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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
Interests
The Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria is a working public food market in the Ciutat Vella district, entered from La Rambla a few doors from the Liceu opera house.
The Mercado de San Miguel is a historic market building located near Madrid's Plaza Mayor. Originally constructed in the early twentieth century, the iron and glass structure represents a significant example of cast-iron architecture in Spain.
El Rastro is a sprawling open-air flea market in Madrid, widely regarded as the largest and most famous of its kind in Spain.
Mercado de la Cebada is a historic public market in Madrid, Spain. Located in the La Latina neighbourhood, it has served as a commercial hub for local residents since the nineteenth century.
Mercado de Antón Martín is a traditional municipal market located in the Antón Martín neighbourhood of Madrid's Centro district.
Mercado de San Antón is a market hall in Madrid, Spain. It operates as a commercial space for food vendors and dining. The structure serves the Chueca neighborhood, an area known for its cultural activity.
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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