Spain · best-of list
40 Top Things to Do in Spain
We narrowed 58 things to do from our curated routes in Spain down to 40, spread across 11 destinations. 26 come with an insider tip, and 15 cost nothing to visit.
Our curated picks
40 things to do in Spain, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Barcelona 6 picks
Casa Batlló
Barcelona · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Gaudí-remodeled townhouse with a bone-like facade and a dragon-back roof.
Photo: ChristianSchd · CC BY-SA 3.0
Gothic Quarter
Barcelona · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Medieval lanes around the cathedral, Plaça del Rei and Roman wall remains.
Photo: Llull · CC BY-SA 2.0
Palau de la Música Catalana
Barcelona · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Modernist concert hall with a stained-glass skylight; tours or concerts.
Tip: A concert ticket often costs about the same as a tour.
Photo: Ralf Roletschek · GFDL 1.2
Park Güell
Barcelona · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Hillside park of mosaic terraces and Gaudí structures overlooking the city.
Tip: Timed tickets; the monumental zone is ticketed.
Photo: essetefano · CC BY 3.0
Picasso Museum
Barcelona · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Large collection of Picasso's early work in medieval palaces.
Tip: Free on Thursday evenings with booking.
Photo: uayebt · CC BY 2.0
Sagrada Família
Barcelona · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Gaudí's basilica under construction since 1882, with forest-like columns and stained glass.
Tip: Morning light hits the east-facing windows best.
Photo: Canaan · CC BY-SA 4.0
Córdoba 6 picks
Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos
Córdoba · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Fortress-palace with terraced gardens, pools and Roman mosaics.
Photo: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0
Hammam Al Ándalus Córdoba
Córdoba · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Arab-style baths with warm, hot and cold pools under arches.
Tip: Book a time slot ahead.
Photo: Hammam Al Ándalus Baños Árabes Córdoba · Google
Judería and Calleja de las Flores
Córdoba · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Old Jewish quarter of whitewashed lanes, a medieval synagogue and pot-lined alleys.
Photo: Nieves Fernández Valle · Google
Medina Azahara
Córdoba · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Ruins of a 10th-century caliphal palace city, UNESCO-listed, 8 km west.
Tip: Shuttle buses run from the city centre.
Photo: Ana María Rodríguez Rubio · Google
Mezquita-Catedral
Córdoba · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Great mosque of red-and-white arches with a Renaissance cathedral built inside.
Tip: Early morning entry is often free; check times.
Photo: Mato Kucka · Google
Roman Bridge
Córdoba · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Bridge over the Guadalquivir leading to the Calahorra Tower.
Tip: Cross at sunset for views back to the Mezquita.
Photo: Rafesmar · CC BY-SA 4.0
Seville 6 picks
Casa de la Memoria
Seville · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Intimate nightly flamenco shows in a historic courtyard.
Tip: Small venue; book a day or two ahead.
Photo: philippe salgarolo · Google
Casa de Pilatos
Seville · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Noble palace mixing Mudéjar tiles and Renaissance courtyards, quieter than the Alcázar.
Photo: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0
Plaza de España
Seville · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Semicircular 1929 plaza with tiled alcoves for each Spanish province and a canal.
Tip: Walk on through María Luisa Park.
Photo: Carlos Delgado · CC BY-SA 4.0
Real Alcázar
Seville · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Royal palace of Mudéjar courtyards, tilework and gardens still used by the Spanish royal family.
Tip: Book the first entry slot online.
Photo: CIPRIANO LICENZA · Google
Setas de Sevilla
Seville · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Huge wooden canopy with a rooftop walkway and Roman ruins in the basement.
Tip: Go up at sunset.
Photo: Aureliano Costa · Google
Seville Cathedral and La Giralda
Seville · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Largest Gothic cathedral, holding Columbus's tomb; ramps lead up the Giralda tower.
Tip: Buy a combined ticket with the Church of El Salvador.
Photo: Set Contreras · Google
Ronda 5 picks
Baños Árabes
Ronda · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
13th-century Arab baths by the old Moorish bridge.
Photo: Thomas S. · Google
Caminito del Rey
Ronda · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Boardwalk pinned to the walls of the Gaitanes gorge.
Tip: Book tickets ahead; helmets provided.
Photo: DE MELO Paul · Google
Casa del Rey Moro
Ronda · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Gardens and a stairway cut through the rock down to the river.
Tip: About 230 steps each way.
Photo: Ibolya Kissné · Google
Puente Nuevo
Ronda · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
18th-century bridge spanning the 100-metre-deep El Tajo gorge.
