Spain's 2026 Travel Guide: Art, Architecture, and Coastal Gems
A 2026 compilation by Lonely Planet showcases Spain's rich variety of attractions, encompassing art, architecture, beaches, and hiking. In Madrid, visitors can admire masterpieces from Velázquez, Goya, Picasso, and Van Gogh at the Museo del Prado, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. Barcelona boasts Gaudí's and others' Modernista masterpieces, including La Sagrada Família and Park Güell. Andalucía's Moorish heritage is exemplified by the Alhambra in Granada, the Mezquita-Catedral in Córdoba, and Seville's Real Alcázar. Coastal adventures feature Menorca's Camí de Cavalls and Almería's Parque Natural Cabo de Gata. Culinary delights range from Granada's tapas to Valencia's paella, while wine regions include La Rioja and the Canary Islands. Hiking spots include Sierra Nevada and the Camino de Santiago routes.
Key facts
- Madrid's top three museums: Museo del Prado, Reina Sofía, Thyssen-Bornemisza.
- Picasso's Guernica is at Reina Sofía; Velázquez's Las Meninas at Prado.
- Gaudí's Casa Vicens is a lesser-known Modernista gem in Barcelona.
- Menorca's Camí de Cavalls is a restored 14th-century path to turquoise coves.
- Almería's Parque Natural Cabo de Gata has protected nudist beaches in volcanic landscape.
- Cuenca was named Spain's Capital of Gastronomy in 2023.
- Galicia's Camiño dos Faros is a 200-kilometer coastal hiking trail.
- Extremadura's Monfragüe National Park is a top birdwatching site from March to October.
Entities
Artists
- Pablo Picasso
- Vincent van Gogh
- Diego Velázquez
- Francisco Goya
- Antoni Tàpies
- Federico García Lorca
- Antoni Gaudí
- Lluís Domènech i Montaner
- Josep Puig i Cadafalch
- King Alfonso II
Institutions
- Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
- Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
- Museo del Prado
- Lonely Planet
- Devour Tours
- Annie B's Spanish Kitchen
Locations
- Spain
- Madrid
- Barcelona
- Granada
- Córdoba
- Seville
- Menorca
- Costa Brava
- Costa de la Luz
- Almería
- Parque Natural Cabo de Gata
- Andalucía
- Galicia
- Santiago de Compostela
- Illas Cíes
- Costa da Morte
- Extremadura
- Jerte Valley
- Ambroz Valley
- La Vera Valley
- Parque Nacional de Monfragüe
- Cáceres
- Trujillo
- Mérida
- La Rioja
- Penedès
- Sherry Triangle
- Ribeira Sacra
- Costers del Segre
- El Hierro
- Lanzarote
- Canary Islands
- Sierra Nevada
- Picos de Europa
- Ordesa y Monte Perdido
- Parc Nacional d'Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici
- Camino de Santiago
- Camino Francés
- Camino del Norte
- Camino Primitivo
- Irún
- Oviedo
- Ruta del Califato
- Huelva
- Aracena
- Valencia
- Bilbao
- San Sebastián
- Catalonia
- Pyrenees
- Delta de l'Ebre
- L'Eixample
- El Raval
- Gràcia
- Cádiz
- Cuenca
Sources
- Quartz —