Travel agencies reveal top tourist hotspots

According to industry leaders, Barcelona is one of the most-visited cities in Spain year-round, and tourists normally flock to the Sagrada Família cathedral, the Gothic District, the colourful Gaudí-designed Güell Park and the Ramblas, or central pedestrianised boulevard, as well as the excellent beaches in Spain's second-largest metropolis.

Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands, is also the most popular, although its neighbours – Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera – are by no means short of tourists.

The island capital, Palma de Mallorca, is among its most-visited parts, along with the beaches in Formentor, Illetas and Pollença.

Tenerife is a frequent choice among holidaymakers nationally and from abroad, and a high number of foreign visitors are British, typically heading to beaches in the Adeje and Arona areas and, mostly, including a day trip to the Teide National Park in their stay.

Madrid, like Barcelona, also attracts tourists in summer as well as out of season, with the most popular features for travellers being the 'big three' art museums – El Prado, Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemizsa – plus the Plaza Mayor and the spectacular Royal Palace.

Spain's third-largest city, Valencia, gets its fair share of visitors year-round thanks to its central attractions being close together and easy to reach from its extensive beaches by metro – the Central Market and Exchange Market or Lonja are normally on tourists' excursion list, along with the cathedral and the Micalet bell-tower, which they can climb for about €3, and the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, which rivals the Sydney Opera House for its stunning design.

Valencia city and its wider region are also the home of paella, one of the dishes most frequently associated with Spain, and most Spanish oranges found in supermarkets elsewhere in Europe come from the Valencia region, making it a top choice for foodies.

Málaga city offers excellent museums, monuments and beaches, although the wider province is even more packed with holidaymakers when summer comes – travel agencies in Spain say Spaniards are just as likely as Brits to pick the likes of Fuengirola, Estepona, Marbella, Torremolinos, Nerja and Benalmádena for their annual break.

Another city which draws in plenty of holidaymakers both to its main hub and wider province is Alicante – for those seeking more than mere sunshine, the shopping is great and the majestic Santa Bárbara Castle, the MARQ museum and its neighbouring Roman settlement are a constant Mecca for visitors – whilst coastal towns elsewhere in the province that are always packed in summer include Benidorm, Torrevieja, Calpe and Jávea, frequent choices for Spanish holidaymakers as well as northern Europeans.

Tarragona province's most-booked towns include Salou and Cambrils, although the Costa Daurada capital city is more than worth the detour to visit its Roman settlements.

FETAVE says another top 10 destination for bookings in summer – and even autumn and spring, given its milder climate, thanks to its relatively short distance from the Tropic of Cancer – is Gran Canaria, whose capital, Las Palmas, is always popular, as are the much-frequented beaches of Las Canteras (pictured), Maspalomas, El Confital and El Inglés.

When Spaniards travel abroad, their most likely destination is Paris, and the majority of those who head to the French capital report having visited the Eiffel Tower, the cathedral of Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomph, the Champs Élysées, Versailles palace and gardens, the artist district of Montmartre – including the Sacré Coeur – and Disneyland.

London is second from top for foreign holidays among Spaniards, and those who visit the UK capital typically say they make sure they take trips to Westminster Palace, Piccadilly Circus, Notting Hill and Camden Town.

Rome is the third-most popular non-Spanish holiday hotspot, and Spaniards who travel there say they ensure they do not miss the Colisseum, the Vatican museums, the Roman Forum, the Trevi Fountain, the Piazza di Spagna and the Catacombs, according to FETAVE.