Spain for First Timers

Every place below is pinned on the interactive map with its exact location. You can browse it for free, and copy the whole map into your own Ikuzo account to adapt it to your trip.

Barcelona

Sagrada Família

Gaudí's unfinished basilica and the single most famous sight in Spain. Book a timed ticket online several weeks ahead, the tower add-on is worth it.

Park Güell

Gaudí's mosaic wonderland on a hill with sweeping city views. The monumental zone needs a timed ticket, go early morning to beat crowds and heat.

Casa Batlló

Gaudí's dragon-like house on Passeig de Gràcia, dazzling inside and out. If you only visit one Gaudí house, make it this one and book online to skip the line.

Casa Milà (La Pedrera)

Gaudí's undulating stone apartment building, famous for its surreal warrior chimneys on the rooftop. The night visit with lights is a great alternative to daytime crowds.

Barcelona Cathedral

Gothic cathedral at the heart of the Barri Gòtic. Use it as your anchor to wander the medieval lanes of the Gothic Quarter around it, best in the early morning.

La Rambla

Barcelona's famous tree-lined promenade from Plaça de Catalunya to the sea. Walk it once for the atmosphere, but eat elsewhere and watch your pockets.

La Boqueria Market

Iconic food market just off La Rambla, all colors and jamón and fresh juice. Go before noon, the stalls at the back are cheaper and more local than the front ones.

Barceloneta Beach

The city beach, ten minutes from the old town. Perfect for a late afternoon swim and a seafood dinner in the old fishermen's quarter behind it.

Montjuïc Castle

Hilltop fortress with the best panoramic views over the port and city. Take the cable car up and walk down through the Montjuïc gardens and the Magic Fountain.

Palau de la Música Catalana

A jaw-dropping modernista concert hall with a stained glass skylight. Catching a concert here is cheaper than the guided tour and far more memorable.

Madrid

Prado Museum

Spain's greatest art museum, home to Velázquez's Las Meninas and Goya's dark paintings. Book online and note it is free in the last two hours of each day, though very busy then.

El Retiro Park

Madrid's grand central park, perfect after the Prado. Rent a rowboat on the lake and find the beautiful Crystal Palace pavilion.

Royal Palace of Madrid

One of Europe's largest palaces with over 3000 rooms, still used for state ceremonies. Buy tickets online and pair it with the Almudena Cathedral next door and sunset views from the Sabatini Gardens.

Plaza Mayor

Madrid's stately 17th century main square, all arcades and frescoed facades. Skip the pricey terrace cafes and grab a bocadillo de calamares in the side streets instead.

Puerta del Sol

The bustling heart of Madrid and kilometer zero of all Spanish roads. Find the statue of the bear and the strawberry tree, the symbol of the city.

Reina Sofía Museum

Madrid's modern art museum and home of Picasso's Guernica, which alone justifies the visit. Also strong on Dalí and Miró, book online to skip the line.

Gran Vía

Madrid's Broadway, a grand avenue of 1920s architecture, theaters and shops. Walk it at night when the facades are lit, the Metropolis building is the classic photo.

Templo de Debod

A real ancient Egyptian temple, gifted to Spain and rebuilt in a Madrid park. Come at sunset, it is the best free viewpoint in the city.

Near Madrid

Toledo Old Town

Spain's former capital, a hilltop maze of cathedrals, synagogues and mosques from three coexisting cultures. An easy 33 minute train from Madrid, cross the river to the Mirador del Valle for the postcard view.

Aqueduct of Segovia

A 2000 year old Roman aqueduct striding right through the city center, built without mortar. Half an hour from Madrid by high speed train, stay for the local roast suckling pig.

Alcázar of Segovia

A fairytale castle on a rocky spur, said to have inspired Disney's Cinderella castle. Climb the tower and combine it with the aqueduct for a perfect Segovia day trip.

El Escorial Monastery

Philip II's colossal monastery palace, the pantheon where Spanish kings are buried. An hour from Madrid by train and refreshingly cool in summer.

Andalusia

Alhambra

The breathtaking Moorish palace city of Granada and the most visited monument in Spain. Tickets with Nasrid Palaces access sell out fast, book at least a month ahead.

Albaicín (Mirador de San Nicolás)

Granada's old Moorish quarter of whitewashed lanes climbing the hill facing the Alhambra. Come to this viewpoint at sunset when the palace glows red against the Sierra Nevada.

Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba

A forest of red and white arches, a mosque with a cathedral built inside it, utterly unique in the world. Weekday mornings from 8:30 to 9:30 are free and nearly empty.

Seville Cathedral and Giralda

The largest Gothic cathedral on earth, holding Columbus's tomb. Climb the Giralda, a former minaret with ramps instead of stairs, and book tickets online.

Real Alcázar of Seville

A stunning royal palace of Mudejar courtyards and lush gardens, still used by the Spanish royal family. Book a timed ticket online days ahead, first slot of the morning is quietest.

Plaza de España (Seville)

A vast semicircular plaza of bridges, ceramic alcoves and a canal, built for the 1929 exposition. Free to visit, gorgeous late afternoon, and you can row a little boat on the canal.

Puente Nuevo (Ronda)

An 18th century bridge spanning a 100 meter gorge that splits the white town of Ronda in two. Walk down the path into the gorge for the classic view looking back up.

Alcazaba of Málaga

A beautifully preserved Moorish fortress right above Málaga's old town, next to a Roman theatre. Continue up to Gibralfaro castle for views over the port.

Balcón de Europa (Nerja)

A palm-lined viewpoint jutting over the Mediterranean in the prettiest town of the Costa del Sol. Combine it with the impressive Nerja Caves and a swim at Playa de Burriana.

Setenil de las Bodegas

A white village built directly under a massive rock overhang, houses and bars tucked into the cliff. Have a drink on Calle Cuevas del Sol, an easy stop between Ronda and Seville.

Valencia and the East

City of Arts and Sciences

Calatrava's futuristic white complex of museums, an opera house and Europe's largest aquarium. Even without entering anything, wandering the pools at sunset is spectacular.

Valencia Cathedral

Gothic cathedral claiming to hold the Holy Grail. Climb the Miguelete bell tower for the best rooftop view of the old town.

Central Market of Valencia

One of Europe's most beautiful food markets under a modernista dome of iron and stained glass. Come hungry in the morning, then have real paella nearby, Valencia is its birthplace.

Peñíscola Castle

A Templar castle on a rocky peninsula surrounded by sea, once home to Pope Benedict XIII and a Game of Thrones location. The whitewashed old town below is lovely at dusk.

Northern Spain

La Concha Beach (San Sebastián)

Often called the most beautiful city beach in Europe, a perfect shell-shaped bay. San Sebastián is also Spain's food capital, do a pintxos crawl in the old town at night.

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

Frank Gehry's titanium masterpiece that put Bilbao on the map. The building itself is the star, greet Puppy the flower dog out front and Louise Bourgeois's giant spider by the river.

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral

The endpoint of the Camino pilgrimage and the resting place of Saint James. Stand in Praza do Obradoiro watching pilgrims arrive, and try to catch the giant botafumeiro incense burner in action.

Covadonga and Picos de Europa

A basilica and holy cave dramatically set in the green mountains of Asturias, gateway to the Picos de Europa. Drive or take the shuttle up to the glacial lakes above for the best scenery in northern Spain.

Balearic Islands

Palma Cathedral (La Seu)

Mallorca's vast Gothic cathedral rising straight above the sea, with a rose window among the largest in the world and touches by Gaudí inside. Morning light through the stained glass is magical.