This might sound a little stupid, but I had a one-sided beef with Netflix when they suddenly started producing originals a couple of years ago. Though my annoyance faded away with time, I was super happy when they decided to invest in their Spanish series.

One thing about Netflix is that they know how to promote their stuff, and when they invested in Elite and it blew up that fast, it was amazing because suddenly people realized that there were other cool non-English-speaking dramas.

As native English speakers, we tend to gravitate towards English-speaking shows, but as someone who grew up on telenovelas, I always tell people that they are missing out on a lot of fun if that is the extent of their watchlist.

If you have been looking to get into Spanish TV series, in this post I have compiled more than 20 of my personal favorite ones that I think everyone should watch and give a chance because they are so good.

Some of these are available on Netflix, so make sure you check that out. The majority of them are available on OTT platforms, so check with your movie provider, and I’m sure you’ll be able to watch any of them.

1. La Casa de Papel (Money Heist)

A group of skilled criminals, led by the enigmatic Professor, plan and execute heists on the Royal Mint of Spain and the Bank of Spain, all while dealing with personal dramas and betrayals.

2. Elite

Set in an elite secondary school, this series explores the relationships and conflicts among wealthy students and the clash between them and three scholarship students from less privileged backgrounds.

This is easily one of the most popular Spanish TV series on Netflix – It has multiple Seasons and is set in a high school, but I promise every second is worth it!

3. Vis a Vis (Locked Up)

After being framed for fraud by her lover, Macarena Ferreiro is sentenced to prison where she must survive her dangerous inmates and make life-changing decisions.

4. 45 RPM (45 Revoluciones)

Set in 1960s Madrid, this series follows the lives of three friends in the music industry who are trying to launch a record label and promote new artists while battling their personal and professional challenges.

5. The Barrier (La Valla)

In a dystopian Madrid in 2045, a totalitarian regime has divided society by erecting a barrier between the rich and poor. 

And, even with the political intrigue and rebellion raging around them, a family tries to reunite and survive in this epic Spanish TV series. 

6. The Ministry of Time (El Ministerio del Tiempo)

A secret Spanish government agency sends agents through time to protect the past from those who would alter it, while dealing with their own personal and historical dilemmas.

7. Cable Girls (Las Chicas del Cable)

In 1920s Madrid, four women start working as operators at Spain’s first national telephone company and must face love, friendship, and challenges in a rapidly changing society.

8. Grand Hotel (Gran Hotel)

Julio Olmedo arrives at the luxurious Grand Hotel to visit his sister only to find her missing. 

As he starts looking for her, he finds many secrets, lies, and danger within the hotel’s walls. This is another most-watched Spanish tv series you need to check out. 

9. Victim Number 8 (La víctima número 8)

After a terrorist attack in Bilbao kills several people, a man finds himself wrongfully accused and must clear his name while finding out more about a conspiracy that goes deeper than he imagined.

10. Merlí

A charismatic philosophy teacher shakes up the lives of his students at a Barcelona high school, challenging them to think critically about life, love, and morality.

11. The Time in Between (El Tiempo Entre Costuras)

Sira Quiroga, a talented seamstress from Madrid, becomes embroiled in espionage during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, and she must use her skills to survive and thrive.

12. Arde Madrid

In 1960s Madrid, Ava Gardner’s arrival to film a movie disrupts the life of a young woman hired to be her personal assistant and this leads to unexpected adventures and revelations in Franco-era Spain.

13. Paquita Salas

A former top talent agent, now struggling with her career, navigates the entertainment industry in Madrid with humor and determination while managing her eccentric clients.

14. Hierro

In this Spanish TV show, a determined judge is sent to the remote Canary Island of El Hierro, where she faces local opposition and discovers dark secrets while investigating a murder case that challenges her professional and personal life.

15. The Boarding School (El Internado)

At a remote boarding school, strange occurrences and a series of mysterious deaths hint at the many dark secrets buried in its past that have started affecting students and staff alike.

16. High Seas (Alta Mar)

On a luxury ship traveling from Spain to Brazil in the 1940s, mysterious deaths lead two sisters to discover the dark secrets involving their family and fellow passengers.

17. Carlos, Rey Emperador

This historical drama chronicles the reign of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain.

It goes into his political maneuverings, relationships, and the complexities of 16th-century Europe. There aren’t many historical Spanish TV shows that aren’t too longwinded, but this rare gem is everything. 

18. The Pier (El Embarcadero)

After discovering her husband’s double life following his sudden death, Alejandra begins to find the truth about his mysterious lover and the secrets he kept hidden.

19. Estoy Vivo

After being killed in the line of duty, a police inspector miraculously returns to life in another body. 

Now, he must adapt to his new reality while continuing to fight crime and protect his loved ones.

20. Under Suspicion (Bajo Sospecha)

When two sisters disappear during a wedding celebration, their families and the police are drawn into a complex web of secrets and suspicions.

21. Morocco: Love in Times of War (Tiempo de Guerra)

In 1920s Spanish Morocco, a group of nurses from Madrid are sent to a war zone, where they face personal and professional challenges while finding love amidst conflict.

22. Fariña (Cocaine Coast)

Based on real events, this series explores the rise of drug trafficking in Galicia during the 1980s and it focuses on fisherman Sito Miñanco’s journey from smuggling to becoming a powerful drug lord.

23. La Casa de las Flores (The House of Flowers)

A wealthy Mexican matriarch’s perfect life disintegrates when her husband’s mistress exposes secrets that lead to scandal and family crises at their prestigious flower shop.

24. Perdida (The Innocent)

A man’s life is turned upside down when he accidentally kills someone in a bar brawl. 

Years later, he is still haunted by the consequences as he tries to find the truth behind a series of mysterious events.

25. El Barco

After a global cataclysm submerges most of the Earth, the crew and passengers of a Spanish research ship must navigate the seas even as they face unknown dangers and keep struggling to survive.

26. The Red Band Society (Polseres Vermelles)

A group of teenagers with serious illnesses form a bond in a hospital’s pediatric ward, supporting each other through challenges, friendships, and the ups and downs of life.

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This list might seem a little long, but I promise I’ve only just scratched the surface when it comes to Spanish TV series. 

If you’ve watched a few and know some that I’ve missed, let me know in the comments which ones you would recommend to someone starting out with Spanish-speaking series. 

And be sure to check all the related posts for even more recommendations.