12 Magical Spots in Spain That Look Straight Out of a Fairytale

Tossa de Mar Spain
Splendidly Spain Disclosure

Spain isn’t short on dramatic scenery or dreamy architecture, but some places go beyond beautiful and just feel completely unreal.

From whimsical buildings to medieval castles and enchanted gardens, these places could easily be the setting for a storybook.

If you’ve ever wanted to walk through a fairytale, start with these 12 magical spots.

They’re the kind of places that stick in your mind long after you’ve left.

My Top Spain Tips & Resources Here are a few quick tips to help you plan your trip: ➜ WHERE TO STAY:Book hotels in central, walkable areas. I like using Booking.com or Expedia to compare options. ➜ ATTRACTIONS: Reserve tickets for popular sights like La Sagrada Familia, the Alhambra, and the Royal Palace of Madrid well in advance. ➜ FOOD TOURS: Discover the best local cuisine with Devour Tours or Spain Food Sherpas. ➜ TOURS & DAY TRIPS: Use Viator or GetYourGuide to book guided tours and easy day trips from major cities. ➜ PICKPOCKET TIP: Don’t come to Spain without a phone leash—seriously! ➜ TRANSPORTATION: Use Omio to compare train, bus, and flight options across Spain. ➜ TAXIS: Download the FreeNow app to request taxis on demand in most major cities. ➜ STAY CONNECTED: Use an Airalo eSIM for instant data when you land in Spain.

1. Park Güell, Barcelona

Designed by Antoni Gaudí, Park Güell looks more like a fantasyland than a city park.

With curvy tile benches, mosaic-covered animals, and gingerbread-style gatehouses, it feels like something out of a dream.

The views over Barcelona from the top are incredible, stretching all the way to the sea.

Even just wandering the walkways here feels like stepping into another world.

A vibrant city view from a mosaic-tiled terrace at Park Guell Barcelona shows whimsical buildings and colorful rooftops stretching toward the sea

2. Alhambra, Granada

Perched on a hill above the city, the Alhambra is a palace complex that feels both delicate and grand at the same time.

You’ll find intricate carvings, reflecting pools, and peaceful gardens that seem designed to make you pause.

Each room feels more detailed than the last, and the setting, surrounded by mountains, makes it even more dramatic.

It’s one of the most famous monuments in Spain and a place where history and fantasy blur together.

Sunset view of the Alhambra from a hillside terrace with whitewashed rooftops and a mountain backdrop

3. Segovia Castle, Castilla y León

The Alcázar of Segovia looks like it belongs on a movie poster.

With its pointed turrets and hilltop location, it’s said to have inspired Walt Disney’s Cinderella castle.

Inside, you’ll find suits of armor, grand halls, and spiral staircases straight out of a storybook.

Climb the tower for one of the best panoramic views in Spain.

The Alcazar of Segovia with multiple pointed towers sits atop a rocky cliff surrounded by lush trees under a cloudy sky

4. Casa Batlló, Barcelona

Located in the heart of Barcelona, Casa Batlló isn’t your typical mansion.

It’s another Gaudí masterpiece, filled with wavy walls, stained glass, and dragon-like features that make it feel alive.

Even the staircase feels like it’s moving, with bone-like shapes and a glowing skylight above.

It’s strange and beautiful in the best way, and the audio guide really brings the house’s story to life.

Casa Batllo, a fantastical building with a dragon-scale roof and colorful mosaic facade featuring curved balconies and whimsical windows

5. Tossa de Mar Castle, Costa Brava

Tossa de Mar castle is one of the best castles near Barcelona, standing on a cliff above the sea and watching over the beach below.

Its towers and stone walls are still intact, and you can walk along the ramparts with views of the Mediterranean on one side and the old town on the other.

At night, the whole place lights up and looks even more magical.

It’s the only preserved coastal fortress in Catalonia, which makes it and the town of Tossa de Mar even more special.

A stone watchtower at Tossa de Mar Castle with a waving Catalan flag overlooks a turquoise bay dotted with boats and backed by green hills

6. Setenil de las Bodegas, Andalusia

In this small town in southern Spain, houses are literally built into giant rock overhangs.

Shaded by cliffs instead of rooftops, some streets look like they were carved out of a storybook landscape.

You’ll find cafes tucked under the stone and whitewashed homes peeking out from beneath the rock.

It’s unlike anywhere else in Spain.

Setenil de las Bodegas, a hillside Spanish village with white houses and red roofs built around a dramatic rocky ravine

7. Real Alcázar of Seville, Andalusia

The Real Alcázar in Seville looks like a palace made for fairy queens.

Its courtyards are full of arches and fountains, and the walls are decorated with colorful tiles and gold accents.

It still serves as a royal residence when the Spanish king visits Seville.

You might recognize it from TV, but seeing it in person is something else entirely.

An ornate courtyard in the Real Alcázar of Seville featuring Islamic-style arches, intricate wall carvings, and a long rectangular reflecting pool

8. Besalú, Catalonia

Besalú is a medieval town that hasn’t changed much in centuries.

Its arched stone bridge, cobbled streets, and Romanesque buildings make it feel frozen in time.

It’s small enough to explore in a few hours but full of quiet corners and little surprises.

On misty mornings, it looks straight out of a fantasy novel.

A medieval stone bridge in Besalú Catalonia with tall towers spans a calm river with mountains and trees in the background

9. Comillas, Cantabria

This northern town is full of architectural oddities, including Gaudí’s colorful El Capricho.

The building has sunflower-covered tiles, curved forms, and details that make you want to stop and stare.

The rest of the town is filled with mansions, modernist touches, and hidden corners that feel like something out of an old fairytale book.

It’s not on most travelers’ radar, which makes it even more intriguing.

El Capricho, a whimsical, fairy tale-like building with a colorful tiled tower and intricate architecture surrounded by lush greenery

10. Olite Castle, Navarre

Olite Castle is one of the most underrated fairytale castles in Spain.

With towers you can climb and long stone corridors to wander, it feels more like a playground than a museum.

You can explore the whole thing at your own pace and even imagine yourself as part of a royal court.

Olite Castle, a large medieval palace with high stone walls and towers rises above a town with narrow streets and clustered rooftops

11. Colomares Castle, Andalusia

Colomares Castle isn’t a medieval fortress, but it sure looks like one.

Built in the 1990s as a tribute to Christopher Columbus, it’s a mix of styles with towers, arches, mosaics, and hidden staircases that feel pulled from a fantasy film.

It’s small enough to explore in under an hour but full of quirky details and photo-worthy corners.

Perched on a hill in Benalmádena, it’s one of the most unexpected fairytale spots in southern Spain.

Colomares Castle, an elaborate red-brick castle with Gothic and Moorish-inspired architecture features detailed spires and archways

12. Montserrat Monastery, Catalonia

Built into a jagged mountain range, Montserrat Monastery looks like it belongs in a fantasy film.

The buildings seem to grow out of the rock, with dramatic cliffs rising all around, and you can take a cable car or rack railway to reach the top.

There’s a basilica, the famous black Madonna statue, and hiking trails that lead to hidden chapels and panoramic viewpoints.

It feels peaceful, mysterious, and unlike anywhere else in Spain.

A monastery complex at Montserrat nestled between dramatic rocky mountains with a train track leading into the valley below