Alhambra, Granada

The palace and fortress of the Nasrid sultans, the last Muslim rulers of Spain, set on a hill above Granada with the Sierra Nevada behind. The Nasrid Palaces are exquisite, with carved stucco, tiled walls, and the famous Court of the Lions. The Generalife gardens are full of fountains and flowers.

Tickets are limited and sell out weeks ahead, so book on the official site as soon as you can. Your ticket gives a set time for the Nasrid Palaces. Watch the sunset over the Alhambra from the Mirador de San Nicolás in the Albaicín.