Forty-seven million people live in Spain, and another eighty-four million tourists come here every year — more than any other country in Europe (second only to France). 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites — from the Alhambra to the Sagrada Familia cathedral, from the aqueduct in Segovia to the ancient caves of Altamira — make Spain one of the countries with the richest treasuries in the world.
Here there are almost 5,000 kilometres of coastline, 17 autonomous communities, 15 national parks and hundreds of cities where medieval Jewish quarters sit alongside Arab palaces and futuristic architecture.
Spain is a country where you want to linger in every square, in every tapas bar and on every beach, where siesta is not a joke but a way of life. We have created a navigator for five macro-regions. The North — green Spain, the land of the Basques, Cantabria and Galicia, where ocean waves crash against the cliffs and cider flows like a river. The East (Mediterranean coast) — with Gaudí`s Barcelona, Valencia and the velvet beaches of the Costa Blanca, where rice turned into paella.
The South (Andalusia) — the heart of the Spanish stereotype: flamenco, bullfighting, white villages (pueblos blancos) and Moorish palaces that take your breath away. The Centre (Madrid, Castile-León, Castile-La Mancha) — a plateau with thousand-year-old cities, aqueducts, medieval cathedrals and Don Quixote`s windmills. The Islands — the Balearics (Mallorca, Ibiza) and the Canaries (Tenerife, Gran Canaria) with volcanic landscapes, year-round summer and world-class nightlife.
Brief Historical Context
The history of Spain is a history of successive civilisations, each of which left its mark on the language, architecture and genes. Long before the Romans, the Iberians, Celts and Tartessians (a mysterious civilisation that may have been the biblical Tartessus) lived here. From 218 BC, the Romans conquered the peninsula, naming it Hispania, and left behind aqueducts, theatres and the Latin language — the basis of modern Spanish. After the fall of Rome, the Visigoths came, creating the first independent kingdom.
But the main turning point came in 711, when the Arabs and Berbers (Moors) crossed Gibraltar and conquered almost all of Spain, founding an emirate (later a caliphate) centred on Córdoba. More than seven hundred years of Muslim Spain (Al-Andalus) turned the country into the most enlightened in Europe — with mathematics, medicine and palaces without equal.
At the same time, the Reconquista — the reconquest by the Christian kingdoms — began in the north. In 1492, three world-changing events occurred: Granada fell — the last Muslim stronghold; Columbus discovered America, beginning the Spanish colonial empire; and the Alhambra Decree was issued, expelling the Jews. The 16th–17th centuries were Spain`s golden age: an empire on which "the sun never set", an unprecedented flowering of painting (El Greco, Velázquez, Murillo) and literature (Cervantes, Lope de Vega).
Then came centuries of decline, the loss of colonies in the 19th century, the civil war (1936–1939) and almost forty years of Franco`s dictatorship. After Franco`s death in 1975, Spain made the transition to democracy, became a constitutional monarchy (with King Felipe VI) and joined the European Union. Today, Spain is a modern European country where the post-war miracle erased borders but preserved regional pride and language (Catalan, Galician, Basque — official in their respective autonomous communities).
Cultural Diversity
Spain is not a unitary country but a "nation of nations", as the Spanish themselves like to say. The constitution recognises historical nationalities: Catalonia (with its capital Barcelona) has its own language (Catalan), parliament and a strong independence movement. The Basque Country (the Basque language is the oldest in Europe, unrelated to any other) and Galicia (Galician is close to Portuguese) also enjoy a high degree of autonomy. Andalusia is the most populous autonomous community, the keeper of flamenco and Moorish heritage. And there are 13 other communities, from the Asturian mountains to the market gardens of Murcia.
This diversity is visible in languages (Spanish — Castilian — is the official language, but in the schools of Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia, the local languages are taught), in cuisine (Basque pintxos versus Valencian paella, Catalan crema catalana versus Andalusian gazpacho), in festivals (Catalan human towers "castells", Basque rock surfing, Andalusian Easter processions, perhaps the most spectacular in the world). And, of course, siesta — although modern Spain no longer closes for three hours in the afternoon, the rhythm of life is still shifted to the evening: dinner at 10 p.m., and dancing until dawn.
Northern Spain: The Green Land, the Ocean and Cider
This is Spain that tourists often skip — and they shouldn`t. There is no mass beach holiday here (the weather is capricious), but there are green mountains, sheer cliffs, Bay of Biscay waves for surfing and a gastronomy that rivals that of the Basque Country (which, in turn, rivals the entire world).
