10 Best National Parks in Spain

The Picos de Europa in Asturias, Cantabria, and León is one of Spain's natural treasures. There are many ways to discover the region's secrets. Whether on guided routes or excursions on horseback and quad bike, you will find numerous signposted paths that allow you to go at your own pace.

In this natural park, you’ll find some of the most spectacular landscapes in the 3 provinces, such as the Lakes of Covadonga, the Desfiladero de la Hermida gorge, and the Sajambre valley. You may also wish to fully immerse yourself in the scenery by engaging in adventures on offer, such as canyoning or going down the River Sella by canoe or raft.

Sierra de Guadarrama National Park lies in the very heart of the Iberian Peninsula with its magnificent mountain range. It’s countless hiking paths were created by the inhabitants of the local villages back in the past and are currently used by all kinds of visitors. The cold winters invite the most intrepid to venture into the snow and enjoy the recreational areas from where you can go cross-country skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing on the spectacular slopes.

Don't forget to check out the Sierra de Guadarrama's rich cultural heritage in an area in which kings, nobles and the clergy located their sumptuous buildings centuries ago. Don't miss a visit to Manzanares Castle or the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso.

Cabrera National Park is an archipelago and national maritime park just over an hour from Mallorca and which can only be accessed by sea. Visiting the national park, get your camera ready as you’ll encounter beautiful sights from the boat. The islands and islets that make up this protected area have an extensive coastline replete with beaches and tall, rocky cliffs.

On spring and summer days, you can cool off in the crystal-clear waters when the heat can sometimes be unbearable. You’ll be tempted to go swimming, and you can see marine life up close through snorkelling and scuba diving.

Tablas de Daimiel National Park, or Tablas Daimiel for short, is small compared to the other best national parks in Spain, but it’s big on ecotourism and even wine tourism. It’s home to wetlands that are some of the most extensive in Spain. Choose how you wish to visit, on foot, in a 4x4 or even by canoe. As one of Ciudad Real's greatest treasures, it has unique flora and fauna. A result of the aquatic ecosystem, it’ll delight birdwatchers.

Your visit to Tablas Daimiel will also delight your palate as it offers wine tours that allow you to sample the excellent produce of the local vineyards. When you feel peckish during your visit to the national park, match your wine tastings with the traditional specialities offered at the wineries' restaurants.

Cabañeros National Park is home to a forest that spans the provinces of Toledo and Ciudad Real. Oddly, it’s famous for having almost become a firing range in the past. The local people and ecologists from all over Spain put a stop to the plan and today it is home to many endangered species.

Besides the chance to admire some of Iberia's rarest fauna from up close, you can also use your time to enjoy other activities available in this beautiful forest. You can test your skills at archery, go canoeing or challenge your friends to a paintball tournament in the heart of the countryside.

Caldera de Taburiente National Park lies at the heart of La Palma and is one of the main attractions of the Canary Islands’ ‘La Isla Bonita’. Its volcanic past has given rise to a rugged landscape replete with a caldera, towering cliff faces, and waterfalls which will ensure you return with Instagram photos that’ll be the envy of many.

We strongly recommend you visit its astronomical lookout points when the sun has set. The stunning clarity of the night sky and the sheer quantity of stars that you can see will be the icing on the cake of this trip.

Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park is made up of 4 connected archipelagos, namely Cíes, Ons, Sálvora and Cortegada. They’re like jewels that emerge out of the sea, beautifying the seascape with their cliffs that look out over the Atlantic Ocean. Each of these islands features unforgettable landscapes and legends. On Sálvora, for instance, you’ll find the statue of the mermaid Mariña, who was said to be deaf yet spoke her first words when she saw that her son was in danger of falling into a great fire.

In the undersea depths of the Cíes Islands, in whose waters pirates fought, galleons and other ships from yesteryear have been found. Why not dive for a treasure every bit as real as the beauty of this special place? Scuba adventures offer an incomparably magical adventure around these waters.

Doñana National Park is the greatest natural wonder on the Costa de la Luz, spanning the provinces of Huelva, Seville, and Cádiz. This veritable mosaic of ecosystems has been classified as a World Heritage Site, home as it is to numerous unique species, such as the Iberian Lynx.

Make your start at the small village of El Rocío in the province of Huelva, which as well as being a great place to enter the park, is also famous for its Romería, a pilgrimage-procession whose route also takes in part of Doñana. If the sun is beating down, you can cool off on one of the gorgeous unspoilt beaches with their fine white sand.

Timanfaya National Park in Lanzarote offers more than just the sun, sea, and sand that the island is most known for. It’s where you can marvel at the unique beauty of the surroundings with its vast lava flows and dark reddish hues – the result of various eruptions with the last occurring in 1824.

However, if you’re curious about this natural phenomenon, you can witness a simulation in the park itself which recreates the 18^th-century volcanic eruptions that shook the island of Lanzarote.

Garajonay National Park lies in the highest region of the island of Gomera with its mild temperatures and lush vegetation forests. These forests conserve the flora that covered the Mediterranean area for millions of years – a veritable spectacle that is in stark contrast to the arid nature of the rest of the island.

The magnificent island landscapes mean that you can take advantage of your stay on the island to enjoy the multiple adventures and excursions on offer, which combine hiking, sea kayaking, and mountain biking among many other activities.