If you regularly follow my travels on this blog or on social networks, you will know that Spain is a destination that I particularly like. I have lost count of the number of times I have been able to travel to this country to visit Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Valencia, Madrid or even Avila. I decided to write you an article about things to see and do in Spain. How to navigate among all these places we talk about so often.
What to do in Spain:
- Barcelona
- Madrid
- Seville, Andalusian capital
- Tolède
- Avila
- Segovi
- Zaragoza
- Cadiz
- Cordoba and its Mezquita
- Granada and its Alhambra
- Sierra Nevada Park
- Sierra de Las Nieves Nature Park
- Tabernas Desert, the only desert in Europe
- The King's path
A few tips before you start discovering things to do in Spain. First of all, you should know that Spain is an ideal country to visit from France. Its geographical proximity is not there for nothing. Indeed, this will allow you to obtain (very) many flights from a multitude of French cities and to the main cities of Spain such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville or Granada.
The other advantage offered by Spain compared to France concerns car rentals. Indeed these are particularly affordable in this country and very often offer unlimited mileage. To find one of the most interesting car rentals, I advise you to compare rental companies using a comparator.
Let's now begin our tour of the essential things to do and see in Spain.
Barcelona, a city to see in Spain
Capital of Catalonia, Barcelona is one of the cities to see in Spain. Its magnificent perfectly preserved medieval quarter, the Bario Gotico, notably houses the Plaza Reial. A number of architectural treasures designed by Gaudi, such as Parc Güell, the Sagrada Familia or even a few bourgeois residences such as Casa Batllo or Casa Mila, are scattered throughout the city and are the subject of magnificent walks. Strolling around Plaza de Catalunya, the nerve center of the city, discovering the fountains and sculptures that adorn it, before strolling along the Ramblas to the sea and the tower of Christopher Columbus, is a source of varied surprises, including the Boqueria market and its Art Nouveau entrance, or a mosaic by Miro worked on the floor.
Madrid, the Spanish capital
Forming an autonomous community, the city of Madrid is also the capital of Spain. The Royal Palace, built in the 3000th century, is the largest palace in Western Europe. It has more than XNUMX rooms which house many artistic collections. Watching the Changing of the Guard is one of the things to do in Spain. The Plaza Major, a pretty square lined with arcades, built in the time of the Habsburgs in the heart of the historic district, is one of the liveliest places in the city. The Passeo del Arte brings together many museums including the Prado and the Queen Sofia where you can admire the famous "Guernica" painted by Picasso. A walk in the Retiro Park, created in the XNUMXth century, allows you to discover remarkable buildings, sculptures and beautiful gardens.
Seville, Andalusian capital
Even if Barcelona and Madrid remain the two essential cities of Spain, Andalusia, with Seville as the main city, is indeed one of the regions that attracts the most tourists. Andalusia is one of the regions to see in Spain, its rich history which will have seen many invaders conquer it, in particular the Moors, today offers wonders to be seen at all costs. Seville is one of the cities that benefited the most from this succession of invaders, as evidenced by its incredible cathedral and its sublime Alcazar palace, one of the most beautiful in Spain!
More recently Seville has been even more embellished with, at the beginning of the century, the reception of the Iberian-American exhibition. From this event were born many incredible monuments, parks or even places like the most famous the Spanish Steps.
Tolède
Located in the province of Castile, of which it is the capital, Toledo presents an important architectural diversity. Thus, Christian, Jewish and Arab monuments rub shoulders, reflecting the various cultures that influenced the construction of the city. Its fortified old town is medieval, while Sainte Marie Cathedral is a fine example of XNUMXth century Flamboyant Gothic. It notably houses works by Greco, Goya, Velazquez and Caravaggio. The Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue was built in Mudéjar style in the XNUMXth century and turned into a church in the XNUMXth century, while the Christo de la Luz Mosque represents Islamic art. The Saint Jean des Rois monastery, built in the XNUMXth century, has a splendid two-level cloister and the Alcazar, a palace built in the XNUMXth century, houses a military museum.
Avila
Also located in the province of Castile, this city devotes a real cult to Saint Teresa and many of its religious monuments are dedicated to her. Dominating the Sierra de Gredos, it is surrounded by ramparts dating from the 1636th century, in Romanesque style. Its cathedral, which also houses a museum, is the oldest Gothic cathedral in Spain: it was built in the XNUMXth century. A former center of textile production, Avila also has a number of Renaissance palaces and residences. The beautiful Baroque facade of the Convent of Santa Teresa dates from XNUMX and is one of the things to see in Spain. Likewise, the Provincial Museum of Oriental Art, the Basilica of Saint Vincent and the Royal Monastery of Saint Thomas are some of the buildings that deserve a visit.
Segovia
Like many cities in the province of Castile, Segovia has a very rich and varied architectural heritage. Its medieval ramparts surround a steep town whose main attraction is the Roman aqueduct and its 160 arches. The Alcazar is a fortified castle dating from the XNUMXth century. From the top of the Tour Jean II you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama. The Vera Cruz church is in the Romanesque style, while the cathedral, built under Charles V in the XNUMXth century, is in the Gothic style. The Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso was built in the XNUMXth century and its many rooms and gardens can be visited. The old town has kept its Jewish quarter almost intact and many stately homes can be admired as you stroll through the narrow streets that criss-cross it.