Tip: Walk down to the Mirador de Aldehuela for the classic view.
Photo: Mark Gilbert · CC BY 3.0
Setenil de las Bodegas
Ronda · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
White town with houses built under overhanging rock.
Tip: A 20-minute drive north.
Photo: Wiki2Fred · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bilbao 3 picks
Funicular de Artxanda
Bilbao · On our Basque Coast Food Trail route
Short funicular ride up to a viewpoint over the city and river.
Photo: Xabier · CC BY-SA 4.0
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Bilbao · On our Basque Coast Food Trail route
Gehry's titanium museum, with Koons's flower-covered Puppy outside and Serra's steel mazes inside.
Tip: Book online; go at opening to see the atrium quiet.
Photo: Naotake Murayama · CC BY 2.0
Plaza Nueva
Bilbao · On our Basque Coast Food Trail route
Arcaded square in the old town lined with pintxos bars.
Tip: Sunday morning flea market; evening for pintxos.
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Martin253~commonswiki assumed (based on cop · Public domain
Calella de Palafrugell 3 picks
Begur
Calella de Palafrugell · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Hill town with castle ruins and colonial-style Indianos houses.
Photo: Rikboven at English Wikipedia · Public domain
Camí de Ronda to Llafranc
Calella de Palafrugell · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Coastal path from Calella past coves to Llafranc and on to Tamariu.
Tip: Start early in summer.
Photo: jose manuel martinez garcia · Google
Tossa de Mar Vila Vella
Calella de Palafrugell · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Walled old town on a headland above a sandy bay, an hour south.
Tip: Climb to the lighthouse for coast views.
Photo: CECILIA MONSALVE MERCADAL · Google
Girona 3 picks
Arab Baths
Girona · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
12th-century Romanesque bathhouse with a columned skylight.
Photo: Cesar Martinez Saldaña · Google
Besalú
Girona · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Medieval town with a fortified bridge, 30 minutes north.
Photo: Montse Poch · CC BY-SA 2.0
Girona Cathedral
Girona · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Cathedral with one of the widest Gothic naves, reached by a grand stairway.
Tip: Ticket includes the Romanesque cloister.
Photo: Fernando · CC BY-SA 4.0
Granada 3 picks
Albaicín
Granada · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Old Moorish quarter of steep lanes and carmen houses with walled gardens.
Photo: Ubaldo Naya · Google
Alhambra and Generalife
Granada · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Nasrid palaces, fortress and gardens on a hill above the city.
Tip: Your Nasrid Palaces entry time is strict.
Photo: Adrián Ponferrada · Google
Mirador de San Nicolás
Granada · On our Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda route
Plaza in the Albaicín with a direct view of the Alhambra and mountains.
Tip: Come for sunset; take bus C31 up.
Photo: M. W. · Google
Cadaqués 2 picks
Dalí Theatre-Museum
Cadaqués · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Dalí's self-designed museum in Figueres, 45 minutes inland.
Photo: Dariusz Pstruś · Google
Salvador Dalí House
Cadaqués · On our Barcelona, Girona & the Costa Brava route
Dalí's home at Portlligat, a maze of fishermen's huts.
Tip: Timed tickets; book online.
Photo: Gozitano · CC BY-SA 3.0
Laguardia 2 picks
Dolmen de El Sotillo
Laguardia · On our Basque Coast Food Trail route
Neolithic burial dolmen among vineyards just outside town.
Photo: Anthony Leaton · Google
Iglesia de Santa María de los Reyes
Laguardia · On our Basque Coast Food Trail route
Church with a painted Gothic portico; tours by appointment through the tourist office.
Tip: Book the portico tour at the tourist office.
Photo: Oneka Tirado · CC BY-SA 4.0
San Sebastián 1 pick
Monte Igueldo
San Sebastián · On our Basque Coast Food Trail route
Funicular since 1912 up to a viewpoint and old-fashioned amusement park.
Photo: gigi gigi · 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. Our routes include 58 things to do here; to keep the list readable we show 40, keeping those featured on the most routes and those with an insider tip, and spreading the rest across destinations. 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 things to do 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. Our routes through Spain include 58 things to do; we show the 40 featured on the most routes, spread across destinations. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Spain has the most things to do on this list?
Barcelona, Córdoba and Seville lead with 6 each; the other picks are spread across 8 more destinations.
Are any of these free?
15 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Camí de Ronda to Llafranc, Medina Azahara, Mirador de San Nicolás, Plaza de España, Plaza Nueva, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
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