Country guides
Europe
Cultured, passionate and strikingly beautiful, Spain is one of the most alluring destinations in the world, where the local fervour for food, football and everything in between gets in the blood. Unspoilt coastlines, rugged national parks, sophisticated cities and irresistible regional cuisines are on the list of drawcards for the 70 million visitors who arrive every year.
The country occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula and is a must for sun seekers. It has around 5000 miles (8,000km) of beaches, and many of the most popular areas, such as Ibiza, the Costa Blanca, Alicante, the Costa Brava, and the Costa del Sol, are deservedly world-famous. Adventurers will have lots to choose from in Spain's national parks, as the terrains range from mountainous areas and volcanic landscapes to marshes that provide refuge for thousands of birds. An idyllic climate, friendly locals, a famously vibrant nightlife, and world-class shopping opportunities only add to the incredible attraction that is Spain.
There are also an unbelievable 49 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Many cities have ancient Roman ruins, Islamic architecture from the Moorish period, medieval castles, as well as Castilian- and Hapsburg-era palaces and mansions. Lovers of Art Deco and Art Nouveau will find many stunning examples of the styles.
So, whether visitors head straight to gorgeous Barcelona to admire the architectural feats of Gehry and Gaudi, or venture high into the Sierra Nevada mountains for quality skiing, Spain will deliver a holiday they'll treasure for the rest of their lives.
Best time to visit Spain
Spain featuring the warmest climate on mainland Europe, so there's no bad time to visit. The peak tourist season is summer (June to August), when legions of foreigners flock to the country's famed beaches. The best time to visit is any time between May and October, as the weather is warm and sunny.
What to see in Spain
-The architecture of Antoni Gaudi draws thousands of visitors to Barcelona every year to see buildings such as the La Sagrada Familia.
-Madrid is home to the Prado Gallery, which displays works by Goya, Rubens and Murillo, and has one of Europe's finest art collections.
-Located in Granada, the Moorish fortress of Alhambra is a beautiful site and an important record of Spain's multicultural history.
-The World Heritage City of Segovia is a historical sightseer's delight. It features a gorgeous cathedral and a wonderfully preserved Roman-built aqueduct.
What to do in Spain
-Go out for tapas, which in Spain is not merely an opportunity to have a drink and enjoy a delicious selection of finger-food, but a chance to sample an important part of the everyday rhythms of Spanish life.
-Take part in the Running of the Bulls at Pamplona.
-Catch an exciting match in one of Spain's grand football stadiums, such as the Camp Nou, the Bernabeu or the San Mames.
-Venture to the Costa del Sol and soak up the glorious sunshine before cooling off with a cocktail at a chic beachside restaurant.
Holiday resorts in Spain
Spain has many popular resorts for sun-seekers looking for the perfect beach holiday. Each resort has its own character, varying from lively nightlife (Ibiza) to laidback and secluded (Los Gigantes), or from singles heaven (Benidorm) to family-friendly delight (Sa Coma).
Getting to Spain
Ample direct cheap flights to Spain are available from a variety of British and American cities. Major airlines tend to serve Madrid and Barcelona, while several low-cost carriers offer cheap flights to popular holiday destinations in the south of Spain and the Costa del Sol.
Read
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway, Driving Over Lemons by Chris Stewart, Travels With My Donkey by Tim Moore, and Tales of the Alhambra by Washington Irving.
Listen
Luis Eduardo Aute, Los Planetas, Maldita Nerea, and Nino Ricardo.
Watch
Pan's Labyrinth (2006), Jamon Jamon (1992), and The Trip to Spain (2017).
Drink
Freshly brewed coffee, local wine and sangria (a mix of wine, lemonade, fruit pieces and spices).
Eat
Popular tapas include chorizo sausage and tortilla de patatas (omelette with fried potato), calamares en su tinta (squid prepared in its own ink), and sepia con alioli (fried cuttlefish with garlic mayonnaise). Other must-try dishes include gazpacho (tomato-based Andalusian soup that's famous for being served cold), fideuà (Spanish pasta that's popular in Barcelona), suckling pig from Segovia, burnt Basque cheesecake from Bilbao and fabada (bean and pork stew) from the northwestern Asturias.
What to buy
Olive oil, ornately decorated Spanish fans, flamenco music, leather products, bull fighting posters, and Spanish brandy from the famous Jerez region.
