25 Things To Do In Spain
To know it is to love it. And to know it well is to realize that your understanding of Spain's uniqueness depends on the extent to which you let yourself be drawn into its everyday affairs. Along stupefying architectural heritage and soothing natural beauty, what makes the image of Spain genuine is the busyness of El Rastro flea market in Madrit, the nightlife frenzy of Barrio del Carmen in Valencia, the fun of La Tomatina festival in Buñol, the terror of Pamplona Bull Running, the week long spectacle of flamenco during La Feria de Sevilla, the fiesta and siesta, the taste of tapas and wine, and finally, the corrida. All this could well take the whole year to embrace. And what's there to see regardless of when you're around?
Following some research into the preferences and opinions posted by users of various social media sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, as well as own resources and reviews by the most popular travel sites, Open Travel has compiled a list of top 25 things to see or do on your Spain Vacations. The county is like a virus - once you get infected with its allure, it will forever run in your blood, reminding you of the unique experience you had in that sun-kissed spot on the Iberian Peninsula.
1. Balearic Islands
Location: Spain
Photo by Lanci DanieleFloating in the Mediterranean off the east coast of mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands are four dramatically diverse gems in the Spanish crown. Sun-kissed Ibiza is all about a partying galore and the joys of life, pristine Menorca is an oasis of tranquility and natural grandeur, mountainous Mal...
2. The Alhambra
Location: Granada, Spain
Photo by Javier CarroOverlooking the city of Granada and chosen by the first Nasrid king, el Ahmar, as a prestigious location for his court, the fortified Alhambra was altered and enhanced by successive rulers to end up as a staggering complex that few can rival. Lofty halls, colossal chambers with imposing ceilings...
3. City of the Arts and Sciences (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias)
Location: Valencia, Spain
Photo by teleyinexThe futuristic construction sprawling along an axis of about 2 kilometers, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is cultural marvel and a bottomless well of attractions. Staggering on the outside, the alluring design is just a foretaste of what's hiding inside. The complex houses the Hemisfèric (Im...
4. Great Cathedral and Mosque (Mezquita de Cordoba)
Location: Córdoba, Spain
Photo by Guijarro85The Mezquita de Cordoba is by far the most exquisite example of the Muslim fabric in the Spanish cultural patchwork. Its giant arches, jasper columns, marble floors, richly gilded prayer niches, and the awe-inspiring domed shrine of Byzantine mosaics take you back to the 10th century Spain when...
5. Historic City of Toledo
Location: Provincia de Toledo, Spain
Photo by DiliffToledo is a masterpiece of multinationality, with Judaism, Christianity and Islam playing key roles in its development. Sitting atop a rugged hill, surrounded by the meandering Tagus, this receptacle of 2-millennium history is so charming and complex that it takes a lot more than a weekend outing...
6. Costa del Sol
Location: Provincia de Málaga, Spain
Photo by robbie jimApproximately 2 million non-residents breeze every year into the resorts of Costa del Sol to enjoy the multitude of cultural, recreational, and historic delights spread along the southernmost edge of Spain. Whether it's Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Marbella, or Puerto Banus, over 300 days of sunshi...
7. Ciudad de Ronda
Location: Ronda, Spain
Photo by PatstuartResting at the very heart of Andalusia, little Ronda is by far one of the loveliest Spanish towns. Although developing at a sufficient pace, it retains much of its historic charm, and it is the old quarter, called La Ciudad, that tourists flock to looking for a speck of romance and adorable sight...
8. Picos de Europa
Location: Spain
Photo by lugarzenStraddling the provinces of Cantabria, Asturias and León, The Picos de Europa cast a spell on just about anyone who gazes at the snow-capped, rugged peaks, breathes the refreshing air, hikes the fabulous routes, and dines in any of the numerous lovely towns in the area. It is here that you can...
9. Church of the Sacred Family (Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia)
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Photo by SlapBcnSome of the fascination in visiting the Sagrada Familia is the fact that it has been an ongoing project ever since it started in 1882. Legend has it that the world will end once the church is completed, which would explain why architects are estimated to be struggling with the fulfillment of Ga...
10. Guell Park (Parc Guell)
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Photo by Wolfgang StaudtSitting on the hill of el Carmel in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, Park Guell is a tangible reflection of a surreal dream. Beside the wondrous Casa Batll, Sagrada Familia, and Casa Milà adorning the city, it is the most spectacular manifestation of Antoni Gaudi's unrivaled talent. Take your...
11. Santiago de Compostela (Old Town)
Location: Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Photo by JulikeishonRecognized through legend as the resting-place of the Apostle James, Santiago de Compostela is so magnetic that even today numerous pilgrims decide to embark on the medieval Way of St. James - a route that traditionally began at one's home and ended at the splendid cathedral in the heart of the O...
