Spain Guide
things not to miss
1 La Mezquita, Córdoba
Nothing can prepare you for the breathtaking Grand Mosque of Córdoba – one of the world's most beautiful buildings.
2 Toledo
The capital of medieval Spain, Toledo has changed little since its depiction in El Greco's paintings.
3 Ibiza's beaches
The little-developed beaches of the Balearics range from gem-like coves to sweeps of white sand.
4 Seafood in San Sebastián
San Sebastián is renowned for its refined Basque cuisine, much of it featuring seafood, served in some of the finest restaurants and tapas bars in the country.
5 Salamanca
An ancient university town with beautiful Gothic and Renaissance buildings.
6 Sitges Carnaval
Sitges throws one of the most spectacular carnival parties, in which people – many of them gay – take to the streets with fancy dress and floats.
7 Museo Guggenheim, Bilbao
Gehry's flagship creation, with its undulating titanium, has become one of the iconic buildings of our age.
8 A night on the tiles, Madrid
Delight in the capital's most traditional of rituals – a night of bar-hopping and clubbing rounded off by a dawn reviver of chocolate con churros.
9 The Prado, Madrid
Paintings such as Goya's powerful Tres de Mayo, not to mention outstanding works by Velázquez and El Greco, make the Prado obligatory on any visit to Spain's capital.
10 Aqueduct, Segovia
Eight hundred metres long, this solid piece of Roman engineering has spanned the Castilian town for nearly two thousand years.
11 Picos de Europa
This stunning northern area of mountain peaks and gorges has superb walking, canoeing and rock-climbing.
12 Seville
The quintessential Andalucian city with sun-drenched plazas, winding alleyways, Moorish monuments and more bars than seems remotely feasible.
13 Cádiz
Marvellously atmospheric port town built from the proceeds of the colonial trade in precious metals, with an easy-going feel and a great Carnaval.
14 Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
One of Spain's truly essential sights – Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, the church of the "Sacred Family".
15 Teatre-Museu Dalí, Figueres
The Dalí museum in Figueres is as surreal as its creator – who lies in a mausoleum within.
16 León Catedral
A vividly painted Romanesque crypt and stained glass up in the Gothic cathedral make this one of the best in Europe, let alone Spain.
17 Mérida
The ancient Roman remains of Mérida, including the beautiful Teatro Romano, are impressive for their extent and state of preservation.
18 Picasso's Guernica
Picasso's portrayal of Spain's bloody struggle against Fascism and its suffering in Guernica, the showpiece of Madrid's Centro de Arte Reina Sofia.
19 The Alhambra, Granada
The legendary Moorish palace complex is a monument to sensuality and contemplative decoration.