After years of exploring the Spanish Pyrenees, here are some of the most beautiful places I think every first-time visitor should see.
- This post contains affiliate links from which I earn a commission (at no extra cost to you). For more info, please read my disclosure. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Best Places to Visit in the Spanish Pyrenees
Visiting the Spanish Pyrenees every year
The Spanish Pyrenees is a must-visit destination on any Spain bucket list and, on a personal note, one of my favorite travel spots in the country. At least once a year, I try to plan a new getaway to the mountains and secretly dream of buying one of those fairytale-like wooden houses in the Pyrenees. It would be the perfect excuse to visit the region even more often. In the meantime, you can check out all my trips and itineraries under the hashtag #Pyrenees.
While many people associate the Spanish Pyrenees with hiking or skiing, the region offers so much more – otherworldly landscapes, adventurous activities, magical forests, charming medieval villages, dreamy castles, and unique national parks.
The Spanish Pyrenees stretch across four autonomous communities: Aragon, Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Navarra (although the majority of the mountain range is in the first two). The Pyrenees are also divided into numerous valleys (or valles in Spanish), with the most famous being Valle de Ordesa, Valle de Aragón, Valle de Benasque, Val d’Aran, and Vall de Boí.
How to get to the Spanish Pyrenees
The best way to explore all the beautiful places in the Spanish Pyrenees is by car. Although the closest airports are Girona and Reus (in Spain) and Lourdes and Toulouse (in France), many travelers visit the Spanish Pyrenees as part of a road trip from Barcelona or even on a longer itinerary starting in Madrid.
Additionally, the region’s main railway station is Estacion de Canfranc. However, keep in mind that many of the Pyrenees’ most iconic landmarks and hiking trails cannot be reached by public transport. Even the most beautiful villages, while connected by bus, often have infrequent services, making it difficult to explore the region efficiently without a car.
Where to stay in the Pyrenees
During my first visit to the Pyrenees, we stayed at Barceló Monasterio de Boltaña. It’s one of the best hotels with a spa in the Pyrenees, known for its spacious rooms and reasonable prices (considering the quality of the services). For my most recent weekend in the Pyrenees of Catalonia, I booked a budget-friendly Apartamentos Chuandervera in the small town of Laspaules.
You can find a few cute boutique hotels in Ainsa, one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Spain, like Alojamientos Ainsa Sanchez and Los Siete Reyes. I also really like these hotels: Hotel Boutique Mediodía & Apartments, Casa Lascorz, and Casa de San Martín. You can find my complete guide to the best areas to stay in the Spanish Pyrenees in this post.
The most beautiful places to visit in the Spanish Pyrenees
1. Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park
Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park is one of my favorite Spanish national parks and definitely one of the most beautiful places in the Spanish Pyrenees. It is divided into four main valleys: Ordesa, Añisclo, Escuain, and Pineta. The park’s most unique landmark is Monte Perdido (or “The Lost Mountain” in English), which is the highest limestone massif in Europe.
Ever since my first trip to Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park during my Spanish Pyrenees road trip, I’ve been especially in love with this area of the mountain range and have returned on multiple occasions. This area is home to some of the most beautiful hikes in the whole of Spain, such as Cañón de Añisclo, Cola de Caballo, and Gargantas de Escuaín. Before visiting, check out my detailed guide to Ordesa National Park here.
2. Alquezar & Sierra y los Cañones de Guara Natural Park
Alquezar always comes up as one of the first in all of the rankings for the most beautiful small towns in Spain. It was such a discovery during my first trip to the Spanish Pyrenees. Even after 15+ Expat years in Spain, Alquezar is still one of my favorite Spanish medieval towns ever.
The name of the village Alquezar comes from the Arabic Al-Qsar, which means fortress. The panoramic views of the city (once you approach it by car) are absolutely stunning. Besides the unmatched rural charm, Alquezar is known for its famous hiking trail Pasarelas de Alquezar, one of the top Pyrenees hikes. It goes all the way through Sierra y los Cañones de Guara Natural Park.
For more hiking trails and a detailed itinerary in Sierra de Guara Natural Park, head to this post where I share the details from my last visit.
3. Val D´Aran & Baqueira Beret
Val d’Aran is a popular weekend trip from Barcelona, and it’s also one of the most beautiful spots in the Spanish Pyrenees. Here, you’ll find Baqueira Beret, one of the top ski resorts, which gained fame when the Spanish royal family used to ski there.
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Val d’Aran both in winter and early autumn, and it was equally enchanting in each season. During my first family trip, we stayed in a cozy wooden house with a charming fireplace, tried dog-sledding, and ventured to Santuario de Montgarri on snowmobiles. It truly felt like a winter wonderland.
