Top 43 Things Spain is Known For & Famous For

Spain has fascinated people for centuries and is still an extremely popular tourist destination. If you’re one of the people drawn to Spain by its rich history and culture, you probably want to learn a few things about its most famous landmarks before you embark on your journey.

Spain is primarily known for its food, wine, history, architecture, and art. It is the home of dishes such as tapas and paella, and it is also the largest olive producer in the world. Spain is renowned for the Sagrada Familia cathedral and artistic geniuses such as Dali and Picasso.

In this article, we’ll examine the most popular tourist sights in Spain so you can know exactly what to expect once you get there. Let’s dive into the history and tradition of this beautiful country.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn a small commission for purchases made through links in this post, at no extra cost to you.

1. Madrid

Madrid is probably the first destination people think of when they think about Spain. It is the capital of Spain, the largest city in the Iberian Peninsula, and the second-largest city in the European Union.

It lies on the river Manzanares, on the same spot where Cordobese Emir Muhammad I built a fortress to protect Toledo from Christian invasions. It was later conquered by the Kingdom of Leon and Castille and continued to grow in power until it became the capital in the early 16th century.

Owing to its rich and long history, there are many important sights to see, including, but not limited to:

The Golden Triangle of Art
Puerta del Sol
The Royal Palace of Madrid
Retiro Park
Gran Via
Sobrino de Botin

Learn more about Madrid here.

2. Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and one of the largest metropolises in the Mediterranean and the European Union. The city has been standing since Roman times and has always retained its great economic and political influence, which stands to this day.

It is most famous for its architecture, particularly the works of Gaudi and Montaner, which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These architectural works include buildings such as:

The Sagrada Familia
Casa Milà
Palau de la Música Catalana
Casa Lleó Morera
Palau Güell

Barcelona is also the home of Barcelona Football Club, one of the world’s most renowned football clubs, and their stadium is almost a holy sight for every football lover.

Learn more about Barcelona here.

3. Valencia

Valencia is the capital of the province of the same name, and even though it’s smaller than Madrid or Barcelona, it is still worth visiting, particularly if you’re a beach lover. It is famous for its El Saler, El Cabanyal, and Sagunto beaches, which are truly unique.

Valencia also hosts the Falles, a traditional celebration that has been around since the 1400s, and is on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage. The main part of the celebration takes place between March 15th and 19th, while the firecracker display called the Mascletà goes on from March first to 9th.

4. Football

Spain is famous for its football—or soccer, whichever you prefer. It hosts some of the world’s major football clubs, such as:

Real Madrid
Barcelona
Athletic Bilbao
Atlético Madrid
Valencia

However, Spain is not only famous for its football clubs, but also its national team. They are the only national team with three consecutive major titles and are considered by some to be the best national team ever. One thing is sure: they will always turn football matches into spectacles.

5. Football Players

Since Spain has such a juggernaut of a national team, it’s no wonder some of its players have become true legends. Here are some of the most notable ones:

Sergio Ramos
Iker Casillas
Fernando Torres
David Silva
Cesc Fàbregas
Xabi Alonso
Diego Costa

Of course, there are many more, but writing an exhaustive list of important Spanish football players would probably require a separate article. This is a small sample of what kinds of football legends come from Spain.

6. Top Olive Producer in the World

Even though olives and olive oil primarily call Greece and Italy to mind, Spain is second to none regarding olive production. Spain produces almost 10 million metric tons of olives yearly. This is significantly more than Italy, which sits in second place.

7. Olive Oil

All those olives harvested yearly in Spain have to be used for something, and what better way to use them than olive oil? Spain is the world’s biggest producer of olive oil, with 1.75 million metric tons produced yearly.

Spain produces almost half of all the olive oil in the world, and about 46% of it is exported. There are hundreds of regional varieties of olive oil in Spain. Because of this great variety, even the fussiest eater will find something that suits their palate.

8. Bullfighting

Even though bullfighting is not a spectacle for everybody’s taste, it is an ancient tradition, and it still draws thousands of spectators worldwide. Bullfighting has its roots way back in pre-Roman times, when it had a deep symbolic meaning. It has been an almost uninterrupted tradition until the 1980s, when its popularity started to wane due to concerns for animal well-being.

9. Festivals

One of the many things that draw visitors to Spain is its abundance of festivals, both religious and secular. Some of these are solemn events, while some are rowdy parties that you will never forget. These include, among others:

La Tomatina
Semana Santa
The Pamplona Bull run
Carnival
Feria de Sevilla
Christianos y Moros
Tamborada
Semana Grande

Whichever festival you decide to participate in, you can rest assured that your time will not be spent in vain, and you’re sure to find something according to your liking.

