Spain

▲▲▲ Barcelona The heart of Catalan culture, this trendy seaside city has an atmospheric old town, an elegant new town, strollable boulevards, and a Modernista skyline. Hometown talents Gaudí, Picasso, and Miró all left their mark on this arty city.

▲▲▲ Madrid Spain's dynamic capital, with a huge central square (Puerta del Sol), the Royal Palace (2,000 rooms), and top-notch art treasures. This livable city has an unsurpassed tapas scene, street markets, and flamenco shows.

▲▲▲ Granada Fun-to-explore city that pairs evocative history with good living, from its magnificent Alhambra palace of Moorish legacy to the bustling shopping lanes and funky tea shops of its distinctive neighborhoods.

▲▲▲ Sevilla Soulful, nonstop city that boasts of Spain's bests: flamenco, Holy Week fervor, bullfighting, and the late-night paseo.

▲▲ Basque Country Vibrant region overlapping southwest France, anchored on the Spanish side by the beach resort town of San Sebastián and neighboring Bilbao, with its striking Guggenheim modern art museum.

▲▲ Toledo Hill-capping former capital, with a wonderfully rich history, an outstanding cathedral, and works by hometown boy El Greco.

▲▲ Andalucía's White Hill Towns Classic heartland of southern Spain, famous for its windswept hills and scenically perched towns, including Arcos de la Frontera and livelier Ronda, with its massive, gorge-straddling bridge.

▲▲ Tangier, Morocco Revitalized gateway that offers a fascinating look at North Africa and the Muslim culture, with a winding maze of shops and tea houses — all just a quick ferry ride from Spain.

▲ Near Barcelona Beyond Barcelona, pilgrims and photographers can head to the rugged mountain retreat of Montserrat, while fans of Salvador Dalí visit Figueres for its Dalí Theater- Museum and Cadaqués for the artist’s house.

▲ Camino de Santiago Centuries-old pilgrimage route running across the top of Spain from France to Santiago, with stops at charming villages (Puente de la Reina, O Cebreiro) and interesting cities (Pamplona, Burgos, León).

▲ Santiago de Compostela Moss-covered city that marks the end of the trail for pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago.

▲ Salamanca Spain's quintessential university town, with the country's finest main square.

▲ Northwest of Madrid Sights ranging from El Escorial (imposing Inquisition palace of Spanish royalty) and the Valley of the Fallen (stern, underground Franco-era monument to the Spanish Civil War) to the pleasant towns of Segovia (with a towering Roman aqueduct) and Ávila (encircled by a medieval wall).

▲ Córdoba Home to Spain's top surviving Moorish mosque, the huge and marvelous Mezquita.

▲ Spain's South Coast Spain's beach-resort zone, featuring a few charming towns (Nerja, Tarifa, and British-flavored Gibraltar) tucked away from the concrete and traffic jams of the Costa del Sol.

Cantabria Rustic northern coast of Spain, featuring world-class prehistoric art (Altamira Caves), the pleasant town of Comillas, and the mountainous Picos de Europa.

• Spain: Recommended Itinerary
• When to Go to Spain
• Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in Spain
• Guidebook Updates for Spain
• Spain Rail Passes and Train Tips
• Spain: Recommended Books and Movies