25 Things To Do In Spain

I have probably visited Spain more than any other country in the world. It’s a beautiful country, with tasty food, nice warm weather and friendly locals. 

I am a massive fan of bucket lists, as you can tell by my list of 100 things to do before you die, however I thought it would be nice to make some destination specific tick lists. Spain offers such a combination of activities and experiences to suit everyone, from surf friendly beaches with some of the biggest clubs in Europe, contrasting with the art and culture of Barcelona and the beauty of Alhambra. I hope you enjoy this list!

1) Alhambra in Granada

This giant 13th century fortress will take an entire day to walk around, while the muqarnas ceilings in the hall are certainly one of the most spectacular sights here. The first Nasrid king, El Ahmar, chose this building as it overlooked the entire city of Granada, offering you a great view for some quick snaps.

The price for entry is around 21 euro’s at the ticket office, while it is free for children under 12 and just €14.85 for students. Alhambra does offer night visits Tuesday to Saturday between April to October as well as the traditional day time options, however from mid October through to the end of March this is much limited. In the Winter it closes earlier, but as long as you arrive for the morning then you’ll be absolutely fine.

2) Eat Tapas

Embracing the local cuisine is always a pivotal aspect of travelling. You should go from bar to bar trying the various tapas options as you go. Eventually you will work out your preferred restaurants and your favourite dishes, admittedly mine were any with cheese in. Some of the most well known dishes include croquettes, albondigas, Spanish tortilla (Raquel’s favourite), patatas bravas and a large amount of chorizo based dishes.

3) See Gaudi’s architecture in Barcelona

Much of Gaudi’s work can be found in Parc Guell, which holds a number of his structures, but the crowds in that park do taint the experience quite a lot. Gaudi is known and respected around the world and was regularly influenced by forms of nature, which is definitely evident in the curves through all of his architecture.

Casa Batllo is also worth a visit, a beautiful building designed by Gaudi, really illustrating how different he was to his contemporaries. Plus at the end is an amazing 360 show which I strongly recommend, one of my highlights of my visit. Of course, Sagrada Familia is the most recognisable part of Barcelona, a strong image for the country and the beautiful architecture.

If you do visit, make sure to check out my guide on the best things to do in Barcelona.

4) La Tomatina, Bunol (Valencia)

I expect this to be on everyone’s list, as possibly the greatest festival in the world! The party starts with a massive feast of Paella. The following morning thousands of people take to the streets with tomato’s in hand, ready to throw to their hearts content.

This is potentially one of the biggest food fights in the world, although make sure you squeeze the tomato before throwing so that it bursts upon impact, preventing them from feeling any pain at all (even if it’s minimal from a tomato). As soon as the bottle rocket sounds, it’s clean up time and everyone heads on to a bar or to wash themselves.

For the record, I listed Valencia, as it’s 40km away from Bunol and where peoplefly to in order to reach the festival.

5) Eat Cuttlefish Roe in Huelva

I loved our visit to Huelva, from exploring the markets to learning about the British and Spanish connection in the area, as well as relaxing by the docks. But one of the most fascinating parts was the food, make sure to check out my guide on where to eat in Huelva.

There were a number of scrumptious dishes, but one that really caught me out was cuttlefish roe. In laymen terms, it’s basically squid eggs. They tasted like a combination of cheese and meat, both with taste and texture. I was captivated by them.

Unfortunately, you can’t get them back in the UK, so I’m slightly limited in eating these again unless I plan on re-visiting this area of Spain. Huelva doesn’t receive much tourism, so unlike other parts of Spain, you’re very much welcomed as a Brit.

6) Views of Ronda

A magnificent Puente Nuevo bridge spans the El Tajo gorge between the new town and the old town, which you can find through taking a picturesque drive through the Andalucía mountains. If you plan on visiting, make sure your camera is fully charged as the images are unbelievable.

The bridge will offer some brilliant panoramic views, while you can also trek down the gorge in order to get a different perspective, plus you’ll earn your lunch. 

If you’re driving over, then there is parking in the new town, while there are also tour buses going here, which tend to arrive midday, so if you’re making your own way over then try to arrive early morning to avoid any crowds.

7) Rastro, Madrid

Madrid’s flea market attracts a huge audience and looks the same as you imagine it would 50 years before. Find yourself a bargain and if you end up getting bored, the streets are coated in bars which you can sneak off to. I would keep an eye on your possessions however as this flea market does tend to attract some unwanted attention from pickpockets.

This is actually the largest flea market in Spain, while it’s open on Sundays. You can get here by Metro with the closest stop being La Latina. As well as clothing stands and items for souvenirs, there are also some tapas spots along here, plus a number of restaurants offering tapas, so you can follow your trip with some lunch.

