Mary-Ann Gallagher

Alicante has everything you need for a glorious, sun-kissed getaway. This city, about a 40-minute drive from Benidorm, is less overcrowded by tourists, and offers a glimpse of the natural beauty and culture that can be found all across Spain.  From clear, blue beaches and island day trips, to museums and art galleries, and some of the best seafood tapas, it’s no surprise Alicante is one of our top places to visit. Whether you’re here for a relaxing escape or an epic, outdoor adventure, here are 10 of the best things to do in Alicante for 2026. Alicante’s top things to do, at a glance 👽 Most unusual: Cabo de la Huerta coves💶 Best free activity: Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art (MACA)👪 Best with kids: Santa Bárbara Castle👯 Best for adults: Cervecería Sento Rambla🎊 Best for young people: Tabarca Island 🛏 RECOMMENDED: The essential guide to Spain Mary-Ann Gallagher is a travel writer and author based in Barcelona, Spain. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Granada, one of Spain’s most captivating cities, oozes in both, the languid sensuality of Al-Andalus and the brooding darkness of Christian conquerors. From showstopping architecture like the Alhambra Palace, which dominates the city from the top of a cliff, to the lush, verdent gardens that surround these prestigious buildings across the city, Granada has a way of wooing visitors, no matter what they're looking for in their Spanish escape. Here are the best things to do in Granada for 2026.  Granada’s top things to do, at a glance 👽 Most unusual: Sacromonte💶 Best free activity: Realejo👪 Best with kids: Archaeological Museum👯 Best for adults: Hammam Al-Andalus🎊 Best for young people: La Tabernilla del Darro 🛏 RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Valencia

The capital of the Costa del Sol was long overlooked in the race for top cultural destinations in Spain before it became the brilliant beach and art haven that it is now. The change started in 2003 when the long-awaited Museo Picasso finally opened, kick-starting a cultural resurgence that led to flurry of fancy new museums, including the only outpost of the Centre Pompidou. Add a couple of cliff-top Moorish castles, a pocket-sized Roman Theatre, a winsome little old town full of tapas bars and quirky boutiques, plus a newly primped-up port and fabulous beaches, and this exuberant little city on Spain's stretch of the Med can truly boast it’s got the whole package. Here are the best things to do in Málaga right now. Málaga’s top things to do, at a glance 👽 Most unusual: Teatro Romano💶 Best free activity: Playa Peñón de la Cueva👪 Best with kids: Gibralfaro Castle and Alcazaba Fortress👯 Best for adults: Museo Picasso Málaga🎊 Best for young people: El Tintero RECOMMENDED:🛏 See the best Airbnbs in Malaga🏨 or stay at the best hotels in Malaga  

Hidden coves, quaint old towns, Moorish architecture and dazzling hikes await in Spain's Balearic Island of Majorca. It's home to some of the clearest waters and soft-sanded beaches, but it's also earned a bit of a reputation for ‘Brits abroad’. But if you know where to go, you’ll see a different side of it entirely.  Go beyond the stereotype and you'll find colourful, hill-top neighbourhoods, local markets, an impressive art scene and ridiculously good cuisine, all surrounded by the island's natural beauty. Here are the best things to do in Majorca.  Majorca’s top things to do, at a glance 👽 Most unusual: Train to Sóller💶 Best free activity: Es Trenc👪 Best with kids: Artà👯 Best for adults: Miró Majorca Foundation🎊 Best for young people: Puro Beach Club RECOMMENDED:🛏 The best hotels in Majorca+ The best places to visit in Spain Mary-Ann Gallagher is a travel writer and guidebook author. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have 

Spain’s third largest city can really hold its own against Madrid and Barcelona. It’s the birthplace of paella, home to futuristic architectural constructions and has miles of golden beaches.  Spend your days discovering beautiful cathedrals, tucking into tapas and admiring street art, and your evenings sampling cocktails and visiting the bars in El Carmen and beyond. Whatever your vibe, Valencia has something for you. Here are the best things to do while you’re here.  RECOMMENDED:🏖 The best beaches in Valencia🛏 The best Airbnbs in Valencia🏨 The best hotels in Valencia🇪🇸 The essential guide to Spain This guide was recently updated by Esme Fox, a writer based in Barcelona, Spain. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

There’s a hell of a lot of great cities to visit in Spain, but don’t forget about Seville when you’re drooling over Barcelona and Madrid. You might even be able to avoid some of the tourist madness (Barcelona is known for protesting against overtourism, after all).  So why go anywhere else? From tapas bars to old palaces, and beautiful architecture to art museums, you’ve got everything you need for a weekend city break in Seville. From flamenco to the Royal Alcázar itself, here are the best things to do in Seville right now.  RECOMMENDED:🏖️ The most underrated cities in Spain🧳 The best places to visit in Spain🍽️ The best restaurants in Spain🇪🇸 The best things to do in Spain🏠 The best Airbnbs in Seville At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.