World Guide

Spain

Country · Europe, Southern Europe

Sagrada Família
Pictured: Sagrada Família · Photo: Canaan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Spain is a country in Southern Europe, bordering Andorra, France, Gibraltar, Morocco, and Portugal. With a population of about 49 million and an area of 505,990 square kilometers, it offers a wide variety of sights, including 91 major attractions.

Highlights

Spain features many historic and cultural sites. Notable UNESCO World Heritage sites include the Alhambra, Casa Batlló, Park Güell, El Escorial, Seville Cathedral, the Alcázar of Seville, the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, the Tower of Hercules, the Cave of Altamira, and the Aqueduct of Segovia. Other significant architecture and landmarks include the Sagrada Família, the Royal Palace of Madrid, Barcelona Cathedral, and the Valley of the Fallen. Sports venues like Camp Nou and Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys are also prominent. Natural sites include the Sierra Nevada and Teide. Cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Granada, Segovia, Bilbao, Córdoba, León, Málaga, Palma, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Santillana del Mar, Tarragona, Toledo, Valencia, and Zaragoza provide distinct regional experiences.

Food and drink

Local culinary offerings include paella, gazpacho, Spanish omelette, and tapas. For meat and cheese, options include chorizo and Manchego. Sweet items include churro, marzipan, king cake, and madeleine. Drinks include cider and sangria.

When to go

The weather in Madrid, the capital, varies significantly throughout the year. Winters are cool, with daily highs around 10 °C to 12 °C in January and February. Spring temperatures rise from 16 °C in March to 22 °C in May. Summers are hot, with daily highs reaching 32 °C in July and August. Autumn sees temperatures drop from 27 °C in September to 14 °C in November. Rain is generally light, though October and November see slightly more frequent precipitation.

Practical notes

The currency is the euro. The official language is Spanish. Plugs C and F are used, with a voltage of 230 V. Traffic moves on the right side of the road. Time zones are UTC±00:00 and UTC+01:00.

Cities

Food and drink to try in Spain

  • Cider
  • Paella
  • Marzipan
  • Gazpacho
  • Sangria
  • Churro
  • Chorizo
  • Spanish omelette
  • Madeleine
  • Tapas
  • Manchego
  • King cake

