Every country has major landmarks known the world over—Spain is no different. And while the Sagrada Familia and the Alhambra are absolutely incredible man-made structures that you need to make every effort to see in person, Mother Nature has also blessed Spain with quite a few impressive sights.

From the heights of mountaintops to the depths of caves, with plenty of vantage points in between, Spain’s natural scenery will take your breath away.

Read on to see a side of Spain you might have missed the first time around in the following regions. 

A Coruña

While you’re in Spain, you’ll be eating olives and pouring their oil onto bread, but there is another way to enjoy them. In A Coruña, a port city in Galicia, there is a garden on a private estate called Pazo de Santa Cruz de Ribadulla. There, you can take guided tours and enjoy strolling under centuries-old olive trees in a picturesque setting.

The grounds also include a waterfall, a pond and about 300 camellias that bloom in February and March.

Basque Country

Northern Spain’s Basque Country holds a national treasure: Salto de Nervión, the highest waterfall (728 feet) on the Iberian Peninsula. It’s also the second-tallest waterfall in Europe.

There are three hiking routes to choose from, stretching from a family-friendly 15 minutes to a more experienced walk of 90 minutes. In order to truly see it in all its glory, visit the waterfall after heavy storms, a rainy period or during the winter thaw season.

Extremadura

Rising 1,644 feet in a conical shape from La Serena Reservoir in Badajoz, Cerro Masatrigo is known as the “Magic Mountain” and draws hikers and birdwatchers. When the reservoir is full, this hill in Extremadura basically becomes an island.

No matter the conditions, visitors can reach Cerro Masatrigo via the road EX-322, which has been dubbed Europe’s largest roundabout as it circles entirely around its base.  

Gran Canaria

One of Gran Canaria’s most popular beaches, Playa de Maspalomas is known for its lighthouse dating back to 1890, its nudist area and its impressive sand dunes that resemble the Sahara Desert. (Some of the sand hills reach as high as 33 feet.)

The nearly 1,000 acres of the Maspalomas Dunes Special Nature Reserve is a protected area, but visitors are welcome to use the trails or take a camel ride.

Genalguacil

Thanks to its many art installations, Genalguacil is known as an open-air museum in Andalusia. 

Since 1994, the town has hosted Genalguacil Art Encounters, a biennial festival where national and international artists create sculptures, murals and other installations in the streets and in public spaces. Many artists leave the village after the event, but the art remains. Many pieces frame nature, making it the focal point.

Madrid

Steps away from the Prado Museum in Spain’s capital city, Madrid, is the Real Jardín Botánico, a 20-acre botanical garden. Founded in the 18^th century, the garden is today full of more than 5,500 plant species from around the world.

There are seven outdoor gardens and five indoor greenhouses, and here is where you’ll find something rare: one greenhouse accurately recreates a desert climate, one of the few spots to do so in Europe.

Málaga

A mixture of mountain paths and suspended walkways against the walls of steep cliffs, El Caminito Del Rey was once considered one of the world’s most dangerous hikes. Safety measures were implemented this century, but you still might need nerves of steel in order to relax and enjoy the incredible views of canyons, a large valley and animals like wild boar, golden eagles and Iberian ibex.

This one-way path takes about three to four hours to complete, so be sure to bring water and snacks along.  

Mallorca

On the southeastern end of Mallorca, in a fishing village called Porto Cristo, you’ll find the Drach Caves. After a guided tour through the four interconnected caves—the Black Cave, the White Cave, the Cave of Luis Salvador and the Cave of the French—you’ll board a boat and be gently whisked across one of the biggest underground lakes in the world.

The experience culminates in a 10-minute classical music concert performed by a quartet of cellos, harpsichord and two violins as you gently rock on the water. 

Penedès

In the coastal hills between Barcelona and Tarragona, you’ll find the Penedès wine region. If you’re a fan of Cava, this is the mother ship, producing more than 95% of it. Vineyards here date back to Roman times as conditions—mild winters, proximity to the sea and rainfall after harvest—have remained favorable over the centuries. 

While red and white still wines are also produced here, it’s the sparkling ones that get the most attention. In 2014, a new sparkling wine category, Penedès Espumoso, was introduced under the brand name Clàssic Penedès; all wines marketed in this way must be made from organic grapes in the region.   

Tenerife

The largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife’s spectacular beaches have always been a natural draw. But what you might not have seen before is the “sea of clouds” the island can have thanks to the trade winds. As the clouds get pushed against the mountains in the north, the wet air condenses and hotter winds prevent the clouds from rising.

From below, it appears as a cloudy day, but if you go to viewpoints like Mirador de le Tarte de Tiede, you can see the frothy “sea” below.

Zugarramurdi

Close to the French border in northern Spain, Zugarramurdi means “hill of the elm trees” which sounds peaceful, but is better known in the country for its caves and a brutal witch hunt during the Inquisition. In 1610, dozens of people from this Basque area were accused of witchcraft. These open-air caverns were the supposed meeting place for witches and became symbols of evil and darkness.

Six “witches” were executed and another five were burned after being tortured to death. Today, visitors come to the caves for its place in folklore. There is a Witch Museum in the town as well, which tells the story from the villagers’ perspective.  

Ready to go? Start planning your trip now.