Zaragoza
Capital of the province of Aragon, Zaragoza mixes a number of architectural styles, all as sumptuous as each other: Mudejar, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. Thus, the Aljaferia Palace is a fortified Moorish palace built in the 360th century. Its patio and gardens are a real haven of peace and wonder. If the Saint Sauveur cathedral was built in the XNUMXth century in a Gothic style, the basilica of Notre-Dame du Pilier is a Baroque masterpiece dating from the XNUMXth century. When you take the elevator to climb to the top of its highest tower, you can enjoy a XNUMX° panorama of the region. In the evening, its reflections in the Ebro, on the banks of which it is located, constitute a real spectacle. The Sainte Chapelle, a real marble gem, houses works by Velazquez in particular.
Cádiz, the millennial city
This over 4000 year old town is one of the main towns in Andalusia. Climbing to the top of the Poniente tower, the bell tower of the cathedral built in the 1837th century, and whose golden dome is one of the emblems of the city, is one of the things to do in Spain. We then admire a point of view covering both the whole of the city and the fine sandy beach, La Caleta, surrounded by the two medieval castles of Santa Catalina and San Sebastian. The Casa del Obispo is a museum that traces the history of the city and where you can admire a magnificent Roman theater. The Abastos market was built in XNUMX and it is very pleasant to discover the scents, colors and smells of its stalls. It is also possible to eat local products there.
Cordoba and its Mezquita, one of the essential things to do in Spain
Let's stay a while longer in Andalusia, one of the regions with the most things to do and see in Spain. Cordoba is an obligatory passage of a road trip in Andalusia. The city is famous for its incredible mosque-cathedral, its mezquita listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This monument is one of the most incredible symbols of Spanish reconquest from the Arab people who invaded the region a few hundred years earlier.
The interior of this mosque-cathedral, just like the exterior, is astonishing as it looks like a mosque and then a cathedral. A visit that I highly recommend if you are passing through the region.
Granada and its Alhambra, one of the most beautiful places to see in Spain
Let's continue a little further towards Granada, a city located about 2 hours by road from Cordoba. Granada is, like most Andalusian cities, rich in churches, cathedrals and other atypical places testifying to the region's past. Nevertheless, even if the city of Granada is well worth a look, the must-see that alone will deserve the trip is undoubtedly the immense palace of the Alhambra. This palace, or rather this set of palaces and gardens, is a unique place in the world that constantly attracts more tourists. The Alhambra is one of the most visited places in Spain. Built at the time of the Arab invasions then used and enlarged at the time of the Catholic kings, the Alhambra is a place of great beauty. Be careful to book your visit in advance because the number of daily visitors is limited.
Valencia
Less touristy than Madrid, Barcelona or Seville, Valencia is nevertheless a city that deserves to be visited. It offers plenty of things to see and do. Indeed, its historic center conceals churches, museums to visit, squares and parks where it is good to stroll and have a drink, not to mention its astonishing round cathedral!
Valence has one of the largest aquariums in Europe located in the city of Sciences. An incredible ensemble including a science museum, a hemispherical cinema, an opera, an agora and this famous aquarium. A place built a few decades ago which attracts a large number of tourists every year.
Valence also benefits from its geographical location offering its inhabitants more than 300 days of sunshine a year, also allowing them to enjoy the huge beach located very close to the city center and accessible by tram.
The park of the Sierra Nevada
Declared a biosphere reserve since 1986, this natural park located in the south of Spain, in the region of Andalusia, not far from Granada, has one of the most remarkable flora in Europe. Visiting it is therefore one of the things to do in Spain. Indeed, some 2100 plant species are to be discovered, whether you are hiking or cycling. The fauna is mainly made up of cicadas, butterflies and ibexes. It is also possible to fish in one of the many rivers that run through it or in a lake. Place of the highest summits of the country, such as Mulhacen or Veleta which culminate at more than 3000 m, one can also practice skiing there in winter.
The Sierra de Las Nieves Nature Park
Located in the province of Malaga, this park, a biosphere reserve, is home to 120 different animal species (including wild goats and birds of prey) and more than 1500 plant species (including fir trees, oaks and thorny shrubs). It is also the place of the deepest abyss of Andalusia and a number of galleries and caves (such as those of Sima Honda) which are a paradise for speleologists. Its sulfur springs and baths, for example at Tolox, a famous spa resort, are internationally renowned. Finally, many hikes allow you to discover the park before practicing various water activities on the rivers (rafting, canoeing, etc.) or a lake, such as that of La Conception, (swimming, pedal boating, etc.).
The Tabernas Desert, the only desert in Europe to see in Spain
Extending over 280 km², it is one of the only deserts in Europe. Located south of Almeria, in southern Spain, it was the setting for many westerns in the 70s. Ornithological reserve, many species of birds, migratory or not, choose the place to breed or as halt before reaching another point. This is due to the fact that there are also many insects. Other animals find refuge there, including many hedgehogs. Hikes are organized, on foot or in 4/4, to discover all the treasures of this magical place. Some attractions recreate villages from the western era. The solar platform of Almenia deserves a visit, as well as the town of Tabernas, which was Muslim until 1489, and whose fortified castle is intact.
El caminito del Rey, the via Ferrata to do in Spain
For adventurers or sports enthusiasts wondering what to do in Spain that would be a little out of the ordinary, then I recommend the famous Caminito Del Rey. Long closed for a complete renovation, the most dangerous old via ferrata in the world is now secure and open to anyone who wants to try this path built on the side of the cliffs. A short hike that will allow you to appreciate the magnificent landscapes of El Chorro park.
I hope this little tour of the must-see places in Spain will have helped you prepare for your next trip to this country. This list will be updated as I travel to Spain!
