Spain's Best

Visited by more than 83 million tourists in 2019, Spain can be proud of having some of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world, fifteen cities that are recognised as World Heritage Sites by the UN and 52 Biosphere Reserves declared by UNESCO. In addition, Spain has museums that house world-famous works of art, historical buildings, and unique constructions. Among all of them are some of the most visited monuments in Spain. Here is a list of the top 11...

11  Royal Palace (Madrid)

Destroyed by fire in 1734, Felipe V ordered the reconstruction of the Royal Palace to the extended form it shows today, although today it is no longer the residence of the Monarchy, its more than 3,000 rooms serve daily as a museum and, on special occasions, as a venue for events and receptions for the Head of State.

The Royal Palace of Madrid received 1,547,967 visitors in 2019.

10 Reina Sofía National Art Center Museum (Madrid)

Specialising in contemporary and 20th-century works of art, the Reina Sofía Museum exhibits abundant and well-known works by Picasso, Dalí or Miró along with other representatives of Cubism, Surrealism and other pictorial trends.

The MNCARS complex received a total of 4,425,699 visitors in 2019. Of these, the main headquarters, the Reina Sofía Museum, received 1,714,409 visitors, the Crystal Palace 1,994,979 and the Velázquez Palace 716,671 (the latter two in the Retiro Park).

9 Camp Nou (Barcelona)

The Soccer Stadium of one of the most famous teams in the world is also one of the most visited spots in Spain. A tour of the Camp Nou covers the most significant corners, such as the stands, the pitch, the visiting team's dressing room, the dressing room tunnel, the press room, the mixed zone, the benches and much more.

In 2018 the Camp Nou Experience had 1,900,000 visitors.

8 Reales Alcázares (Seville)

With architectural elements from the High Middle Ages, the Islamic world, Mudejar, Gothic, Renaissance, Mannerist and Baroque, this set of buildings that includes a remarkable garden in addition to being the oldest Royal Palace in Europe is so impressive that it has been the scene of films and TV series such as Lawrence of Arabia (1962), 1492: the conquest of paradise (1992), The Kingdom of Heaven (2004) or Game of Thrones (5th and 6th season).

The Reales Alcázares de Sevilla received 2,067,016 visitors in 2019

7 Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba (Córdoba)

Re-Christianised, so to speak, with the construction of a basilica consecrated as a Cathedral after the Christian reconquest of the Andalusian city, the Mosque of Córdoba is a beautiful example of Muslim art in the Peninsula, surpassed perhaps only by the Alhambra in Granada.

The Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba received 2,079,160 visitors in 2019

6 Cathedral of Seville 

The Cathedral of Seville is the largest Gothic temple in the world, it is a World Heritage Site and has an attached bell tower that was originally the minaret of the old mosque and is today the famous tower known as La Giralda.

2,298,702 visitors passed through the Seville Cathedral in 2019

5 The Alhambra (Granada)

Alhambra, palace and fortress of the Moorish monarchs of Granada, Spain. The name Alhambra, signifying in Arabic “the red,” is probably derived from the reddish colour of the tapia (rammed earth) of which the outer walls were built. Constructed on a plateau that overlooks the city of Granada, the Alhambra was built chiefly between 1238 and 1358, in the reigns of Ibn al-Aḥmar, founder of the Naṣrid dynasty, and his successors. 

2,766,887 people passed through the Alhambra in Granada in 2018 (curiously, 3,387 exceeded the limit of 2,763,500 annual visitors established by a regulation of the Board of the Alhambra and the Generalife in 2016)

4  City of Arts and Sciences (Valencia)

With such a futuristic appearance that it has even served as a set for the “Westworld” series, the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia is a snowy set of buildings with stylized shapes and biological inspiration. The largest aquarium in Europe, the largest exhibition hall in Spain or the interactive exhibitions of the Science Museum and the world-leading Opera house are some of the attractions that will get you walking through its doors.

The City of Arts and Sciences was visited by 2,876,524 people in 2019

3 Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Santiago de Compostela)

At the end of the Camino de Santiago, the ritual of entering the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela looking for the tomb of the Apostle Santiago is the wish of the thousands of people who make a pilgrimage there every year and who, in addition, enjoy visiting a colossal building with beautifully detailed facades such as the Obradoiro or the Platerías.

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela does not have an access control system, as it is free, but it is estimated that between 3 and 3 and a half million people visited it in 2015, given that that same year 262,516 pilgrims arrived in the city (rising to 301,000 in 2017, the same year that overnight stays in Santiago were around 1.5 million) the figure of 3 million visits is not unreasonable.

2  Prado Museum (Madrid)

The most important art gallery in Spain, the Prado Museum, houses great works such as "Las Meninas" (Velázquez), "The Garden of Delights" (El Bosco), "The executions of May 3" (Goya) as well as one of the best collections of Flemish art, to name just a few of the more than 35,000 works in the museum's collection.
The Prado Museum received 3,203,417 visitors in 2019

1  Basilica of the Sagrada Familia (Barcelona)

It may be curious that the most visited monument in Spain has been under construction for almost a century and a half, but the cranes and scaffolding don't scare away the visitors. What will be the highest Christian church in the world was designed by the great Gaudí at the end of the 19th century and exudes his peculiar style from the moment you first step inside to the top of any of its 8 towers.

