Spain is one of the world’s most beautiful holiday destinations. Its beauty stems not only from awe-inspiring architecture but also from nature’s true wonders. Vast green plains and high mountains are some of Spain’s salient geographical features. The easiest way to experience the natural marvels is to visit some of its national parks.
National Parks are some of Spain’s best tourist destinations. They include various activities that appeal to families and adventure seekers, and you can arrange this on an economical budget while still enjoying an incredible experience.
This article gives you an insight into some of the best national parks to visit in Spain, entry fees, potential activities, and much more.
1. Teide National Park– Best for Hiking
Mount Teide, in all its grandeur – Source: Spain.info
- Location: Canary Islands
- Best time of the year to attend: Summers (May – September)
- Main activities: Hiking, Cable Car ride, Rafting bike ride
- Overnight camping is not allowed
- Suitable for: Families, Adults, Kids, Seniors
- Type of national park: Mountainous
- Reviews on trip advisor: 4.5 – 5,770 votes
Teide National Park is situated in Tenerife in the Canary Islands of Spain. The National Park is built around Mount Teide, an active volcano. The entry ticket to Teide National Park is free.
One of the main activities is hiking the El Teide itself, which requires a permit, free of cost. It is advised to secure a permit well in advance from this website. If you can’t, you can still book a guided tour, including cable car tickets (starting from €21.5). You can also explore different flower and animal species around the walking trails that stretch more than 190 km.
2. Timanfaya – Best for Exploration
Martian look-alike environment of Timanfaya – Source: wallpaperflare.com
- Location: Canary Islands
- Best time of the year to attend: Spring (February – May) & Fall (September – November)
- Main activities: Trekking, Sight-seeing
- Overnight camping is not allowed
- Suitable for: Families, Kids, Seniors
- Type of national park: Volcanic formations
- Reviews on trip advisor: 4.5 – 18,800 votes
Timanfaya National Park, located in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, looks like a scene from a movie made on Mars. The red landscape made of lava formations is the park’s main attraction. The entry fee is around €9.
You can explore this seemingly unearthly place by booking guided bus tours or walking tours from this website. On these tours, you will explore new species of plants and animals and unique geographical features (such as the geysers which turn water thrown in them into steam).
3. Monfrague – Best for Bird Watching & Hiking
The beauty of Monfrague National Park – Source: tripadvisor.com
- Location: Province of Caceres, Spain
- Best time of the year to attend: Summers (March – October)
- Main activities: Bird watching, Hiking, Trekking, Recreational activities
- Overnight camping allowed at specified campsites
- Suitable for: Families, Adults, Kids
- Type of national park: Mountainous
- Reviews on trip advisor: 4.5 – 992 votes
Monfrague National Park is situated in Villarreal de San Carlos, Caceres. It is a paradise for over 400 species of birds (including kingfishers, black stork, Spanish Imperial eagle) and 200 species of animals (including Otters, Iberian lynx etc.).
Entry is free! The park’s main attraction is the hills and mountains that hikers consider their heaven. Trekking along the marked routes is regarded as one of the main activities in the park. You can also see the remains of Castillo de Monfrag ⁇ e and visit the village of de San Carlos.
4. Ordesa – Best for Hiking
Features of Ordesa National Park – Source: istockphotos.com
- Location: Pyrenees
- Best time of the year to attend: Summers (March – October)
- Main activities: Hiking, Trekking, Recreational activities
- Overnight camping allowed (above 2100m)
- Suitable for: Families, Adults, Kids
- Type of national park: Mountainous
- Reviews on trip advisor: 5 – 1757 votes
Ordesa National Park, located in the Pyrenees, is one of Spain’s oldest, highest, and most beautiful national parks. It seems like a painting with glaciers, lakes, rapid rivers, and mountains, too good to be true.
There is no entry fee for the park. The park’s main feature is Mount Perdido, the highest limestone peak in Europe. Taking long strolls on glacial pathways and observing the variety of animals and plants are some activities you can do here. You can also enjoy rafting in the rapids at Ordesa. Book your tours and activities from here.
5. Cap de Creus – Best for Recreational activities
Boat ride in Cap de Creus – Source: tripadvisor.com
- Location: Catalonia
- Best time of the year to attend: Summers (May – September)
- Main activities: Hiking, Trekking, Snorkeling, Diving, Kayaking etc.
- Overnight camping is not allowed
- Suitable for: Families, Adults, Couples, Kids
- Type of national park: Mountainous/Maritime
- Reviews on trip advisor: 4.5 – 1,974 votes
Cap de Creus is one of the highest-rated tourist destinations in Spain. Located in northeast Catalonia, this park includes protected marine natural reserves with many underwater species of plants and animals.
The entry is free. However, you have to pay a few euros for car parking. One of the main attractions of Cap de Creus is long boat rides in the maritime area, observing the fantastic scenery. You can also visit the Cap de Creus lighthouse and the Benedictine monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes. To book tours and activities, visit this site.
6. Garajonay – Best for Trekking
Mystical forests of Garajonay – Source: la Gomera.travel
- Location: Canary Islands
- Best time of the year to attend: Spring (March – June)
- Main activities: Hiking, Trekking, Recreational activities
- Overnight camping is not allowed
- Suitable for: Families, Adults, Couples
- Type of national park: Mountainous
- Reviews on trip advisor: 5 – 1,031 votes
Visiting Garajonay feels like visiting a place from a fairytale. The Garajonay National Park is located in La Gomera in the Canary Islands.
