Spain Travelers Recommend

Day 1: Barcelona Sightseeing Explore La Ramblas for a fabulous taste of Barcelona’s eccentric character with its restaurants and funky late-night bars. Hop on a bus, bike, or a scooter for an alternative approach to sightseeing or take the classic One Day Tour. On the Barcelona Gourmet Tapas Evening Walking Tour visit La Boquiera to see the amazing fresh food markets. Day 2: Art from Gaudi to Contemporary Discover Antoni Gaudi's masterpieces like the Casa Calvet, Sagrada Familia and Parc Güells. Other cultural highlights include The Picasso Museum, Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (Romanesque art), Fundació Joan Miró, the CCCB and MACBA for contemporary art. Day 3: Day Trips from Barcelona Take a trip out of the city to Montserrat or discover the glamorous Costa Brava and its sparkling beaches.

History is alive in Granada's narrow streets, riotous gardens and spectacular monuments, reverberating with echoes of the city's grand Islamic past and its medieval Renaissance. With the majestic Sierra Nevada as its backdrop and the mighty Alhambra and Generalife as its principal calling cards, this Andalucían beauty has captured the heart of many a traveler. Nothing quite prepares you for the magnificence of Granada's Moorish heritage. The beauty and craftsmanship of the Alhambra…the Generalife’s hilltop tranquility…the winding alleys of Albayzín…But don’t stop there! Delve a bit deeper, and you’ll discover Granada is a city of many charms. Set aside a day (and book your ticket well in advance!) to explore this astonishing UNESCO World Heritage site, one of Spain's most visited monuments. Built by Moorish kings in the 13th century to reflect their concept of paradise on earth, the Alhambra combines lovely pools and gardens, architectural ingenuity.

Famous for its modernist architecture, legendary football club and long sandy beaches, Barcelona has long been one of Spain’s top tourist magnets. But with millions of annual visitors, the Catalan capital can get crowded, especially during the busy summer months. Planning ahead is essential to make the most of your trip and pre-booking skip-the-line tours to some of Barcelona’s top attractions is a good idea, especially for those short on time. With priority access, you’ll not only avoid the long queues, but save precious time that you can spend visiting other sights, shopping for souvenirs or relaxing on the beach. Most first-time visitors make a beeline for La Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s modernist masterpiece, but the queues for the iconic cathedral are notoriously long. Instead, pre-book a guided tour including skip-the-line entrance, either with or without a visit to the tower. Gaudi fans can also enjoy skip-the-line access to several of the architect’s other works.

To save time The cheapest and easiest way to visit is on a half-day trip from Barcelona, an ideal option for those short on time. The mountaintop Basilica is the focus of the tour and you’ll arrive by coach, with plenty of time to explore the abbey and watch a performance by the renowned La Escolania de Montserrat, one of Europe's oldest children's choirs. You can also upgrade your tour to include a scenic cogwheel train ride up the mountain. To save money Perfect for first time visitors who want to save money and see as many sights as possible, the Barcelona Super Saver Sightseeing and Montserrat Tour combines two top tours into one day. See the attractions of the Catalonian capital, enjoy aerial views of the city on a cable car ride up Montjuic, and then climb Montserrat on a cogwheel train for a tour of the Montserrat Royal Basilica. Finally, sample traditional Montserrat liquors at a mountaintop distillery.

Barcelona's most photographed landmark, a UNESCO-listed monument and Antoni Gaudí’s most iconic masterpiece, La Sagrada Família is a must for every itinerary. The modernist cathedral is a work of fantasy so immense and rich in detail that it isn't even finished yet, but it's still Spain’s most-visited monument, averaging over 3 million annual visitors. The best way to visit La Sagrada Família is by pre-booking skip-the-line tickets, ensuring you head straight to the front of the queue and enjoy priority access. With multiple options available, there’s a tour to suit all budgets and itineraries. Short on time? Opt for a 1.5-hour skip-the-line tour, with or without entrance to the tower, and make your own way there by public transport. First time in the city? Combine your visit with a Best of Barcelona tour and see highlights like the Gothic Quarter, Montjuïc Hill and Casa Batlló, too.

Not only is Seville one of Spain's most intriguing cities, but its southern location places it within easy day-trip distance of several other equally visit-worthy destinations. With one extra day, you can venture beyond Seville's labyrinth streets and tour one of these captivating Andalucian cities. On a day trip to Granada, you'll skip the lines at the famous Moorish fortress and spend your day on a guided tour, discovering all of its magical corners. For a complete change of scenery, go farther south to the town of Ronda. Straddling a gaping canyon, the pueblo is like none other in Spain, and even more so given its fame as the origin of formal bullfighting as we know it. See another side of Spanish history with a guided day trip tour to Córdoba. The highlight of the trip will undoubtedly be a visit to the Mezquita: a mish-mash of mosque and cathedral that captures the city’s diverse history.

