Tapas, trendy cities, wild coastlines, sandy beaches and little beers. Spain has amazing history, culture, art and music scenes. Get swept away in the culture, vibey cities of Madrid and Barcelona. Head south to the historic cities of Granada and Seville.
A popular destination for sun-seekers from the UK, expect busy beaches along the Costa Brava during the summertime. If you can, head in the direction of the beaches out of season in September instead.
Barcelona, Spain’s coolest city, is a vibrant blend of modernist and Gothic architecture, rich Catalonian history, and lively street culture. Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, or a beach lover, this three-day itinerary will help you make the most of your time in the city.
Is Barcelona expensive? In this Barcelona travel budget, we break down the cost of accommodation, transport, activities, tapas and wine in Barcelona.
We headed to Ibiza during the off-season to experience the ‘other side’ of the island. Walking, biking, beaching and swimming were our main activities each day, and Ibiza is a beautiful spot for all of those.
Mallorca is a beautiful Spanish island frequented by tourists throughout the year. Here you will encounter rugged cliffs, a stunning coastline, pristine beaches and plenty to see and do. This makes it an ideal destination for a range of travellers.
Tempted to plan a long weekend in Madrid, but not sure how much it’s all going to cost? Madrid is an exciting metropolis, the perfect place to spend an evening watching a flamenco show or sharing tapas with new friends. But how do the prices in Madrid compare to other European destinations?
Girona is an exciting city in northeast Spain (or Catalonia, as the locals would say) with a beautifully preserved medieval Old Town. Visit the town to wander its cobblestone streets and if you’re a keen cyclist, use it as a base from which to venture into the surrounding countryside. As it has its own airport and isn’t too far from either Barcelona or the Costa Brava, it makes a great city break for a long weekend or could be part of a longer trip to Catalonia.
San Sebastian’s Old Town is a mythical destination for foodies, spoken of in hushed, reverent tones. On every cobblestone street, there’s a welcoming bar with small plates of “pinchos” already piled high to the delight of customers.
Our list of the best places to visit in Spain has something for everyone: beautiful cities, charming fishing villages, blissful Mediterranean islands and unforgettable culture. In fact, the most difficult part of a trip to Spain might be planning which parts to visit first!
Lanzarote is the northernmost island in the Canary Islands. You’ll find plenty of Spanish influence here in the tapas and culture. But the island has its own distinct identity. The volcanic landscapes are unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. The architecture has its own special and sustainable style.
A Barcelona cooking class is the best way to learn to cook tapas. Even better, you can learn to cook Spanish food from locals who live in Barcelona. We’re about the reveal Barcelona’s best cooking class…
Eating out is a huge part of the culture in Barcelona. The city is full of plazas and squares where friends meet for wine and tapas, and talk until the midnight hour. Most locals don’t even consider actually eating dinner until 9pm or later. Instead, Catalonians go bar-hopping in the evening and eat a different tapa at each stop.
For us early-eating Brits, a late dinner time can come as quite a shock. But it feels good to take your time, meet up for a drink, snack on tapas and unwind at the end of the day. After a while, Luke and I came to love it.
Arabic architecture, Middle Eastern food, cave houses, snow-capped mountains, free tapas with every glass of wine… The more we heard, the more irresistible the idea of visiting Granada became. So we abandoned our winter sun chasing in Seville and booked ourselves a cheap ticket on board the next bus to the mountainous town of Granada.
Oh my sweet Alhambra. You absolutely cannot miss the Alhambra if you’re visiting Granada. This enchanting Islamic palace, named “the Red Castle” because of the reddish hue of the walls, is set high up on a hillside above the city.
Amidst the backdrop of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountain range, the Alhambra looks like something straight out of a storybook.
We’re Charlie and Luke — UK travel bloggers, adventurers and storytellers. We travel slow and write about sustainable travel. We want to make responsible travel choices and help you do the same. Get to know us.
