SPAIN TRAVEL GUIDE

Spain is a highly diverse country with many different regions, all having their own unique culture, personality, history and food. These unique differences make Spain a fascinating place to visit. You can explore all corners of the country and see something different on every trip, no matter how many times you visit.

From the expansive coastline to the vibrant cities, each experience will leave you feeling like you never want to leave.

We’ve put this info in a short infographic for you! View it by clicking the image on the left.

The best time to visit Spain is on the shoulder months of April, May, June or September and October. These months are when the weather is at its best and the crowds are lower than usual. Spain is a very popular tourist destination, especially along the coastline and in the Canary Islands, so high season is often very crowded and difficult to book.

We visit a different town in Spain every March (like Seville, San Sebastian, Toledo, or Valencia). For wine tasting in Ribera del Duero or La Rioja, the best time is September and October.

JULY-AUGUST: Summer is the red season for a number of reasons. It’s hot, crowded and expensive – especially in the large cities and at beach resorts.

November & December is a great time to visit Spain, although many of the beach resort areas will be closed this time of year (except in the Canary Islands – see Tenerife – and Balearic islands). The crowds have died down, the weather is still usually very good and it’s cheaper.

Major Cities

Cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Seville are all cultural hubs for different regions of Spain. You really have to visit them all to get a true feel for Spain’s culture and history.

Coastline

Spain’s beautiful beaches draw huge crowds year round. Costa del Sol, Costa Brava the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands offer idyllic views, soft white sand, and even rowdy parties.

Wine Country

Spain is well-known for its incredible wine production. Visiting the bodegas of Spain is also fairly easy in places like La Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Rias Baixas.

Catalunya

Catalunya is located in the northeastern corner of Spain which is a semi-autonomous community, where Catalan is spoken and the traditions and culture are distinctly their own.

• Run with the bulls in Pamplona
• Sip Crianza in Rioja or Albarino in Galicia
• Hike to the highest point in Spain (Teide National Park, Tenerife)
• Go on a pintxos crawl in San Sebastian or Logrono
• Visit the Prada Museum or go on a food tour in Madrid
• Take a day trip from Madrid to Segovia
• Visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao
• See a Flamenco show or tuck into tapas in Seville
• Walk the Camino de Santiago
• Be wowed by the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona
• Visit the Alhambra in Grenada
• Explore Moorish Spain in Cordoba

Where to Stay in Madrid

Here are our recommendations for where to stay in Madrid. You can use any of these links to read reviews or book your stay in Madrid. (They are affiliate links, which help keep this site up. We always appreciate your help).

• Hotel Atlantico – 4-star hotel with a great location in centro, close to everything, beautiful ornate architecture ⇒ Read reviews on Trip Advisor  |  Book a stay
• Catalonia Las Cortes – Lovely 4-star hotel in centro, 10-min walk to Prada Museum, with air conditioning ⇒ Read reviews on Trip Advisor | Book a stay
• SPLURGE: Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques – 5-star “Leading Hotels of the World” in a 19th century palace with a rooftop terrace and pool ⇒ Read reviews on Trip Advisor | Book a stay

Where to stay in Barcelona

There are many options and it can sometimes be difficult to choose the right place. Within the city center, it’s easy to walk most places. So choosing a place in the city center is the best option.

• Casa Camper Hotel Barcelona – This trendy 4-star hotel in a converted 19th-century Gothic building in the Raval neighborhood, a 5-minute walk to Mercado de La Boqueria. ⇒ Read reviews on Trip Advisor | Book a stay
• Catalonia Catedral – 4-star hotel in a historic building, just a hop from the Catedral de Barcelona ⇒ Read reviews on Trip Advisor | Book a stay

Where to stay in Girona (Catalunya)

• Hotel Nord 1901 – Great location in the old town, walking distance to everywhere you want to go. Beautiful rooms and a nice outdoor area with a pool. Very good prices. ⇒ Read reviews on Trip Advisor | Book a Stay
• Hotel Carlemany – Located right in the center of the new part of town, near lots of shopping and cafes, just a block from the bus station. ⇒ Read reviews on Trip Advisor | Book a Stay

Where to Stay in Tenerife

• La Laguna Gran Hotel – Beautifully remodeled old terraced house very close to the center, lovely rooms, great restaurant. Read reviews on Trip Advisor | Book a Stay

As you have already caught on, Spain is very diverse, and so is its food. Although you’ll find many of the same flavors and some of the same foods throughout the country, like jamon and chorizo, many of the dishes are unique to each region – whether it’s a slight difference, or an entirely different recipe.

You’ll find famous dishes like paella from Valencia, gaspacho and Boquerones al Limon (fried anchovies marinated in lemon) from Andalucia, and Fideuà from Catalonia.

When in Galicia, Spain, try these dishes, with local ingredients, especially from the sea. In Catalonia, there are a wide range of food products that are unique to that area as well. We tried 37 unique products there that blew us away.

Dishes to look out for are pulpo a la gallega, Spanish tortilla, paella, Jamon Iberico, patatas bravas. If you have a chance to eat tapas, which would be extremely difficult to avoid in Spain, you’ll see the wide array of dishes that are served in Spain.

For foodies, one of the top cities to visit is San Sebastian, where the number of pintxos bars and fine dining restaurants is larger than anywhere else. We also love visiting Logrono, in La Rioja, for the world-famous pinchos crawl.

Spain is one of the top wine producing countries in the world. The land is fertile and perfect for growing grapes – and not just in one area, but all over the country. Some of our favorite wine regions in Spain are La Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Rias Baixas. All of them are fantastic destinations on their own, but add in the great opportunities for wine tasting and you have the perfect vacation spot.

Of course, wine isn’t the only thing to drink in Spain. You’ll also find a lot of Vermouth, coffee and sherry. Some drinks to look out for are Txakoli and Cava (sparkling wine), sidra (cider) and Tinto de Verano (wine and soda).

• Mealtimes are later in Spain – expect to eat lunch around 2pm and dinner around 10pm.
• Pintxos or pinchos are found in Basque country and are basically tapas served on a piece of bread or held together with a toothpick.
• Know your ham! Jamon iberico de Bellota is the most expensive – and delicious.
• Shops and stores generally close between 2pm and 5pm, for an extended lunch and afternoon break.
• When driving on the freeway, stay right except to pass. Immediately switch back to the right lane after passing.