Travelers who make their way to the city of Madrid between May and September will find plenty of opportunities to check out art, culture and history in this iconic Spanish destination. Madrid offers visitors an all-access pass to top landmarks with a popular hop-on hop-off bus tour option. These no-hassle offerings allow travelers to visit the major attractions without having to worry about transport, navigation or parking. Food and wine lovers can enjoy Madrid’s culinary delights at outdoor cafes and tapas bars on specialized tours focusing on regional cuisine and drink. Or opt for a traditional flamenco show for an evening featuring some of the best entertainment Madrid has to offer. Art enthusiasts can tour the city’s popular museums, including the Prado Museum, while football fans can catch a match at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Those wanting a bird’s-eye view of Spain’s beautiful countryside can embark on a hot air balloon ride over Toledo or Segovia.

For first time visitors to Barcelona As the city’s top tourist attraction with more than 2.8 million visitors a year, La Sagrada Familia’s queues are almost as legendary as the cathedral itself, so make the most of your time and book a tour that offers skip-the-line access, like a Skip-the-Line Best of Barcelona tour. This tour offers a comprehensive tour of Barcelona’s sights, including a one-hour guided tour of La Sagrada Familia, and is available as either a half or full day tour. For those short on time You don’t have to join a long tour to check out the magnificent structure – opt for a Skip-the-Line La Sagrada Familia Tour and enjoy a hassle-free, one-hour tour of the cathedral interiors, including free time to revisit your favorite sections. Whether you’ve already seen Barcelona or just want to explore on your own, this tour is perfect for those short on time and with several time slots available, you can fit it in around your schedule.

Segovia What's not to love about Segovia? The city epitomizes old-world majesty with its almost 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct, well-preserved medieval streets, and the especially dreamy Disney-like castle. No visit would be complete without sampling the cochinillo, a suckling pig cooked to such perfection that the chef will often cut it in front of you with a plate. Toledo Competing for best day-trip status is Toledo, almost an hour’s drive south of Madrid. This hilltop, river-wrapped city was previously the capital of Spain, and proudly once a peaceful home to Catholics, Jews and Muslims. Ávila Located northwest of Madrid, Ávila makes its way onto most people's list of favorites due to its walls, which enclose the city's old quarter like a rocky lasso. Get up close and personal with the stony barrier by walking atop it, then scaling its towers for unbeatable views of the city and surrounding countryside.

Barcelona is beloved by generations of artists all of whom left their unique imprint on the city, from the sculptural architecture of Gaudí and the mythical paintings of Picasso, to surrealist icon Salvador Dalí. Antoni Gaudí is Barcelona's most internationally renowned and emblematic architect. His buildings are gorgeously ornate and whimsical, eccentric grooves and rich colours with no straight edges. Begin your artistic journey on Paseo de Gracia to famous apartment buildings Casa Batlló and Casa Milá, and Parc Güell's undulating seating, mosaics, and a dragon fountain! The Sagrada Familia church is the masterpiece of Gaudí's intricate and organic architecture. The Gaudí Museum located in the crypt, traces the life and career of the architect. Barcelona Modernism Walking Tour takes you into "modernist" Barcelona in the Eixample district. Admire Catalan art Nouveau buildings by Gaudí and his contemporaries.

Spain’s most magnificent art museum, El Museo del Prado, features a rich collection of Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco, and covers everything from Bosch to Botticelli. Madrid City sightseeing tours and city passes include free entry to the Prado. The Centro de Arte Reina Sofia contains fantastic cubist works, Miró, Dali, and Kandinsky, and Pablo Picasso’s masterpiece Guernica. The Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza collection includes Van Gogh, Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, and pop art. Stroll in the former Royal Park El Retiro, and football fans take a pilgrimage to Santiago Bernabeu Real Madrid stadium. Bullfighting takes place at the grand Plaza de Toros Monumental de Las Ventas on Sunday evenings. La Casa Botín is the oldest restaurant on earth, and its cochinillo (suckling pig) is legendary. The nightlife in Madrid is like nowhere else – the vibe starts around 2am and keeps going until dawn.

In Spain, Cava is sipped at everything from weddings and birthday bashes to an evening meal with friends and family. First produced in 1872 at the Codorniu Winery, Cava was the brainchild of winemaker Josep Raventós. Blended from local Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada grapes grown in the Penedès region, Cava quickly became popular, marketed as the 'wine that goes with everything'. Today, the Penedès remains the heart and soul of Cava production, with over 160 wineries growing and producing traditional Cava. Touring the wineries of the Penedès is the best way to experience the depth of Cava’s cultural and historic significance. As well as learning about its production, you'll get the chance to sample a selection of fine Cava, which comes in a number of varieties including sweet, dry and rosé. A hugely popular day trip from nearby Barcelona, the idyllic Penedès countryside has even been affectionately renamed 'Cava County' in honor of the Catalonian drink of choice.