Spain is a beautiful country with gorgeous sunny coasts, amazing medieval sites with glorious past, magnificent museums, squares, parks, gardens, and cathedrals. It is an ideal place for lovely cultural city break, and late-night partying and clubbing. Any visit to Spain will leave a long-lasting impression.
The Spanish also know how to have a good time! From crazy Ibiza to flamenco dancers to fiestas, Spain tourism has something for everyone. Let’s not forget the infamous La Tomatina, when over 30,000 tomato-loving folk flock to Bunyol to throw, well, tomatoes.
Good times aside, Spain has some super beaches on offer, and an amazing history reflected in its prehistoric cave paintings, Moorish palaces, crumbling castles, Roman ruins, Gothic and Renaissance cathedrals.
Get the down-low on all things Spanish in my tips – find out the best places to go, things to see and do, some helpful phrases, the dos and don’ts, plus a load more so you can make the most out of your Spain trip!
Spain Facts
Population
44,700 000
Languages Spoken
Spanish is the official language but there are also a number of other languages spoken; these are Catalan in Catalonia, Galician in Galicia, Euskera/Basque in the Basque Country, Valencian in the Valencia Region and a particular variety of Catalan spoken on the Balearic Islands.
Currency
Euro €
Electricity
The electric current in Spain is 220V and the cycle is 50Hz. Sockets use the round pin European system.
Time Zones
GMT + 1: The Spanish mainland and Balearics
GMT: The Canary Islands
Daylight savings means clocks go forward one hour from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.
Country Dialling Code
+34
Measurements and Weights
Metric
Weather
Weather conditions vary throughout Spain but the country generally experiences a warm Mediterranean climate with over 3,000 sunshine hours per year.
The location of the Canary Islands (facing the coast of Africa) produces mild temperatures of around 22oC year round with only small temperature differences between day and night, and whatever the season.
The Cantabrian Coast has a mild climate and high rainfall. The winters are mild and summer temperature will rarely go above 25oC.
In higher parts of the country such as the Pyrenees, the Cantabrian and Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Central and Iberian ranges experience a harsher climate with snow from the beginning of winter to the end of spring.
For up to the minute weather information to go to the World Weather website.
Best Time to Go
Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Spain, especially spring as this is the season for festivals and the Spanish climate is the most pleasant. The summer months of July and August can be extremely crowded.
Visa & Entry Requirements
All that is required from an EU citizen is a valid passport or ID card, regardless of your purpose or length of stay in Spain.
Getting to Spain
Travel to Spain from London to Barcelona is a 2-hour flight, to Madrid is 2 hours 20 minutes and to Malaga is 2 hours 45 minutes. Find cheap flights to Spain on Skyscanner.
Transport & Getting Around
Air
There are a number of airlines running domestic flights to all the main towns, as well as the Balearic and Canary Islands, and North African enclaves.
Water
There are regular sailings from Algciras to the North African enclaves of Tangier and Cueta, as well as to Melilla (also a North African enclave) from Malaga and Almeria. You can also go by boat from Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante to the Balearic Islands and from Cadiz to the Canary Islands. Inter-island services also run.
Rail
There are a number of different train services available. A rail network connects all regions on the Iberian Peninsula, with connections between Madrid and all major cities. There are also connections between the northwest coast and the Mediterranean coast, and between the France and the Mediterranean coast. If you’re in a hurry there are high-speed trains connecting various cities and a tourist train for those with more time on their hands.
Road
If you’re self-driving in Spain the first thing you’ll need to know is that traffic drives on the right. The motorways connect north to south and tolls need to be paid in some sections.
Bus
If you’re on a budget taking the bus is the best option and you’ll find a bus link almost anywhere you go.
Tours
Organised tours are a great way to see the sites and soak up the local culture – especially if you’re travelling alone or are a first-time traveller. Check out some of the options for tours in Spain with G Adventures or Contiki.
Accommodation
You can find hotels, hostels, guest houses and options for all budgets. Get the best deals on hotels on Booking.com.
Best Places to Visit in Spain
Check out our list of places to see/visit in Spain, including tourist attractions in Spain and all the best places to go sightseeing in Spain. This is just a taste of what this great country has to offer!
Mainland & Cities
Barcelona is one of the nicest of the Spanish cities. There are a plethora of museums, theatres and art galleries to visit, and hundreds of sites of architecture and design to offer the visitor such as Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia.
Watch the world go by in Las Ramblas, a pedestrian street with dozens of cafes, restaurants and markets as well as singers, dancers, puppeteers and living statues. Night owls will also find plenty of cool spots to entertain themselves.
Head to the Spanish capital of Madrid and you’ll find a stunning range of attractions to explore, from the Royal Palace to Retiro Park. There are more bars per capita than any other European city – proof that the people of Madrid love to party!
Let’s hope you can keep up, the Madrileños are known to stay up till 5 or even 7 am. After a sleep-in get up and explore the streets from the narrow labyrinths of the medieval quarter to the grand boulevards of the 18th and 19th centuries. 2,800 hours of annual sunshine will surely put a smile on your dial and some colour in your skin.
Malaga
The city has plenty to offer those who want a few days in the city before heading to the nearby seaside resorts of Torremolinos and Marbella.
For starters, Malaga is the birthplace of the artist Picasso so you can visit the house where he was born, or see his paintings, sculptures and drawings at the Museo Picasso.
Other sites to see include the baroque Cathedral and the Arab fortress, or soak up spectacular views of the city from Gibralfaro Castle. View my 7 day Malaga itinerary.
