Spain

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Spain offers two very different experiences: art museums in Madrid and beach cities like Barcelona and Málaga. Palma de Mallorca is an island, so getting there requires a separate flight or ferry.

Currency: EUR

Spain currency guide — today's rate & payment tips

Visa and entry rules change often. Check your government's travel advisory or the local embassy before you go.

Average temperature by month

Based on Madrid · 5-year average

5° Jan

9° Feb

11° Mar

14° Apr

19° May

23° Jun

28° Jul

27° Aug

20° Sep

16° Oct

10° Nov

7° Dec

Choose a city

Map and place data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Madrid

Madrid, Spain's capital, sits at the heart of the country and leads the Iberian Peninsula's economy and politics. With attractions like the Royal Palace clustered downtown, it's a great city to explore on foot.

45 sights 9 guides Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)

Barcelona

Barcelona is the central city of Catalonia, on Spain's eastern Mediterranean coast. It bears the mark of masters like Gaudí, Picasso, and Miró, making it a wonderful place to admire original architecture and art.

45 sights 9 guides Josep Tarradellas Airport Barcelona-El Prat (BCN)

Málaga

Málaga is a port city in southern Spain facing the Mediterranean, set along the Guadalmedina River and surrounded by mountains. As one of Spain's major cities, it's a fine place to enjoy scenery where river and sea meet.

44 sights 9 guides Málaga-Costa del Sol (AGP)

Palma

Palma de Mallorca is a port city on the island of Mallorca, serving as the hub of the Balearic Islands. It's an ideal spot for a relaxed island getaway steeped in Mediterranean charm.

45 sights 9 guides Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI)

Alicante

Alicante is the capital of Alicante province in Spain's Valencia region, home to more than 330,000 people. It's a pleasant place for a leisurely stroll through its cozy streets.

45 sights 9 guides Alicante Airport (ALC)

Top sights in Spain

Temples & religious sites

Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family

The Sagrada Familia is Barcelona's iconic basilica, designed by architect Antoni Gaudí and still under construction to this day. Its striking facade and grand scale draw travelers from around the world.

Museums & galleries

Museo del Prado

Spain's foremost art museum, located in Madrid, housing paintings and sculptures collected by the royal family since the 15th century. It holds a vast collection, including more than 5,000 paintings.

Parks & gardens

Park Güell

A park on El Carmel hill in Barcelona, known for Gaudí's striking architecture and tile mosaics. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's a great place for a leisurely stroll.

Nature

Meseta

The Meseta Central is a vast plateau spreading across the middle of the Iberian Peninsula, sitting at an average elevation of 600–700 meters. It offers a landscape distinctly characteristic of inland Spain.

Museums & galleries

Royal Spanish Academy

The Real Academia Española, based in Madrid, is the royal institution that sets the standards for the Spanish language. It works with language academies across the Spanish-speaking world to carry out ongoing linguistic research.

Temples & religious sites

Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia

This cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona, was built between the 13th and 15th centuries. Highlights include its neo-Gothic façade added in the late 19th century and the cloister with its famous goose well.

Culture & venues

Palau de la Música Catalana

This concert hall in Barcelona is considered a masterpiece of Catalan Modernisme. Designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, it opened in 1908 and is known for its lavish interior decoration.

Temples & religious sites

Almudena Cathedral

The Roman Catholic cathedral representing the Archdiocese of Madrid, consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1993. It's a must-see religious landmark on any trip to Madrid.