Spain · best-of list
The 10 Best Outdoor Spots in Spain
All 10 outdoor spots our route editors picked in Spain, across 8 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect trails, beaches, parks and viewpoints, spread across 8 destinations.
Our curated picks
10 outdoor spots in Spain, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Calella de Palafrugell 2 picks
Cap Roig Gardens
Calella de Palafrugell · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Clifftop botanic garden with sculptures above the sea.
Tip: Hosts a summer music festival.
Photo: Jardines de Cap Roig · Google
Platja d'Aiguablava
Calella de Palafrugell · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Sheltered cove of turquoise water below Begur.
Tip: Park early in summer.
Photo: Ferran Gascon · Google
San Sebastián 2 picks
La Concha Beach
San Sebastián · On our Basque Coast Food Trail route
Shell-shaped city beach with a long promenade and calm water.
Tip: Walk the whole promenade to Ondarreta between meals.
Photo: Kent Wang · CC BY-SA 4.0
Monte Urgull
San Sebastián · On our Basque Coast Food Trail route
Wooded hill over the old town with a castle, a statue of Christ and bay views.
Photo: Flo Clbl · Google
Barcelona 1 pick
Bunkers del Carmel
Barcelona · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Civil War anti-aircraft site on Turó de la Rovira with a 360° city view.
Tip: Bring water; no shops at the top.
Photo: Laura V. G. · Google
Bilbao 1 pick
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
Bilbao · On our Basque Coast Food Trail route
Hermitage on an islet reached by 241 steps along a stone causeway.
Tip: Free booking required in peak months; book online ahead.
Photo: CATA Z · Google
Cadaqués 1 pick
Cap de Creus Natural Park
Cadaqués · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Rugged headland of wind-sculpted rock and coves at Spain's eastern tip.
Tip: Visit the lighthouse at sunset.
Photo: Jürgen Simon · Google
Girona 1 pick
Lake Banyoles
Girona · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Natural lake with a shady walking loop and rowing boats.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5
Granada 1 pick
Sierra Nevada
Granada · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Mainland Spain's highest range; ski in winter, hike in summer, 45 minutes away.
Photo: Lopezsuarez · CC0
Ronda 1 pick
Sierra de Grazalema
Ronda · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Limestone peaks and pine forest around the village of Grazalema.
Photo: Miguel Angel Montes · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in Spain?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 10 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Spain has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Calella de Palafrugell and San Sebastián lead with 2 each; the other picks are spread across 6 more destinations.
Are any of these free?
8 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: La Concha Beach, Bunkers del Carmel, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Cap de Creus Natural Park, Platja d'Aiguablava, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Spain
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Calella de Palafrugell 2 on this list
- San Sebastián 2 on this list
- Barcelona 1 on this list
- Bilbao 1 on this list
- Cadaqués 1 on this list
- Girona 1 on this list
- Granada 1 on this list
- Ronda 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.