20 Most Beautiful Cities in Spain 2023: Ultimate Guide
This list of the most beautiful cities in Spain will help you get to know some of the great tourist attractions of this country, beyond all the medieval towns and natural wonders it can boast of.
With a wide variety of cities for all tastes, all of them with numerous tourist attractions, which make them worth spending a few days enjoying all its leisure and cultural activities, as well as visiting its historical and artistic heritage, this country, we assure you It is one of the most incredible in the world.
From large metropolises such as Madrid and Barcelona, through cities located in privileged locations such as San Sebastián, to smaller ones such as Toledo or Granada, they formed an essential part of this country, unique in the world. They are visited every year by millions of tourists.
Based on the experience of the numerous routes through Spain that we have done and during which we wrote this list of things to see and do in Spain, we have made this selection of the 20 most beautiful cities in Spain, always according to our personal opinion. Let’s start!
1. Seville
Seville, the capital of Andalusia and considered by many to be the most beautiful city in Spain, should be a must for every traveler.
Lose yourself in the historic neighborhoods of Santa Cruz and Triana, visit the Cathedral with its magnificent Giralda and the Real Alcázar with its beautiful gardens, reach Plaza España, climb to the top of the Torre del Oro or take a walk along the shore of Guadalquivir at sunset, are just some of the best things to do in Seville.
One of the best times to travel to Seville is in autumn, especially in spring, when the temperature is more pleasant, and the smell of orange blossom is omnipresent.
Also, try the delicious local gastronomy based on tapas and typical dishes such as gazpacho, Andalusian stew, fried fish, marinated dogfish, Pavia soldiers, or flamenco eggs, all of them exquisite and unforgettable.
In order not to miss anything of this fantastic city, we recommend you follow this list of important places to see in Seville and these personalized guides for days:
2. San Sebastián, one of the most beautiful cities in Spain
San Sebastián or Donosti, located in a privileged location on the shores of the Cantabrian Sea in the Basque Country, is another of Spain’s charming cities.
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Starting with Playa de la Concha, surrounded by small palaces overlooking the sea and one of the most beautiful urban beaches in the world, you will discover a city with a beautiful old town where you can get lost in its narrow streets and try all kinds of delicious pintxos that stacked in the bars of the most traditional bars and taverns; it is an obligation.
After recovering your strength, you can continue visiting its most important monuments such as the Buen Pastor Cathedral, the Plaza de la Constitución, the María Cristina and Zurriola bridges, the spectacular views of Monte Igueldo and the Peine del Viento, some famous sculptures by Eduardo squeak.
To avoid missing anything important, we recommend you complete this list of essential places to see in San Sebastián following this route of San Sebastián in one day.
3. Segovia
Segovia, a World Heritage Site located half an hour by AVE from Madrid, is another of the most beautiful cities in Spain.
Although we recommend spending the night seeing it with fewer tourists, this city that can be visited in a single day has several architectural jewels in its wonderful medieval old towns, such as the Roman Aqueduct, the Cathedral, and the Alcazar.
To end a visit to the city, do not forget to visit the Jewish quarter and go down to the Mirador de la Pradera de San Marcos, where you get the best perspective of the Alcázar.
Another of the best things to do in the city is to try the famous roast suckling pig in one of the best restaurants in Segovia, such as the emblematic Jose María.
An excellent way to take advantage of everything necessary is to do this route in Segovia in one day and complete this list of essential places to visit in Segovia, one of the most beautiful cities in Spain.
4. Barcelona
Another of the cities in Spain that is well worth visiting if you have between two and three days in Barcelona, known as the Ciudad Condal and one of the most visited cities in the world.
This city, which transformed and opened up to the sea during the 1992 Olympic Games, has become a top-level tourist destination thanks to its many tourist attractions, including the modernist buildings built by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí such as the Sagrada Family, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera and Park Güell.
In addition to visiting all these wonders and enjoying the endless offer of cultural and leisure activities, it is also worth getting lost in the narrow streets of the most popular neighborhoods, such as the Gothic, the Born, Barceloneta, or Gracia, to end up watching the sunset from one of its incredible viewpoints such as the Bunkers del Carmel.
To regain strength on the exhausting walking routes through the city, we recommend you try the tapas made with quality products and the most typical dishes of Catalan gastronomy, such as pa amb tomaquet, botifarra amb mongers, esqueixada de bacallà, suquet de peix, the fricandó or the usual Catalan cream, in the best restaurants to eat in Barcelona.
5. Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela, known throughout the world for being the end of the mythical Camino de Santiago and one of the three main Christian pilgrimage centers, along with Jerusalem and Rome, is another of the most beautiful cities in Spain.
This city, which impresses at first sight due to its monumental Cathedral that has the spectacular Pórtico de la Gloria and the tomb of the Apostle Santiago, its two most precious jewels, has other attractions such as its well-kept parks such as La Alameda and the youthful atmosphere generated by its famous university that is more than 500 years old.
Other outstanding places in the city are the Convent of San Francisco, the Monastery of San Martín Pinario, the narrow streets of the Old City, the viewpoint of Monte Pedroso, and the Mercado de Abastos, where you can buy and try their delicious seafood and fish.
If you prefer to eat a good octopus a feira, one of the most typical Galician dishes, you can go to the Mesón do Pulpo.
For more information, you can consult this list of important places to see in Santiago de Compostela.
6. Pomegranate
Granada, famous throughout the world for the Alhambra, one of the most beautiful monuments in the world, is another of Spain’s charming cities.
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After devoting half a visit to this vast monumental complex, a World Heritage Site, made up of palaces, gardens, a convent, a church, and a fortress to house the emir and the court of the Nasrid Kingdom, you can spend the rest of your time touring the charming Albaicín neighborhood, enjoy the views from the Mirador de San Nicolás and visit the Cathedral with its famous Royal Chapel.
Another of the best things to do in Granada is to go for tapas in traditional bars such as Bar Los Diamante or Los Pescadores, in which they give you one for every beer or wine, and relax in the afternoon in an Arab Hamman, where you will remember the city’s Arab past in the best possible way.
7. Madrid
Madrid, the tolerant city that never sleeps and where it is impossible to get bored, is one of the most beautiful cities to visit in Europe and one of our favorites in the world.
During the day, you can dedicate yourself to visiting the most charming neighborhoods such as Chueca, Malasaña, and Las Letras, see the most important museums such as El Prado and Reina Sofía, fall in love with the Plaza Mayor, relax walking through El Retiro or visit the enormous Royal Palace.
While in the evening nothing better than watching the sunset at the Temple of Debod, going up to the viewpoint of the Círculo de Bellas Artes, going all the way down Gran Vía, and seeing a musical in one of its mythical theatres, enjoying the atmosphere of Puerta del Sun and tapas or a drink in the San Miguel market or the La Latina neighborhood.
Another of the things we like most about Madrid before starting the visit is to have an excellent hot chocolate with cheers at the San Ginés Chocolatería, one of the historic ones in the city.
8. Valencia, one of the essential cities in Spain
Valencia, an increasingly fashionable city, which combines centuries-old traditions and the oldest buildings with new trends and futuristic constructions, is another of the most beautiful cities in Spain.
Starting a walking route through the Plaza de la Virgen, located in the heart of the old town and where the Cathedral is located, you will discover a city with magnificent modernist examples such as the Central Market, old churches that will leave you speechless like the one in San Nicolás and corners full of charms such as the Lonja de la Seda and the Plaza Redonda.
In the afternoon, you can go to the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences designed by Santiago Calatrava and have a drink or tapas in the Ruzafa neighborhood, which is always full of a good atmosphere.
You can only leave the city by trying the Valencian paella in one of the best restaurants to eat in Valencia, such as Casa Carmela, and snack on a good horchata with cartons.
An excellent way to get to know all your essentials is to follow this Valencia route in one day and complete this list of the most important places to see in Valencia.
Valencia, one of the most beautiful cities in Spain
9. Toledo
Toledo, a city where Christians, Muslims, and Jews coexisted peacefully for centuries, respecting their customs and privileges, cannot be left out of the list of the most beautiful cities in Spain.
Known as the City of the Three Cultures, it preserves a great legacy in churches, synagogues, and mosques of architectural elements characteristic of each religion.
A route through the city begins by crossing the beautiful Puente de Alcántara and going up to the historical center where its main points of interest are concentrated, such as the Cathedral, El Alcázar, the Synagogue of Santa María La Blanca, the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes and the Church of Santo Tomé, where “The Burial of the Count of Orgaz” is located, one of the great masterpieces of El Greco.
Although the views of the Church of the Jesuits are magnificent, do not forget at sunset or first thing in the morning to go to the viewpoint of the Valley to fall in love with this incredible city even more.
To try the typical dishes of La Mancha food, such as stewed partridge, carcasses, Toledo-style rice, cochifrito, and the famous marzipan, you can choose one of the best restaurants to eat in Toledo, such as El Albero or Bar Ludeña.
If you need more clarity about the routes on foot through the city, we recommend you follow this guide to Toledo in one day and complete this list of essential places to visit in Toledo.
10. Caceres
Cáceres, located in Extremadura and with an old town declared a World Heritage Site, is our last recommendation on the list of the most beautiful cities in Spain.
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This city, where scenes from the Game of Thrones series have been filmed, thanks to having one of the world’s most critical urban complexes from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, is perfect for spending a weekend.
Inside its walls, entering through the Arco de la Estrella, you will find true architectural wonders such as the Plaza Mayor, the Plaza de Santa María, and the Plaza de San Mateo, which concentrate on many of the oldest and most important buildings in the city. To end the day, you can visit the San Antonio neighborhood, the old Jewish quarter.
Cáceres is also one of the gastronomic capitals of Spain for its preparations with local products such as migas from Extremadura, the famous Torta del Casar cheese, and Manteca colorá or pattern, which will leave your palate more than satisfied.
11. Cordoba
Knowing Córdoba is discovering the Muslim, Christian and Jewish imprint that these three religions left for centuries, contributing a patrimonial and cultural value that is difficult to surpass for other cities in Spain and the world.
Beginning with the Mosque of Córdoba, declared a World Heritage Site and one of the most valuable legacies of al-Andalus in Spain, you will visit corners that will leave you speechless, such as the Jewish Quarter, the Alcázar de Reyes Cristianos, the Roman Bridge and the famous flower patios that filled with colour in spring.
12. Salamanca, another of the best cities in Spain
Salamanca, known as the city of the golden stone for the colour of its architectural jewels and located a step away from Madrid, is another of the most beautiful cities in Spain.
A route through Salamanca in one day should start with the spectacular Plaza Mayor, one of the most beautiful in the world, and then wander through its charming old town until you find treasures such as its emblematic University, the beautiful Cathedral and the San Esteban Convent.
After completing this list of places to visit in Salamanca, there is nothing better than trying its quality product and local dishes in one of the best-rated restaurants to eat at in Salamanca.
13. Pamplona
On our last route through the north of Spain, we stopped for a full day in the city of Pamplona to see all its tourist attractions, and we can assure you that it exceeded all our expectations.
Famous worldwide for the popular festival of Sanfermines and one of the great stops on the Camino de Santiago Francés, Pamplona hides a tremendous historical and cultural heritage concentrated in the streets of its beautiful old town surrounded by centuries-old walls.
In addition to completing this list of places to see in Pamplona following this Pamplona route in one or two days, be sure to enjoy its lively nightlife and take a pintxo route along Estafeta or San Nicolás streets.
14. Burgos is another of the cities in Spain that you cannot miss
A city that we have visited several times in recent years and that we cannot stop recommending to spend a minimum of one day is Burgos, the capital of the province and located in the extreme northeast of the community of Castilla y León.
Linked to the iconic character of the Cid Campeador, Burgos will take you back a few centuries when you stroll through its medieval historic centre and arrive at the imposing Cathedral, one of the most beautiful in Spain.
After knowing all the points of interest to see in Burgos, such as the beautiful Church of San Nicolás de Bari and going up to the viewpoint of the castle, be sure to visit the Museum of Human Evolution to see the valuable remains found in the Sierra de Atapuerca, declared World Heritage by UN.
To put the icing on your visit to Burgos, you can try some of its typical dishes such as black pudding from Burgos, olla rotunda, lamb or Castilian soup in one of the best restaurants to eat in Burgos such as La Fábrica and El Fogón De Jesuurgos
15. Cádiz, one of the most charming cities in Spain
Cádiz, known as the “Tacita de Plata”, more than 3000 years old, could not be missing from this list of the most beautiful cities in Spain either.
Famous for its carnival and its chirigotas, this provincial capital was our final point on the famous route of the White Villages of Cádiz, and we can assure you that it was the perfect icing on the cake thanks to its good atmosphere, its delicious gastronomy, its beaches and its beautiful historic centre.
Lose yourself in its historic centre known as the Barrio del Pópulo, admiring its fantastic Cathedral and climbing some of its tall towers; go to the Barrio de la Viña to try the fried fish, the marinated dogfish or the shrimp omelette, and end with a sunset on the beach of La Caleta, are some of the best things to do in Cádiz.
