Highlights
Barcelona
Antoni Gaudí's Sagrada Família, Park Güell and Casa Batlló sit alongside the medieval Gothic Quarter, the Boqueria market and a city beach. Book timed tickets for Gaudí's main buildings well ahead.
Madrid
The Prado, Reina Sofía (home to Picasso's Guernica) and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums are within walking distance of each other, with Retiro Park, the Royal Palace and lively tapas streets in La Latina nearby.
Granada and the Alhambra
The hilltop palace complex of the Nasrid dynasty, with carved stucco halls and the Generalife gardens. Entry to the Nasrid Palaces is by timed ticket and often sells out. Afterwards, walk up through the Albaicín quarter to the Mirador de San Nicolás at sunset.
Seville
The Real Alcázar royal palace, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world with its Giralda tower, and the sweeping Plaza de España. It is also a centre of flamenco, especially in the Triana district.
Córdoba
The Mezquita-Catedral began as a great mosque, with a forest of red-and-white arches, and has a cathedral built in its centre. In May, residents open their flower-filled courtyards during the Patios festival.
San Sebastián and the Basque Country
La Concha bay and a food scene famous for pintxos, small bites served on bar counters across the old town. Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, is about an hour away.
Camino de Santiago
A network of pilgrimage routes ending at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. Many people walk the final hundred kilometres or so of the Camino Francés, staying in pilgrim hostels along the way.
The islands
The Balearics (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza) offer coves and old towns in the Mediterranean, while the volcanic Canary Islands off Africa have Mount Teide on Tenerife and the lava landscapes of Lanzarote.
Interesting facts about Spain
- Spain's national anthem, the Marcha Real, has no official lyrics.
- Spain's highest mountain is not on the mainland: Mount Teide, on Tenerife in the Canary Islands, rises to just over 3,700 metres.
- The Canary Islands are one hour behind mainland Spain.
- Spain includes two cities on the North African coast, Ceuta and Melilla.
- Restaurants in Spain often serve lunch from around 2 pm and dinner from around 9 pm, much later than in most of Europe.
Best time to visit
Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are the best times for cities and touring, with warm days and fewer crowds. July and August are very hot inland, particularly in Seville, Córdoba and Madrid, and the coasts are at their busiest. The north (Galicia, Asturias, the Basque Country) is greener, cooler and wetter all year. Winter is mild on the southern coast and warm in the Canary Islands, and there is skiing in the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada. Easter week (Semana Santa) brings processions, especially in Andalusia, and busy travel.
Practical information
| Capital | Madrid |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Languages | Spanish (Castilian), Catalan, Galician and Basque (co-official in their regions) |
| Plugs | Type C, F |
| Voltage | 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 112 (all emergencies) |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Not expected. Rounding up or leaving small change is common; around 5 to 10 percent for good service in restaurants is generous. |
Getting around
Spain's high-speed rail network is one of the largest in the world, linking Madrid with Barcelona, Seville, Málaga, Valencia and other cities in a few hours. Book long-distance tickets in advance for the best fares. Buses fill the gaps, especially for smaller towns in Andalusia and the north. Cities have good metro systems, and the old centres are best on foot. Hire a car for rural areas, the white villages of Andalusia and the northern coast. Ferries and domestic flights connect the mainland with the Balearic and Canary Islands.
Staying connected in Spain
Mobile coverage is strong in cities, towns and along motorways and high-speed rail lines, with 4G nearly everywhere and 5G in larger cities. Some mountain areas, rural interior regions and the more remote parts of the Pyrenees can have weak or patchy signal. Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés, and many stations and airports. Spain is in the EU, so visitors from outside it should install an eSIM before they fly and switch it on when they land.
See Spain eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Spain
- Renfe: Book and store tickets for Spain's national rail services, including high-speed AVE trains.
- Cabify: A Spanish ride-hailing app widely used in Madrid, Barcelona and other cities, alongside Uber.
- Google Maps: Walking, metro and driving directions; download rural areas offline.
- Google Translate: Translate menus and signs, including Catalan, Galician and Basque.