Spainis a bright, vibrant and exciting place to visit. Steeped in culture and with a wealth of history to discover Spain is the perfect destination for a European vacation.Ive compiled a list of the top cities in Spain that you must visit.

Whether you are looking to explore on a slow and steady full immersion excursion. Or whether you just have 10 days in Spain there are a whole host of places to explore. Diverse and dynamic, each Spanish city has its own unique pace of life, own traditions, and festivities.

The most popular Spain cities that spring to mind when planning a trip to Spain are of course the capital city of Madrid and secondlyBarcelona.

Madrid andBarcelonaare simply the tips of the iceberg when it comes to exploring Spains wondrous cityscapes and urban environments.

Lesser-known Spanish cities likeToledoand Cadaques are little off the beaten track for most travelers. But are certainly amazing places to visit in Spain.

For that reason, they are perfect places to explore to gain a genuine and authentic understanding of this European nation.

Here are 16 must-visit cities in Spain. How many will you visit?

The Spanish capital city of Madrid is a great destination for a European vacation or a short weekend mini-break. Madrid is elegant and classy with ornate architecture and perfectly manicured gardens and parks to match.

For lovers of fine art, Madrid is a must. Home to The Prado which is filled with spectacular works that date back to the 12th Century it is easy to see why art fanatics from across the globe flock to Madrid to get their cultural fix.

With lavish water fountains and expansive greenery, the park is a great place to escape Madrids busy and bustling city center. The Buen Retiro Park is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. With lavish water fountains and expansive greenery, the park is a great place to escape Madrids busy and bustling city centre.

Barcelona is the second-largest city in Spain. Found in the Catalunya region of Spain, Barcelona offers the perfect mix of culture and history within a modern cosmopolitan metropolis.

Bright, colorful, and memorable Barcelona is beyond photogenic and provides picture-perfect city vistas wherever you turn! Home to the famous Barcelona FC, football fans flock to Barcelonas Camp Nou to watch the Bara boys work their magic on the field.

Bars and clubs line the streets and music is played until the early hours. Head to Barcelona if you want a party, for sure! Thenightlife in Barcelonais fantastic and dont forget theworks of Gaudi.

A Locals Guide to What to do in Barcelona at Night

Romantic Barcelona 7 Seductive Places to Visit

Gaudi in Barcelona 10 Must-See Buildings

La Sagrada Familia is Barcelonas most famous attraction.Book a fast track ticketto explore Gaudis unfinished masterpiece. Choose between a1 or 2 day ticketto see all the best sites in Barcelona on a Hop on Hop off bus tour.

Third-largest Spain city and the capital of theAndalusiaregion is Seville. It is widely regarded as the home of classic flamenco dancing and has become world-famous for it. If you want to learn this traditional dance or watch the professionals perform, head to the Triana neighbourhood and watch the story unfold!

Other key sights andattractions in Sevilleinclude the Alczar Castle complex and Sevilles Gothic cathedral. The Alczar Castle complex was constructed within the Moorish Almohad dynasty and has an interesting history.

Another must-visit place in Seville is the 18th-century bullring named the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza where for hundreds of years man has fought the beast in the ultimate test of strength and bravery.

Alcazar is one of Sevilles most popular tourist attractions.Book your Skip the Line Guided Tourto explore the residence and learn about the great kings of Spain.

Home to just 350,000 people Bilbao is often missed when on a whistle-stop tour of Spain which is a shame as this small port city tucked away in Northern Spain is a great vacation location.

Bilbao is the capital of the Basque Country in Spain and incorporates some traditional Spanish architecture with towering skyscrapers in the downtown area too.

The Guggenheim Museum is Bilbaos most visited attraction, built in 1997 by Frank Gehry. The museum is home to contemporary works within its modern, undulating titanium building.

Experience authentic traditional flamencoin a venue that is as popular with locals as it is with visitors. Free cancellation and last minute bookings.

Valencia is home to the Mediterranean side of Spain. This vibrant city is home to an abundance of culture and art. It has its own International airport that flies to other European destinations and domestic flights too.

Valencia is considered the City of Arts and Sciences and is home to some impressive and futuristic buildings like the oceanarium and planetarium and the interactive museum.

As it is located on the coast Valencia boasts some beautiful beaches. During the summer months, these coastal patches fill with tourists but with warm weather running long into the autumn months Valencia can be enjoyed year-round.