What to pack
Pack plenty of sunscreen and a hat if travelling in summer, and a good coat if travelling in winter. Even though Spain's climate is wonderfully temperate, it can get very cold at times during winter (especially in Madrid).
What's on in Spain
Better known as the Running of the Bulls at Pamplona, the San Fermin Festival (July) draws huge crowds of participating tourists every year. The annual Tomatina Tomato Fight takes place just outside Valencia in August, and is a fun and irreverent festival. Valencia's Las Fallas Festival (March), which sees local communities build giant puppets and then set them ablaze, provides a bonfire that will dwarf any visitors will have seen in their lives.
Did you know?
-Spain is home to over 5,000 miles (8,000km) of beaches.
-Spain is said to have more bars than any other country in the EU.
-Same sex marriage has been legal in Spain since 2005.
A final word
From its glittering beaches to its vibrant and cosmopolitan cities, from its medieval churches to its Colosseum-like football stadia, Spain has enough world-class tourist attractions to keep even the most jaded travellers enthralled and entertained.
Things to do in Spain
Spain's many attractions and the journeys between them are infused with the warm welcome of its diverse people. Holidays here should be slow, with room for spontaneity amid the laidback lifestyle that Spaniards have perfected.
The wealth of things to see and do is such that the top attractions in Spain are whole cities, towns, and islands, and a single holiday can barely scratch the surface of what this country has to offer. It's often best to plan an itinerary around a single city or region.
Toledo is famous for its Roman architecture and ancient history, while Santiago de Compostela bursts with religious significance and art. Cordoba entrances visitors with the medieval charm of the Mezquita, while Barcelona is home to Gaudi and almost anything a tourist could want. Madrid is the capital and ideal for a cosmopolitan Spanish experience, while Grenada contains mountains, tradition, and architecture.
Partygoers will look no further than Ibiza, and Bilbao is a hub of industrial creativity and boasts the Guggenheim Museum. Both Mallorca and Tenerife enjoy spectacular beaches and stunning landscapes, as does San Sebastian along with its good food. Lastly, Seville offers fun after dark and a wealth of history.
Spain travel info
Electricity
The electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are standard.
Language
Spanish is the official language, but English is widely understood in areas frequented by tourists. Catalan, Galician and Basque are spoken in the relevant areas.
Money
Spain's official currency is the euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. Money can be exchanged at bureaux de change and major hotels, but banks give the best rates. All major credit cards are widely accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and shops. ATMs are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining money.
Tipping
Hotel and restaurant bills usually include service charges, but additional tips are welcomed for services rendered. In established restaurants, tips of about 10 percent are expected. Drivers of metered taxis expect small tips and it's customary to tip about 5 to 10 percent for most services, including guides.
Health
There are no health risks associated with travel to Spain, and no vaccination certificates are required for entry. Medical facilities are good but comprehensive travel insurance is always advised. Spain has a reciprocal health agreement with most EU countries that provides emergency health care for EU travellers on the same terms as Spanish nationals. After Brexit, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) replaced the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for UK citizens. The GHIC allows UK citizens access to state healthcare during visits to the EU. The GHIC is not valid in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, nor is it an alternative to travel insurance. EU travellers should take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Travellers should take any medication they require along with them, in its original packaging and accompanied by a signed and dated letter from a doctor detailing what it is and why it is needed.
Safety
Most visits to Spain are trouble-free except for occasional street crime. Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, is most common in larger cities, particularly during holidays, festivals and weekends, and especially on public transport and in tourist areas. Thieves may work alone or in groups; visitors should be wary of strangers who offer or ask for help of any kind, or inform them of a stain on their clothes, as these are often ways of providing a distraction for accomplices. There are also scams involving letters for outstanding traffic fines or Spanish lottery winnings. Travellers can avoid incidents if they exercise all the normal precautions.
Local customs
Smoking in public places is banned and stiff fines will be imposed for smoking in areas such as enclosed public spaces, areas where food is prepared and sold, public transport, non-smoking areas of bars and restaurants, and any places that cater for children. Drinking alcohol in the streets of Madrid and the streets of the Canary and Balearic Islands is illegal.
Doing business
The business culture in Spain is slowly shifting but, for now, it's entrenched in tradition and it can take some time for foreigners to gain a foothold in the Spanish working world. It's important never to undermine authority as hierarchy is central to Spain's business world. Managers tend to make decisions without considering input from their colleagues.
