Spain is full of photogenic locations that your followers will love. There's a mix of urban landscapes, national parks, and old historic buildings. We tried to include places outside the main cities of Barcelona and Madrid, as we could have written an article about each.
This article will cover 15 locations to make people hit that like button.
1. Sagrada Família, Barcelona
Come on, you didn’t think we could start this article without mentioning Sagrada Família as the first one, did you? It is probably the most famous building in Spain, and if you quickly search for #SagradaFamília, you’ll see why.
If you want the perfect picture for the “gram,” then it's best taken outside. Even though the inside is nice, people go for the outside.
2. Puente Nuevo, Ronda
Puente Nuevo, or New Bridge, is one of Spain's most Instagram-worthy locations.
You might not have known its name until you read this article, but you would have seen pictures of it before. It looks like the bridge that could have been used in Game of Thrones for an epic battle. It's up there with iconic bridges, such as Mostar Old Bridge and the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, but a lot bigger!
This bridge has a dark history. It collapsed in 1741, killing 50 people, and was used to torture prisoners during the civil war. Nowadays, it's just used for people after that perfect bridge photo for Instagram.
3. Alhambra, Granada
There are so many excellent options for Instagram photographs in Alhambra. This complex includes palaces, fortresses, chapels, gardens, and courtyards.
We recommend starting at the Justice Gate and heading to Alcazaba for great views over the city. Then head to Charles V Palace, which has a fantastic courtyard and is another excellent place for the perfect photograph.
The gardens are fantastic in late spring and summer, with flowers full of color. The Generalife gardens are probably the best ones, as there are lots of fountains and pools that make the perfect backdrop.
Make sure you pre-book your ticket, as it's trendy. We also recommend arriving early if you want to take the perfect Instagram photo without everyone else getting in your way. Allow at least half a day for your visit.
4. Royal Palace, Madrid
This isn’t only one of the best palaces in Spain or Europe, but it's probably one of the best in the world. It's straightforward to see and full of historical value.
Book your tickets online to avoid the main queues. But you will still have to queue outside to get in, so take a bottle of water and a hat. An audio tour lasts about 2.5 hours, which is worth doing. This is more frugal than hiring a personal guide, but for 5 euros, it's worth it to learn all about the palace.
The main entrance courtyard is the best place for Instagram photos, which shows the palace's exterior architecture. When you are inside, the grand staircase, throne room, and Plaza de la Armería are probably three of the best places.
5. Ibiza Old Town, Ibiza
Ibiza isn’t just about clubbing. There is a whole other side of the island that most people forget about the old town.
Notable places for Instagram photos are the Portal de ses Taules, the main entry point into the old town, and the Plaza de Vila, the main square with whitewashed buildings full of cafes, restaurants, and independent shops.
You could always head up to Castell d’Eivissa, the castle on top of the hill. This gives excellent views over the city. Our pro tip is to wander off down one of the beautiful side streets, which can make the perfect backdrop for Instagram photos.
6. La Concha Beach, San Sebastián
Described as a dream beach and often called one of the best beaches in the world, La Concha Beach is a lovely beach that offers beauty and convenience. Accessing and right across the main road from the town is straightforward.
The promenade is lined with great bars where you can relax, enjoy the sun, and take in the views of this unique beach.
The promenade at La Concha is lovely at any time of day and makes the perfect place for Instagram pictures. The soft, clean sand, clear turquoise water, and general atmosphere make it one of the most favorable environments for recharging.
7. Teide National Park, Tenerife
If you want to take Instagram photographs that make people feel they're on a different planet, Teide National Park in Tenerife could be the place for you.
The park itself is massive, with loads of different walking routes. If you are stuck for some time or don’t like walking, you can take the cable car (inside is a good place for a selfie) up Mount Teide, where you can get some great photographs.
If you have time, book one of the guided tours as you will learn all about the volcanic activity, and you can skip some of the checkpoints.
One of the best Instagram places is Mirador de Chipeque, which offers amazing views of Mount Teide and is also full of wildlife.
8. Caminito del Rey, Málaga
Caminito del Rey is for those with a sense of adventure. It's an 8-kilometer path once known as one of the most dangerous in the world. It has now been restored with a focus on safety, but the fact that you are 100 meters up on the side of a cliff means it's for those who don’t mind heights.
Along the way, there will be many opportunities for Instagram pictures, and you might even be lucky enough to spot vultures, golden eagles, and maybe even Iberian Ibex.
Allow about 3-4 hours to complete the walk; not all of it is on suspended walkways; a lot of it is actually done through the mountains. Everyone starts at the reception, as you can only go one way, and there's a shuttle bus at the end to ferry you back to your car.
