Places worth the detour in Spain
Spain has 2,282 places worth going out of your way for on Detourmap, across 16 kinds — the biggest group is churches, temples, monasteries & shrines (527). The best known is Mallorca. 1,946 of them are hidden gems most guides skip. Every place below has a photo and a Wikipedia article — click any of them to fly the map there.
Churches, temples, monasteries & shrines in Spain 527
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Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family
Sacred sites · 19th century · Iconic
Basilica under construction since 1882 in Barcelona, Spain
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Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Sacred sites · 16th century · Iconic
Monastery and historical residence of the King of Spain
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Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
Sacred sites · 9th century · Renowned
Roman Catholic cathedral of the archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain
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Seville Cathedral
Sacred sites · 15th century · Renowned
Catholic Cathedral in Seville (Formerly a Mosque), Spain
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Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba
Sacred sites · 8th century · Renowned
Cathedral (former mosque) in Cordoba, Spain
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Burgos Cathedral
Sacred sites · 13th century · Renowned
Cathedral and World Heritage Site in Castile, Spain
Castles, palaces & forts in Spain 339
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Alhambra
Castles & palaces · 13th century · Iconic
Palace and fortress complex in Granada, Andalusia, Spain
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Royal Palace of Madrid
Castles & palaces · 18th century · Renowned
Official residence of the Spanish Royal Family
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Palau Güell
Castles & palaces · 19th century · Notable
Mansion in Barcelona, Spain, designed by Antoni Gaudi
Monuments & statues in Spain 274
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Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
Monuments & statues · 20th century · Renowned
National museum of art in Madrid, Spain
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National Museum of Archaeology
Monuments & statues · 19th century · Notable
Archaeological museum in Madrid, Spain
Parks, canyons & rock formations in Spain 243
Ancient & archaeological sites in Spain 231
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Madinat Al-Zahra
Ancient & megalithic · 10th century · Notable
Archeological site of Moorish palace in Spain
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Pyramids of Güímar
Ancient & megalithic · Notable
19th-century pyramids in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
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Casa Vicens
Ancient & megalithic · Notable
Family residence in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain), designed by Antoni Gaudí
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Colonia Iulia Urbs Triumphalis Tarraco
Ancient & megalithic · Notable
Ancient city on the site of modern Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
Museums & galleries in Spain 222
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Museo del Prado
Museums & galleries · 19th century · Iconic
Spanish national art museum in Madrid, Spain
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Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Museums & galleries · 20th century · Renowned
Museum of modern and contemporary art in Bilbao, Spain
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Royal Spanish Academy
Museums & galleries · 18th century · Renowned
Official regulator for the Spanish language
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City of Arts and Sciences
Museums & galleries · 20th century · Renowned
Cultural complex in the city of Valencia, Spain
Beaches & coves in Spain 86
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Playa del Inglés
Beaches & coves · Notable
Sea resort in the south coast of the island of Gran Canaria
Towers & lighthouses in Spain 81
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Torre de Collserola
Towers & lighthouses · 20th century · Notable
A telecommunications tower in Barcelona
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Montjuïc Communications Tower
Towers & lighthouses · 20th century · Notable
Communication tower in Barcelona, Spain
Bridges & aqueducts in Spain 66
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Alcalá Gate
Great structures · 18th century · Notable
Cultural property in Madrid Distritos: Retiro y Salamanca, Spain
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Puente del Alamillo
Great structures · Notable
First cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge, completed 1992 in Seville, Andalusia, Spain
Theme parks, zoos & aquariums in Spain 60
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Aquarium Barcelona
Fun & leisure · 20th century · Notable
Aquarium located in Port Vell, a harbor in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Caves & caverns in Spain 51
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Cave of Altamira
Caves & caverns · 130th century BC · Iconic
Cave with prehistoric paintings in Spain
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Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain
Caves & caverns · 20th century · Notable
Cave with prehistoric art and World Heritage Site in Spain
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Cueva de los Verdes
Caves & caverns · Notable
Lava tube and tourist attraction in Haria, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
Parks, gardens & arboretums in Spain 45
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Palmeral of Elche
Parks & gardens · Notable
Historic palm grove in Elche, Spain, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000
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Parc del Laberint d'Horta
Parks & gardens · 18th century · Notable
Park and maze in Barcelona, Spain
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Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo
Parks & gardens · 20th century · Hidden gem
Botanical garden in Tafira Alta, Gran Canaria
Abandoned places & ghost towns in Spain 23
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Morillo de Tou
Abandoned & ghost towns · Hidden gem
Human settlement in Aínsa-Sobrarbe, Huesca Province, Aragon, Spain
