SPAIN TRAVEL BLOG: ALL THE BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN SPAIN TO VISIT

*Spain Travel Guides: Scroll to the bottom to head straight to my Madrid, Barcelona, Ibiza, Mallorca and Tenerife guides or keep reading to see what to know and expect when visiting Spain and travel tips for Spain*

Disclosure: This visiting Spain travel guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

What To Expect When Visiting Spain

• I have visited many different cities in Spain and each time it is drastically different which is why I love this country so much. Between all the cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Mallorca and Ibiza) they each hold a different culture and experience and I still have yet to see half the country! I have so many more destinations in this country to visit to see the unique sides of Spanish culture.
• In each city, I have never had a bad encounter nor someone that didn’t speak a little bit of English. Spaniards are notoriously nice and fun and you will have a great time in any destination in this amazing country. Visiting Spain is one of my favorite countries to go to and I have plenty more Spanish cities lined up to visit.
• SIESTA! I am sure you have heard about the Spanish siesta. Siestas are the designated ‘nap time’ during the day and the reason they eat dinner at midnight and go out so late. Take this into consideration when planning and act like a local and definitely take a siesta!
• Spain is an amazing country to road trip around! Check out these five top Spain road trip ideas for inspiration.
• Spain Nightlife: If you are into nightlife, do not miss going out in Spain. Their nightlife is notorious…and LATE! They don’t eat dinner until around midnight and go out afterwards. Every night I went out everytime I have gone to Spain I have returned home at 7AM! It’s insane. But that’s where their famous SIESTAS came to be!
• Travel Insurance: Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world. We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
• Check out another 188 Spain Travel tips before your trip!

PACKING FOR SPAIN: For all of my travel/packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon here for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here.

Spain Currency

The Euro! Makes it easy for traveling around and through Europe.

Spain Language

Spanish, duh! If you know any basic Spanish you will be good. If not, I highly suggest learning the basics before you go just to familiarize yourself since its such a widely spoken language across the world!

Related Post: Portugal Travel Guide

Spain City Guides: Beautiful Places In Spain

Barcelona Travel Tips

• Places to see: Gaudi buildings (duh), Las Ramblas (watch your bags for pickpocketing), Picasso Museum, Princesa Street (really cute shopping).
• The nightlife is absolutely insane in Barcelona. You eat dinner at midnight and don’t go to the clubs (if that’s your thing) until 3am and stay until 7am. The schedule is bizarre, but it works for Spaniards. Definitely go to Opium Club – it’s the most famous one and on the beach.
• Lots of different neighborhoods with unique aspects, to decide where to stay.
  • Gracia: lots of cute plazas around here (Plaza de la Villa Gracia, Plaza del Sol)
  • Eixample: Consol de Cent and Girona have recently been converted into pedestrian streets and are super nice to walk around
    • Enrique Granados is where the classier locals hang out – less touristy but full of nice restaurants (Auto Rossello is great local spot!)
  • San Antoni: Carrer Blau is a tapa hoping street that’s lovely and lively. Parlament is a pedestrian area and full of nice restaurants and a chill vibe
  • Barceloneta: Closest to the beach
• Neighborhoods to avoid staying in
  • Born & Gotico – the most touristy areas. Super nice to wander around during the day, but sketchy, loud and dirty at night. Not recommended.
  • Raval – Least favorite area, I don’t feel safe walking through here during the day or night
• Check out the best spots to eat your way through Barcelona.
• Visiting Barcelona with a baby? Check out everything you need to know here!

Search and book Barcelona hotels, hostels and more accommodations here!