Alicante is located on the Costa Blanca and it is a popular coastal beach city to visit. Relax on the miles of sandy beaches or walk along the boulevard lined with palm trees and cafes. Check out the museums, shopping and great nightlife as well. I put together this good one week Alicante holiday itinerary – check it out.
Valencia is Spain’s 3rd largest city and a real delight. This is one of my favourite places in Spain, and after visiting you will understand why.
Seville
Seville is a great place to see Gothic architecture such as the cathedral of Seville (third largest in the world) and don’t miss the Alcazar, the city’s oldest Moorish palace. The city is also big on its nightlife and has a wide variety of Flamenco clubs and bars. In fact it plays host to the largest Flamenco Festival in the world, held every two years.
Bilbao
Head to the northern city of Bilbao and you can visit the world-class art and culture including the Guggenheim Museum. While the artistic institution contains an array of works from Willem de Kooning and Anselm Kiefer – among others – you may find the exterior of the building to be equally amazing. The museum is shaped like a ship in an architectural nod to Bilbao’s coastal location.
Granada
Granada has much to offer to visitors and it is such a underrated gem. People flock to see ancient architecture such as the Alhambra from the Moorish period. Snowy mountains are on Granada’s doorstep and the beach isn’t too far away either. The 60,000-odd students keep the nightlife bustling.
Spanish Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands boast over 1,500 km of coastline and attracts swarms of beach-lovers year round. Popular islands to visit include Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura.
Get a tan on the beach or partake in one of the many water activities on offer. No trip would be complete without diving or snorkelling as manta rays sea turtles and tropical fish can be seen.
Volcanoes, forest and other spectacular scenery will provide hours of interest to outdoorsy types.
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands consist of Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca. All have great beaches and pumping nightlife, Ibiza in particular is known as the club capital of the world. Get out your glow sticks! Take time to discover the churches, monuments and caves of the islands as well.
One For the Bucket List
Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago is the most famous pilgrimage route in Spain, leading to the apostle Saint James the Great in northwest Spain. Travellers from all over the world flock to Spain to enjoy the tranquil walk.
You pass through quaint Spanish villages and meet people from all over the globe in the process. With restaurants and guesthouses on route, you don’t need to camp or carry an excessive amount of food with you either!
Money & Budget
Spain’s currency is the euro, and the exchange rate is approximately €1.10 = £1.
It is always a good idea to budget for a trip so you don’t run out of money. Here are a few sample prices so you have plenty of dosh for your Spanish holiday:
• Spanish Cordobes hat = €5
• Sangria (drink made of red wine, sugar, fruits and ice) = €10
• Flamenco show plus drink = €25
• Spanish soccer jerseys eg Ronaldinho = from €65
• Average room prices = you’ll pay around €15 for a hostel bed, €50 for something mid-range, and €150 and upward if you’re going all out.
• Average meal prices = anywhere from €3 for a beer and tapa, to €15 at a mid-range restaurant, and €35 and upwards for an expensive restaurant.
These prices are in euros and are estimations so are subject to change.
Tipping
Every establishment in Spain will include a service charge in the price of the meal or drink. However it’s still common to tip at bars, restaurants, hotels, and after taking a taxi; usually a tip is 5-10% of the price.
Banking
Generally in Spain banking hours are Monday to Friday from 8am to 2pm. There are some variations to this, some opening on Saturdays until 1pm. All major credit cards are accepted in Spain and traveller’s cheques are accepted in many places.
Useful Spanish Words & Phrases
A bit of Spanish vocab goes a long way. Learn a couple of these travel Spanish phrases (some not so useful but still good for a giggle!) to give you a head start on your trip:
• Hola – Hello
• Adiós – Goodbye
• Por favor – Please
• Gracias – Thank you
• Cuánto cuesta esto? – How much is this?
• Le apetece tomar algo? Qué tomará? – Would you like a drink? What will you have?
• Beber como una esponja – The literal meaning is ‘to drink like a sponge’ meaning to drink a lot.
• Vete a freír espárragos! – This Spanish phrase literally means ‘go off and fry asparagus’. Basically it means disappear and do whatever you want as long as it is out of my sight!
• Hasta la vista (baby!) – Terminator fans will know this one already, but do you actually know what it means? Until we meet again.
• Realmente no puedo hablar español; solo aprendí unas frases. – I can’t really speak Spanish; I only learned a few phrases.
Now that you’ve mastered the Spanish language (well a few phrases at least!), keen to learn Spanish in the classroom? You could learn Spanish in Spain at a fab language school in Spain.
Health & Safety
Spain’s health care is widespread, with an extensive network of health centres and hospitals throughout the country.
Hospitals offer specialised care and accident and emergency services, while rural areas have local surgeries open on certain days of the week. Care is free on presentation of a European Health Card. In an emergency dial 112.
As in any country you should follow some basic security measures. Avoid empty streets or poorly lit areas. In the larger cities pick pocketers are rife so avoid taking more money with you than you need to and take care of your possessions when in crowded public places. When relaxing in public places, keep valuable objects like mobile phones and cameras out of view. If you need help you can contact the Police on 091.
Be sure to buy travel insurance, don’t leave home without it! Accidents happen – and they can happen in the strangest places at the strangest times, like in a club in Ibiza or in an alley in Barcelona at 3 am. Travel insurance can cover you for all sorts of mishaps during your travel, and even before you leave.