There is no one size fits all way to holiday in Spain, as the country has so many wildly different elements to it,, from charming beach resorts on the south coast and the Balearic islands to a plethora of cultural and architectural wonders, whether it's high modernism in Barcelona or Moorish influences in Granada. Foodies also flock to Spain, where they can enjoy world-class dining in San Sebastian or Madrid, or tour the country's iconic wine regions. For those looking to navigate the many things to do in Spain, here are some of our favourites.
Things to know
For city break destinations, like Barcelona and Madrid, visitors all too often opt for a short weekend visit. To truly make the most of these cities, I would advise adding a few extra days onto your itinerary. Similarly, when exploring Spain’s islands, give yourself at least a week to take in the surroundings and truly relax. A high-speed and relatively cheap railway system also lends itself to travelling around the country, meaning that visitors can easily while away a few weeks exploring various regions.
Winter in Spain varies depending on the region; in the central and northern areas, such as Madrid and Bilbao, temperatures can drop to single digits, with snowfall even common in higher altitudes. The southern coast and Mediterranean cities, like Barcelona and Valencia, experience milder, more bearable, winters hoovering around ten degrees Celsius. During the height of summer, temperatures often exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Skip overcomplicated itineraries during this season and head to the coast instead, where the sea breeze tends to make the temperature slightly cooler. Spring and autumn are arguably the best time to visit, with temperatures ranging between a comfortable high teens to mid-20s.
Spain boasts an extensive and efficient high-speed railway network (AVE) connecting all the major cities. Within the cities, guests are able to make use of extensive metro systems and buses. Taxis also provide reliable transportation, with ride-hailing apps like Uber, Cabify, and Bolt widely available.
Spain's currency is the Euro.
None for UK citizens, but stays are limited to 90 days.
Things to do in Spain
Dating all the way back to the ninth century AD, Madrid’s cityscape now boasts a mish-mash of intriguing architecture; guests can discover Castilian Baroque red-brick facades at the Plaza Mayor, eighteenth century French architectural styles at The Royal Palace, and twentieth century gothic imaginings at the Palacio de Cibeles.
Madrid is one of the world's best destinations for art: the famous ‘Art Triangle’ of excellent museums has something for everyone. Head to the Museo Nacional Centre de Arte Reina Sofia for twentieth century art, where you will find quintessentially bold works from the likes of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalï. For truly historical collections, including Diego de Velázquez’s baroque contributions during the Spanish Golden Age, tourists can visit the Prado Museum.
The city’s food scene is bursting with delectable options, too. Bodegas Ricla has been serving rounds of vermouth, briny cockles and anchovies drenched in fragrant olive oil since 1867. To try a little bit of everything, including crispy churros and hearty tortilla de patata, visitors can also head to Madrid’s main food market at Mercado de San Miguel.
Water sports fanatics are spoilt for choice when visiting Spain, which borders the swell filled surfers haven of the Atlantic Ocean and the calmer Mediterranean Sea. Whilst cities like Barcelona and San Sebastián are known for their beaches, the best spots are arguably located in Spain’s island outposts.
In Lanzarote, six kilometres of sheltered inlets and coves are located along Papagayo Beach. Kaleidoscopic shores peppered with glitzy yachts can also be found in Ibiza, alongside the infamous promise of a party lasting until the early hours of the morning. If you are in search of a little bit of everything, head to Mallorca; thirteenth century cathedrals, limestone mountains, and Palma’s vibrant nightlife are all stuffed into this dynamic island. Be sure to check into the The Lodge whilst there. Here, guests are housed in rustic suites set amongst the mountainous Serra de Tramuntana nature reserve and twelve acres of fragrant lavender fields.
Spain has a myriad of well-known local grape varieties; robust, full bodied reds like Tempranillo and light, crisp Albariño whites are among some of the favourites. For visitors looking to explore the scene, head to the prominent Rioja wine region in the north-central part of Spain. Ysios Winery, a boutique spot designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, offers a particularly good tasting experience in futuristic surroundings. Other standouts include Bodegas Muga and Cava Codorníu. Located in the Penedés region of Catalonia, the latter dates back 450 years, making them the oldest producer of Spain’s punchy sparkling wine, Cava.
Spain has a plethora of notable historic architectural wonders worth seeing. The Alhambra of Granada, a fortified palace belonging to Spain’s historic Moorish monarchs, exhibits quintessential Islamic design styles - think palatial courtyards, towering arches and willowy columns. These features can also be found mirrored in the Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba and the Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz in Toledo.
Spain’s cathedrals offer soaring examples of Gothic and Baroque architectural styles, with the León Cathedral, Salamanca Cathedral, and Seville Cathedral particularly grand options. For modernist and art nouveau constructions, Antoni Gaudi’s contributions to Barcelona are perhaps the most famous. Whilst there, be sure to also check out some of the lesser known examples of Catalan modernism, including Josep Puig i Cadafalch’s Casa Amatller and Lluís Domènech i Montaner’s Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site.
Visitors to Spain have been walking the Camino de Santiago for hundreds of years. Consisting of a series of ancient pilgrimage routes, the trails all coalesce at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, which is thought to be the final resting place of the apostle St James. The well-trodden paths are marked with iconic scallop shells and dotted with B&B spots, making the hike relatively easy to plan for visitors.
For a slightly more thrill-filled option, the Caminito del Rey is well worth the visit. Consisting predominantly of a wooden walkway hoisted above El Chorro gorge, visitors are forced to hug the walls of the canyon as milky aquamarine waters loom below them. Other hiking spots can be found at Islas Atlánticas National Park, Doñana National Park and along the Flysch Cliffs of the Basque Country.
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