12. Canary Islands
Location: Spain
Photo by monstermunch99Tenerife, known as the island of eternal spring, caresses with its temperate climate, appeases with historic residences of La Laguna, takes you high to scenic la Rambleta, and sets your senses ablaze with Santa Cruz festivals.
La Palma, largely volcanic in character (and appearance), is not a plac...
13. Golden Triangle of Art
Location: Madrid, Spain
Photo by van OrtA sparkling jewel in the Bourbon crown, this artistic trio consists of 3 most significant Spanish museums, or at least ones that cannot be missed on any account. The world-famous Museo del Prado, among its numerous treasures, glorifies the likes of Velázquez, Goya, and Rubens. The Museo Nacional...
14. The Walls of Avila
Location: Ávila de los Caballeros, Spain
Photo by Elena F D
Cynics say that Avila has just two assets - high wall and low temperature. Much as they are right about the colossal wall embracing the city and the pleasant chill that offers some relief from the intense heat of the south, they obviously can't appreciate the romance that dwells in the finest rem...
15. Old City of Salamanca
Location: Salamanca, Spain
Photo by kurtxioShuffled among Carthaginian, Roman, and Moorish hands, Salamanca has developed so multifaceted and alluring an appearance that UNESCO decided to draw it on list of the World Heritage Sites. A unique type of sandstone gives its facades a gold-like glow, a maze of narrow streets endow it with a r...
16. Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida
Location: Mérida, Spain
Photo by Jorge6880Founded in 25 BC, Merida was once a thriving capital of Lucitania and can therefore boast the greatest number of ancient Roman trademarks of all Spanish cities. Today, its appearance may seem a bit down-at-heel at first sight, but once you get used to some modern eyesores, you'll discover that Me...
17. Las Médulas
Location: Provincia de León, Spain
Photo by FCPBWhen you look at the fiercely orange protrusions poking out of the green chestnut mass, it's hard to believe the site is a product of human activity. Meanwhile, Las Medulas are traces of ancient technologies used by the Roman Imperial authorities to exploit the gold deposits by means of hydraulic...
18. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Location: Bilbao, Spain
Photo by GVicianoWhen it was revealed to the public, the Guggenheim Museum was immediately hailed as one of the world's most spectacular achievements of postmodern, deconstructivist architecture. And when you gaze at the randomness of form that the designer conceived of, you not only can't help but agree, but als...
19. Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Location: Madrid, Spain
Photo by IgnisFatuusWhether seen from afar or up close, the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial makes its royal connotations immediately obvious. The ideally symmetrical square, with four towers marking its corners, is home to a monastery, two palaces and a library that boasts as many as 40,000 volumes founded b...
20. Alcazar
Location: Sevilla, Spain
Photo by clspeaceOnce a Moorish fort, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Alcázar of Seville is an astonishing complexed still used by the royal family when around. Less crowded than the Alhambra but not in the least bit less inspiring, the palace is worth exploring in length and breadth, from the underground...
21. Palace of Catalan Music (Palau de la Musica Catalana)
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Photo by Lohen11Classical music may not be your cup of tea; nor do you have to be delighted with the fact that composers the likes of Prokofiev, Rachmaninov and Ravel have walked through its door. This architectural delight is well worth exploring in its own right, even without symphonic background. Endowed wit...
22. Plaza de Espana
Location: Sevilla, Spain
Photo by GrezIf statistics can be believed, this remnant of the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition is one of the most photographed sights in the world. If they cannot, the majority of photographers should certainly change their focus. This way or the other, fans of Star Wars II must be experiencing a jolt of rec...
23. Nou Camp
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Photo by Will PalmerMés que un club (More than a club). So goes the motto of FC Barcelona, and an extraordinary club needs an extraordinary stadium. With a capacity of 98,772 and the UEFA status of a 5-star venue, Camp Nou is the largest, most prestigious stadium in Europe, and much as crowds are virtually a nuisan...
24. El Eshavira
Location: Granada, Spain
Photo by Andrea BalducciThe Andalusians say, "If you haven't seen Granada, you haven't seen anything." We say, "If you've been to Granada and haven't seen a live performance at El Eshavira, you're a fool." Here smooth jazz and sultry flamenco hold sway in the dim, smoky interior that draws you in like a whirlpool, and l...
25. Sobrino de Botin
Location: Madrid, Spain
Photo by EsetenaWhen Jean Botin founded his modest inn at the beginning of the 18th century, little did he imagine that after nearly 300 years he will end up in The Guinness Book of Records. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the oldest restaurant in the world. Located just off Madrid's Plaza Mayor in a charming h...
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