Background information, travelling in Spain
Spain offers everything one can look for in a vacation or tour from interesting culture, to friendly outgoing people, to beaches, festivals and great food. All corners of the country in the South West of Europe offer touristic highlights and it will take a while to see and enjoy everything.
Travelling independently by public transportation (bus, train) or rental car is very possible, especially if you know Spanish. Unfortunately English is still a foreign language that not everyone can communicate in. All television programs are in Spanish only and then it is harder to learn.
Group Tours and Private Tours can show you the diverse regions of Spain, from the centre Madrid, to famous coastal cities Barcelona and Valencia, to the heart-warming region of Andalusia and Seville. Religious Christians may also favour a long walk & pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
With extra time a tour through Spain can be combined with Portugal or Morocco. It truly is a beautiful, warm region with lots of variation. Organised Tours have the advantage that all transportation, accommodation and activities are organised.
Capital Madrid
Madrid is the largest city of Spain and located right in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. It has the best connections throughout the country. Major sights here are the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace. Certainly also worth a visit is the Mercado San Miguel (nice food!), close to the historic Plaza Mayor. The Plaza del Sol and the Gran Via are the true heart and soul of the city.
Madrid is also sports-minded with football on first spot. Real Madrid (the royals) and Atlético Madrid are top clubs in Spain, Europe and the World. Watching a match during your vacation is certainly a highlight.
From Madrid day-tours are easy to Segovia (with a grand Roman aqueduct with 160 arches), Toledo (the “City of three cultures” and home of Don Quixote) as well as the walled, medieval city of Avila.
Barcelona and Valencia, the North East
Barcelona is the beautiful capital of Catalonia, the North Eastern province of Spain. It is famous for architecture and its famous citizen: Antoni Gaudi. He gave Barcelona its current look for example with the Sagrada Familia Cathedral and Park Guell. The Ramblas with food markets and restaurants is the centre of the city. Other sights worth visiting will include the Plaza de Espana and Camp Nou (the football stadium with 105.000 seats, currently under renovation). The local beach is of course also a must.
The Catalonian Region has its own language and culture. Some citizens like to be independent from Spain but that would be a loss for both Catalonia and Spain.
Barcelona and the region along the Costa Brava (“wild coast”) is suffering from over-tourism. Too many people visit the city and most at the same time, pushing up the housing prices for its residents. Tourists are welcome but the city is taking step to limit the numbers.
South of Barcelona is Valencia, a fine destination in itself and a very liveable, sporty city (football, sailing). It is the birthplace of the Paella and enjoying a plate of this rice-dish in Valencia near the Mercado or in the old city centre is highly recommended. There used to be a large river through the city, but that is now dry and used for walking and other activities. The super-modern Arts and Sciences building should also be on your list.
Santiago de Compostela, San Sebastian and the North
The Costa Verde (“green coast”) covers the North West of Spain. San Sebastian in the Eastern corner has a perfect beach and even more perfect culinary aspect. Here you’ll find some of the world’s best restaurants, tapa places and nice hotels.
Ancient Santiago de Compostela at the West end is most famous for the burial site of St. James the Apostle. It is the final destination of the Camino de Santiago, a very long pilgrimage through Northern Spain (and even France, Italy or England) done by 200.000 people annually.
Between San Sebastian and Santiago is the province of Asturias with beautiful nature, mountains and a wildlife that includes wolves, bears and deer.
Seville and Andalusia
Andalucía is the most Southern province of Spain and one of the culturally most interesting regions of Europe. You will find many medieval cities and buildings, cathedrals and (former) bull-rings. Seville, the capital, is the heart of the region and the birthplace of Flamenco dancing that can be heard and seen indoors and outdoors.
Other great destinations include for example Jerez (Andalusian horses and Sherry Bodegas), Ronda (very picturesque gorge through city centre), Malaga (beaches, home of Pablo Picasso), Granada (city, the Alhambra) and Cordoba (La Mezquita). This list is not at all complete, there is so much more.
Andalucía is the warmest area of Spain. Many Europeans moved here. The Costa del Sol (“sunny coast”) can get crowded when it is 40° C in summer. Rather visit in spring or autumn, with fewer crowds and more pleasant temperatures.
Gibraltar is very British with red mail boxes, pubs, pies, language and money, but very accessible from and geographically part of Andalucía. The Rock is the only spot in Europe where wild monkeys live.
The Baleares and Canary Islands
East of mainland Spain, in the Mediterranean, are the islands Mallorca (the largest), Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera that form the Balearic Islands. Palma de Mallorca hosts the main airport and one of the largest gothic cathedrals in the world. Mallorca is a very pleasant place to visit for a pleasant island life and lots and lots of beaches, bars and restaurants. Ibiza is called the Party Island.
West of Morocco is another group of Spanish Islands called the Canary Islands: Tenerife (the largest), Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. These are volcanic islands and some volcanoes are still active. The region has a very pleasant climate (year-round spring), never too hot or too cold.
Many tourists visit the Baleares and Canary Island annually. As with Barcelona and other cities, over-tourism has become a problem pushing the prices for housing for residents up and over-crowding beaches. Even though the islands depend on tourism revenue, protests by residents followed.
Similar Travel Blogs
Read following blogs for more information: