Have you ever eaten something so delicious while traveling that it becomes the defining memory of your trip? We have, too.
14.02.2024 - 21:29 / lonelyplanet.com / Reina Sofía
Coming second only to its northern neighbor as the most visited country in the world, Spain is packed with incredible places to visit and experiences to enjoy.
Sun-drenched Mediterranean beaches, World Heritage cities, incredible cuisine, and multi-faceted culture – the only downside is not knowing where to begin with your must-see list. I've done all the hard work for you and gathered together my eight favorite places to visit in sensational Spain in 2024.
Best city for visiting world-class art museums
The Spanish capital is a lively city blessed with year-round clear blue skies draped over its vibrant barrios (neighborhoods), architectural landmarks and famed art museums. There's even an ancient Egyptian temple, the Templo de Debod, right in Madrid's city center.
Art aficionados could spend days exploring Madrid's "Golden Triangle of Art," composed of three globally renowned museums, the Museo del Prado, Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza, which are home to some of the world's most valuable art collections. They are situated along Madrid's Paseo del Prado (Art Walk), which has recently been granted UNESCO World Heritage status.
Planning tip: Madrid has a vibrant street culture that loves its wine-soaked tapas crawls. Cava Baja in the historic La Latina neighborhood is lined with quaint little bars and taverns, making it one of the best streets in the city to join locals hopping from one bar to the next to sample a selection of Iberian hams, charcuterie and cheeses.
Best for modernist architecture
Straddling the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees mountains, the Catalonian capital is a visually stunning metropolis with avant-garde architecture, city beaches and a Gothic Quarter that stretches back over 2000 years.
No visit to Barcelona is complete without spending time at the Sagrada Família, the obra maestra of the illustrious Catalan architect and proponent of Modernism, Antoní Gaudí. His influence on the city is everywhere, and it's worth taking time to visit his other architectural jewels, the Casa Batlló, La Pedrera and Park Güell.
Another place where Gaudí has left his legacy is at the Plaça Reial, at the heart of the city's two millennia-old Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter). The public square is lit up by decorative street lamps that were Gaudí's first commissioned public work. This ancient neighborhood is also home to the majestic La Catedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, which was built over two centuries from the 13th to the 15th centuries. At the border of the quarter is Mercat de la Boqueria, one of the oldest markets in Europe.
Planning tip: Have a lunchtime visit to Mercat de la Boqueria – it's when the unassuming places to eat, run by charismatic owners, start to open up.
Best city for
Have you ever eaten something so delicious while traveling that it becomes the defining memory of your trip? We have, too.
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