A strong emphasis is placed on social status, character attributes, and personal pride. Success is often hinged upon being well-dressed, honourable, and dignified, while also exhibiting great social skills. Business meetings are generally conducted face-to-face and can go on for long periods, as Spaniards prefer long deliberations in order to avoid uncertainty in corporate dealings. Business meetings in Spain tend to tread a fine line between personal and formal.
Conducting business in Spain can entail navigation through a lot of red tape and bureaucracy. Spanish is the language of business, but some of the larger multinationals conduct meetings in both English and Spanish. Business hours are often quite varied, but generally open by 9am and close in the mid-evening with a two-hour lunch break during the early afternoon.
Business attire is quite conservative with men wearing dark or linen suits, shirts and silk ties. Women should wear modest dresses or tailored suits. Brand names or labels attract affirmation from colleagues and associates.
After the conclusion of successful negotiations, gifts are appropriate. Gifts should be of high quality and, when receiving a gift, it should be opened in front of the giver. Business cards are important and should be bilingual. Meetings are best scheduled for mid-morning, and establishing a formal yet personable environment is important before beginning. Meetings often occur over lunches and dinners.
Duty free
Travellers from EU countries are allowed the following items duty free: 800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1kg tobacco; 110 litres beer; 90 litres wine; and 10 litres spirit. Travellers from non-EU countries may have 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 1 litre spirits, 4 litres wine, and 16 litres beer.
Communications
The international access code for Spain is +34. WiFi is widely available; travellers can purchase local SIM cards for unlocked phones or use eSIMs if their cellular providers support it on their networks.
Passport & Visa
The borderless region known as the Schengen area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. All these countries issue a standard Schengen visa that has a multiple entry option, allowing the holder to travel freely within the borders of all. Non-EU nationals must hold a return or onward ticket, all necessary documents for onward travel and sufficient funds. It is highly recommended that passports have at least six months' validity remaining after the intended date of departure from Spain. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.
Entry requirements
United States citizens require a passport valid for three months beyond the period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days within a 180 day period.
British citizens require a passport valid for three months beyond the period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days within a 180 day period.
Canadian citizens require a passport valid for at least three months beyond period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days within a 180 day period.
Australian citizens require a passport valid for at least three months beyond period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days within a 180 day period.
South African citizens require a passport valid for at least three months beyond period of intended stay. A visa is required.
Irish nationals require a valid passport, but a visa is not necessary.
New Zealand citizens require a passport valid for at least three months beyond period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days within a 180 day period.
Useful contacts
Spanish Tourist Office, Madrid: www.spain.info.
112 (General).Embassies / consulates in other countries
Spanish Embassy, Washington, United States: +1 202 452 0100.
Spanish Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 0207 235 5555.
Spanish Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 747 2252.
Spanish Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 02 6273 3555.
Spanish Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 012 460 0123 (ext. 116/117).
Spanish Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 01 283 9900.
Spanish Consulate, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 04 802 5665.
Embassies / consulates in Spain
United States Embassy, Madrid: +34 91 587 2200.
British Embassy, Madrid: +34 91 714 6300.
Canadian Embassy, Madrid: +34 91 382 8400.
Australian Embassy, Madrid: +34 91 353 6600.
South African Embassy, Madrid: +34 91 436 3780.
Irish Embassy, Madrid: +34 91 436 4093.
New Zealand Embassy, Madrid: +34 915 230 226.
Climate in Spain
Southern Spain is the ideal holiday region as it has the warmest weather on mainland Europe, even during the winter months. The southern and eastern coast of Spain has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters, while the western Atlantic coast is cooler in summer and wet in winter.
Inland the climate is temperate and the capital Madrid, which is situated on a plateau, can be surprisingly cold in winter. Most of Spain is extremely hot during mid-summer, in July and August. The rest of the year the climate is generally temperate in the north, but warm in the south.
The peak tourism season is summer, between June and August, with August being the busiest month, but many people prefer to visit Spain during spring or autumn (May or October) when the weather is still pleasant and the crowds are thinner. The exception to this recommendation is the Atlantic coast, which has heavy rains in October and November.
Budget travellers should consider visiting Spain in the winter as accommodation and flights are offered at discount rates. The Canary Islands are a good beach destination for those visiting in winter, and cities such as Barcelona are exciting destinations at any time of year.