10. Spanish

Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world, and speaking it opens the door not just to Spain and Mexico but also to many other countries such as Argentina, Chile, Honduras, Colombia, and many, many others.

Spanish belongs to the Romance language family. It’s very melodic and pleasant for the ear, so you’re bound to pick up at least some phrases and words while in Spain. If you already have some knowledge of it, you should brush it up, and maybe you’ll even get to expand your Spanish skills while you’re there.

11. The New World

The main reason Spanish is so widely spoken around the world is Spain’s proficiency in navigating the world and conquering new territories. Both Columbus and Vespucci, despite not being Spanish, sailed and discovered new territories for Spain, which allowed the Spanish to quickly gain the upper hand in the conquering of the new world and set up many colonies in Central and South America.

12. Conquistadors

The main force of the exploration and conquering of the new world were the conquistadors (or conquistadores)—the soldier-explorers of Spain and Portugal. Some of the most famous conquistadors are Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro.

The conquistadors toppled the Aztec and Inca empires and expanded the Spanish rule across South and Central America, even into parts of what is now southern and western United States.

13. Royal Family

The Spanish royal family now mostly has a symbolic role, but it still draws a lot of attention and holds a celebrity status in Spain. By royal decree, the royal family consists of the king, his spouse, their children, and the king’s parents.

The king of Spain is Philip VI, and his spouse is Queen Letizia, who is not of noble origins. They have two daughters: Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofia. The king’s parents are King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia.

The members of the royal family are active in many different charities, where they often use their publicity and celebrity status to draw attention to those organizations.

14. History

Spain has an incredibly deep history, with many different peoples inhabiting it in pre-Roman times. During Roman times, the Iberian peninsula became the province of Hispania (hence the country’s modern name). Hispania was not always a single province; it was sometimes divided into different provinces, but it was a more or less cohesive region.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Germanic tribes such as the Goths and Suevi founded their kingdoms in what is now Spain. They did not last long, as the Umayyads conquered most of Spain, and kept Spain under Islamic rule for a few centuries.

This slowly changed towards the beginning of the early modern period, when different Christian kingdoms started pushing the Muslims out. Out of this was born the Kingdom of Castilla and Leon, the precursor to modern Spain.

The 19th century was unstable and saw different republican and monarchical governments. In the 20th century, Spain endured a long period of Fascist dictatorship under Francisco Franco, which ended in 1978, when King Juan Carlos I came to power, and modern Spain was born.

15. Ibiza

Ibiza is an island near the coast of Spain, best known for its active nightlife during the summer months, which draws thousands of tourists who go there for the wild parties. There have been attempts to change the situation and turn Ibiza into a place suited for calmer, family tourism, but it is still a popular destination for partygoers.

16. Tourism

Spain is one of the biggest tourist hubs in the world, and tourism is incredibly important to its economy. It has the second-biggest tourism industry in the world, and in 2019, it was the most-visited country.

Furthermore, tourism contributes to a bit over 11% of Spain’s economy, making it a crucial sector. Even though the industry took a hit in 2020, it still shows no signs of faltering or stopping.

17. Lifestyle

Spanish people are known for living life to the fullest. However, this does not mean that they’re in a hurry. The Spanish are known for taking their time to truly savor the people and world around them without rushing.

Long, multi-course meals are very popular, and people eat them slowly, enjoying the food and the company. It is also not uncommon to see people wandering the countryside and the charming cities after such a nice meal.

The Spanish are also famous for their communication style. They tend to stand closer to each other than people in many other countries and touch each other on the arm frequently. They speak loudly and use facial expressions and hand gestures to support their words.

Don’t be surprised if someone stares at you in Spain. While pointing is rude, staring is not as much, which might be a shock. But remember, it’s normal there, so don’t be offended. You might make a new friend!

18. Art

Art has always been a greatly appreciated part of Spanish culture, and Spain is now home to many artworks of great importance, some of which were painted by non-Spanish artists but have found their way to Spain. Some of the must-see things to see for every art nerd are:

Guernica by Pablo Picasso
The Third of May by Francisco Goya
Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez
Burial of the Count of Orgaz by El Greco
Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee around a Pomegranate a Second before Waking up by Salvador Dali

Of course, you could spend days, if not months wandering around Spain and soaking in the art. One could say that by merely walking around the streets, you can experience art everywhere you look.

