Language · 11 published
Country guide
Spain covers 506,030 square kilometres and counts close to 50 million people, and it reads less as one country than as a set of regions that do not resemble each other. Madrid sits high and dry in the middle of the peninsula with the national collections in it; Barcelona is Mediterranean and Catalan-speaking. Andalusia in the south carries the Moorish architecture of Granada, Córdoba and Seville along with the heat that comes with it, while the green north coast from Bilbao to Galicia is wet Atlantic country most visitors never reach. The Canary Islands lie off Africa, and Ceuta and Melilla are on the African mainland itself.
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · Dmitry Dzhus from London · CC BY 2.0
Photograph · dronepicr · CC BY 2.0
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
100 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia is the Gothic cathedral of Barcelona, seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona. Dedicated to the city's co-patron saint Eulalia, a young martyr, it stands in the historic Barri Gòtic district.
Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar
The Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar stands in Barcelona's Ribera district as a Catalan Gothic church built between 1329 and 1383. Constructed by the local maritime community, it represents pure Catalan Gothic style without later decorative additions.
Cementiri de Montjuïc
Montjuïc Cemetery, known locally as Cementiri de Montjuïc, is a historic burial ground located on Montjuïc hill in Barcelona, Spain. The cemetery occupies a prominent position overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the city below.
Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor
The National Expiatory Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, known locally as Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor, stands on the summit of Tibidabo mountain overlooking Barcelona.
Parròquia Basílica de Santa Maria del Pi
The Parròquia Basílica de Santa Maria del Pi is a parish basilica in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter. Its Catalan name references a pine tree that once stood nearby.
Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Pedralbes
The Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Pedralbes is a Gothic monastery in Barcelona, founded in 1326 by Queen Elisenda de Montcada. It stands in the Pedralbes district as a significant example of Catalan Gothic architecture.
Basílica de la Mercè
The Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy is a Baroque church in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter. Dedicated to the Virgin of Mercy, patroness of the city, it was originally built in the 18th century.
Cementiri del Poblenou
Poblenou Cemetery, known locally as Cementiri del Poblenou, is a historic burial ground in Barcelona. Established in the 18th century, it represents one of the city's oldest cemeteries and serves as a significant cultural landmark.
Parròquia Major de Santa Anna
The Church of Santa Ana, known locally as Parròquia Major de Santa Anna, is a historic religious building in Barcelona.
Basílica dels Sants Màrtirs Just i Pastor
The Basilica of Sts. Just and Pastor is a Catholic basilica in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Its local name is Basílica dels Sants Màrtirs Just i Pastor.
Església Parroquial de la Concepció
The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, locally known as Església Parroquial de la Concepció, is a parish church in Barcelona. It serves as a place of Catholic worship and community gathering.
Església de Sant Felip Neri
The Church of Saint Philip Neri is a Baroque church in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, situated on the small square of Sant Felip Neri.
Sinagoga Shlomo ben Adret
Capella d'en Marcús
Catedral de la Almudena
Almudena Cathedral is Madrid’s principal Roman Catholic cathedral, facing the Royal Palace across Plaza de la Armería. Construction began in the late nineteenth century and Pope John Paul II consecrated the cathedral in 1993.
Real Basílica de San Francisco el Grande
Basílica de San Francisco el Grande is a prominent Roman Catholic basilica in Madrid, Spain. The local name matches its formal identity.
Parroquia de San Ginés
Catedral Castrense de las Fuerzas Armadas
Basílica Pontificia de San Miguel
Colegiata de San Isidro
Parroquia San Jerónimo el Real
Caputxins de Sarrià
Sant Josep Oriol
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Montserrat
Parroquia de San Manuel y San Benito
Parroquia Basílica Virgen Milagrosa
Mare de Déu de Betlem
Iglesia de las Calatravas (Concepción Real de Calatrava)
Real Iglesia de San Antonio de los Alemanes
Parroquia San Fermín de los Navarros
Parroquia San Francisco de Sales
Parroquia de San Marcos
Iglesia de San Martín
Parroquia San Nicolás de Bari de los Servitas
Diócesis de Alcalá de Henares
Jesuïtes Sarrià - Sant Ignasi
Cementerio Sacramental de San Isidro
Iglesia de la Buena Dicha
Parroquia de San Agustín
Parroquia de San Pedro ad Víncula
Parroquia de Santa Bárbara
Sant Adjutori
Cementerio de la Almudena
Mezquita Central de Madrid
Iglesia de Santa María la Blanca
Real Oratorio del Caballero de Gracia
Parroquia de Santa Teresa y San José
Sinagoga de Madrid
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Atocha
Cementiri de Sant Andreu
Ermita de la Virgen del Puerto
Església de la Mare de Déu de Gràcia i de Sant Josep
Convento de las Benedictinas de San Plácido
Església de Sant Agustí Nou
Sant Francesc de Sales
Parròquia de Sant Vicenç
Ermita de Santa María la Antigua
Convento de las Carboneras del Corpus Christi
Templo de Madrid de la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días
Cementerio Sacramental de San Justo
Cementerio Británico
Parroquia San Ildefonso
Parroquia Santa María de la Antigua
Convento de las Comendadoras de Santiago
Mare de Déu del Carme
Església de l'Immaculat Cor de Maria
Parròquia de Sant Andreu de Palomar
Iglesia de San Pedro el Viejo
Sant Jaume
Sant Pacià
Santa Magdalena
Parròquia de Santa Maria de Gràcia
Santa María de Vallvidrera
Església de Sant Joan Baptista
Església de Sant Joan
Parroquia Concepción de Nuestra Señora
Centro Cultural Islámico de Madrid
Hijas de la Caridad de San Vicente de Paúl
Iglesia de San Antón
Iglesia de San Matías
Seminario Conciliar de Madrid
Ermita de Sant Cebrià
Església de la Immaculada
Santa Maria de Cornellà
Sant Genís dels Agudells
Sant Pere Nolasc
Monasterio de la Inmaculada y San Pascual Bailón
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·
Ten to fourteen days allows three or four days in Madrid and four in Barcelona, plus selected rail day trips. Andalusia or either island group deserves a separate route instead of being compressed into the same mainland circuit.
Spain follows Schengen rules, but the traveller's nationality and route determine the required documents or visa. Confirm the current requirement through Spain's official consular information before departure.
High-speed rail makes Madrid-Barcelona and several mainland city pairs practical, while regional buses cover gaps. Island travel needs flights or ferries, and urban ticketing remains local to each city.
April to June and September to October are broad choices for Madrid and Barcelona. Andalusia, the Atlantic north, Balearics, and Canaries follow different heat and weather patterns, so a regional extension should control the final dates.
Spain uses the euro (EUR). Cards are common in cities, but a small euro reserve is useful for individual businesses; always check the billed currency and amount before approving a terminal transaction.
Spain's emergency contact is 112. Electrical outlets accept Type C and F plugs on a 230 V supply. Because this record contains no tap-water finding, use advice from the municipality serving each overnight stop.
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