Country guide · Spain
Best places to visit in Spain
9 destinations compared, so you can choose where to spend your time.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
For a first trip to Spain, start with Barcelona: Gaudí architecture, Gothic lanes, tapas bars and city beaches. For beaches, look at Barcelona, Ibiza and Málaga. Granada is the least expensive of the destinations in this guide.
Key facts
- Destinations in this guide
- 9
- Best months overall
- April–June and September–October
- Start with
- Barcelona
- Least expensive here
- Granada
9 places to visit in Spain
Best: May–June and September–October · 4 days
Barcelona
Gaudí architecture, Gothic lanes, tapas bars and city beaches
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Best: April–June and September–October · 4 days
Madrid
Velázquez and Goya by day, tapas bars and late nights after dark
Best: March–May and October–November · 4 days
Seville
Moorish palaces, orange-tree squares, tapas bars and flamenco
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Best: April–May and October · 3 days
Granada
The Alhambra, the Moorish Albaicín and free tapas below the Sierra Nevada
Best: May–June and September · 6 days
Ibiza
A walled UNESCO old town, sunset coves and some of the world's best-known clubs
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Best: April–June and September–October · 4 days
Málaga
Picasso's birthplace, a Moorish fortress and sardine skewers on the beach
Best: May–June and September–October · 5 days
Palma de Mallorca
A Gothic cathedral on the sea, old-town courtyards and Mallorca on the doorstep
Best: May–June and September–October · 7 days
Tenerife
Mount Teide, year-round sunshine and black-sand Atlantic beaches
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Best: April–June and September–October · 4 days
Valencia
Paella's home city, with a riverbed park, futuristic museums and city beaches
Compare the destinations
| Destination | Known for | Best time | Ideal stay | Mid-range per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | Sagrada Família and Gaudí architecture | May–June and September–October | 4 days | $180–$300 |
| Madrid | Prado Museum and Tapas | April–June and September–October | 4 days | $150–$260 |
| Seville | Real Alcázar and Seville Cathedral | March–May and October–November | 4 days | $130–$230 |
| Granada | Alhambra and Albaicín | April–May and October | 3 days | $120–$200 |
| Ibiza | Clubbing and Dalt Vila | May–June and September | 6 days | $220–$380 |
| Málaga | Picasso and Alcazaba | April–June and September–October | 4 days | $130–$220 |
| Palma de Mallorca | La Seu cathedral and Old town courtyards | May–June and September–October | 5 days | $160–$270 |
| Tenerife | Mount Teide and Year-round sunshine | May–June and September–October | 7 days | $130–$230 |
| Valencia | Paella and City of Arts and Sciences | April–June and September–October | 4 days | $130–$220 |
When to visit Spain
Across these destinations the most reliable months are April–June and September–October. Timing still varies by place: Barcelona is best in May–June and September–October; Madrid is best in April–June and September–October; Seville is best in March–May and October–November.
Signature dishes across Spain
| Destination | Try first | Also try |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | Bread with tomato | Patatas bravas and Bomba |
| Madrid | Churros con chocolate | Calamari sandwich and Cocido madrileño |
| Seville | Salmorejo | Spinach with chickpeas and Pork cheeks |
| Granada | Free tapas | Tortilla del Sacromonte and Broad beans with ham |
| Ibiza | Bullit de peix | Sofrit pagès and Ensalada payesa |
| Málaga | Espetos de sardinas | Fried fish and Boquerones |
| Palma de Mallorca | Ensaïmada | Sobrassada and Pa amb oli |
| Tenerife | Papas arrugadas con mojo | Rabbit in salmorejo and Gofio |
| Valencia | Paella valenciana | Arroz a banda and Black rice |
Events through the year in Spain
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Barcelona: Cavalcada de Reis — Three Kings parade (5 January); Madrid: Three Kings parade — Cabalgata de Reyes through the centre (5 January) |
| February | Barcelona: Santa Eulàlia winter festival with castells and giants (around 12 February); Madrid: ARCOmadrid contemporary art fair (usually late February or early March) |
| March | Barcelona: Barcelona Marathon (usually March); Madrid: Semana Santa processions (March or April, depending on Easter) |
| April | Barcelona: Sant Jordi — books and roses sold across the city (23 April); Madrid: Madrid Marathon (usually April) |
| May | Barcelona: Primavera Sound music festival at Parc del Fòrum (usually late May or early June); Madrid: Dos de Mayo celebrations, especially in Malasaña (2 May) |
| June | Barcelona: Sant Joan — fireworks and beach parties on the night of 23 June; Madrid: Madrid Book Fair in the Retiro (usually late May to mid-June) |
| July | Barcelona: Grec Festival of theatre and dance (usually July); Madrid: Veranos de la Villa — summer arts festival (July–August) |
| August | Barcelona: Festa Major de Gràcia — decorated streets and concerts (usually mid-August); Madrid: Verbenas of San Cayetano, San Lorenzo and La Paloma — traditional neighbourhood fiestas (early to mid-August) |
| September | Barcelona: La Diada, Catalonia's national day (11 September); Seville: Bienal de Flamenco — major flamenco festival (usually September in even-numbered years) |
| October | Barcelona: Barcelona International Jazz Festival (usually October to December); Madrid: Fiesta Nacional de España — military parade (12 October) |
| November | Barcelona: Castanyada — chestnuts and panellets (around 1 November); Madrid: Madrid Jazz Festival (usually November) |
| December | Barcelona: Fira de Santa Llúcia Christmas market by the cathedral (usually late November to 23 December); Madrid: Christmas market in Plaza Mayor (usually late November to late December) |
How far apart they are
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | Madrid | 505 km |
| Barcelona | Seville | 829 km |
| Barcelona | Granada | 682 km |
| Barcelona | Ibiza | 283 km |
| Barcelona | Málaga | 770 km |
| Madrid | Seville | 390 km |
| Madrid | Granada | 360 km |
| Madrid | Ibiza | 470 km |
| Madrid | Málaga | 416 km |
| Seville | Granada | 212 km |
| Seville | Ibiza | 669 km |
| Seville | Málaga | 157 km |
| Granada | Ibiza | 480 km |
| Granada | Málaga | 89 km |
| Ibiza | Málaga | 568 km |
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I go on my first trip to Spain?
Barcelona: Barcelona combines a medieval core — the Gothic Quarter and El Born — with the grid of the 19th-century Eixample, where Antoni Gaudí and his contemporaries built the Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. The…
+When is the best time to visit Spain?
Generally April–June and September–October, though it varies by region.