On my second trip, we explored the Uelhs de Jueu waterfall and wandered through one of Spain’s magical forests, Bosque de Carlac, which even made it onto my list of Secret Spanish Trails. Our weekend getaway took place in October, so we enjoyed summer-like weather combined with the vibrant colors of fall foliage.
On my next visit to Val d’Aran, I plan to explore the Sauth deth Pish waterfall and hike the Ruta por el Circo de Colomers.
4. Valle del Aragon & Astun
Valle del Aragón was one of the first places I ever got to visit in the Pyrenees during my last 4-day road trip, and it still feels really special to me – as my obsession with the region started here. The two absolute highlights of it were: hiking 7 Lagos de Astun (one of the top trails in the Pyrenees) and visiting San Juan de La Peña, one of the secret and beautiful monasteries in Spain.
The hiking trail in Astun is known by a few names – Ruta de los 7 Ibones de Astun, Ruta de los 7 Lagos de Astun, or Ruta de Lagos de Ayous. This route is still at the top of my list of Spanish hikes. It starts at the Astun ski station and takes you through the 7 glacier lakes along the Spain-France border. Other must-stops in Valle de Aragon are Cuidadela de Jaca, Cuevas de las Guixas, and Canfranc train station.
5. Vall de Boi & Romanic Churches
The Vall de Boi region is known for two gems of the Spanish Pyrenees – Aguestortes National Park and the Romanesque Churches declared a UNESCO World Heritage. You can read more about both in this post.
If you enjoy discovering and exploring secret villages in Spain, Vall de Boi also has something to offer here: do not miss Barruera, Boi, Durro, Taull, Erill la Vall. Also, one of the most unique Spanish festivities, Las Fallas de la Vall de Boi, is celebrated across Vall de Boi during the summer solstice every year.
6. Valle de Tena & The Zipline
Valle de Tena is another beautiful region of the Spanish Pyrenees worth visiting. It is known for some of the most beautiful villages in the whole of the mountain range, like Biescas, Lanuza, Sallent de Gállego, El Pueyo de Jaca, Piedrafita de Jaca, Tramacastilla de Tena, and Hoz de Jaca. Although avid hikers will love the trails Ibón de Espelunciecha, Ibón de Piedrafita, Vuelta al pantano de Lanuza, and Paseo del camino de las Palizas.
Sallent de Gállego is easily one of my favorite villages in the Spanish Pyrenees. If you happen to visit in July (like I accidentally did on my last family trip, where I was surprised to discover so many visitors), you’re in for a real treat: the town hosts a popular festival called El Mundo en Sallent. The streets come alive with vibrant markets, live concerts, and incredible street food that you won’t want to miss.
Valle de Tena also holds a special place in my heart. It’s where I first faced my fears on the Tirolina Valle Tena – the longest double zip line in Europe! While it’s easily one of the most adventurous activities in Spain, the ride actually turned out to be much less scary than I anticipated. Plus, the breathtaking views of the Pyrenees made it completely worth it.
7. Ainsa & Valle de Cinca
Aínsa is one of Spain’s top medieval towns and almost always tops any list of the most beautiful places to visit in the Spanish Pyrenees. Thanks to its well-preserved medieval architecture and stunning mountain setting, Aínsa is a popular destination for tourists – it feels like a real-life fairytale. When visiting, make sure not to miss local landmarks such as Plaza Mayor de Aínsa, Castillo de Aínsa, and Iglesia de Santa María. Also, the last time I visited Aínsa at sunset, it became one of my favorite sunset spots in the world.
For breathtaking views, head to Mirador Balcón de Aínsa and Mirador del Cinca. By the way, just 18 km from Aínsa, there is another spectacular panorama at Castillo de Samitier. Other must-see stops in the Valle de Cinca area include Salinar de Naval, Torre de Abizanda, Atalaya de Tou, Tella, and Garganta de Escuaín.
8. The Castle of Loarre
Nestled in the Hoya de Huesca region, the Castle of Loarre is easily one of the most enchanting castles in Spain. Built in the 11th century and declared a National Cultural Heritage Site back in 1906, it is widely considered one of Europe’s finest examples of Romanesque military and civil architecture. Like many historic Spanish fortresses, it carries deep ancient roots; historians believe it was actually built over the ruins of Calagurris Fibularia, a local Roman city.
Although the castle lacks furniture or lavish decorations inside, I still found it to be an incredible experience. I was able to visit Loarre during my last Aragon road trip.
9. Congost de Montrebei
Congost de Montrebei is a stunning gorge located between the Spanish regions of Aragon and Catalonia. The canyon reaches a height of 500 meters and is the only gorge in Spain that is easily accessible to visitors.
The natural beauty of Montrebei Gorge offers several spectacular hiking trails with unmatched views. You can read more about my hiking experience at Congost de Montrebei in this post.