Bilbao and the Basque Country (Euskadi)
The capital of an economic miracle: a city that, with the help of the Guggenheim Museum (Guggenheim Museum Bilbao) — a building of titanium plates designed by Frank Gehry — transformed from a depressed industrial centre into a world tourist mecca. The museum impresses even from the outside; inside — contemporary art from Kandinsky to Warhol. Nearby is the old town (Casco Viejo) with its seven streets (Las Siete Calles), where pintxos (pinchos) — little masterpieces on bread — are washed down with dry white wine called txakoli (txakoli). Don`t miss San Sebastián (Donostia) — an elegant resort with La Concha Bay (La Concha) and, arguably, the best restaurants in Europe (more Michelin stars per capita than anywhere else).
Cantabria: Altamira, Santander and the Picos de Europa
The Altamira Caves (Cueva de Altamira) — the "Sistine Chapel of the Palaeolithic". On the walls — colourful bison, horses and deer painted 15,000 years ago. The original is closed for conservation, but an excellent copy (Neocueva) is open nearby — tourists say you can`t tell the difference. Santander — an elegant resort with a royal palace, El Sardinero beach and its bay. The Picos de Europa National Park (Picos de Europa) — one of the most picturesque mountain ranges in Spain, accessible for trekking. The famous Covadonga trail leads to the sanctuary and mountains.
Asturias: Covadonga, Cider and Pre-Romanesque Churches
Asturias was the only kingdom that the Moors did not conquer. The Reconquista began here, and here lies Covadonga (Covadonga) — a sacred place with a cave where the Christians won their first victory in 722. Asturian cuisine — fabada beans (fabada asturiana) with blood sausage, cooked for hours. Cider (sidra) is poured here in a special way — from a bottle into a glass from a height to oxygenate it. You must drink the cider in one gulp and not finish the dregs. The 9th-century pre-Romanesque churches (Santa María del Naranco, San Miguel de Lillo) are UNESCO-listed, surviving masterpieces of Asturian art.
Galicia: Santiago de Compostela, the End of the World and Rías
Galicia is a Celtic land of rain, bagpipes (gaitas) and the end of the Way of St. James. Santiago de Compostela (Santiago de Compostela) — the third most important Christian city after Jerusalem and Rome. Pilgrims have been converging here for centuries along the Camino de Santiago (Camino de Santiago). The cathedral (Catedral de Santiago) houses the relics of the Apostle James. The main ritual is Sunday mass with the swinging of the Botafumeiro censer (Botafumeiro), the largest censer in the world (1.5 metres, 50 kg, swung by eight men). Be sure to eat octopus a feira (pulpo a la gallega) with paprika and potatoes. The Rías Baixas (Rías Baixas) — estuaries resembling Norwegian fjords, with beaches, Albariño vineyards and islands (the Cíes Islands — the real Caribbean in Spain).
Natural and Cultural Attractions of the North:
• Sierra de Ayllón and Redos Park: Ski resorts, in summer — hiking.
• Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park (Ordesa y Monte Perdido) — in the Pyrenees, canyons, waterfalls and the most beautiful hikes in Spain.
• Euskal Herria Basque coastline: San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (San Juan de Gaztelugatxe) — an island with a church, connected to the mainland by 241 steps (filmed in Game of Thrones as Dragonstone).
Eastern Spain (Mediterranean Coast): Gaudí, Paella and Fallas
This is where the tourist "brand" of Spain is found — Barcelona, the Costa Brava and the Costa del Sol, Valencian orange groves and the rice fields where paella was born.
Barcelona (Catalonia)
Spain`s second-largest city — the capital of Catalonia and the architectural fantasy of Antoni Gaudí. Don`t try to cover all of Barcelona — focus on modernism.
• Sagrada Família (Sagrada Família) — the main symbol. For almost 150 years it was an unfinished cathedral that Gaudí dedicated to the Holy Family. Work continued from 1882 to 2026. The cathedral`s bell tower became the tallest in the world. The interior is a forest of plaster columns, lit by stained glass. Tickets online weeks in advance, for the towers — separately.
• Park Güell (Park Güell) — a fairy-tale garden city with a mosaic lizard (el drac) and colonnade. You also need a ticket for the monumental zone.
• Eixample district (Eixample) — a grid of wide streets where Gaudí scattered his houses: Casa Batlló (Casa Batlló) with dragon scales and bone-like balconies; Casa Milà (Casa Milà, "La Pedrera") — a quarry with a wavy facade and a roof with warrior-like chimneys.
• Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic) — a labyrinth of medieval streets with the Cathedral of Santa Eulàlia (Catedral de Barcelona). La Rambla (La Rambla) — the most famous street, from Plaça de Catalunya to the Columbus statue. But better than that: La Boqueria Market (Mercat de la Boqueria) — where you can eat truffle and wash it down with juice. El Born district (El Born) — narrow streets, shops, Santa Maria del Mar church (Santa Maria del Mar) — a masterpiece of Catalan Gothic.
• Modern Barcelona: The Olympic Village (the 1992 Games changed the city), the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) and the funicular ride up Montjuïc hill.
Valencia (Valencian Community)
Spain`s third-largest city. Here you will find: The City of Arts and Sciences (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias) — a futuristic complex by Santiago Calatrava (white concrete structures resembling whales). Inside — the Oceanogràfic, Europe`s largest aquarium, a science museum and an IMAX cinema. Paella was born exactly in Valencia — in the rice fields around the Albufera lagoon (L`Albufera). Try authentic paella with chicken, rabbit and green beans (not with seafood — that`s the tourist version). Valencia Cathedral — which houses the chalice that the Vatican recognised as the Holy Grail (yes, that one). Las Fallas (Falles) in March — a grand festival with giant paper dolls that are burned on the final night.
Costa Brava, Costa Dorada and Costa Blanca - Spain`s coastal strips for beach holidays.
Costa Brava (Catalonia): The most spectacular cliffs, coves and rocky beaches. The town of Tossa de Mar (Tossa de Mar) with its medieval fortress on a headland. Cadaqués (Cadaqués) — a white town where Salvador Dalí lived (his house-museum is in Port Lligat).
Costa Dorada (Valencia): Beaches with fine golden sand. The main resort is Salou (Salou) , nearby — PortAventura World (PortAventura World) — one of Europe`s best amusement parks.
Costa Blanca (Alicante): Benidorm (Benidorm) — high-rise hotels, English-speaking pensioners and beaches considered the best in mainland Spain. To the south — the Peñón de Ifach rock (Ifach) and the salt flats of Torrevieja.
Natural and Cultural Attractions of the East:
• Montserrat Monastery (Montserrat) — fantastically shaped rocks an hour`s drive from Barcelona, where a monastery with the Black Madonna ("La Moreneta") is located. The boys` choir (Escolania de Montserrat) is one of the oldest in Europe.
• Ebro Delta (Delta de l`Ebre) — the Ebro river delta with rice paddies, birds (flamingos) and boat trips.
• The Albaicín (Granada, though geographically already in the south, but its rice and wine traditions link it to the east).
Southern Spain (Andalusia): Flamenco, Moors and White Villages
Andalusia is the Spain that people expect: guitar, flamenco, jacaranda in bloom, white villages on the hills and palaces where water has flowed through marble channels for a thousand years.
Granada and the Alhambra
The main star of Andalusia — the Alhambra (La Alhambra) , a Moorish palace-fortress that, even five hundred years after the Reconquista, remains one of the most beautiful constructions in the world. It is a complex of a fortress (Alcazaba), the Nasrid Palaces (Palacios Nazaríes) with gypsum carving (arabesques), stalactite arches and interior courtyards — especially the Court of the Lions (Patio de los Leones) with 12 marble lions. The Generalife Gardens (Generalife) — the summer residence where water in the channels and fountains creates heaven on earth.
Alhambra tickets must be booked several weeks in advance (they go on sale 3 months ahead), because the number of visitors per day is limited. Entry to the Nasrid Palaces is at a strictly assigned time.
Nearby is the Albaicín district (Albayzín) : white streets, a moody Arab market, walls with graffiti and the Mirador de San Nicolás viewpoint (Mirador de San Nicolás) , from which opens the most famous view of the Alhambra against the backdrop of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains (Sierra Nevada, where you can ski in the morning and sunbathe on the beach in the afternoon).
Seville (Sevilla)
The capital of Andalusia, the city of opera (Carmen), where the summer heat is unbearable, but spring and autumn are beautiful. Seville Cathedral (Catedral de Sevilla) — the third largest in the world (after St. Peter`s in Rome and St. Paul`s in London). Inside — the tomb of Christopher Columbus (tourists are shown that the remains are definitely authentic). Next to it — the Giralda (Giralda) , a former minaret converted into a bell tower (ramps instead of stairs for horses).
The Royal Alcázar (Real Alcázar) — a royal palace in the Mudéjar style (a mix of Islamic and Christian). It was used for filming Dorne and the Steps of the Faith Militant in Game of Thrones. Be sure to visit the Ambassadors` Hall and the gardens.
Plaza de España (Plaza de España) — a monumental semi-circular building from 1929 with canals you can row boats on. Ceramic tiles with maps of Spain`s 52 provinces.
