Spain is a country full of amazing things to do for any type of traveler, but there are some things you should not miss out on. Whether it is your first time in Spain, or you have traveled there several times before, I am sure you still find it hard to decide what to do on your next trip considering the myriad of exciting activities, epic nature experiences, and beautiful cities and towns to visit.
In this post we have rounded up the top things to add to your Spain bucket list so that you can work out your travel itinerary.
Spain Bucket List
Explore Andalucia’s capital city
A must for any Spain bucket list is to explore one of the most magnificent cities in Andalucia, Seville. The city is in fact one of the most beautiful in the country with its rich Moorish heritage. The historical center is dominated by Sevilla Cathedral and the Giralda Tower, where you get a bird’s eye view of the city, and the Real Alcazar.
Take a photo shoot in Plaza de España and look for Moorish remains in the city’s biggest park, Parque de Maria Louisa. Go for a stroll along the Guadalquivir River, climb the Torre del Oro, and cross the famed Triana bridge to the neighborhood of the same name which has become more and more popular for its flamenco and local tapas scene.
Walk through the historic town of Toledo
Only a day trip from Madrid, Toledo is one of the most astounding UNESCO cities in Spain. Walking around the old town, you are guaranteed to be mesmerized around every corner – according to the locals, the city has more historical sites per square meters than Rome!
Among the must-visit places in Toledo are the Catedral Primada, Toledo’s majestic Gothic cathedral, and Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes, which is an important reminder of the Christian reconquest from the Muslims.
Art lovers will enjoy the El Griego museum where you find a wealth of his paintings as well as work from other Spanish painters.
Head to Plaza Zocodover to grab a coffee and do not miss out on Toledo’s medieval bridges, Puente de Alcantara and Puente de San Martin. The adventurous can even take the zip-line across the river by the latter.
Kitesurf in Tarifa
Tarifa is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Cadiz and the windswept coastline happens to be perfect for kitesurfing, and any other kind of watersport like wind surfing and wave surfing.
Whether you are a seasoned kite surfer or you want to try out the sport for the first time, there is no better place than Tarifa to do it! There are kite surfing schools along the surrounding coast and in the town center where you can rent gear and take classes.
Make sure you book a week or two in this charming coastal town as the wind is always unpredictable and it is hard to know upfront if you can only practice controlling the kite on the beach or if you can hit those waves. In worst case scenario, you can get there on one of the rare times when the sea is still and the only sane thing to do on the beach is to paddleboard and sunbathe.
Get amazed by La Sagrada Familia
The masterpiece of Gaudi that is still under construction, 140 years after the building started. Its unique features and grandness leave you speechless no matter how many times you have seen it on pictures.
This is truly one of the top Spain bucket list attractions and one of the main reasons Barcelona is the most visited city in Spain by foreign tourists. Even though the structure is far from finished, it was declared a minor basilica by the pope in 2010.
The majestic basilica can be visited on self-guided and guided tours. Due to its architectural uniqueness and history, you should consider a guide!
Eat your weight in tapas in Madrid
There is nothing better to do in Spain’s capital city, Madrid than to eat! There is such a wide range of tapas bars and restaurants that you could easily spend whole days eating tapas accompanied by beer or sangria.
If you travel alone, we suggest going on a tapas crawl where you meet other travelers and a local guide will take you to the best tapas bars in the city. Madrid even offers vegan tapas crawls which is quite a unique opportunity in Spain where so many of the famous traditional tapas consist of meat.
Walk El Caminito del Rey
Once known as the most dangerous walk in the world, El Caminito del Rey was rebuilt, and in 2015 as safe path opened up for visitors. Pinned 100 meters above the gorge floor, the new path sits right above the old one so you get a reminder of how it must have been to walk there before. This is not for the faint-hearted, but you do get a helmet and security instructions before the walk, no matter if you choose to hike with a guide or not. Tickets must be bought up-front for a certain timeslot. It is advisable to book a good time in advance as tickets sell out quickly.
To get to the El Caminito del Rey hike, you can take a train from Malaga to El Chorro and then a shuttle bus to the starting point by El Kiosko. From there, it is a 20-50 minute hike to the checkpoint where eyou show your ticket and get your helmet. The hike itself, is about 2 hours one way to El Chorro and you can walk straight to the train station.
Discover the Roman heritage of Merida
Merida might just be Spain’s most underrated city. Situated in the lesser-visited region of Extremadura, a short drive from the Portuguese border, it is also the city that holds the most and best-preserved roman ruins in Spain.
The impressive amphitheater and Roman theater are among the top highlights, but you have other impressive landmarks like the Temple of Diana, the aqueduct, the Roman bridge spanning 755 meters, and the Roman Circus.
If you have enough time, head to the casa del Mitreo to see the archaeological remains of a Roman villa. There are also a number of historical museums worth a visit, like the National Museum of Roman Art where you can see an impressive collection of Roman artifacts and remains.
Hike the highest peak in the Iberian Peninsula
While the north of Spain is the most famous area for hiking due to the epic Picos de Europa, the highest peak in mainland Spain, together with a collection of 3000-meters peaks, is found in Sierra Nevada in Granada. Mulhacen stretches 3479 meters above sea level and can be reached on an easy day hike or on a number of multiday treks.
The most popular is to hike from either Trevelez or Capileira, but if you are pressed on time or just prefer sleeping in a comfortable bed, take the park shuttle bus from Capileira up to Mirador de Trevelez, the highest point they can drive to (not allowed for private vehicles) and they will pick you up 6 hours later. This gives you just enough time to reach the peak, have a lunch, snap a whole lot of pictures, and walk back down again.
While this is the easiest trail up the peak, you still need to be prepared with proper hiking boots and layers of clothes as the weather can change without warning at this altitude. Anyhow, this is a bucket list experience for any outdoors lover.
Walk El Camino de Santiago
Another, more famous bucket list experience in Spain, is to walk the world-famous Camino de Santiago. There are multiple routes starting from Spain, Portugal, and France. In fact, there are routes starting in the south of Spain in cities like Malaga and Almeria, as well as the Ruta de la Plata from Seville.
Yet the most popular route from Spain is Camino del Norte from San Sebastian which on average takes a month to complete. Travelers from all over the world come to Spain to walk Camino de Santiago. And most of those that go, do it again. There is something special and spiritual about doing a long distance hike that only those who have done it will understand.
Go on a road trip through the Pueblos Blancos of Andalucia
Another bucket list adventure in Spain is to go on a road trip through the Pueblos Blancos in the picturesque Andalucia region. A good place to start your road trip is in Malaga. Here’s what you need to know about hiring a car in Malaga.
Drive to the beautiful Frigiliana overlooking the coastline of Nerja, continue up the coast to Salobreña, the coastal hilltop town crowned by a castle. Leave the coast to explore the mountain villages of Orgiva, Capileira, and the infamous witch village of Soportujar before heading to the Cordoba province and taking in the historical Priego de Cordoba famous for its water fountains and the charming Barrio de las Villas, and the hilltop village of Iznajar, famous for its patios.
Do a detour back to Malaga incorporating a walk in one of the most unique karst landscapes in Europe at El Torcal de Antequera and walk the epic El Caminito del Rey in El Chorro. Continue to the village carved into the rock, Setenil de las Bodegas, then Ronda, famous for its spectacular Puente Nuevo bridge and ancient history before winding down curvy roads to the coast.
Take a final stop in Mijas Pueblo on the way back to Malaga, yet another traditional hillside village overlooking the busy coastline of Fuengirola.