8) Ski the Sierra Nevada Mountains

If you are staying in Malaga then you actually have a relatively short journey before you can get your ski’s on. The Sierra Nevada ski resorts are famous worldwide due to the fact that you can ski in the mountains and then head down to the beach to get a tan all within the same day.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that this makes any difference on the ski resort as it is definitely one of the best you will find in Europe, despite the contrast of weather in such a close distance.

The highest point is the 3,398m Veleta Peak, while the ski season runs from the end of November through to early May (depending on the weather and snow that year). Ideally though, you should be looking to arrive between mid December and mid February if your focus is on the snow coverage, but later on in March-May you can get discounted prices.

9) Go to Camp Nou

Admittedly, if you’re in Madrid instead, you can swap this activity out for visiting the Bernabéu.

You do not have to be a football fan to appreciate the size and structure of Camp Now, Barcelona’s football stadium. However, if you are a football fan, try and pick up some tickets and bare witness to some of the greatest footballer in the world. If you do, try and learn some of the chants before you head to the game, or go to a bar beforehand and befriend someone heading to the match.

I first went here when I was 12, while I returned more recently and it still has that impressive feel to it. The former home of Messi, the greatest footballer of all time, they might not be the world’s best team anymore but they still are an incredible team in a huge stadium.

10) Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao

This is by far the greatest museum I have ever been to, and I’m a Londoner surrounded by astoundingly good and free museums. Frank Gehry’s masterpiece highlights some of the most bizarre art you will find, mainly from the 20th century. The shape of the building itself is something of a wonder, with more curves than David Beckham’s free kicks (pretty old quote that…Whatever).

Opened in 1997, the musum does get pretty busy with school trips by midday so aim for soon after opening. The app allows you to have an audio guide, but make sure to download this beforehand, as you may struggle for reception while there and miss out on the experience.

11) Benicassim festival

Spain’s biggest music festival is growing in reputation every year as people leave the muddy festivals in the UK for a party on the beach near Barcelona. Benicassim, or Festival Internacional de Benicàssim, as it is known in Spanish, lasts for four days in a beach rocking, music pumping, drinking mayhem. 

The town of Benicàssim plays host, which is relatively close to Valencia and Barcelona, while the festival takes place in mid July. My friends have gone a number of years in a row, talking about how amazing it is, but the only negative they highlight is that feeling when you wake up, 30 degrees, in a warm tent, suffering with a hangover. So make sure you get plenty of water bottles set for you to recover with.

12) Aqueduct, Segovia

This roman aqueduct has been in place for 2,000 years, stretching 800m long. It’s actually really impressive how well this has been preserved. The aqueduct used to carry water all the way from the Frío River to Segovia, which is a hefty 17km.

A visit to the aqueduct makes for some great photos, yet it will only take a few hours, therefore you will still have plenty of time to head back and try the local delicacy, a roast suckling pig, cochinillo asado (unless you’re vegetarian). The aqueduct is lit up at night which is nice to see, but you’re still better off visiting in the morning (unless you can do both if you have time).

13) Limite Zero Zip Wire

Each country might quote an amazing zip wire experience, but where else in the world will you find a zip line that crosses international borders. Passing over the river Guadiana, the views are incredible along the 720 metre stretch.

With speeds of up to 80 kmh you may struggle to take it all in, but stick a gopro on the head and you will be able to look back and admire its beauty. If going with children, be aware the minimum age is 14.

Quite hilariously, you will actually need to bring a passport or ID, as you are crossing an international border. Rather than turning up on the day, I would recommend booking this in advance, as it can be fully booked up during the summer months over the weekend.

14) Picos de Europa

Located between Castilla y Leon, Cantabria and Asturias, the Picos de Europa has become one of the most popular hiking routes in Europe. The views are second to none, with the gorgeous glacial lakes, surrounded by forests, with plenty of valleys and gorges.

There are high summits, including the 2,650m Torre de Cerredo, for those that love to hike. But for those less capable of taking on something that intense, you can actually take the cable car up, lifting you almost 800 metres in just a 4 minute ride.

15) Walk along Las Ramblas

This street is set out only for pedestrians, something I wish we had more of in the UK, as the street is lined with markets. Soon as you get tired, you can stop off in a cafe on the Las Ramblas, with numerous tapas restaurants dotted along.

Be aware of pickpockets, especially at night, as this is the highest area for crime in Barcelona. You will also see some street performers (again if you’re watching, make sure you have an eye on your pockets and bags). Las Ramblas stretches around 1.2km, so it is a fair walk, especially if you stop off at each stand, so make sure to give yourself around an hour, or maybe a few hours if you plan on eating lunch around here.

18) Relax On A Malaga Beach

You can’t visit Spain and not relax on a beach, it’s one of the biggest tourist attractions they have and the reason they are the number one spot for Brits abroad (not necessarily a good thing, we have a bit of an embarrassing reputation at times).