Santa Cruz district (Santa Cruz) — a former Jewish quarter, a labyrinth of orange trees and patios. Flamenco: the best shows are in the Triana district (Triana), where the great dancers were born.
Córdoba (Córdoba)
The main treasure — the Mezquita-Cathedral (Mezquita-Catedral) , a mosque-cathedral. The Arabs built a giant hall with 856 columns of jasper, onyx and marble, creating a forest of arcades. After the Reconquista, the Christians inserted a Renaissance altarpiece into the centre, without demolishing the mosque — creating a unique hybrid. Be sure to climb the bell tower (the former minaret). Nearby — the Jewish quarter with its narrow streets and a statue of Maimonides, the great Jewish philosopher. The Patios of Córdoba (Patios Cordobeses) in May — a festival of flowers, when the courtyards are open to all.
The White Villages (Pueblos Blancos) and Ronda
Villages scattered through the mountains of Andalusia with whitewashed walls. The most famous: Ronda (Ronda) , standing over a 100-metre gorge (El Tajo), with three bridges, the oldest — Arab, and a bullring (one of the oldest in Spain). Setenil de las Bodegas (Setenil de las Bodegas) — a village where houses are carved into the rock. Arcos de la Frontera (Arcos de la Frontera) — hanging on a cliff above the river. Best explored by car, staying in the villages overnight.
Costa del Sol and Trafalgar
Andalusia`s beach strip: Marbella (Marbella) — yachts, expensive boutiques and Puerto Banús (Puerto Banús). Jerez de la Frontera (Jerez de la Frontera) — the birthplace of sherry, Andalusian horses (the riding school) and flamenco. Tarifa (Tarifa) — Europe`s southernmost point (14 km to Africa), with winds guaranteeing the best kitesurfing and windsurfing in Europe. Cabo de Trafalgar (Cabo de Trafalgar) — where the famous naval battle took place.
Natural and Cultural Attractions of the South:
• Sierra Nevada (Sierra Nevada) — a mountain range with the highest peak in mainland Spain (Mulhacén, 3478 m). In winter — a ski resort right next to Granada (so that in the morning — skis, an hour later — the beach).
• The Tabernas Desert (Desierto de Tabernas, Almería) — the only desert in Europe, where spaghetti westerns were filmed ("The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"). The tourist park "Mini-Hollywood".
• Cabo de Gata National Park (Cabo de Gata) — a volcanic coastline with black and golden beaches, crystal-clear water.
• Doñana (Doñana) — a national park, one of the most important wetlands in Europe, a habitat for the Iberian lynx.
Central Spain (Madrid, Castile): Empire, Charles V and Don Quixote
This is Spain of the plateau (meseta), cradle of the empire, cities of red brick and medieval walls that speak of past glory.
Madrid
The capital (since 1561) lies at the very centre. It has no sea, no beach, but it has world-class museums, huge parks and an energy that keeps you awake all night.
The Cultural Triangle of the Arts on the Paseo del Prado:
• The Prado Museum (Museo del Prado) — the best museum of Spanish painting in the world: Goya (hundreds of works, including the Black Paintings), Velázquez ("Las Meninas", "The Spinners" — world-class masterpieces), El Greco, Zurbarán, Ribera. Plus a collection of Italian and Flemish old masters. Allow at least three hours.
• The Reina Sofía Museum (Reina Sofía) — modern art: the main magnet — Picasso`s "Guernica" (Guernica), a monumental canvas about the horrors of the civil war, as well as halls of Salvador Dalí, Miró, Juan Gris.
• The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (Thyssen-Bornemisza) — a private collection from the early Renaissance to pop art, filling the gap between the other two.
• The Royal Palace (Palacio Real) — the official residence, but the king does not live here (he lives in a more modest palace). Lavish halls, the armoury, porcelain, clocks.
• Plaza Mayor (Plaza Mayor) and Puerta del Sol (Puerta del Sol) — the main squares where the city`s pulse beats. At the Sun Gate — the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree (the symbol of Madrid) and the zero kilometre marker for all of Spain`s roads.
• The Royal Botanical Garden (Real Jardín Botánico) and Buen Retiro Park (Parque del Buen Retiro) — the largest park with a lake (you can row boats), the Crystal Palace (Palacio de Cristal) and the statue of the Fallen Angel — the only monument to the devil in the world.
• Tapas bars: the tradition of "ir de tapeo" — moving from bar to bar, ordering small portions. The best districts: La Latina, Huertas, Chueca.
