Continuing our favourite cities to visit in Spain, here’s the rest of them. If you didn’t watch the part 1, click below.
Salamanca
In twelfth place our list Salamanca which is a city that was a part of Castile and Leon, and is in the northern half of Spain, close to the border with Portugal. Spain’s most famous university city is recognised as a world heritage site.
Don’t miss the cathedral, the university and the plaza mayor. You can visit Salamanca all year round, but be careful in winter because it is very cold. Between one and two days would be the minimum time you need to get to know the city. You can also go to Salamanca by bullet train from Madrid.
The places you shouldn’t miss in Salamanca are The Cathedral, the University of Salamanca, the Plaza Mayor and the Casa de las Conchas.
San Sebastián
Also called Donostia, which is the Basque name for the town, it is located on the northern coast of Spain, very close to the border with France. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain, famous for the Playa de la Concha and also for the city’s culinary culture. One to two days is enough to get to know the basics of the city.
The unmissable places in San Sebastian are Playa de la Concha, the Peine de los Vientos, Mount Igeldo, Mount Urgull and the historic centre.
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is in Galicia, on the northwest coast of Spain the north of Portugal.
Santiago de Compostela is the final destination for pilgrims who make the Camino de Santiago.
The old part of the city has been declared a World Heritage Site and it also has a very beautiful historic centre, as well as being famous for its cuisine. It is a city that can be visited all year round, but there is also a lot of rain, so keep an eye on the weather forecast.
You can reach Santiago de Compostela by train, car, plane or on foot for those who are doing the Camino de Santiago.
Segovia
In 15th place on the list, another city of Castilla-León, Segovia which is in the northern half of Spain. You should visit Segovia to see the Alcázar de Segovia, the historic centre with the huge Roman Aqueduct declared a World Heritage Site. For those visiting, beware of the cold winter weather.
Seville
Next on the list is the capital of Andalusia, Seville. The city has very beautiful and different buildings, it also has 3 monuments declared World Heritage Sites by Unesco.
If you like warm weather, Seville is ideal to visit in summer. Seville can be reached by plane, bullet train from Madrid or bus.
Some places you should not miss in Seville are The Alcázar, the Cathedral, the Giralda, The Archivo de Indias, the Arrows, Plaza de España, Triana and Santa Cruz neighbourhoods.
Tarragona
In 17th place on the list is Tarragona which is a city that lies on the Mediterranean coast, 95km south of Barcelona. Tarragona was one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire and the archaeological remains of this empire are distributed almost all over the city, these remains are so important that they have been declared a world heritage site by Unesco.
One to two days are enough to discover the basic sites of Tarragona, which are the Balcó del Mediterrani, the Cathedral, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Roman Circus and the National Archaeological Museum.
Toledo
In 18th on this list is Toledo which is in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, 74km south of Madrid. Toledo is a city that has been declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, and is a favourite getaway for those visiting Madrid.
It is an incredible mix of cultures and religions in one place.
Toledo can be visited all year round, with a full day you can quickly get to know the basics of the city. For those coming from Madrid, it is ideal to spend 2 days in Toledo to get to know the city better. And the best thing is that the bullet train leaves Madrid all the time to Toledo.
The must-see places in Toledo are The Cathedral, the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, the Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca, the Jewish Quarter and the viewpoints around the river Tagus, with incredible views of the city.
Valencia
In 19th place on this list is Valencia. It is a city that lies on the Mediterranean coast, is about 303km south of Barcelona. It is a typical Mediterranean city, with two points of attention, on the one hand the historic centre highlighting the Lonja de la Seda which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a beautiful and most beautiful market in Spain and on the other hand the futuristic modernity of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias.
Valencia is also the birthplace of Paella, the most emblematic dish of Spanish cuisine. Valencia can be visited all year round, and with two full days you can see the basics of the city. You can arrive by plane, bullet train, ferry, cruise, bus and car.
Must-see places in the city include Lonja de la Seda, the Central Market, Mercado de Colón, the Historic Centre and the Ciudade de las Artes y las Ciencias.
Zaragoza
In 20th place is Zaragoza, a city that lies in the northern half of Spain. The city is famous for the Cathedral-basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza, and also has three monuments declared World Heritage Sites by Unesco.
We believe that dedicating a full day to Zaragoza would be enough to get to know the basics of the city. And yes, the bullet train passes through the city, it is also possible to arrive by plane and bus.
The places you should not miss in Zaragoza are El Pilar, La Aljafería, the Roman Theatre, the Historic Centre, the Tower of San Pablo, the Expo and the Tube.
Here’s the end of our review, take a look at this article we also did about The Best Rail and Car Itinerary Through the North of Spain
