Thinking of visiting Spain soon? You won’t be alone. In 2024, the European country welcomed a record 94 million tourists — making it the second-most-visited country in the world behind France. From stunning Moorish palaces to world-class museums and gastronomic capitals, check out eight of our favorite places to visit in Spain.

Park Güell – Barcelona

Like so many of Barcelona’s iconic sites, Park Güell was designed by Antoni Gaudí — the city’s resident design visionary and one of Spain’s most famous architects. Constructed between 1900 and 1914, the 45-acre urban utopia is located on a hillside with sweeping views of the city below. The area was originally conceived as a subdivision of 60 private villas for wealthy Barcelonians, but the neighborhood never took off, and only two structures were ever constructed — a model home and a guard’s house. The land was turned over to the city and opened as a municipal park in the 1920s. 

While the views, plantings, and pathways of the park are undoubtedly lovely, what makes this place truly special are Gaudí’s whimsical installations. Highlights include the scalloped and tiled perimeter fencing, a monumental bench built to resemble a giant sea serpent and encrusted in bold ceramics, and a colorful salamander sculpture at the entrance known as “el drac” (“the dragon”). The main terrace is surrounded by winding paths, curving viaducts, formal gardens, and specimen trees — with a warren of palm-like columns supporting an amorphous tiled roof.

The park’s original model home ended up being Gaudí’s family home, and the bright pink villa is now a museum — another must-see in a city park brimming with his wonders. And don’t leave Barcelona without visiting another one of Gaudí’s most famous and enduring landmarks, the (still-unfinished) La Sagrada Família — which finally has a completion date.

Guggenheim Bilbao Museum

When it opened in 1997, this curvilinear titanium masterpiece by architect Frank Gehry may not have technically put Bilbao on the map — the city’s position on the Nervión River near the Bay of Biscay has assured the port’s significance for centuries — but the museum quickly exerted what experts termed “the Bilbao Effect.” It refers to the ability to turn a once-overlooked city into a tourist hotspot with trophy architecture.

In the case of the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum, more than 1.3 million visitors arrived in 2024 to behold the waterside museum’s famed swirls and the galleries therein. The permanent collections include major works by Jenny Holzer, Richard Serra, and Jeff Koons, among many others. But perhaps the most recognizable sculpture, which accessorizes many a shot of the museum’s exterior, is the spindly spider known as Maman, by Louise Bourgeois.  

Old Town of Segovia and Its Aqueduct

A relic of the Roman Empire, the Aqueduct of Segovia has balanced over its namesake Spanish province for nearly two millennia. Made from 24,000 granite blocks and not an ounce of mortar, the aqueduct (situated an hour north of Madrid) still fetches water from the Frío River, located 10 miles away. Its above-ground section measures almost 2,400 feet long, stretching across about 165 perfectly composed arches; in some places, the aqueduct soars more than 93 feet high in two tiers of arches. Along with Segovia’s beautiful old town, the aqueduct has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. 

While historians estimate that the aqueduct was built during Emperor Trajan’s reign, sometime around 50 CE, folklore disagrees. According to a popular legend, a Segovian servant wanted to eliminate her daily journeys to the mountains to gather water, so she offered her soul to the devil if he could engineer an alternative by morning. Allegedly, a rooster crowed just before he put the final brick in place.

Seville Cathedral

A dazzling display of the wealth that emerged in this southern Spanish city (now the capital of Andalusia) after the Reconquista years, Seville’s cathedral remains the largest Gothic building in Europe. Following the defeat of Moorish rule in the 15th century, Seville city leaders ordered the construction of the cathedral (officially named Cathedral of St. Mary of the See) to show off the expansion of Christianity throughout the Iberian Peninsula.

The cathedral stands on the site of a former mosque, and upon its completion in 1506, it overtook Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia as the world’s largest cathedral. (While it no longer holds that title, it’s still the third-largest cathedral in Europe.) One of the cathedral’s most distinctive architectural features — a 343-foot-tall minaret called the Giralda — is a nod to its former purpose. Another famous feature lies deep within: The cathedral is also the final resting place of explorer Christopher Columbus. Together with Seville’s Alcázar royal palace and the city’s ancient merchant exchange, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. 