There is no entry fee for the park. Hiking and trekking are the main activities you can do in the mystical, romantic forests saturated with flowers and wildlife. We recommend taking this scenic route to witness the best the park offers. If you want to book a tour, visit this. Be sure to bring your camera with you!
If you plan to spend an extended amount of time, you can bring pre-cooked food and eat at picnic tables in this parking guide.
7. Doñana – Best for Wildlife lovers
Golden hour at Doñana National Park – Source: Spain.info
- Location: Andalucia
- Best time of the year to attend: Spring (March-May) & Fall (September – November)
- Main activities: Horse rides, Swimming in Ocean, Wildlife observation
- Overnight camping allowed (with booking)
- Suitable for: Families, Adults, Kids, Seniors
- Type of national park: Plain/Marshland
- Reviews on trip advisor: 4 – 1,298 votes
Doñana National Park is situated in Andalucía, Southern Spain; its rich natural habitat is home to many wildlife species. We recommend booking a guided tour for the best experience. You can see some endangered birds, including flamingos, marbled duck, and squacco heron, by booking bird watching tours.
There are many things to do in Donana National Park. One of them is Horse riding along the beach during sunset (tickets starting from €0.80). You can also swim in the Atlantic Ocean along 27 km of shoreline. If you plan on camping, it is recommended to book your spot in advance. Book your campsites now!
8. Aiguestortes – Best for Sight-seeing
Snow-capped mountains at Aiguestortes – Source: wallpaperflare.com
- Location: Lleida
- Best time of the year to attend: Summer (May – September)
- Main activities: Wildlife observation, Trekking
- Overnight camping allowed in designated spots
- Suitable for: Families, Adults, Kids, Seniors
- Type of national park: Mountainous
- Reviews on trip advisor: 5 – 1,025 votes
Aiguestortes National Park is another one of Spain’s best-preserved parks. It is situated in Lleida and is covered in valleys, snow-covered mountains, numerous lakes and wild rivers.
There is no entry fee, except a transportation fee, starting from €10. In addition to other activities, it is recommended to visit the 11th and 12th-century churches of the Vall de Boí and marvel at Romanesque architecture and art. If you happen to see it in June or July, you can even experience the famous Fallas festival. Booking for tours and activities can be done here.
9. Caldera de Taburiente – Best for Hiking/Trekking
The landscape of Caldera de Taburiente National Park – Source: hellocanaryislands.com
- Location: Canary Islands
- Best time of the year to attend: Summer (May – September)
- Main activities: Wildlife observation, Trekking, Hiking
- Overnight camping allowed (with permit)
- Suitable for: Families, Adults, Kids
- Type of national park: Mountainous
- Reviews on trip advisor: 5 – 1,113 votes
Caldera de Taburiente, situated in La Palma in the Canary Islands, offers one of the unique geographical features in the world. Craters stretching for over 10 km formed among plains and mountains due to erosion over thousands of years.
There is no admission fee for this park. Apart from trekking along scenic routes, tourists are encouraged to visit the Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory, situated at 2396 m above sea level, the world’s largest optical telescope. Permits for camping can be booked at El Paso visitors centre, south of the park. For booking tours, visit this site.
10. Tablas de Daimiel – Best for observing nature
Bridgeway in Tablas de Daimiel National Park – Source: spain.info
- Location: Ciudad Real
- Best time of the year to attend: Summer (May – September)
- Main activities: Wildlife observation, Sight-seeing
- Overnight camping is not allowed
- Suitable for: Families, Adults, Kids, Seniors
- Type of national park: Wetland/Plain
- Reviews on trip advisor: 4.5 – 726 votes
Despite being one of the smallest national parks in Spain, Tablas de Daimiel, located in La Mancha, Ciudad Real, offers as much as other national parks in Spain. It consists of a maze-like network of wooden bridges around wetlands, offering breathtaking and picturesque sights.
No entry fee is applicable. The main attraction of this park is its three walking routes to explore different areas of the park. It is also recommended to visit Almagro, a traditional town near Tablas de Daimiel, with several attractions, including the National Theater Museum, operational since the 18th century. For booking tours, click here.
11. Picos de Europa – Best for Hiking
The pristine natural environment of Picos de Europa National Park – Source: spain.info
- Location: Cantabria
- Best time of the year to attend: Summer (June – September)
- Main activities: Hiking, Trekking, Paragliding
- Overnight camping is not allowed
- Suitable for: Families, Adults, Kids
- Type of national park: Mountainous
- Reviews on trip advisor: 5 – 377 votes
Picos de Europa, located in the Cantabrian mountain range, is unique in many ways. It consists of three different mountain ranges (central, western and eastern), borders three other provinces (Asturia, Cantabria and Castille & Leon) and is spread across eleven villages.
Entry to the park is free. Hiking is the main activity in the park where you can find more than 30 self-guided routes. You can also book your own guided tours, some of which are free (available from July to September). It is also recommended to visit Real Sitio de Covadonga. Book your tours and activities now!
Conclusion:
National parks always provide an excellent opportunity for tourists to observe the natural beauty of a country in its true form. Luckily, Spain is filled with them. They offer a range of different activities for the tourists on an economical budget. You can get an idea by watching this YouTube video or visiting the official tourism website in Spain.
Whenever you visit Spain, visit one of these parks with your families or friends or even solo, since nature will always be your companion in these magnificent places.
Check out this article if you want some tips and tricks to sleep in your car without getting caught.