To avoid missing anything, we recommend you complete this list of places to see in Cádiz following this guide to Cádiz in one day and enjoy some of the best restaurants in Cádiz.
16. Saragossa
Capital of Aragon and bathed by the waters of the Ebro River, Zaragoza is another of the cities in Spain that you cannot miss.
With more than two thousand years of history, the city hides several jewels, among which the Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar stands out, which houses the venerated image of the Virgin inside, and the Aljafería Palace declared a World Heritage Site—and known as the “little Alhambra”.
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After getting to know all the wonders to see in Zaragoza, following this Zaragoza route in one day, you can get lost in the old town that houses several Roman sites until you find the Tubo area where you can try its most famous tapas, and at sunset, cross the Ebro by the Stone Bridge while the Basilica illuminated.
17. Girona
It is not surprising that the Game of Thrones series chose the city of Girona to shoot some of its most emblematic scenes since the beauty of its old Jewish Quarter combined with the imposing Cathedral make it another of the most beautiful cities in Spain.
With more than 2,000 years old, the narrow and labyrinthine streets of the Girona Jewish Quarter make it one of the best preserved in the world, transporting you for a few hours to the splendour of medieval times.
In addition to visiting essential buildings such as the Cathedral and the Arab Baths, it is worth crossing several bridges over the Onyar River to get a unique perspective of the city and walk on top of its wall.
A good time to visit the city and complete this list of places to see in Girona is in mid-May when the famous Temps de Flors festival is held, and the town is filled with colour and smells.
18. Oviedo, another of the most beautiful cities in Spain
Capital of the Principality of Asturias and one of the most elegant cities in Spain, Oviedo has managed to preserve a charming pedestrian historical centre full of palaces and bourgeois houses, which have made it an essential stop on a trip to the north of the Peninsula.
Among the many jewels in Oviedo are the pre-Romanesque churches, located at the foot of Mount Naranco and declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, the Cathedral and its more than 100 sculptures, such as the Mafalda sculpture scattered around critical points in the city. , which will delight young and old.
After the visits, nothing better than to recover strength with the forceful Asturian dishes such as cachepot, Asturian fabada, and scorpionfish cake and for dessert, the typical carbayones or the muscovites, all accompanied by cider drinks in one of the best restaurants where to eat in Oviedo
19. Basin
Cuenca, located in a privileged natural enclave between the gorges of the Huécar and Júcar rivers and declared a World Heritage City, is another of the most charming cities in Spain.
Divided into two areas, the old town, located more than 1000 meters above sea level, is its main tourist attraction and most prominent place in the emblematic Casas Colgadas.
In addition to knowing all the most beautiful places to visit in Cuenca following this route in one day, it is worth taking a drive to the nearby Ciudad Encantada, a spectacular natural setting formed by rock formations over thousands of years.
20. Bilbao
To finish this list of the most beautiful cities in Spain, we suggest you spend two days in Bilbao, one of our favourites, for its incredible gastronomy and historical heritage.
On a route through the points of interest to see in Bilbao, you cannot stop strolling through its old town or Siete Calles, go up to the Artxanda Viewpoint and take a walk along the banks of the Ría until you reach the emblematic and controversial museum of contemporary art. Guggenheim.
To get everything, you can follow this guide to Bilbao in one day or to Bilbao in two days, which will help you optimize your itinerary and try its delicious pintxos in one of the best-known places in the city.
Which city in Spain is best to visit?
The top 8 places to visit in Spain
- Madrid. Best city for visiting world-class art museums. …
- Barcelona. Best for modernist architecture. …
- San Sebastián. Best city for gourmet experiences. …
- Balearic islands. Best for beaches and sapphire-colored waters. …
- Seville. …
- Toledo. …
- Santiago de Compostela. …
- Granada
What are 3 famous cities in Spain?
Beautiful Cities in Spain
- Madrid.
- Barcelona.
- Seville.
- Bilbao.
- Valencia.
- Granada.
- Salamanca.
- Toledo.
What is the luxury city in Spain?
Numerous firms of international prestige have chosen Madrid to set up some of their most important stores. They add to the extraordinary premium offer of the capital of Spain with various Michelin Star establishments, hundred-year-old restaurants and artisan shops.
What is the most fashionable city in Spain?
Madrid. If you’re looking for luxury products with character, Madrid is the city for you. In the neighbourhood of Salamanca, you will find various prestigious brands and some incredible authentic high-fashion.