Whether it’s Torremolinos beach or Playa de la Malagueta beach, there are plenty to choose from, each with their own key selling points. Malaga has 16 main beaches, while if swimming and sunbathing doesn’t appeal, then you can sit in one of the coastal restaurants or bars for some lunch.

If you don’t fancy all the crowds, it could be worth checking out Pedregalejo, which is still a really nice beach but just doesn’t get the same level of tourism.

19) Eat Paella

Paella is one of the most famous and loved Spanish dishes, originating from the Valencia region, with various options available. Made from rice, vegetables, meat and seafood, I recently gained a new found respect for this dish as I love chorizo!

Rather than the seafood option, I actually much prefer Valencian paella, containing rabbit, chicken and some chorizo. Apparently it can also contain duck or snails, but I never saw that served anywhere.

You can get some paella in a restaurant, while they also often serve this as street food at markets, in a paellera big pan. This is actually more commonly eaten at lunch rather than dinner time. Also, it will take around 40 minutes to make fresh, so be patient and make sure you buy from a non-touristy spot so you don’t get a rubbish reheated version.

20) Visit The World’s Oldest Restaurant

Whether it’s truly the oldest standing restaurant in the world is debatable, but Sobrino de Botin is the oldest recorded restaurant in the world, having been opened in 1725.

The restaurant can be found in Madrid, while it still regularly attracts customers, including some big celebrities over the years. It was even highlighted in an Ernest Hemingway book, while it can sometimes get booked up in the summer, so it’s worth reserving a table.

The most popular dish you’ll find here is the roast suckling pig (cochinillo asado), but there are plenty of other options, such as galic shrimp, scrambled eggs, sauteed vegetables with Iberian ham, grilled veal, sirloin steak or fried squid.

21) Park Guell

I have intentionally included a picture of the crowds, as I don’t want you to arrive unsuspecting. I loved my visit 25 years ago, but when I went with Raquel more recently, the intense amount of tourists really did make this a poor part of our visit.

A 17 hectare park in the beautiful city of Barcelona, this is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while the stunning colourful walls make for some great photo opportunities.

The sculptures and tile work is undeniably a Gaudi masterpiece, as is much of the city, while it’s also a great place to stop for some lunch.

22) Party hard in Ibiza

There is no bigger party than the ones in Ibiza, from April till October. The welcome parties and ending parties are normally the most popular, as they welcome in the re-opening of the clubs for the summer or the big final send off.

Be prepared to spend a lot more than you would like to however, as entry to clubs is normally about £80-£150! There are 3 main superclubs, along with a number of other popular slightly smaller nightclubs and beach bars. The most popular time to visit is around July and August.

Book your ticket entry in advance, while you also might want to check out hotels and apartments in San Antonio for a better price than Ibiza Town. Also, as the prices of drinks in the main clubs is so extortionate, you might want to ‘pre drink’ at the beach bars. In fact, I’d personally spend the entire time at the beach bars and skip those mega clubs, but I’m getting older and couldn’t think of anything worse.

23) Dance to the flamenco

The passion of Flamenco is palpable as it creates a relaxed yet lustful atmosphere. Flamenco is a bit unusual to me as it is all very prepared, as each dance move is practiced and perfected over a large amount of time, following a strict framework of rhythmic patterns. I tend to be more impressed by dances that are a bit more natural, such as salsa or street dancing, however I still feel you should give Flamenco a go if you’re in Spain for an extensive period of time.

24) Paragliding in La Herradura

How bad is your fear of heights? Mine is painfully bad, hence why this one will remain unticked for me, but there is something incredible about this activity when performed over such beautiful views.

This little Spanish village can alternatively be viewed from the ground as you hike up the hills or relax on the beach, but a birds eye view does offer something quite unique to your summer holiday.

If you don’t fancy doing it yourself, it can be worth watching those giving it a try from Cerro Gordo. People often opt for the late afternoon, while you can book this in with several companies, so that they handle the whole process and guide you through it all. Don’t worry, you won’t be the pilot!

25) Running with the bulls, Pamplona

I was 50/50 whether to put this in as I find it very cruel on the animals, but then I thought about how the bulls get instant revenge when they catch up with everyone and suddenly it didn’t seem that cruel!

The running of the bulls is only for volunteers who are willing to put themselves at risk, as there are many casualties every year, yet this blood thirsty sport continues to thrive. The San Fermin festival is held in July each year, while it was traditionally a way to get the bulls across town. The actual run lasts around 3 minutes.

Again, I don’t want to support or promote this, I hate it with a passion, but I do love the idea of the bulls getting some revenge on the people that join this. You can watch it from the side and cheer on the bulls, if you do decide to attend.

So there you have it, my ultimate guide on things to do in Spain. I’ll try to update this or add more as I go on, as Spain is such a vast country with so many attractions and activities to try!