Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Spain

A photograph of Spain
Photograph · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

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.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information
Language spoken
Spanish; co-official regional languages include Catalan, Galician and Basque
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+34
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and F · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

Filter the list

100 places match
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Category

Historic monuments 0 Museums 0 Places of worship 343 Nature sites 0 Viewpoints 0 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 0 Entertainment 0 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 0 Art and culture 570 Activities 0

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 913 1 to 2 hours 3

Interests

History 1383 Art 913 Museums 570 Nature 997 Sea and beach 890 Viewpoints 107
  5. Casa Amatller
    05 1 hour

    Casa Amatller

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  6. Casa Calvet
    06 1 hour

    Casa Calvet

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  7. Dona i Ocell
    07 1 hour

    Dona i Ocell

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  11. L'Auditori
    11 1 hour

    L'Auditori

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  19. Coliseum
    19 1 hour

    Coliseum

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  20. Topos V
    20 1 hour

    Topos V

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  21. Casa Martí
    21 1 hour

    Casa Martí

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  25. Els mistos
    25 1 hour

    Els mistos

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  27. Teatre Lliure
    27 1 hour

    Teatre Lliure

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  29. Desolation
    29 1 hour

    Desolation

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  34. El Molino
    34 1 hour

    El Molino

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  35. El Peix d'Or
    35 1 hour

    El Peix d'Or

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  36. La Gamba
    36 1 hour

    La Gamba

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  48. Teatre Arnau
    48 1 hour

    Teatre Arnau

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  61. L'Empordà
    61 1 hour

    L'Empordà

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  63. L'estel ferit
    63 1 hour

    L'estel ferit

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  80. Les formigues
    80 1 hour

    Les formigues

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  82. Mamut
    82 1 hour

    Mamut

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  88. Mural G-333
    88 1 hour

    Mural G-333

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  90. Peace bell
    90 1 hour

    Peace bell

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  92. Teatre Modern
    92 1 hour

    Teatre Modern

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona
  100. Teatro Apolo
    100 1 hour

    Teatro Apolo

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Barcelona

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Spain be?

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.

What entry documents are needed for Spain?

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.

What is the best way to travel around Spain?

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.

When is a practical time to visit Spain?

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.

What money and payment basics apply in Spain?

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.

What practical safety details should I save for Spain?

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.