19. Catalonia

Catalonia is an autonomous community, separated into four provinces: Girona, Lleida, Barcelona, and Tarragona. It has a unique history, culture, and language, which have survived until today despite often being repressed and banned.

Catalonia is now known as an important commercial and tourist hub. It is a heavily industrialized part of the country, and in 2018, it had a nominal GDP second only to Madrid, making it one of the richest parts of Spain.

In terms of tourism, it has plenty to offer, despite its relatively small size. You can visit lively beaches such as the Costa Brava and different mountain resorts in the Pyrenees. Not to forget the distinct historical and modern architecture, particularly the works of Gaudi.

If you’re planning a journey to Spain, you should consider visiting Catalonia. The place is breathtaking, and even a day or two spent there will be an enriching cultural and historical experience.

20. Caga Tío

Caga Tío is one of the strangest Christmas traditions in Europe and possibly the whole world. Caga Tío is essentially a log with a painted-on face and a red hat that you keep inside your house at Christmas time and “feed” scraps of food.

In return for the food, the log is expected to “poop” out presents, including a sweet delicacy called turrón, a type of nougat with many different variations. People usually cover it with a blanket when it’s time for the presents. Then, a child (well, typically) strikes it with a stick, sings the necessary song, and behold! There is a present under the blanket.

21. Wine

Wine is hugely important in Spanish culture and cuisine. It’s used both for drinking and cooking, and there are almost infinite varieties of it due to the vast climate and geological differences between the winemaking regions of Spain.

Spain has the largest area of land dedicated to winemaking of all countries, but is only the third biggest producer of wine, after France and Italy. Its wine is sometimes overlooked because of this, but there has recently been an increase in interest in Spanish wine, and it draws many lovers of wine across the world.

22. Tapas

Tapas come in many varieties, but they usually come as appetizers or snacks, which can be consumed as a meal, or while drinking. Sometimes, different kinds of tapas can be combined to create a full meal.

Tapas can be cold—for example, cheese, olives, or salted meat with bread—or hot, such as chopitos, which are essentially battered and fried baby squid. In some places, they have become a more sophisticated type of food and come in many regional varieties.

23. Drinking & Alcohol

Since wine is such a big staple of Spanish culture, you may assume that the Spanish like to have a nice drink here and there, and you wouldn’t be wrong. People in Spain start drinking at 16, even though the legal age is 18, and it’s very common to drink daily, particularly at means. However, the Spanish drink very moderately, and binge drinking is not a very common occurrence.

24. Cafes

Apart from drinking alcohol, the Spanish also love drinking coffee, and there is no shortage of cafes where you can sit down and have a hot cup of coffee while watching the passers-by. There are modern cafes, old-fashioned cafes, and everything in between, so you’re bound to find something that suits you just perfectly.

25. Food Fresh Food

If you’re into fresh food, particularly fruit and vegetables, then Spain will provide you with an amazing food experience. The country is renowned for being a huge exporter of oranges, mandarins, grapefruit, limes, and lemons, while their orchards are packed full of apples, pears, figs, and peaches. You’ll surely be able to enjoy great fresh food anywhere you go.

26. La Tomatina

La Tomatina might be one of the wackiest festivals in the world. Every year since 1945, on the last Wednesday of August, people take to the streets of Bunol and pelt each other with tomatoes purely for entertainment.

The festival started accidentally in 1945, during a parade of Giants and Big-Heads. One of the participants’ masks fell off, he got angry, and started hitting everyone in sight. There was a vegetable stall with tomatoes nearby, and people started throwing tomatoes at each other until the police broke them up.

The following year, some young people gathered and started a tomato fight, which was pre-planned. The authorities broke them up, but the tradition had been started, and it’s been going on ever since, with only two breaks.

27. Baby Jumping Festivals

Baby jumping, or El Coracho, is another unusual festival in Spain. It includes men in red and yellow devil suits jumping over babies lying on the floor on mattresses. The men first insult the crowds, and then, they are driven away by another group of pious men. They jump over the babies as they’re driven away, symbolically absorbing their sins.

28. Innovators

Spain is also the birthplace of important innovators, such as Emilio Herrera Linares, who invented the spacesuit. Another crucial innovator, whom we can thank for making housework less labor-intensive is Manuel Jaron Corominas, the inventor of the modern mop. And it’s impossible not to mention the first stapler ever, made by Charles Henry Gould, in the 18th century.

