Top 10 National Parks In Spain - Updated 2024

national parks in spain
Melanie
Melanie 
Updated
| 5 min read

The beautiful National Parks in Spain have touched the hearts of many and reconnected them with nature on a grand scale. Located in Europe’s Iberian Peninsula, Spain is a spectacular country that boasts diverse geography, cultures and wilderness sanctuaries. In addition, travelers love visiting Spain thanks to their Mediterranean beaches, football frenzy, delicious food, popular traditions and many more. However, the one destination that speaks the language of peace and harmony is Spain’s gorgeous, green parks. Get comfy, pack a beverage and keep reading to find out more about the top national parks in Spain.

1. Cabañeros National Park

Ciervos en la raña de Cabañeros
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Virginia Torralba used under CC BY-SA 4.0

If you truly love nature, you’ll find beauty everywhere and such beauty exists at Cabañeros National Park, located in Montes de Tolde of Spain. Encompassing an area of 390 square kilometers (151 square miles), this national park is the habitat of many species of birds like Spanish imperial eagles, black vultures and golden eagles. The park is also a sanctuary for Iberian deer, wild boar and roe deer, who roam the grassy lands under the sunshine skies. Park-goers love the lush green meadows, massive mountain ranges covered by Mediterranean forests and wild thicket at this park.

Cabañeros National Park

Address: 13194 Pueblonuevo del Bullaque, Ciudad Real, Spain

Website: Cabañeros National Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

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2. Picos De Europa National Park

Picos de Europa (3240666265)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user amaianos used under CC BY 2.0

Nature is celebrated in all its glory at Picos De Europa National Park located in the Cantabrian Mountains, between the provinces of Asturias, León and Cantabria. This national park is famed for its mountains, with the tallest being Torre de Cerredo at 2,650 meters (8,694 feet) in height and the remaining mountains have equally high peaks. These natural wonders have been shaped over the years by different geological folds plus the effect of ice and water of limestone forming deep valleys and gorges. Most travelers are swept away by the lovely views of the summits, surrounding lakes and endless green pasture lands.

Picos De Europa National Park

Address: Picos de Europa, Cantabrian Mountains, Spain

Website: Picos De Europa National Park

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3. Ordesa Y Monte Perdido National Park

Cirque de Cotatuero, Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, Spain
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Heparina1985 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Located within the Aragonese Pyrenees, Ordesa Y Monte Perdido National Park is one of the world’s first national parks designated in 1918. This park is an iconic landmark in Spain thanks to its wide variety of flora and fauna, cascading waterfalls, glacial lakes and mountainous peaks. After all, it enjoys the prestige of being a UNESCO world heritage site and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. What makes this park worth a visit is the many hiking trails for keen hikers, as well as routes that require overnight stays in ready shelters of the park. Great for animal lovers, there are thriving groups of reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals to be discovered.

Ordesa Y Monte Perdido National Park

Address: Pyrenees of Huesca, Spain

Website: Ordesa Y Monte Perdido National Park

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4. Cabrera Archipelago Maritime-Terrestrial National Park

Cabrera Archipelago Maritime-Terrestrial National Park - panoramio (6)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Николай Максимович used under CC BY 3.0

The Cabrera Archipelago Maritime-Terrestrial National Park is situated about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) off the southeast coast of Mallorca. Known to be a safe habitat for indigenous creatures, the park is a special protection area for birds and endangered species such as turtles, whales, rare species of fish and corals. Fishing is prohibited, so there is an abundance of marine life in the Mediterranean and underwater caves. For nature lovers, the park boasts over 30 endemic plant species on the island and surrounding sea. Day-trippers usually explore the hiking routes around the park, lighthouse, visit the many caves or stroll to the castle that overlooks the harbor.

Cabrera Archipelago Maritime-Terrestrial National Park

Address: Balearic Islands, Majorca, Spain

Website: Cabrera Archipelago Maritime-Terrestrial National Park

Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (daily)

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Spain Tour Guide

Asier Garmendia

Asier Garmendia

Hi! I’m Asier, welcome to Granada, the most wonderful and charming city in the world. I am a licensed tour guide, with a degree in Art History and specialized in the Alhambra. Let me show you as a local our traditions, food and heritage. The city of the Alhambra will not disappoint you !. Please don`t hesitate to contact me for private and flexible tours. My job is my passion!