10. Birdwatching in the Pyrenees
The fans of wildlife & birds of prey should prepare the basic birdwatching gear (a spotting scope or binoculars) for the Pyrenees trip. Many of the hiking trails in the Pyrenees are popular for birdwatching in Spain (in Ordesa y Monte Perdido National park you can spot Lammergeier, Egyptian Vulture, Golden Eagle, and Booted Eagle).
Spanish Pyrenees Travel Guide: Ultimate FAQs & Planning Tips
If you’re planning a trip to the Spanish Pyrenees, the video below answers the questions I receive most often from At Lifestyle Crossroads readers, from where to stay and whether you need a car to my favorite hikes, family-friendly plans, and the best time to visit. If you still have any questions after watching, feel free to leave them in the comments on YouTube or below this blog post. I’ll be happy to help.
Read more about the Pyrenees
- Top Adventurous Things to Do in the Pyrenees (read it)
- Beautiful Small Towns in the Spanish Pyrenees (read it)
- Exploring The Pre-Pyrenees of Spain: A weekend in Sierra de Guara (read it)
- Where to Stay in the Pyrenees: Top Hotels and Best Hikes in Every Area (read it)
- Hiking Guide to Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park in Spain (read it)
- Cogost de Montrebei: The Most Adventurous Hike in Spain (read it)
- Epic 7 Days in the Pyrenees of Spain (read it)
- 10-Day Pyrenees Itinerary: An Ultimate Road Trip from Madrid (read it)
- Hiking Trails in The Pyrenees You Can Not Miss (read it)
- Exploring the Pyrenees of Catalonia (read it)
- 5 Epic Reasons to Visit the Pyrenees with Kids (read it)
- Top Romantic Things to do in Andorra (read it)
- The Spanish Pyrenees Road Trip 4-Day Itinerary (read it)
- Skiing in Spain: Our Baqueira Beret Family Getaway (read it)
- Top Things to Do in Andorra (read it)
- Best Foods in the Pyrenees of Spain (read it)
- 3 days in the Pyrenees of Aragon with Seniors & Kids (read it)
- Pyrenees in Fall: An Ultimate 5-day Pyrenees Itinerary (read it)
Pin it:
For more Spain travel tips check out my Pinterest board Spain Travel Collection and Flipboard Travel to Spain.
- Accommodation: For short stays, I usually book via Agoda and Booking
- Tours&excursions: My favorites for guided tours are GetYourGuide and Viator
- Museums&attractions: Get mobile tickets for attractions via Tiqets (use ATC5 code for a 5% discount via this link)
- Semi-private & private tours: LivTours is my favorite place for unique & crafted experiences in Europe
- For Foodies: Eatwith is a unique platform for finding culinary experiences with locals around the world
- Audio guides: Book audio excursions & tours in 35+ countries via WeGoTrip
- Flights: Find the best deals with Skyscanner and Kiwi
- Driving in a new country? – Check out Tripiamo guides (do not miss Tripiamo Driving in Spain Guide)
- Train&bus tickets: Currently, I book via Omio
- Car rental: To find the best deals, I use Discover Cars
- Top E-Sim: To avoid roaming fees, I like Saily (use AtLifestyleCrossroads for for a 5% discount)
- Internet Security on the road: Connect safely to public Wi-Fi and bypass censorship with NordVPN
- Transfers: For individual transfer services, I like GetTransfer and Kiwitaxi
- Suitcases&Luggage: Discover where to store your luggage on the go with Radical Storage
- Travel Insurance: Find the best trip insurance plans via VisitorsCoverage and EKTA
- Compensation for delayed/canceled flights: Check out AirHelp and Compensair
- Renting Bikes: To find motorcycles, scooters, quads, and bicycles, I use BikesBooking
- Package Tours: Head to CheapOair and Expedia
- For Bloggers: To monetize my blog, I work with Travelpayouts and Stay22
- Website Owners: For hosting services, I work with and recommend Lyrical Host (get 10% off with my code ATC10)
Wow! I’ve been to the Pyrenees in the Catalonia area but see I have a lot more to explore. That dog sled activity was really unexpected!
Ooooh lovely! I was SUCH a fan of Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, Ainsa and Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, but there is sooo much more to see in Spain. I was really impressed with the hiking infrastructure (such great signs and trails!) We wanted to get to Pasarelas de Alquezar, but we ran out of time.
Fab post 🙂
I would spend all my time chasing waterfalls in this region – but the zip-lining in Valle de Tena looks like an absolute dream too!
Lovely post! I have been to the French Pyrenees and quite liked it all, pretty low key and relaxed, no traffic jams, not jam packed… Would love to see the Spanish side at some point!
This guide really inspired me to visit Spain! Thank you for the great ideas 🙂
What a nice glimpse at a side of the Pyrenees that I have not explored yet. I adore Spain so this is going on the bucket list!