Country guide
Spain covers 506,030 square kilometres and counts close to 50 million people, and it reads less as one country than as a set of regions that do not resemble eac...
Photograph · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Spain covers 506,030 square kilometres and counts close to 50 million people, and it reads less as one country than as a set of regions that do not resemble each other. Madrid sits high and dry in the middle of the peninsula with the national collections in it; Barcelona is Mediterranean and Catalan-speaking. Andalusia in the south carries the Moorish architecture of Granada, Córdoba and Seville along with the heat that comes with it, while the green north coast from Bilbao to Galicia is wet Atlantic country most visitors never reach. The Canary Islands lie off Africa, and Ceuta and Melilla are on the African mainland itself.
Checked 2026-08-25
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · Dmitry Dzhus from London · CC BY 2.0
Photograph · dronepicr · CC BY 2.0
Seasonal closures come from recorded opening hours.
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
176 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Cementiri del Poblenou
Poblenou Cemetery, known locally as Cementiri del Poblenou, is a historic burial ground in Barcelona. Established in the 18th century, it represents one of the city's oldest cemeteries and serves as a significant cultural landmark.
Museo de América
The Museum of the Americas is a Madrid museum devoted to the art, archaeology, and ethnography of the American continents. In Ciudad Universitaria, near Moncloa, it brings together objects connected with societies from North, Central, and South America.
CaixaForum Barcelona is a cultural centre on Montjuïc, housed in a former modernist factory designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch.
Palacio de Cristal
Crystal Palace, or Palacio de Cristal, is a glass-and-metal pavilion beside a small artificial lake in Madrid’s Buen Retiro Park.
Teatro Real is the principal opera house of Madrid, Spain. Located at Plaza de Isabel II in the city centre, it stands opposite the Royal Palace.
Platja de Sant Sebastià
Sant Sebastià is an urban Mediterranean beach in Barcelona’s Barceloneta neighbourhood. Its broad shoreline connects the city directly with the sea and forms part of Barcelona’s popular coastal recreation area.
Teatre Principal is a historic theatre in Barcelona and an important part of the city’s performing-arts tradition. It suits travellers who want to connect the city’s cultural life with its older urban fabric.
Real Monasterio de la Encarnación
The Royal Convent of La Encarnación is a royal monastery in Madrid, Spain. Its local name is Real Monasterio de la Encarnación. It holds the status of a royal site and is associated with the Spanish monarchy.
Museo de Historia de Madrid
Madrid History Museum, also known as Museo de Historia de Madrid, is Madrid’s municipal museum devoted to the capital itself.
Palacio de Liria
Liria Palace, known locally as Palacio de Liria, stands as a historic palace in Madrid. It serves as the principal residence of the House of Alba, one of Spain's most prominent noble families.
Puerta del Sol is a semi-circular public square in the exact centre of Madrid, and it is a junction before it is a monument.
l'Aquàrium Barcelona
L'Aquàrium Barcelona is a large aquarium situated in Port Vell, the historic harbour district of Barcelona. It is recognised by official tourism information as Port Vell's major ticketed attraction, a status that corrects its former omission from such listings.
Real Observatorio de Madrid
The Royal Observatory of Madrid, or Real Observatorio de Madrid, is an astronomical observatory with an important place in Spain’s scientific history. Founded by King Charles III, it reflects the Enlightenment interest in observation, measurement, and organized scientific work.
Teatro de la Zarzuela is a historic theatre in Madrid dedicated to zarzuela, a Spanish musical theatre genre combining spoken dialogue, song, and dance.
Museo Lázaro Galdiano
The Lázaro Galdiano Museum, known locally as Museo Lázaro Galdiano, is a museum in Madrid. It houses the art collection assembled by José Lázaro Galdiano, a Spanish financier, publisher and collector.
Jardines del Campo del Moro
Campo del Moro is a historic garden complex located in Madrid, Spain, situated at the western foot of the Royal Palace. Its local name, Jardines del Campo del Moro, reflects its long-standing identity within the city.
Real Fábrica de Tapices
The Royal Tapestry Factory, or Real Fábrica de Tapices, is a historic Madrid manufactory with centuries of royal connections. Its distinctive appeal is the survival of hand-woven tapestry production as a living craft.
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo is a contemporary art museum in Madrid. Its role is to present and preserve modern and contemporary artistic work, placing it within the capital’s broad cultural landscape.
CaixaForum Madrid is a cultural and social centre operated by the La Caixa Foundation. It occupies a distinctive building in central Madrid, notable for its brick industrial architecture with a prominent vertical garden on one exterior wall.
Fuente de Neptuno
The Fountain of Neptune, or Fuente de Neptuno, is a neoclassical monument in central Madrid. Its sculptural group presents Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, on a shell-shaped chariot drawn by two hippocampi.
Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas
The National Museum of Decorative Arts, or Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas, is a Madrid museum devoted to applied and decorative arts. It occupies a historic building and belongs to Spain’s national museum network.
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales
The National Museum of Natural Sciences, known locally as Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, is a prominent institution in Madrid. It operates under the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.
Museo Naval de Madrid
Museo Naval is a maritime museum in Madrid, Spain. It is dedicated to Spanish naval history and heritage. The institution preserves and exhibits collections related to Spain's seafaring traditions, naval warfare, and exploration.
Parque del Oeste is one of Madrid’s major western green spaces, offering a broad change of pace from the city’s museums, avenues, and busy central squares.
Catedral de la Almudena
Almudena Cathedral is Madrid’s principal Roman Catholic cathedral, facing the Royal Palace across Plaza de la Armería. Construction began in the late nineteenth century and Pope John Paul II consecrated the cathedral in 1993.
Ten to fourteen days allows three or four days in Madrid and four in Barcelona, plus selected rail day trips. Andalusia or either island group deserves a separate route instead of being compressed into the same mainland circuit.
Spain follows Schengen rules, but the traveller's nationality and route determine the required documents or visa. Confirm the current requirement through Spain's official consular information before departure.
High-speed rail makes Madrid-Barcelona and several mainland city pairs practical, while regional buses cover gaps. Island travel needs flights or ferries, and urban ticketing remains local to each city.
April to June and September to October are broad choices for Madrid and Barcelona. Andalusia, the Atlantic north, Balearics, and Canaries follow different heat and weather patterns, so a regional extension should control the final dates.
Spain uses the euro (EUR). Cards are common in cities, but a small euro reserve is useful for individual businesses; always check the billed currency and amount before approving a terminal transaction.
Spain's emergency contact is 112. Electrical outlets accept Type C and F plugs on a 230 V supply. Because this record contains no tap-water finding, use advice from the municipality serving each overnight stop.
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