Tours by Asier

5. Doñana National Park (from USD 98.0)

All good things of nature are wild and free and the wilderness at Doñana National Park in southern Spain truly captures this freedom. What makes this park breathtaking is the wild expanse of wetlands, pine forests, green pastures, moving marshes and shifting coastal dunes that take travelers on an adventure to the wild side. Moreover, Doñana National Park is a sanctuary for over 300 bird species, unique animals and countless trees in a natural environment. The guided day tour allows guests to explore various nature trails, bird observatory and chapel in El Rocío Hermitage, a religious sanctuary built in the 13th century.

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Donana National Park: Guided Day Tour from Seville

Duration: 10 hours

272 reviews

6. Caldera De Taburiente National Park (from USD 79.0)

national parks in spain | caldera de taburiente national park

Happiness is biking through the wilderness, and Caldera De Taburiente National Park is the perfect place for trekking, biking and going on outdoor adventures. Located on the panoramic La Palma, one of Spain’s Canary Islands, the national park is named after a gigantic volcanic crater surrounded by high peaks called Caldera De Taburiente. Pedal past nature’s wonders on the e-bike tour of the park that brings bikers past pine forests, banana trees, black sandy beaches and moon-like volcanic landscapes. Best of all, La Palma is also known as “La Isla Bonita” or the beautiful island, and it is designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, hence, it is famed for its biological diversity.

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La Palma: E-Bike Tour into the Caldera de Taburiente

Duration: 7 hour

7. Timanfaya National Park (from USD 24.0)

Among the rarest parks in Spain, that’s almost entirely made up of volcanic soil, Timanfaya National Park is located in the southwestern part of the island of Lanzarote, Canary Islands. Widely celebrated for its natural beauty, the park covers 49 square kilometers (19 square miles) of rocky landscapes. What’s fascinating are the 300 craters and volcanoes dotting the landscape making it an explorer’s getaway to learn more about volcanic deposits and lava flows. This Timanfaya National Park tour concludes with a wonderful wine tasting session of local wines from La Geria, Lanzarote’s wine-producing region.

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Timanfaya National Park Skip the Line

Duration: 2 to 3 hours

10 reviews

8. Sierra Nevada National Park (from USD 46.0)

Located in the provinces of Granada and Almeria in Andalusia, Spain, Sierra Nevada National Park is Spain’s largest national park with an area of over 850 square kilometers (328 square miles). In fact, the park is home to Spain’s highest mountain that reaches 3,478 meters (11,411 feet) into the skies and trekkers usually take a day to reach the summit for overnight stays. Travelers are greeted by picturesque views of the Plastic Sea of Almeria and the Nacimiento River Valley, plus explorations in the cave dwellings of Guadix and Purrullena. Further, the nature trip includes learning the ancient art of pottery in Alhabia.

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Full-Day Sierra Nevada National Park Tour from Roquetas de Mar

Duration: 8 hours

6 reviews

9. Monfrague National Park (from USD 57.0)

Take flights of fancy in this bird-life sanctuary at Monfrague National Park, located at the heart of a triangle formed by Plasencia, Trujillo and the city of Cáceres within the province of Cáceres. This trip starts with a drive to Monfrague National Park, and it stops at Cardinal’s Bridge and Tietar Porthole to snap scenic shots of nature. Next, travelers walk up to Monfragüe Castle and look out for bird species such as griffon vulture, imperial eagle, Egyptian vulture, black vulture as well as wild deer and boars. The entire tour is a fantastic way to enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of nature in a protected reserve.

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Monfrague National Park Trip

Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes

10. Teide National Park (from USD 133.0)

Enjoy nature at its finest in this private guided day trip of Teide National Park. Be awed by Tenerife’s amazing greenery while you stroll along towards the lava-sculpted landscapes of La Esperanza and make your way up the reddish rock slopes of Mount Teide, one of Spain’s tallest volcanoes. Discover natural rock formations of Las Canadas and scenery that were once used as backdrop settings for Hollywood blockbuster movies. After all, Teide National Park is designated as a UNESCO-listed national park, making it an adventure not to be missed.

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Teide National Park Private Guided Day Trip from Tenerife

Duration: 6 hours

23 reviews

Reconnect with nature in Spain’s national parks

To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles. Let the national parks in Spain bring the miracles of nature closer to you. So, put on your walking shoes, grab your drinking bottle and head out to explore the sunshine in Spain’s glorious greens.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Meet Melanie, a budding wordsmith and a full-time Trip101 writer with a penchant for weaving tales that transport readers to far-off lands. With five years of jet-setting experience as a travel...Read more

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