Madrid Travel Tips

• I LOVED Madrid way more than I thought I would. I went when I was young and studying abroad and then again went there and stayed for 3 weeks in August 2024. I am obsessed. It is SUCH a liveable city, nice people, clean streets, amazing food and shopping. I love Madrid so much. Madrid is a MASSIVE city so plan your days out accordingly. And don’t forget about Siesta time. Most things are closed from 2-4pm.
• Things to see in Madrid: Prado Museum, Plaza Mayor, Retina Park and San Miguel Market (a must for foodies) + a ton of other smaller markets all around the city (like Mercado de la Paz!), Palacio de Cristal, get souvenirs at El Rastro Flea Market (Sundays only), Royal Palace, take the cable car to Casa de Campo for views, Temple of Debod (go at sunset), Puerto del Sol
• The nightlife in Madrid is similar to Barcelona – we ate dinner at midnight and went to the clubs (Capital was the best one) at 3am!
• Go to a Flamenco show!
• Shopping: Salamanca neighborhood for upscale trendy stores, or Malasana for vintage shopping, Salesas street for boutiques, El Rastro flea market (sundays only), or visit Las Rozas Village Outlets – 25 minutes from Madrid.
• Where to eat:
  • Eat churros at San Ginés
  • Breakfast/lunch: SO many amazing markets around the city including San Miguel (most famous and biggest) and Mercado de La Paz (MUST eat at Casa Dani and get the omelette), make a reservation NOW at Sala de Desipece – an absolute must. One of the best food experiences I have had – can do lunch or dinner but we loved it for lunch.
  • Dinner: La Maruca, Bibo, Tepic, Cebo, Diverxo, El Minibar, Roostiq, Amazonica, Tatel, La Tasquiera, Tenconten, Panthera, A’Barra, El Cisn Azul
  • Bars: 1862 Dry Bar, Salmon Guru, Harrison, Amazonica, Gota, Fun Fun, Santamaria Istar (club)
  • Do a Food Tour of Madrid! As I mentioned, the food is insane here. I did a food tour with Secret Food Tours and highly recommend. We had amazing food (couldn’t move by the end) from local spots you would never go to on your own, as well as a guide who told us the history behind each and why the food is a local hit. I highly recommend doing their Madrid food tour on your next trip to Madrid, or any of their other cities around the world!
• See exactly how to visit Madrid in a day here.
• Where to stay in Madrid: I stayed both in Chueca (airbnb) and Salamanca (hotels). Salamanca was beautiful, quiet and more upscale and clean, with a lot of nice restaurants. Chueca was more in the center where the action was as it is more touristy and hipstery and has all the bars and nightlife. Totally up to your preference of what you are looking for. If you opt for Salamanca, I HIGHLY recommend both hotels I stayed at: Icon Casona 1900 (mid-level) and Bless Hotel (high-level). Both were amazing and top level Madrid hotels.

Book Icon Casona 1900 hotel here, Bless Hotel here, or search and book Madrid hotels, hostels and more accommodations here!

Ibiza Travel Tips

• I’ve been to Ibiza twice – in 2015 with few friends and then in 2024 for a bachelorette. Ibiza is wild and stunning. It’s NOT all party – but it’s a lot of it. The beaches are absolutely stunning though so if you just want a beach island vacation this can also be it. But if you want to party – it’s amazing as it’s hyped up to be.
• Things to see in Ibiza: beaches!!, walk through the old town streets, walk to the castle and look out at top of the hill
• Restaurants in Ibiza:
  • Dinner: Roto One, Casa Maca, Macao, Es Torrent, La Paloma, Aubergine, Zuma, Laylah (amazing food, turns into a party but only on Friday and Saturday), Juls
  • Beach Club Restaurants: Casa Jondal, Blue Marlin (go for sunset parties, Sunday is the best but other nights are good too, we went on Friday), El Silencio, Beso Beach in Formentera, Experimental, Sunset Ashram (best sunset in Ibiza), El Chringuito (amazing lunch- not a party), Cotton Beach Club (fancier), Beachouse (turns into a party)
• Nightlife in Ibiza: This is clearly the main event. Every single club possible hosts the best DJs all summer. Ushuaia (amazing to get a table, much better experience, saw Avicii and Swedish House Mafia here), Hi Ibiza (beyond packed, be prepared), Pacha, Chinos, Cova Santa, Amnesia, DC-10 (best for Circoloco Mondays)
• MUST take a boat day to Formentera! The waters here are an incredible see-through turquoise and just stunning here. I recommend hiring a private yacht for your group as its catered to you and getting time to swim in the middle of the sea. I recommend going to Beso beach (late seating only!) for a party lunch.
• Hotels in Ibiza: I stayed at Hotel Corso and it was perfect for a group- it looked over the beach and had a beautiful pool. It was perfect. You can book Hotel Corso here. Otherwise if you are there for a bachelorette or big group I much more recommend an Airbnb!

