

Malaga, Spain (fortified city)

• Caminito del Rey elevated hike, Malaga
• Picasso Museum, Malaga
• Malaga Cathedral
• Alcazaba Castle, Malaga
• Pompidou Center Muesum, Malaga
• Gibralfaro Castle, Malaga

 

Pyrenees Hunt to Hut to Hut Trek , Spain (Ordesa & Monte Perdido National Parks)

 

Mediterranean Coast Drive, Spain: Barcelona to Malaga; 680 miles

 

Northern Spain Picos Byway: Finisterre to San Sabastian; 620 miles

 

Northern Spain Coast byway: Coruna to San Sebastian

 

Laguna Salada de Torrevieja, Spain (natural phenomenon where water looks pink due to algae)

 

Playa de las Catedrales Beach, Spain

 

Torla, Spain (Pyrenees mountain town, overrun with visitors July-Aug)

 

Valencia, Spain (country’s third largest city)

• City of Arts & Sciences, Valencia
  • Oceanografic, Valencia
• Valencia Cathedral
• La Lonja, Valencia (UNESCO)
• Central Market, Valencia (vast outdoor covered market)
• Playa de las Arenas Beach, Valencia

 

Las Fallas, Spain

 

Capileira, Spain

 

Ferreirola, Spain

 

Trevelez, Spain

 

Cadiar, Spain

 

Cazorla, Spain

 

Ubeda, Spain

 

Baeza, Spain (UNESCO)

 

Arcos de la Frontera, Spain

 

Ronda, Spain

 

Grazalema Benaojan, Spain

 

Gijon, Spain (Bay of Biscay)

 

Zahara de la Sierra, Spain

 

Ordesa National Park, Spain

 

Cabo de Coast Trek, Spain (Along southern Spain’s most spectacular coast. 38 miles; Retamar to Agua Amarga)

 

Costa Brava Region, Spain (145km of rugged coast line, dotted with great beaches from the French border to Blanes, Spain)

• Cap de Creus headlands & Park, Costa Brava, Spain
• Cadaques, Costa Brava, Spain (whitewashed fishing town)

 

Girona, Spain (fortified town; grand churches, cobbled streets, medieval baths, lazy river; inland from coast)

• Girona Cathedral, Girona
• Costa Brava Beach Cove, Girona

 

Figueres, Spain (Dali’s birthplace

• Dali Museum, Figueres (Surreal museum is Spain second most visited)

Catalonia, Spain

• Empurries Ruins, Catalonia, Spain

Mallorca Island, Balearic Islands, Spain

• Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca Island
  • Mallorca Cathedral, Mallorca Island
  • Palau de I’Almudaina, Mallorca Island (Originally am Islamic Fort, then residence for the King of Spain
  • Es Baluard Mesum, Mallorca Island
• Sa Calobra, Mallorca Island (small port town)
• Cape Formentor, Mallorca Island
• Soller, Mallorca Island
• Fornalutx, Mallorca Island
• Deia, Mallorca Island
  • Cala de Deia beach, Mallorca Island
• Valldemossa, Mallorca Island
• Pollenca, Mallorca Island
• Arta, Mallorca Island
• Dry Stone Trek, Mallotca Island (103 miles; Port d’Andratx to Pollenca)

 

Menorca Island, Balearic Islands, Spain (UNESCO; pristine beaches and archaeological sites)

• Mao, Menorca Island
• Ciutadella, Menorca Island
• Monte Toro, Menorca Island
• Fornells, Menorca Island

 

Ibiza Island, Balearic Islands, Spain

• Ibiza City, Ibiza Island
  • D’Alt Vila Ramparts, Ibiza (walls over 25m in height, incl seven bastions
  • Ibiza Cathedral
• Sant Antoni, Ibiza Island

 

Formentera Island, Balearic Islands, Spain

 

Tenerife Island, Canary Islands, Spain

• Pirate Cave Poris of Candelaria Hike, Tenerife Island (This is a steep path (down and back) through pine forest, which then winds down cliffs to a remarkable cove which was reputedly once a pirates’ hide-away)
• Teide National Park, Tenerife
  • Mt Teide, Teide National Park, Tenerife (12,200’ peak, Cable car to top; UNESCO site protecting over 1,000 Guanche archeological sites and 80% of the world’s different forms of volcanic formations.
    • Teide Trek, Teide National Park, Tenerife (20 miles RT from Montana Blanca to the Peak and back)

Gran Canaria Island, Canary Islands, Spain

 

Fuerteventura Island, Canary Islands, Spain

 

Lanzarote Island, Canary Islands, Spain

 

La Palma Island, Canary Islands, Spain

 

La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain

 

El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain