Cities of Spain
Pick a city to see its map, top sights, where to eat and our guides.
Community of Madrid
Catalonia
Valencian Community
ValenciaSpain's third city and the birthplace of paella. The futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, an old town with the UNESCO-listed Silk Exchange and a 9 km park in the old riverbed lie a short ride from wide sandy beaches.
AlicanteA Mediterranean port city with a palm-lined seafront promenade, the Santa Bárbara castle on Mount Benacantil and beaches right in town. Its mild climate makes it a good choice all year round.
Andalusia
SevilleAndalusia's capital, with the Real Alcázar palace, the cathedral and its Giralda tower — once the minaret of the great mosque — and the tiled Plaza de España. July and August are very hot; spring and autumn are the best seasons.
MálagaThe sunny gateway to the Costa del Sol, with an 11th-century Moorish Alcazaba, the Gibralfaro castle, the Picasso Museum and a city beach minutes from the centre. Its airport is one of Spain's busiest, so many Andalusian trips start here.
GranadaHome of the Alhambra, the palace city of the Nasrid sultans and Spain's most visited monument. Below it lie the old Moorish Albaicín quarter and the cave houses of Sacromonte. Alhambra tickets often sell out weeks ahead.
CórdobaOnce the capital of al-Andalus, Córdoba is famous for its Great Mosque — the Mezquita-Catedral and its forest of arches — the Roman bridge over the Guadalquivir and flower-filled patios, at their best during the May patio festival.
Basque Country
BilbaoThe Basque Country's largest city, transformed by Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum. The Casco Viejo old town is packed with pintxo bars, and the Artxanda funicular climbs to a wide view over the river valley.
San SebastiánAn elegant Basque seaside city on the shell-shaped bay of La Concha, known for the pintxo bars of its old town and for its many Michelin-starred restaurants. Monte Igueldo's century-old funicular gives the classic view of the bay.
Castile-La Mancha
Aragon
Castile and León
Galicia
Balearic Islands
Palma de MallorcaCapital of Mallorca, with the Gothic cathedral of La Seu facing the sea, the Almudaina palace and a lively old town, plus beaches and mountain villages within an hour's drive.
IbizaA Balearic island known for its nightlife, but also for its walled old town of Dalt Vila (UNESCO), quiet coves and sunset spots. Many hotels and restaurants close or slow down from November to April.
Canary Islands
Las Palmas de Gran CanariaThe largest city of the Canary Islands, on Gran Canaria, with the long city beach of Las Canteras and the historic Vegueta quarter. Warm all year round, it is especially popular in winter.
Santa Cruz de TenerifeSanta Cruz is the capital of Tenerife, the largest Canary Island and home to Mount Teide — at 3,715 m Spain's highest peak — in a national park reached by cable car. The weather is mild all year.