San Sebastián

In a city of around 180,000 residents, San Sebastián’s restaurants have amassed 12 Michelin stars, as of 2025, making it one of Spain’s (and Europe’s) most exciting culinary destinations. But before this coastal city evolved into a foodie haven, this region of northern Spain’s Basque Country — known in the local Basque language as “Donostia” — served as a 13th-century seaport on the Bay of Biscay, dispatching cargo to both the Americas and greater Europe. 

Although the city was badly damaged in 1813 during the Peninsular War, in the following decades, Queen Isabella II adopted San Sebastián as a summer home. And it’s easy to see why: Located about 15 miles from the French border, San Sebastián’s landscape flaunts multiple coastlines — including Playa de la Concha, arguably Europe’s most exquisite urban beach — and three verdant mountain peaks: Monte Igueldo, Monte Ulia, and Monte Urgull. 

Alhambra Palace – Granada

Towering above the city of Granada, in Spain’s southern Andalusia region, is the stunning Alhambra, whose name translates to “Red Castle” in Arabic. Named for its red-colored walls, Alhambra stands atop the Sabika hill alongside the Darro river. The fortress, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was placed there strategically to overlook the city and meadow beyond.

Early records of the Alhambra date back to the ninth century, but it was Mohammed ben Al-Hamar (Mohammed I) who had the royal residence constructed within the fortress during the 13th century. Today, the spectacularly well-preserved palace, which features a distinctive watchtower and water canals fed by the nearby river, welcomes more than 2.6 million annual visitors.

Prado Museum – Madrid 

The Prado Museum is home to the world’s greatest collection of Spanish art, featuring masters like Picasso, El Greco, and Goya. The museum was built in 1785 and was originally intended to be a showcase of natural history, but King Ferdinand VII later decided to make it a museum of art. It went through several name changes, before becoming the Museo Nacional del Prado in 1868. The name translates to “National Museum of the Meadow,” a reference to the meadow on which the museum was built. Around 3 million people visit the museum each year, one of the three museums to form Madrid’s “Golden Triangle,” along with the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza art museums.

Teide National Park – Canary Islands

Though it’s considered Spain’s highest peak, Mount Teide is exponentially closer to Africa than to Europe. Positioned about 200 miles off the southwest coast of Morocco and 800 southwest of Spain, this volcano — one of the tallest in the world — rises almost 12,200 feet from the heart of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, a Spanish territory.

The surrounding national park, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, blends volcanic boulders with petrified lava rivers, steaming vents, and gaping craters, among other surreal elements. But one of the most otherworldly natural attractions is in the air: Every so often, a so-called “sea of clouds” moves in, enshrouding the peak in an extra layer of drama. 

With around 19 million Americans expected to embark on a cruise in 2025, the cruise industry is booming, and so are the global ports that make it all possible. These bustling getaways are the beating heart of a growing travel trend, from which millions of cruise passengers set sail on unforgettable adventures. Check out 10 of the busiest ports around the world by passenger volume in 2024. 

10. Port of Marseille – Marseille, France

Total passenger numbers in 2024: 2.43 million

Port of Marseille is France’s busiest port and one of the most popular ports in the Mediterranean. It was the first in the region to introduce shore power facilities, allowing vessels of all types to plug into a local electric grid in order to reduce emissions. The port is split between the Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal, on the western side of the bay, and the Port de la Joliette (also known as the J4 terminal), close to the city’s historic Vieux-Port district. Both cruise lines and passenger ferries set sail regularly from Marseille, with Corsica, Sardinia, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco among the most popular destinations. 

9. Ports de Balears – Balearic Islands, Spain

Total passengers in 2024: 2.5 million

Ports de Balears is the collective name for five ports situated around Spain’s Balearic Islands. It includes Port d’Alcudia (Mallorca), Port d’Eivissa (Ibiza), Port de Maó (Menorca), Port de Palma (Mallorca), and Port de la Savina (Formentera). These ports welcomed 774 cruise ship arrivals in 2024, which was around 16% of Spain’s total cruise calls. Port de Palma is the biggest and busiest of the five, welcoming around 1.8 million passenger arrivals in 2024. 

