The Atlas Obscura Guide To Spain

932 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Spain

Updated October 16, 2026

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Unusual Attractions in Spain

Casa Batllo

Barcelona, Spain

Casa Batlló

One of Antoni Gaudí's most classic buildings is well-known for its "dragon-back" design.

The facade of the church, still under construction.

Barcelona, Spain

Sagrada Família

Construction of Barcelona’s iconic (but controversial) church was finally completed in 2026—a century after the death of its architect.

Labyrinth Park of Horta

Barcelona, Spain

Labyrinth Park of Horta

This semi-secret storybook hedge maze is also the oldest garden in the city.

The Insider Guide to Spain's Camino

AO Insider Guide

The Insider Guide to Spain's Camino

Join an adventurer's transformational trek from Sarria to Santiago.

Houses inside Park Güell designed by Gaudí

Barcelona, Spain

Park Güell

Gaudí's famously flamboyant architectural style is on full display in this sprawling park and garden.

Barcelona, Spain

Montjuïc Cemetery

This cemetery features modernist statues as strange as its name.

Barcelona, Spain

Calder Mercury Fountain

A beautiful but toxic fountain of mercury.

Bunkers del Carmel

Barcelona, Spain

Bunkers of Carmel

These secluded and abandoned anti-aircraft defenses have become one the most scenic viewpoints in Barcelona.

See All 932 Things To Do in Spain

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Spain

Sobrino de Botin

Madrid, Spain

Sobrino de Botin

The oldest restaurant in the world is this old-world Spanish eatery, still known for its suckling pig.

Chocolate chariot driver and his horses (Flickr/SpirosK)

Barcelona, Spain

Chocolate Museum

Gaze upon chocolate sculptures depicting everything from chariot races to Gaudí's famous church at this shrine to sweets.

Barcelona, Spain

Caelum

This cafe offers a curated collection of treats and tipples made by monks and nuns.

See all 43 Places to Eat in Spain

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Explore Spain

Architecture 133

Museums 106

History & Culture 84

Sculptures 58

Archaeology 57

Art 55

Architectural Oddities 55

Ruins 54

History 53

Sacred Spaces 51

Statues 46

Medieval 41

Churches 41

Geology 41

Caves 40

Ecosystems 36

Abandoned 35

Nature 34

Ancient 33

Roman 31

Places To Stay 5

Unique Restaurants & Bars 2

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Stories About Spain

Berza gitana is one of the exemplary dishes of Gitano cuisine.

How Gitano Cuisine Found a Home in Andalusia

The food of Spain's Romani people is richly flavored by history and music.

by Vera Armus, Atlas Obscura

Al-Tujībī’s recipe for marinated olives seasoned with oregano and salt.

A Longed-For Taste of Home in ‘The Exile’s Cookbook’

A 13th-century Arabic cookbook reveals the culinary life of al-Andalus.

by Andrew Coletti, Atlas Obscura

January 23, 2024

The Falset Marçà Cooperative in Tarragona is another work by Martinell.

The Beauty of Catalonia's Modernist 'Wine Cathedrals'

Winemaking collectives pooled their resources to build these architectural wonders.

by Noah Lederman, Atlas Obscura

November 14, 2023

The eruption of a volcano on Spain’s La Palma island took a toll on nearby fish.

Volcanoes Kill Fish In Many Gruesome Ways

From bubbly eyeballs to internal bleeding, eruptions can have deadly consequences for marine animals.

by Chris Baraniuk, Atlas Obscura

August 28, 2023

Biologists on the Canary Islands only became aware of the islands’ robust population of angelsharks about a decade ago.

This Fake Beach in the Canary Islands Is a Baby Shark Paradise

Tenerife's Playa de las Teresitas attracts tourists looking for sun—and endangered angelsharks.

by Dag Goering, Atlas Obscura

Diners in the backyard at Furancho Cadaval.

Every Summer, Galician Winemakers Turn Their Homes Into Restaurants

What started as a way to sell excess wine has become a beloved custom.

by Austin Bush, Atlas Obscura

Until the 1990s, when billboards were banned in Spain, these bulls were painted with the name of Veterano Osborne brandy. The company removed the words and successfully fought to have the enormous bulls considered art.

How These Bull-Shaped Billboards Became Spanish Icons

Once an advertisement for brandy, the Osborne bull is now a symbol of the country.

by Ignacio Amigo, Atlas Obscura

Researchers found the remains of the frontal skulls of 35 large game animals in Des-Cubierta cave near Madrid, Spain.

Did Neanderthals Collect Impressive Animal Skulls?

Researchers found something "very strange" in a Spanish cave.

by Alyssa McMurtry, Atlas Obscura

Lists Featuring Spain

Original letter of Abraham, the son of Maimonides found in the Cairo genizah.

A sculpture of the Tower of Babel, by Alan Baughman, from the Introductory Room of the Museum of the Alphabet

Boontling word of the week in the tap room of the Anderson Valley Brewing Company.

A Linguistics Lover's Tour of the World

12 places to marvel at the history of human language.

Including The Cairo Genizah , The Museum of the Alphabet , and Boontling Language of Boonville

Bolivia’s Witch Market

Dubrovnik Maskeron

The Statue of St. Anthony’s Pig

The Guardhouse Monkey

15 Unlikely Places to Re-Up Your Luck

Luck be a... llama fetus?

Including Bolivia's Witch Market, Dubrovnik Maskeron, and Statue of St. Anthony's Pig