29. Sexy

Even though Spain is a pretty devoutly Catholic country, the people there are not particularly shy, and that translates to sexuality and romance as well. It is quite normal to see displays of affection in public, and there is not much fuss about same-sex couples, which can be quite refreshing.

30. Flamenco

Flamenco is one of the most recognizable symbols of Spain, and probably one of the first things that come to mind when Spain is mentioned. Flamenco is an art form that centers on dance and music, both of which are equally important. It is thought that it was brought to Spain by the Romani people (Gitanos) and that it has evolved due to their cultural intermingling with the local Jews and Moors.

31. Music

Apart from flamenco, which is mostly reserved to the country’s south, Spain has an abundance of musical styles, including bagpipes in the north, and the style called jota in the center of the country. Opera, classical, and pop music are also popular in Spain, and it has contributed a lot to the development of classical Western music.

32. Málaga

Málaga is a stunning city in Andalusia that offers amazing beaches and cruising, but it’s most popular for its music scene and nightlife. It has a particularly lively flamenco scene, so it’s the top destination if your goal is immersion in the flamenco culture of Spain.

33. Fashion

While Spain may not be at the top of the fashion world, the Spanish like to dress smart and sharp, and if you’re walking around in shabby, ill-fitting clothes, you’ll be clocked as a tourist immediately. It is very important to have good-fitting clothes on, so baggy jeans and shirts are not acceptable. Also, the Spanish dress slightly conservatively, so you should avoid skimpy outfits.

34. Superstitions

Like most other places, Spain has its fair share of superstitions, and they may be different from what you’re used to. Some of those superstitions are:

Cacti on windows to trap evil spirits
Tuesdays are unlucky
Hats on beds bring bad luck
Bringing an old broom with you when you move is bad luck
The color yellow can also bring bad luck

There are probably many more, but it would be extremely hard to squeeze them all into the same list, so don’t be surprised if you run into some superstitions that we haven’t mentioned here.

35. Siesta

People all around the world envy the Spanish because of the siesta. Life would be much easier if we could just nap in the afternoon instead of continuing to work after our lunch break. It’s quite an old custom, which emerged because the scorching midday heat prevented most people from going about their work and forced them to rest until it was less hot outside.

However, nowadays, the siesta has largely been abandoned, and very few people have it. However, that shouldn’t stop you from kicking back on your holiday in Spain if you wish to do so!

36. Beaches

Just like every Mediterranean country, Spain suffers from no shortage of beautiful beaches you can visit as a tourist. Some of these beaches are:

Costa del Sol
La Barrosa
Tarifa
Playa de los Peligros
Isuntza & Karraspio
La Concha Beas
Playa de las Catedrales

37. Calat Alhambra

The Alhambra is another amazing destination for lovers of architecture. It is one of the best examples of Islamic architecture in Andalusia, mixed with some elements of the Spanish renaissance. Its construction started in 1238, but it went through many changes throughout the centuries.

38. La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia is possibly one of the most famous churches in the world. It was designed by Gaudi, as an Interpretation of Gothic architecture, and is almost instantly recognizable. However, it stands unfinished, and it is unknown when its construction will end.

39. Paella

Paella is a rice-based dish from the region of Valencia and is seen as a Spanish national dish by non-Spaniards. Paella can be made with meat, often chicken, or it can be made with seafood. In some cases, you can have a mixed paella.

40. Literature

Spain has also been the birthplace of some of the world’s greatest writers. Some of them are:

Miguel de Cervantes
Federico García Lorca
Arturo Pérez-Reverte
Rosalia de Castro
Carlos Ruiz Zafón

41. Pablo Picasso

When talking about Spanish art, and art in general, the name Pablo Picasso is typically one of the first to come to mind. He was one of the founders of cubism, but explored many different styles, and is best known for Guernica. His work went through many different phases, all of them fascinating in their own way.

42. Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali is recognizable for his exuberant lifestyle and manners as much as for his art. He is the most well-known representative of surrealism, not just in Spain, but worldwide. Dali is best known for his painting The Persistence of Memory.

43. Religion

While Spain is a catholic country, there has been a lot of secularization in recent years. Many people are now irreligious, and amongst those who see themselves as Catholics, only around 20% are practicing, and the numbers seem to be dropping.

Conclusion

Spain is a wonderful cultural sight and a place well worth visiting. Its history, culture, art, and food are absolutely breathtaking, and you could spend years wandering the country and soaking up its culture.

Get to know more about Europe’s hidden gems here.