Tickets are required, so make sure you book online.
9. Plaza de España, Seville
Plaza de España should be on everyone's list of places to visit in Spain. It features colorful tiled displays, fantastic bridges, stairways, benches, and facades, which gives plenty of places for Instagram pictures.
We recommend hiring a boat and taking a trip on the canal. From here, you can get great photographs of the bridges or snap the perfect selfie on a boat.
If you are a Star Wars fan, you should know that Episode II, Attack of the Clones, was filmed here.
Visit early in the morning to avoid the crowds, as this is probably the leading tourist destination in Spain. Watch out for the pickpockets, who are always after unsuspecting tourists.
10. Seville Cathedral, Seville
We are staying in Seville, this time at the magnificent cathedral dating back to the 15th century. It is also one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Europe.
Although it hasn’t taken as long as the Sagrada Família (still being built), the cathedral took 800 years to build; important areas to check out are the main altar, the huge organ, and the tomb of Christopher Columbus. The Patio de los Naranjos, a charming courtyard within the cathedral, has unique stone and marble pathways that make the perfect place for an Instagram photograph.
If you are not scared of heights, climb the bell tower, which offers the best views over Seville's skyline.
Visiting early, like most places on this list, helps if you want to see when there are smaller crowds. When you book online, you are given a time slot, which also helps reduce the waiting time. Expect to spend about an hour here.
11. Alcázar of Segovia, Segovia
Alcázar of Segovia is a fantastic castle that feels like half Disney castle and half Game of Thrones castle. It was built in the 12th century and is incredibly photogenic. Numerous monarchs have ruled here, including King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.
One of the best places for a photograph is outside, below the castle. This way, you can get a selfie with all the castles in the background.
The inside is just as photogenic as the outside, with highly decorated rooms and many well-known paintings inside.
Audio tours are available and recommended, but remember to book online, as tickets can sell out a few days in advance.
12. Mezquita Catedral de Cordoba
This is a unique cathedral that was once a mosque. Because of this, it combines architectural styles that have evolved over the centuries.
Walking through the Mosque-Cathedral, you'll notice the contrast between the dark, atmospheric mosque area and the abundant cathedral section. The way the light hits the columns makes it the perfect place to take a picture.
Night tours are available here, but photographs are not allowed. This is so everyone experiences the full tour and doesn’t wander off to take photographs. We know this article focuses on Instagram, but sometimes people are too guilty of living lives through their phones, so we quite like the rule that no photographs are allowed.
13. Gran Vía, Madrid
We had a choice to include Las Ramblas in Barcelona or Gran Via in Madrid. We felt this one was just that bit nicer than Las Ramblas, which is a bit overrated.
Gran Vía is a busy street full of shops, cafes, and some of the usual chain stores you will find in other cities. Make sure you look up, though, as the architecture along this street is some of the best in Madrid.
Our tip is to head to one of the rooftop bars, such as Picalagartos Sky Bar & Restaurant. This will allow you to enjoy the views without the crowds while drinking your favorite cocktail.
14. El Retiro Park, Madrid
El Retiro Park is a peaceful urban oasis in Madrid that centers around a beautiful lake. It's the perfect place to relax after a busy day in the city center. It is also an excellent frugal activity, as, like most parks, it is free to enter.
The main highlight for Instagram photographs is the Crystal Palace, but there are also plenty of great bridges, statues, and winding paths.
The park is also great if you have children, as there's a play area for them to let off some steam.
We recommend making your little picnic (cheaper than buying from a cafe) and renting e-bikes, which will allow you to get around the park faster.
If you are lucky enough, they might even have some street performers, such as saxophone or accordion players.
15. La Rioja Vineyards
If you are a fan of wine (who isn’t?) and want the perfect Instagram picture to make your friends jealous, you could head to one of the La Rioja vineyards.
There are loads to choose from, all offering something similar: a place to taste the wines, tour the vineyard, and snack on some tasty food.
It's the perfect way to spend a day in Spain, and it's a bit different from visiting a city center.
Final Thoughts
We only listed 15 places in this article, but we could have listed 100, as Spain has many photogenic areas that would wow your Instagram followers.
If you know a secret Instagram spot in Spain that you want to share with us, please don't hesitate to let us know about it in the comments below.
I’m Steve. I’m an English Teacher, traveler, and an avid outdoorsman. If you’d like to comment, ask a question, or simply say hi, leave me a message here, on Twitter (@thefrugalexpat1). Many of my posts have been written to help those in their journey to financial independence. I am on my journey, and as I learn more I hope to share more. And as always, thanks for reading The Frugal Expat.
The picture of the Royal Palace of Madrid is wrong
Good eye! Fixed! I missed it during the editing process.