If youre looking for a more sedate but still very authentic Spanish experience look no further than Granada. This laid back city boasts breathtaking views of the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Take a day trip from the city and ramble through the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains and breathe in some fresh clean air. Head back to the city for a late afternoon snooze before heading out on the town!

The BoogaClub is a great night time destination with wild parties and live music every night of the week! Get your dancing shoes on in Granada!

Book a guided tour of the Alhambra Complex, Generalife Gardensand Alcazaba. No visit to Granada is complete without seeing the Alhambra, the only remaining fortress complex from the citys Islamic period.

The Old City of Salamanca was granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1988. Found in northwestern Spain, Salamanca is part of the Castile and Len region.

Home to many international students Salamanca has a great vibe that instantly makes you feel at ease. Many people chose to visit the Case de las Conchas and the Plaza Mayor.

The New Cathedral of Salamanca is a must-visit!

As we mentioned before, big and beautiful Barcelona and Madrid may take the limelight but smaller Spain cities like Toledo are well worth a visit too. This ancient city is located high on a hill looking over the plains of the Castilla-La Mancha in the heart of Spain itself.

Toledo is a walled city with a rich and varied past; home to monuments and statues for Arab, Jewish and Christian communities. Toledo has a lot to explore.

Must-visit places in Toledo include the Sol Gate as well as the Moorish Bisagra Gate. The Sol Gate can be found in the old quarter, close to the buzzing Plaza de Zocodover.

Check out our visit Toledo, Beautiful Spanish History Awaits

Book a full day tour of Toledo from Madrid.Enjoy a free city tour, transfers and six full hours to explore the city on your own.

Nestled away on the Costa del Sol, Malaga is a well-known destination for European tourists. Home to big high-rise holiday resorts and hotels the city does have some nice clean beaches.

Many tourists often neglect Malagas wonderful architecture and rich heritage in favor of beach parties and water sports. Whatever your reason for going to Malaga be assured that you will be welcomed with a smile and a great sense of hospitality.

Like Valencia, Malaga has an international airport that flies regularly to many European destinations with a range of budget airlines.

Tucked away in southern Spain in the region of Andalusia, the same region as Seville, Crdoba was a key city during the Roman times and an important Islamic hub during the Middle Ages.

Crdoba is most famed for the impressive and ornate La Mezquita mosque that was built way back in 784 AD!

The La Mezquita has an interesting history. In 1236 it became a Catholic Church with Renaissance influences was built in the 17th-century.

We love visiting Girona inCosta Brava. If you are visiting Spain, make sure to add this to your itinerary. The old city is beautifully located on the Onyar River, surrounded by medieval walls.

Game of Thronesfilmed in Girona and there are plenty of sights to see like the Jewish Quarter, Cathedral and cobblestone walking streets. Whether you choose to visit the big and bustling Spanish cities or the smaller history-filled cities in Spain, there is something for everyone.

Game of Thrones used many locations to film in Girona.

through thecobbled streets of the medieval and Jewish quarter of Girona

Costa Brava is one of the most beautiful regions in Spain and a great way to see it is on the water. If you want a taste of Costa Brava but dont have time to visit Girona,

book a kayak and snorkeling tour from Barcelona.

One of the first Spanish cities we ever visited was Cuenca. We really wanted to see the Colgadas with our own eyes. These precarious houses built on the side of a high ridge hanging over a deep gorge are a sight to see.

During that same road trip through central Spain where we saw the Colgadas, we stopped at the beach city of Alicante.

Filled with walking streets and markets, delicious restaurants and nightlife, it was an amazing Spanish vacation. Castillo de Santa Brbara is the most prominent site to see when visiting this energetic city.

Home to San Fermin Festival, Pamplona is famous for the running of the bulls but there are plenty of things to do besides taking part in the controversial festival.

There are the magnificent city walls date back to Roman times, the lovely walking streets and food scenes, its an incredible city park and the Plaza del Castillo makes it a worthwhile stop on your route into Basque country.

It is also a major stop on the Camino de Santiago. That pilgrimage is high on our list of must things to do!

Located just a short drive from Pamplona is the lovely coastal city of San Sebastian. After the San Fermin Festival, we took a break at San Sebastin to eat a lot of Pinchos.

