Top Five Tourist Attractions In Spain

July 18, 2016 Holidays

Spain is a holiday destination with something for everyone: from partying in Ibiza, to taking in the culture of cosmopolitan Barcelona, to the many cathedrals and other religious sights. Here are our five ‘must see’ attractions.

Getting to some of these by public transport can be a pain, so hiring a car is highly advisable one company we recommend is spainrentalcars.co.uk. That way you can tour between them and explore at your own pace.

Allhambra (Granada)

The absolute jewel of Moorish culture in Spain, the palace and gardens of Allhambra (from the Arabic word for ‘Red Fort’ is the perfect centrepiece of any visit to Spain. There are pools and patios, amazing frescos, flowers of every kind. Don’t miss the amazing marquetry ceiling in the Salón de los Embajadores (Chamber of the Ambassadors), where over 8000 pieces create an image of the seven heavens.

It can get very crowded at the height of the summer tourist season, so try to visit early in the morning or later in the evening if you have to travel at that time of year.

Santiago de Compostela

Follow in the footsteps of centuries of pilgrims, and take in one of Europe’s most famous and spectacular cathedrals, along with restaurants, bars, and music venues for the less religiously inclined. Don’t miss the amazing rooftop tours of the cathedral, available in English as well as Spanish, where you can both enjoy a birds-eye view of the cathedral interior, and look down on the city.

Morella (Valencia)

A stunning and unique gothic city in the east of Spain, Morella is perhaps less famous than some of the other destination on this list, but well worth a visit. It’s a perfect blend of the natural and the manmade, with wonderful scenery as well as a host of historical buildings to explore.

Parque del Buen Retiro (Madrid)

When they were laid out in the 17th Century by King Felipe IV, these magnificent gardens were reserved for the use of the royal family and their closest friends. But since the 19th century they have been open for everyone to enjoy.

The Parque is so much more than just a park. There are numerous open air cafes, a fantastic artificial lake (boating trips highly recommended) as well as buildings, statues and monuments of every kind.

During the week it is a quiet, peaceful retreat from the bustle of the big city. But during the weekends it is lively and buzzing.

Museu Picasso (Barcelona)

This museum would be worth it for the buildings alone – five stone mansions built during the medieval period, and adjoining one another. However, it is of course the art of one of the 20th century’s most famous artists that is the real attraction.

There are 3500 items in the collection, which concentrates on Picasso’s earlier periods, when he was based in Barcelona. However, there is also enough of his more mature work to get an in-depth understanding of his career.