Spain's most popular attractions you can now visit without having to book tickets a long time in advance
This summer offers a unique opportunity for residents in Spain to visit some of the country's most popular attractions.
This summer in Spain is very different with few international tourists visiting the country and popular cities like Barcelona feeling very empty. While this is bad news for tourism and businesses, it's also a unique opportunity for residents in Spain to visit some of the country's most popular attractions without the crowds.
Attractions that you'd normally have to buy tickets weeks or even months in advance for are now available the very next day. Here are some of the most popular sites you should take the opportunity to visit this summer; just make sure you follow local coronavirus rules and recommendations.
Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra is one of Spain's most-visited sites, attracting around two million visitors per year and visited by around 8,500 people a day. The intricate Moorish palace and delightful gardens, which date back to around 1238, are so popular in fact that visitor numbers are capped. It's normally recommended to buy tickets at least three months in advance in order to secure the day you want, but right now, during what is usually the Alhambra's busiest month, next-day tickets are available, and are available right though until the end of August.
Granada's Alhambra. Photo: Pablo Valerio/Pixabay
Sagrada Família, Barcelona
The Sagrada Família is Barcelona's most-visited sight and attracts around three million tourists per year. Visitor numbers to Gaudi's famous unfinished masterpiece are capped at a certain number per day, so it's normally recommended to buy tickets around a week or even two weeks in advance in order to secure the day you want. Visit now, and you'll find that this awe-inspiring church is only open at weekends, but tickets are currently available for all weekends throughout August.
Inside the Sagrada Família. Photo: CD_Photosaddict/Pixabay
La Pedrera, Barcelona
Those wanting to visit Gaudi's famous wavy house on Passeig de Gracia normally have to wait several hours to queue for tickets or several days (or even weeks) in advance to get one online. The house is visited by over one million tourists per year who come to marvel at its quirky rooftop chimneys and amazing interior design. Currently those wanting to visit the house can just turn up and hardly have to queue at all. Alternatively, next-day tickets are available online.
La Pedrera. Photo: Renáta Szili/Pixabay
Casa Batlló
Another of Barcelona's most popular sights is Gaudí's Casa Batlló. The iridescent house, which many people liken to scales of a lizard or a dragon, is visited by around 700,000 per year. Throughout the year, queues can be seen all the way down the street and tickets usually have to be booked online a few days to a week in advance. Choose to visit now and you can turn up without having to queue much at all or book a ticket online for the next day.
Casa Batlló. Photo: pcsfish/Pixabay
Salvador Dalí House, Cadaqués
Salvador Dalí's house in Portlligat near Cadaqués is one of the top attractions to visit in northern Catalonia. A whimsical place full of Dalí's bizarre creations, this was the house where Dalí spent many summers and from where he painted many of his most famous works too, taking inspiration from the landscapes around.
Places to visit the house are limited and highly sought after. In a typical year, you would need to book tickets months in advance, however right now, tickets are available for a next-day visit, right through to the end of the month and into September.
Salvador Dalí House. Photo: Ferran Pestaña/Flickr
Reina Sofía Museum, Madrid
The Reina Sofía modern art museum in Madrid is one of the capital's most popular sights and is in fact the eighth most-visited museum in Europe. The museum houses works by famous Spanish artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró and Juan Gris. In a typical year, the museum receives 4.4 million visitors, so long queues are the norm. Visit this summer however and you'll get in very quickly. Alternatively, you can book tickets on line to visit the next day.
The Prado, Madrid
The Prado Museum is Madrid's second-most popular museum, housing a treasure-trove of classic works by the likes of Goya, Velazquez, Rubens and El Greco. A visit to the Prado Museum in summer usually involves standing in line for hours waiting to gain entry, with an average of three million people visiting each year. This summer visitors are expected to be able to get in very quickly or get tickets online, which can be bought just 24 hours in advance.
El Prado. Photo: donfalcone/Pixabay
Real Alcázar, Seville
It may not be as big as the Alhambra, but Seville's Moorish Real Alcázar is equally as beautiful. The lush gardens can also be an ideal place to get away from the sweltering Seville summer heat. The palace has a maximum capacity of 750 visitors at one time, meaning there are often very long queues, particularly in summer. Currently queues to visit the palace a very short and there are tickets online for next day visits.
