Top places to visit in Spain?

Question

How long do you think it would take to see everything worth seeing? And what are the things i "must" see and things i "should" see?

Are the lines for entrance to these places long? Are the tickets expensive? Is there pre-booking for tickets? What time of day should we go?

Also, how much money should I take?

Answer 1

The Mar Menor is great, find out more at:

http://www.marmenor.org.uk

Answer 2

I wouldn't stay less than a month if you want to come back to your country saying that you have seen "everything" in Spain.

for me top ten:

Barcelona

San Sebastian

Sevilla

Granada

Madrid

Toledo

Santiago de Compostela

If you come from the USA maybe you'll be disappointed because roads and highways are quite crowded in comparison to the ones there. Prices are cheaper than most of the countries in Europe but don't expect to be the cheapest place in the world. Prices can more or less be compared to the ones in USA but in Euros.

About the lines, depends on the places. If you want to enter the Sagrada Familia, better go there early in the morning. If you want to visit la Alhambra, book it in advance!

Answer 3

OMG!  I would take two months, non-stop!  just to see everything worth seeing!

But that's me...and I love the country.  And I spent a month there last year, showing my family, and I still only got to half what I wanted to do!

The most important things...

You can't go to Madrid and NOT visit the Prado.  Okay, nothing else is as important, though there are a lot of really neat things to do, there.  You should see the Palacio Real, the Sunday flea market El Rastro, and the Plaza Mayor...I don't know how I missed it when I was in College.

Toledo has been mentioned...El Greco house, Church of Santo Tomé, the Cathedral (hey, every city with a cathedral, that's a must, so, Madrid, too), and the synagogues are the most important...take a walk around the city walls, and take a cab up to the parador to get the Vista de Toledo that Greco painted.  twice.  

Segovia:  I think the Alcázar there, and the aqueduct are both must-sees, and there's a ton of smaller churches there, each with its own significance.   You should read up and decide on what you have time for.  And the Cathedral.

Sevilla:  DON'T MISS SEVILLA.  (okay, that was my home, and I'm prejudiced, but GORGEOUS!  and quintessentially Spanish).  The Cathedral (you guessed it)  Third largest in the world, and the largest gothic structure in the world.  The tower, the Giralda is an absolute must-climb.  The Alcázar, there, is also spectacular!   Also the park, with its museums, doves to feed.  really special.

Granada has been mentioned, and the Alhambra.  No matter what, this is a must-see, too.

I LOOOOOOOOVE Ronda!  It is not considered a must-see, but IS precious!  You should try to fit it in.  You can do all the important stuff there, in about half a day, then kick back and relax with a tapa and a copa.

Barcelona is terrific!  We spent over a week there, with side trips, and still have to go back for more someday.  

Must-sees there are the Ramblas, Sagrada Familia (Gaudí's unfinished church) the Barrí Gotic and Cathedral, the Eixample neighborhood, and the Parc Güell.  Everything else you can fit in is gravy.

You probably want at least 1500 - 2000US per week.  You don't need to stay in the Paradors (they are three-star, but cost like five star hotels...they are, however, really nice.  Most have really incredible views, and it's nice to go, sit in thier café and have coffee).  Stay in modest places.  We stayed in hostels and apartments, and did just fine.  The days of the shared bathroom down the hall are gone, so, you can find really nice, normal (american style) accomodations everywhere.  

Lines to get into the biggest monuments can be long.  We waited an hour to get into the Prado and the Alhambra in June, and I think maybe twice as long for July, but not long at all for winter months.  Tickets run under 10€ per place, so a little over $15.00 for the most expensive (like the Alhambra was 10€ last year...might be higher, now, but everything else was less).

try to get to anything as early as possible.  the museums in Madrid are free on Sundays.  Some are free on Saturday afternoons, and closed on Sunday afternoon (check online schedules) and many things close up altogehter on Mondays.

Segovia was open on Mondays.

My best experiences are from Madrid and south, but there are lots of things in the North to see, as well.

Answer 4

Each part of the country has its own charm, and you cannot do it justice in a two week trip.  You could travel northern Spain from Barcelona to San Sebastien to Santillana Del Mar to Leon to Santiago de Compostela, and that would be a fantastic trip.  Or you could do Madrid, Avila, and Toledo, and take the train to Cordoba and drive to Granada.  Or you could start in Malaga, drive to Ronda, see Cadiz, and end up in Seville.

Just some suggestions!

Take LOTS of money...although Spain isn't that expensive compared to the rest of Europe, you will need more than you think.

Look into staying in the paradors, which are state-run hotels in historic buildings.

Answer 5

Toledo - the whole city is a national monument, and no building has been allowed there since the 1930's to preserve the ancient part

Granada - the Alhambra