8. Southampton Port – Southampton, England

Total passengers in 2024: 3 million

Located on the southern coast of England, Southampton Port is the U.K.’s busiest hub for passenger cruises. Operations span five modern terminals — City, Mayflower, Ocean, Queen Elizabeth II, and Horizon — which together handle approximately 85% of the U.K.’s cruise traffic. Southampton Port receives an estimated 500 port calls annually, and is also the departure point for regular high-speed catamaran ferry services to the Isle of Wight. 

7. Port of Civitavecchia – Rome, Italy

Total passengers in 2024: 3.46 million

Designed by Roman architect and engineer Apollodorus of Damascus and built under Emperor Trajan, Port of Civitavecchia has been a key seaport since the second century CE. As Italy’s busiest port today, it still plays a vital role in transporting passengers and cargo around the Mediterranean. 

The cruise terminal has six docks and a separate ferry terminal welcoming ships from Sardinia, Sicily, Spain, and North Africa. Several monuments and architectural landmarks surround the Porto Storico (Historic Port), including the 16th-century Fort Michelangelo, built to protect the coastline from pirate attacks, and Civitavecchia Market, which buzzes with the activity of local fresh produce vendors.

6. Port de Barcelona – Barcelona, Spain

Total passengers in 2024: 3.66 million

Port de Barcelona has seven passenger terminals. In 2024, 83% of cruise passengers passing through the port either started or finished their voyage in Barcelona, one of the most popular cities for tourists in Europe. From the quays, passengers are just steps from emblematic city sights such as La Rambla, L’Aquàrium de Barcelona, and the Port Cable Car. The port authority is committed to becoming a fully carbon-neutral port by 2050, with plans to electrify docks and supply docked ships with renewable electrical energy. 

5. Port Everglades – Fort, Lauderdale, Florida

Total passengers in 2024: 4 million

Port Everglades is one of three Florida cruise ports to make the list of the world’s busiest cruise ports. In 2024, Port Everglades notched a new record with 4 million annual passengers. This mixed cruise and cargo port has eight passenger terminals, each adorned with public art installations as part of the Broward County Public Art and Design Program. A standout installation is Jonathan Russell and Saori Ide’s Songs of the Everglades — a collection of eight kinetic wind sculptures depicting the birdlife of Everglades National Park.

4. Port of Cozumel – San Miguel de Cozumel, Mexico

Total passengers in 2024: 4.6 million

Situated along Cozumel’s sun-soaked western coast, the Port of Cozumel consists of three terminals: International Cruise Terminal Cozumel, Puerta Maya, and Punta Langosta. While each works independently, they contribute collectively to the port’s status as Mexico’s busiest embarkation point; over 1,200 ships docked on the island in 2024. The port stands out for its commitment to protecting Cozumel’s marine ecosystem — all visitors are given an educational leaflet about marine conversation upon arrival, and there’s an exhibit showcasing the history and importance of the island as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. 

3. Nassau Cruise Port – Nassau, Bahamas

Total passengers in 2024: 5.6 million

Located a little over a quarter of a mile from downtown Nassau, Nassau Cruise Port is the biggest tourist gateway to the Bahamas. Of the 9.1 million visitors who came to this Caribbean archipelago in 2024, 61% of them arrived at the port. A recent multimillion-dollar renovation program increased the terminal’s capacity to six daily ships and saw the opening of 60 retail, food, and drink outlets; a 3,000-seat amphitheatre; and a 700-foot megayacht dock. Before heading to Nassau, visitors can explore the Bahamas Museum of Junkanoo adjacent to the port.

2. Port Canaveral – Cape Canaveral, Florida

Total passengers in 2024: 7.6 million

Port Canaveral is the closest cruise port to the theme parks of Orlando (roughly an hour’s drive away). It was established in 1953 as a modest fishing harbor, with oil and newsprint cargo ships arriving a few years later. Today, the port’s millions of annual cruise passengers travel on ships operated by Disney Cruise Line, Carnival, and Celebrity Cruises, among others. The seven terminals are designed to host some of the world’s largest ships, including the 1,188-foot-long Wonder of the Seas. 