Located on the sea, this city in Basque Country is known for its food. It also has an incredible beach. See our fullSpain Travel Guide

Tossa De Mar is a beautiful city in Costa Brava with a medieval fort overlooking the sea and city. There is a medieval village that is beautiful to walk through the cobblestone streets and there is a fantastic beach.

Costa Brava is one of the most beautiful regions in Spain and a great way to see it is on the water. If you want a taste of Costa Brava but dont have time to visit Girona,book a kayak and snorkeling tour from Barcelona.

Travel in Spain is very easy. All the major cities and towns are connected by rail and even many of the smaller villages are too. You can travel cheaply and easily throughout Spain usingtrain travel alone.

Whats more, it is possible to book your train tickets online before you even leave home.

Travelers who wish to explore as much of Spain as they possibly can may want to hire a car for the duration of their stay.

Provided you are over the age of 21 and have a driving license then hiring a car is hassle-free and can work out cheaper than train travel in the long run.

If you chose to hire a car, it can easily be arranged for the hiring company to bring your car to the airport to meet you so you can hit the ground runningor rather, driving!

Remember to check whether your car needs diesel or petrol or else youll have a nightmare on your hands!

Click here to search all the car rental agencies and get the best price for your Spain vacation.

Get the Best Price on Car Rentals in Spain Click Here to Search all the Car Rental Agencies and get thebest price for your Spain Vacation.

Bus travel is also a great option in Spain.

For example, a bus from Madrid to Granada takes just four short hours and runs two or three times daily, more frequently in the high season.

Buses are cheap and cheerful and a nice way to see the Spanish countryside sprawl away from outside your window. Rest assured, buses in Spain do take breaks for food and toilet stops. No need to strategically dehydrate for your long journey here!

Spain is an vivid and welcoming place filled with passionate and caring people who are only too happy to accommodate tourists and travellers.

Learning a little of the language can get you a long way and even if you make mistakes the Spanish always appreciate the effort.

Going to Spain? Read more about these Spanish Cities

Toledo, Beautiful Spanish History Awaits

15 Free Things to do in Seville, Spain

Andalusia Travel 5 Reasons to Visit the South of Spain

Camping in Spain: Everything You Need to Know

Via Ferrata, Spain Take your adventure to New Heights

Read More about the City of Barcelona

A Locals Guide to What to do in Barcelona at Night

26 of the Best Places to Visit in Barcelona

Gaudi in Barcelona 13 Must-See Architectural Wonders

What city in Spain should I visit first?

Barcelonais a great place to start in Spain. Madrid is the most popular, but in Barcelona, you can explore the works of Gaudi, it has great nightlife, one of the best urban beaches in Europe and fantastic cuisine.

Beauty is subjective, but we believe thatBarcelonais the most beautiful city. With the works of Gaudi but many thinkGranadais the most beautiful.

You can visitSpainany time of year but crowds peak during the summer months, so we suggest shoulder season in Spring or Autumn.

The top five most visit cities in Spain are Madrid, Barcelona,Granada,and Seville.

If you enjoyed our list of the best cities and places to visit in Spain, save it to Pinterest for future travel planning.

How many places in Spain will you visit on your next European vacation?

15 Free Things to do in Seville, Spain

Andalusia Travel 5 Reasons to Visit the South of Spain

A Locals Guide to What to do in Barcelona at Night

Gaudi in Barcelona 13 Must-See Architectural Wonders

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights:Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals onSkyscanner

Book your Hotel:Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe and if you are anywhere else useTripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals:You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals withVRBO.

Travel Insurance:Dont leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out ourResources Pagewhere we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

Where to Stay in Barcelona A Guide to the Best Neighborhoods

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26 Best Things to do in Granada, Spain

Linda Smith is a travel writer and the founder/main editor of EasyTravelForYou Her passion for travel inspires her to seek new places, new adventures and sharing her travel experience to everyone. Follow Linda at:EasyTravel4U/Facebook/Twitter

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Great article and having visited most of these cities I agree with your choice. Just one error Valencia is third largest city in Spain whilst Seville is fourth.

Nice article. Teruel, Tarragona, Segovia and Avila are also worth a visit if you look for more inspiring places. For the bigger cities, Seville keeps me surprising.

So cool list !!! Guauu!!!! The photos of Tossa De Mar and Alicante are so impresive ! Good jobs and article.