Search and book Ibiza hotels, hostels and more accommodations here!

Mallorca Travel Tips

• We paired Mallorca with Ibiza thinking it would be a relaxing part after a crazy time in Ibiza – nope, it was just as crazy! Mallorca is beyond stunning with so much to do, as well as a crazy nightlife with just as amazing DJs as Ibiza.
• Restaurants in Mallorca: Eat at Cordillero De Mar – best paella i’ve ever had.
• Nightlife in Mallorca: Magaluf is the party area, you can take a quick cab there and just walk around and hit all the spots. BH Mallorca has a cool day stage rage party and BCN Planet Club is a cool club as well.
• Hotels in Mallorca: Definitely stay in the Palma area (aka Palma de Mallorca) – it is the nicest area of Mallorca and around everything. Stay at Hotel Gran Melia Victoria. It’s absolutely stunning. I never wanted to leave this hotel. Book Hotel Gran Melia Victoria here.

Search and book Mallorca hotels, hostels and more accommodations here!

Valencia Travel Tips

• Only need 2 days, max 3 here. One day in the Old City, 2nd day in The City of Arts and Sciences (New city) and Russafa.
• Things to do:
  • Old City: Central Market (a must!), Climb el Miguelete tower at cathedral of Valencia, climb Torres de Serrano (better views than the Cathedral but both are worth it!), Palau Marques de dos Aguas (see from outside), Plaza de la Reina (lots of shopping and restaurants), Plaza de la Virgen (popular at night), Arco de la Calle de la Barquilla, walk around Barrio del Carmen in the old town (all cobblestone/colorful apartments), Old Silk Exchange (La Lonja de la seda)
  • New City: See the eyeball of La Hemispheric, the shell of La Palau de la Reina Sofia, the whale skeleton of the science museum, and go to the acquarium (can also have dinner here underwater). NOTE: I went to the aquarium (it’s biggest acquarium in Europe), which are controversial to many, but I LOVED this one, felt like a little kid, they did a ton to show their sustainability and what they are doing to help the environment. Also can kayak or paddle board in the water in the summer. In
  • Russafa: Nicer area of the city with a lot of colorful streets, cafes and restaurants. Don’t miss the Mercat de Russafa for souvenir shopping!
  • Others: See the Pont de las Flores (beautiful bridge with pink flowers) and Turia Gardens.
• If you have another day, you can definitely go to the beach area (Cabanval). Since I live on the beach in Israel, I opted out of this. But there are amazing beaches in Valencia and amazing paella restaurants here too and a ton of colorful streets in this neighborhood to walk around.
• Stay in the Old Town, as everything is walkable from here
• Restaurants in Valencia: Central Market (all the food stalls you can imagine. Get a juice here!). Best restaurant here is Central Bar (tapas place- must eat at, the line goes quick!). Canalla Bistro, Karak, La Sastreria, Basea, El Aprendiz de Tapas, Fierro, El Poblet, La Cabila, Raro, El Rodamon de Russafa.
• Cafes in Valencia: Cafe Arysana, La Fabrico de Hielo, Ubik, Dulce de Lece, Bluebell Cafe, Saona
• Make sure to try a Horchata (Valencia drink), it is a great refresher after a long day of walking! I recommend getting it at Santa Catalina, a street away from the Central Market. And do not forget to eat Paella, it was born in Valencia! Some of the best Paella restaurants are – Casa Carmela, La Pepica, Casa Roberts and Arroceria la Valenciana.
• Hotels in Valencia: I stayed at MYR Plaza Mercado & Spa and it was absolutely perfect. All of the staff were nicer than the next, the rooms were massive with cute balconies, the breakfast was an exapnsive menu, and everything was clean and and comfortable, you even get a free welcome drink and a free 1 hour time in the spa. Additionally, it was smack in the middle of the old town, directly across from the market, and walkable to all areas. I highly recommend MYR Plaza Mercado & Spa for your Valencia hotel, I would absolutely stay there again.

Book MYR Plaza Mercado here or search and book other Valencia hotels, hostels and more accommodations here!

Tarifa Travel Tips

• Visiting Tarifa? Learn about all the things to do in Tarifa Spain here!

Search and book Tarifa hotels, hostels and more accommodations here!

Related Post: France Travel Guide