1. PortMiami – Miami, Florida

Total passengers in 2024: 8.23 million

Nicknamed the “Cruise Capital of the World,” PortMiami reigns as the busiest cruise port on the planet. It features 10 passenger terminals; Cruise Terminal AA is the world’s largest, occupying 450,000 square feet and capable of processing 36,000 daily passengers. Ships depart daily to destinations in the eastern and western Caribbean, Key West, Mexico, and South America. PortMiami is also the base for the Icon of the Seas, currently the world’s biggest cruise ship. Linked to downtown Miami via the PortMiami Tunnel, the port offers easy access to attractions such as the Wynwood Walls. 

Many food aficionados consider New Jersey to be the “Diner Capital of the World,” a reputation that first developed in the early part of the 20th century. But how did these casual eateries become such a predominant part of the Garden State’s culinary culture? In order to better understand this unique claim to fame, let’s go back and examine the early history of New Jersey diners and their continued prevalence today.

The Origins of New Jersey Diner Culture

The history of the modern diner can be traced back to 1872, when a man named Walter Scott of Providence, Rhode Island, opened a portable horse-drawn wagon to sell food and drink to night-shift workers. While this establishment was more akin to a modern food cart, it inspired the creation of the first permanent diner around four decades later in New Jersey.

Before that, a lunch wagon craze took off across the Northeast. A Massachusetts man named T.H. Buckley began to manufacture food trucks en masse, and by 1898, he opened food wagons in 275 towns across the country. Many of these wagons featured elements that would later become associated with diners: late operating hours, stool seating along a countertop, and a narrow dining area, to name a few.

The concept made its way to New Jersey in 1912, when Bayonne resident Jerry O’Mahoney founded his namesake diner company, which revolutionized the industry. A year later, O’Mahoney opened a lunch wagon that, unlike its predecessors, was intended to remain stationary. Many food historians consider this to be the first true diner. 

O’Mahoney’s company manufactured more than 2,000 prefabricated diners from 1917 to 1956, and diners began popping up in every corner of the Garden State. Despite remaining permanent, they retained many other elements that made portable lunch wagons so popular, such as countertop seats, cheap cuisine, and late hours.

A Rise in Popularity

While O’Mahoney may have ushered in a new diner craze throughout New Jersey, there were other factors that led to diners becoming so popular and successful in the Garden State. 

According to a Bon Appétit magazine interview with Mark Nonestied of the Low House Museum in New Jersey’s Middlesex County, one of these reasons is that New Jersey had a “very early, highly developed transportation system,” so many locals purchased private vehicles amid their rise in popularity throughout the 1910s and 1920s. Those drivers needed a place to stop and eat during their journeys, and diners began to open alongside roadways to cater to those needs.

Nonestied also attributes the early success of diners to the types of people who lived in New Jersey, explaining, “Initially, when diners became popular, they were places where working-class communities could get a good, cheap meal to eat at any time of the day. And New Jersey had a very diverse working-class population — and diners became that go-to place to get a good meal.” 

Another important factor that contributed to New Jersey’s reputation as the “diner capital” has to do with the state’s booming diner manufacturing industry. According to the 2008 book Jersey Shore Food History, “From the 1920s to the 1980s, New Jersey had at least six and as many as 20 manufacturers churning out long, narrow, modular, railroad-style diners.” While the diners were then shipped across the country, they wouldn’t exist if not for New Jersey-based factories.

New Jersey Diners Today

Diners remain an indelible part of New Jersey’s culinary culture, though sadly, many of these beloved eateries were forced to close amid the financial strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to an unofficial diner coalition, there were an estimated 600 diners in New Jersey in 2014, though the number has since dropped to roughly 450, as of late 2024. Still, this means that there’s one diner for every 20,000 New Jersey residents, which is more per capita than in any other state.

Historic New Jersey Diners Worth Visiting

While the earliest New Jersey diners no longer exist, there are still many historic diners worth eating at throughout the state. The Dumont Crystal Diner of Bergen County was built sometime between 1928 and 1932, which makes it the oldest in the state, according to diner historian Richard J. S. Gutman.

The Summit Diner is another beloved institution, first opening in the town of Summit in 1929. A decade later, it moved into its current space, a metal-plated, railroad-style diner car created by O’Mahoney’s company. Legend has it that author Ernest Hemingway was once a regular patron of the Summit Diner.