The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia received 4.5 million visitors in 2018.

Everyone in the wine community will be celebrating their local wine festivals this month and next, some large and some small, but all celebrating "la vindimia": the grape harvest. Take note of the one near you and pay a visit this year if you are still in time...!

You don't have to travel to Florence to suffer from Stendhal syndrome. Spain also boasts an extensive art collection, envied the world over. Just visiting one of the ten art centres in this top ten would be enough. You might not experience dizziness, palpitations and trembling, as French writer Stendhal did on his visit to the Italian city, but you will without a doubt leave with another perspective on art. Here are Spain's ten best museums. Not in any particular order.....

CaixaForum, Barcelona

It represents a trend in museums that has spread throughout Spain in recent years, where art galleries combine exhibitions with all kinds of activities, such as workshops, conferences, projections, etc. The space is managed by La Caixa through the bank's Obra Social foundation, but the programming isn't its only appeal. It's located in a very remarkable Modernista building, the old Casaramona factory designed by famous Catalan architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch.

Reina Sofia Art Centre, Madrid

It's one of Madrid's large museums and full of art both inside and out. It's dedicated exclusively to modern and contemporary art and walking through its rooms you can see one of the key works of Spanish art: Guernica, by Pablo Picasso. Before contemplating this marvellous piece, you should take a moment to enjoy the surroundings. The museum is comprised of two buildings: the first dates from the 16th century and used to be the old San Carlos hospital; the second was built in 2001 and is the work of prestigious architect Jean Nouvel.

The Guggenheim, Bilbao

Few museums can claim to have triggered a city's transformation, but that's exactly what the Guggenheim did. In fact, Bilbao is now one of Spain's most popular tourist destinations. Its avant garde architecture, the work of Frank O. Gehry, will undoubtedly impress you with its curvilinear forms and extraordinary play of titanium volumes, now a symbol of Bilbao. You mustn't miss the work 'The Matter of Time' by Richard Serra which is part of the permanent exhibition, where you will find yourself immersed in seven impressive sculptures.

Valencia Modern Art Institute - IVAM, Valencia

If you're an art lover and you're going to Valencia, as well as visiting the City of Arts and Sciences, another must-see is IVAM. This gallery is dedicated to modern and contemporary art. It has two different spaces: the Julio González Centre, dedicated to the museum collection and temporary exhibitions; and the Sala de la Muralla, located in the building's basement, with the preserved remains of the city's mediaeval fortifications. The activity programme includes courses, workshops and even concerts.

La Casa Encendida, Madrid

This is a social and cultural centre with some of Madrid's most experimental artistic expressions and an outstanding programme of educational activities, conferences and debates. The gallery is managed by the Obra Social Caja Madrid foundation and pursues four lines of action: Solidarity, Environment, Culture and Education. After participating in one of the activities on offer, there's nothing better than taking a walk around the rooftop garden and enjoying the great views.

Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona - MACBA, Barcelona

While it didn't transform the city like the Guggenheim in Bilbao, it did become one of the motors of change in the renovation of the neighbourhood of El Raval, which went from being a run-down area to one of Barcelona's most modern. The building by Richar Meier is noteworthy for its combination of straight lines and curves, the large interior spaces and the harnessing of natural light. The exhibition and event spaces include the Capella MACBA annex, formerly the Los Angeles convent church. The museum focuses on art from the second half of the 20th century.

Dalí Theatre-Museum, Figueres, Girona

The museum took over the former Figueras municipal theatre (19th century) and clearly reflects the artist's personality and work. Dalí himself supervised the renovation works on the building, which is recognisable for its red and gold paint job and the large white eggs that crown it.  Although you can visit throughout the year, it's worth going in August when they open at night. From 10 until 1 in the morning you can contemplate the artist's work while having a glass of the Spanish sparkling wine cava.

Picasso Museum, Malaga

The fascinating work of the artist from Malaga and the beauty of the Buenavista Palace make this museum a unique place to enjoy art and culture. The gallery's 155 works range from his first academic studies to his personal vision of classicism; from the superimposed planes of cubism to his incursion into ceramics; from his interpretation of the great masters to his last paintings in the seventies. Temporary exhibitions, educational and cultural activities, the library and a specialised bookshop complete a suggestive proposal.

Thyssen – Bornemisza Museum, Madrid

Located on the famous Paseo del Prado and forming part of what is known as Madrid's Art Triangle, the museum is in the beautiful Duque de Villahermoso Palace, remodelled by the prestigious architect Rafael Moneo. It houses what is without a doubt one of the most important private art collections in the world, with works from the 13th to 20th centuries. The museum proves particularly didactic due to its size and the way the works are displayed according to chronological, thematic and stylistic criteria. 

The Prado Museum

This is the king of Spanish museums, an international authority due to the fact it possesses the most complete collection of 11th to 18th-century Spanish painting. You will need several hours to go through the rooms displaying the works of the great masters such as El Greco, Goya, Rubens and Rembrandt.  Here you can see one of the most famous Spanish paintings of all time: Las Meninas, by Velázquez. Architecture lovers will also enjoy visiting the museum's new wing, an extension designed by the architect Rafael Moneo.