Top sights in Spain

  1. Sagrada FamíliaSagrada FamíliaBarcelona
  2. Camp NouCamp NouBarcelona
  3. AlhambraUNESCOAlhambraGranada
  4. Guggenheim Museum BilbaoGuggenheim Museum BilbaoBilbao
  5. TeideTeide
  6. Casa BatllóUNESCOCasa BatllóBarcelona
  7. El EscorialUNESCOEl EscorialSan Lorenzo de El Escorial
  8. Seville CathedralUNESCOSeville CathedralSeville
  9. Royal Palace of MadridRoyal Palace of MadridMadrid
  10. Park GüellUNESCOPark GüellBarcelona
  11. Estadi Olímpic Lluís CompanysEstadi Olímpic Lluís CompanysBarcelona
  12. Alcázar of SevilleUNESCOAlcázar of SevilleSeville
  1. Valley of the Fallen · San Lorenzo de El Escorial
  2. Barcelona Cathedral · Barcelona
  3. Santiago de Compostela Cathedral · Santiago de CompostelaUNESCO
  4. Plaza de España, Seville · Seville
  5. Tower of Hercules · A CoruñaUNESCO
  6. Cave of Altamira · Santillana del MarUNESCO
  7. Sierra Nevada
  8. Aqueduct of Segovia · SegoviaUNESCO
  9. Alcázar of Segovia · Segovia
  10. Palma Cathedral · Palma
  11. City of Arts and Sciences · Valencia
  12. La Rambla, Barcelona · Barcelona
  13. Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey
  14. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía · Madrid
  15. Almudena Cathedral · Madrid
  16. Alcazaba of Málaga · Málaga
  17. Plaza Mayor, Madrid · Madrid
  18. Puente Nuevo · Ronda
  19. Temple of Debod · Madrid
  20. Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum · Madrid
  21. Toledo Cathedral · Toledo
  22. Barcelona Pavilion · Barcelona
  23. Puerta del Sol · Madrid
  24. Las Médulas · PonferradaUNESCO
  25. Italica · Santiponce
  26. Torre Glòries · Barcelona
  27. Palau de la Música Catalana · BarcelonaUNESCO
  28. Hospital de Sant Pau · BarcelonaUNESCO
  29. Dalí Theatre and Museum · Figueres
  30. Málaga Cathedral · Málaga
  31. Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar · Zaragoza
  32. Palau Güell · BarcelonaUNESCO
  33. Burgos Cathedral · BurgosUNESCO
  34. Madinat al-Zahra · CórdobaUNESCO
  35. Casa Vicens · BarcelonaUNESCO
  36. Loro Parque · Puerto de la Cruz
  37. Valencia Cathedral · Valencia
  38. Albaicín · GranadaUNESCO
  39. Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya · Barcelona
  40. Royal Palace of El Pardo · Madrid
  41. Parc de la Ciutadella · Barcelona
  42. Aljafería · ZaragozaUNESCO
  43. Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona · Barcelona
  44. Gran Vía, Madrid · Madrid
  45. Alcázar of Toledo · Toledo
  46. Church of Colònia Güell · BarcelonaUNESCO
  47. Granada Cathedral · Granada
  48. Tarraco · TarragonaUNESCO
  49. Bardenas Reales
  50. Empúries
  51. Museu Picasso · Barcelona
  52. General Archive of the Indies · Seville
  53. Archaeological site of Atapuerca · AtapuercaUNESCO
  54. Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso · Segovia
  55. Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper · Sant Feliu de Llobregat
  56. Bellver Castle · Palma
  57. Torre del Oro · Seville
  58. Royal Palace of Aranjuez
  59. Plaza de Cibeles · Madrid
  60. Palace of Moncloa · Madrid
  61. Auditorio de Tenerife · Santa Cruz de Tenerife
  62. Doñana National Park · El RocioUNESCO
  63. Vizcaya Bridge · BilbaoUNESCO
  64. León Cathedral · LeónUNESCO
  65. Teide National ParkUNESCO
  66. Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos · Córdoba
  67. Northern WayUNESCO
  68. Cave of El CastilloUNESCO
  69. Roman Theatre · Mérida
  70. Rock art of the Iberian Mediterranean BasinUNESCO
  71. Santa María del NarancoUNESCO
  72. Cathedral of the Savior of Zaragoza · Zaragoza
  73. Historic centre of Córdoba · CórdobaUNESCO
  74. Roman walls of LugoUNESCO
  75. Palmeral of ElcheUNESCO
  76. Episcopal Palace, AstorgaUNESCO
  77. El Torcal de AntequeraUNESCO
  78. Antequera Dolmens SiteUNESCO
  79. Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain · Santillana del MarUNESCO
  80. Cave of La PasiegaUNESCO
  81. Casa Botines · LeónUNESCO
  82. Les Ferreres Aqueduct · TarragonaUNESCO
  83. Acueducto de los Milagros · MéridaUNESCO
  84. Bilbao Cathedral · Bilbao
  85. Lonja de la Seda · ValenciaUNESCO
  86. National Museum of Roman Art · MéridaUNESCO
  87. Torres de Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz de Tenerife
  88. Teruel Cathedral · TeruelUNESCO
  89. Genil · Granada
  90. Tower of the church of San Salvador · TeruelUNESCO

UNESCO sites in Spain →

Weather by month

The warmest month is July, with an average high of 32 °C. The wettest is October, with about 54 mm of rain.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high, °C101216182228323227201410
Average low, °C114610151818141052
Rainfall, mm323324434520101123545351
Rainy days7691066236996

Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Madrid (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.

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