If you’re a foodie, try Tops Diner in Harrison — many consider it to be the best in the state. It opened in 1942 and mixes retro design elements with modern-day comforts. There’s also Tick Tock Diner, another popular institution that opened in Clifton in 1948, which serves customers for 24 hours a day and is located right off Route 3. It maintains the brightly lit sign that has attracted New Jersey drivers for decades.

No matter where you are in New Jersey, you’re likely a short drive away from the nearest diner. The connection between New Jerseyans and their local diner is hard to match — just ask author Michael Gabriele, author of The History of Diners in New Jersey. In the book, he writes, “I’m sure people in other states love their diners, too. But it’s really more of our identity and our culture here in New Jersey. Diners have become such an important part of the culture, our economy, our food business, of our mythology.”

You can tell a lot about a place from its food, and still more about its cultural heritage from the eating habits of its residents. That’s especially true at dinnertime. Head out to dinner at 6 p.m. in some places and you’ll struggle to find a free table, while elsewhere, restaurants remain empty until 9 or even 10 p.m. For travelers, this large variation in customary dinnertimes can be confusing at first. Let’s take a look at some of the differences between countries and find out which ones eat the latest dinners.

Spain

Late-night dining is the norm in Spain. Though the custom of a siesta (midafternoon nap) is dying out, especially in bigger cities, the day was traditionally split by a long break. Because of that, coupled with the heat of Spanish summers, it often made sense to dine late in the evening when the temperature was more comfortable. 

But the time zone is another reason why Spaniards eat dinner at this hour. Their clocks are set an hour later than clocks in Portugal, their Iberian neighbor with which they share many cultural similarities, a  change made permanent in 1942. Effectively, what was once a typical 9 p.m. dinner now takes place at 10 p.m. since Spain follows Central European Time (CET). In large cities such as Madrid, many restaurants won’t open for dinner before 8 p.m., and it’s common for locals to eat as late as 11 p.m.

France

Unlike their German or Dutch neighbors, who tend to eat earlier, the French typically sit down to dinner around 8 p.m. Many restaurants, particularly in larger cities such as Paris, won’t open for dinner until 7 p.m., and eating around 9 p.m. is common. In France, dinner is a hearty meal during which friends or families sit down together around the table to eat and chat.

While you wait for dinner, you can partake in le goûter. It’s enjoyed (most often by children) at about 4 p.m. and takes the form of a small snack such as cookies or fruit. Adults may indulge in l’apéro, short for “aperitif,” relaxing over a glass of pastis or Kir as they nibble on savory fare such as peanuts, potato chips, or olives.

Italy

In Italy, the time of the evening meal may be delayed by the customary evening stroll called la passeggiata. After the working day, many Italians join together for a walk through their town or central piazza, welcoming an opportunity to stretch their legs and socialize. By the time this has finished and dinner has been prepared, it’s not unusual for the evening meal to take place as late as 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. 

There are regional variations, too. If you travel through Italy, you’ll notice that dinner is often eaten later the farther south you go. That can be explained partly by weather variations but also by tradition. Italy wasn’t unified into a single nation until 1861; before that, each region was governed separately and thus had distinct cultural norms. 

Argentina

There’s a great deal of cultural diversity across South America, and this translates into differences in mealtimes, too. In places such as the Peruvian Andes, locals tend to eat their main meal around 6 p.m. or 7 p.m., but farther south, that’s not the case. 

In Argentina, especially in the capital Buenos Aires, the biggest meal of the day is eaten at lunchtime. For most Porteños (the nickname for local residents), a later meal after 9 p.m. is the norm. According to Turismo Buenos Aires, restaurants don’t tend to open until at least 8 p.m. and will still be busy as the clock approaches midnight. A similar pattern can be seen on the opposite banks of the Rio de la Plata in neighboring Uruguay.

Which Country Eats the Earliest Dinner?

In Nordic countries such as Norway and Finland, eating dinner early is the norm. The typical working day starts and ends early, so it makes sense that eating right afterward would suit most people. Climate is also a factor. In winter, it’s generally cold outside and darkness falls early due to the northern geography of these countries. Therefore, it’s natural to want to retreat somewhere cozy and eat.

Norwegians tend to eat their dinner, known as middag, between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. This is the most substantial of the four meals traditionally eaten each day. The last is a lighter meal called kveldsmat, which is usually taken after 8 p.m. and is considered more of a snack or supper.