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This summer in Spain is very different with few international tourists visiting the country and popular cities like Barcelona feeling very empty. While this is bad news for tourism and businesses, it's also a unique opportunity for residents in Spain to visit some of the country's most popular attractions without the crowds.
Attractions that you'd normally have to buy tickets weeks or even months in advance for are now available the very next day. Here are some of the most popular sites you should take the opportunity to visit this summer; just make sure you follow local coronavirus rules and recommendations.
Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra is one of Spain's most-visited sites, attracting around two million visitors per year and visited by around 8,500 people a day. The intricate Moorish palace and delightful gardens, which date back to around 1238, are so popular in fact that visitor numbers are capped. It's normally recommended to buy tickets at least three months in advance in order to secure the day you want, but right now, during what is usually the Alhambra's busiest month, next-day tickets are available, and are available right though until the end of August.
Granada's Alhambra. Photo: Pablo Valerio/Pixabay
Sagrada Família, Barcelona
The Sagrada Família is Barcelona's most-visited sight and attracts around three million tourists per year. Visitor numbers to Gaudi's famous unfinished masterpiece are capped at a certain number per day, so it's normally recommended to buy tickets around a week or even two weeks in advance in order to secure the day you want. Visit now, and you'll find that this awe-inspiring church is only open at weekends, but tickets are currently available for all weekends throughout August.
Inside the Sagrada Família. Photo: CD_Photosaddict/Pixabay
La Pedrera, Barcelona
Those wanting to visit Gaudi's famous wavy house on Passeig de Gracia normally have to wait several hours to queue for tickets or several days (or even weeks) in advance to get one online. The house is visited by over one million tourists per year who come to marvel at its quirky rooftop chimneys and amazing interior design. Currently those wanting to visit the house can just turn up and hardly have to queue at all. Alternatively, next-day tickets are available online.
La Pedrera. Photo: Renáta Szili/Pixabay
Casa Batlló
Another of Barcelona's most popular sights is Gaudí's Casa Batlló. The iridescent house, which many people liken to scales of a lizard or a dragon, is visited by around 700,000 per year. Throughout the year, queues can be seen all the way down the street and tickets usually have to be booked online a few days to a week in advance. Choose to visit now and you can turn up without having to queue much at all or book a ticket online for the next day.
Casa Batlló. Photo: pcsfish/Pixabay
Salvador Dalí House, Cadaqués
Salvador Dalí's house in Portlligat near Cadaqués is one of the top attractions to visit in northern Catalonia. A whimsical place full of Dalí's bizarre creations, this was the house where Dalí spent many summers and from where he painted many of his most famous works too, taking inspiration from the landscapes around.
Places to visit the house are limited and highly sought after. In a typical year, you would need to book tickets months in advance, however right now, tickets are available for a next-day visit, right through to the end of the month and into September.
Salvador Dalí House. Photo: Ferran Pestaña/Flickr
Reina Sofía Museum, Madrid
The Reina Sofía modern art museum in Madrid is one of the capital's most popular sights and is in fact the eighth most-visited museum in Europe. The museum houses works by famous Spanish artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró and Juan Gris. In a typical year, the museum receives 4.4 million visitors, so long queues are the norm. Visit this summer however and you'll get in very quickly. Alternatively, you can book tickets on line to visit the next day.
The Prado, Madrid
The Prado Museum is Madrid's second-most popular museum, housing a treasure-trove of classic works by the likes of Goya, Velazquez, Rubens and El Greco. A visit to the Prado Museum in summer usually involves standing in line for hours waiting to gain entry, with an average of three million people visiting each year. This summer visitors are expected to be able to get in very quickly or get tickets online, which can be bought just 24 hours in advance.
El Prado. Photo: donfalcone/Pixabay
Real Alcázar, Seville
It may not be as big as the Alhambra, but Seville's Moorish Real Alcázar is equally as beautiful. The lush gardens can also be an ideal place to get away from the sweltering Seville summer heat. The palace has a maximum capacity of 750 visitors at one time, meaning there are often very long queues, particularly in summer. Currently queues to visit the palace a very short and there are tickets online for next day visits.
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