Toledo (Castile-La Mancha)
The former capital of the Visigoths, the "city of three cultures" (Christians, Muslims, Jews). The entire historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, standing on a cliff above the Tagus River. The view from the opposite bank is the most famous. Inside: Toledo Cathedral (one of the pinnacles of Spanish Gothic), El Greco worked here, his house-museum, the Santa María la Blanca synagogue, the Cristo de la Luz mosque. Toledo steel — famous damascene steel — is sold in shops. Easy to reach from Madrid by train (30 minutes).
Segovia (Castile-León)
The Roman Aqueduct (Acueducto de Segovia) — the symbol of the city, the most grandiose surviving aqueduct outside Italy: 166 arches, height up to 28 m, without cement (the blocks hold by balance). Segovia Cathedral — the last Gothic cathedral in Spain. The Alcázar (Alcázar) — a castle on a rock with conical towers, which became the model for Disney`s Cinderella Castle (and, they say, the inspiration for the Imperial Palace in Star Wars). Inside — the armoury and the throne room. Food: suckling pig (cochinillo) — roasted in a wood-fired oven, carved with the edge of a plate.
Salamanca (Castile-León)
A university city with the oldest university in Spain (founded in 1218). Plaza Mayor in Salamanca — one of the most beautiful squares in the world (Baroque, rounded, with portraits of kings). The Old and New Cathedrals are connected to each other. On the university facade, find the frog on a skull — a student tradition that brings luck. The Monterrey Palace, the House of Shells — examples of Renaissance urban architecture.
Ávila (Castile-León)
A city completely encircled by 12th-century walls (murallas): 2.5 km, 88 towers, 9 gates. Best to walk along the walls at sunset. Inside — a Gothic cathedral built into the wall, and churches associated with the mystic St. Teresa of Ávila (reformer of the Carmelites).
Cuenca (Castile-La Mancha)
Famous for its Hanging Houses (Casas Colgadas) — balconies overhanging the abyss above the Huécar River. Inside one of them — the Museum of Abstract Art. The old town is a UNESCO site.
Windmills (Castile-La Mancha)
Mills scattered across the hills that Cervantes turned into giants that Don Quixote fought. The best preserved are in Consuegra (Consuegra) (11 mills on a hill) and Campo de Criptana (Campo de Criptana) (where there is a mill named after the hero "Bosco"). It`s touristy, but atmospheric.
Natural and Cultural Attractions of the Centre:
• Valladolid (Valladolid): The National Sculpture Museum (wooden sculptures of the Spanish Baroque, hair-raising), the house where Columbus died.
• Burgos (Burgos): The cathedral (a masterpiece of Gothic, UNESCO), the tomb of El Cid (the national hero of Spain).
• León (León): The cathedral with its famous stained glass (among the best in Europe), the Basilica of San Isidoro with Romanesque frescoes.
• Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park (Las Tablas de Daimiel) — a wetland in the middle of the dry meseta.
• Sierra de Guadarrama (Sierra de Guadarrama) — a national park right above Madrid, where you can go trekking or skiing in winter (Puerto de Navacerrada).
The Spanish Islands: The Balearics and the Canaries
The islands are a separate Spain, with volcanoes, palm trees, year-round summer and a tourist industry catering to any budget.
The Balearic Islands (Mediterranean Sea) - An archipelago off the eastern coast of Spain.
Mallorca (Mallorca) — the largest island. The capital Palma de Mallorca (Palma de Mallorca) with La Seu cathedral (La Seu, Gothic with touches of Gaudí), Arab baths and Bellver Castle (a round 13th-century castle). Beaches: Es Trenc cove (Es Trenc) — the Caribbean in Europe (white sand, turquoise water, nudist area). Mountain villages Valldemossa (Valldemossa) , where Chopin lived, and Deià (Deià) , where the poet Robert Graves lived. The Serra de Tramuntana (Serra de Tramuntana) — a UNESCO mountain range with hiking trails.
Menorca (Menorca) — a quiet, green island, a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The best beach coves (Calas): Cala Macarella, Cala Turqueta, Cala Mitjana. Good for a family holiday.
Ibiza (Ibiza) — the world capital of club life (Pacha, Amnesia, Ushuaïa), but also a UNESCO site (the historic centre of Dalt Vila — the best of Balearic architecture) and the birthplace of organic farms, yoga and beaches where you can still find seclusion
Formentera (Formentera) — a small, semi-deserted island with the best beach (Illetes, Playa de Ses Illetes, constantly in the world`s top lists).
The Canary Islands (Atlantic Ocean)
An archipelago off the coast of Africa, with a subtropical climate (not hot in summer, not cold in winter). The landscape is volcanic, almost Martian.
Tenerife (Tenerife) — the largest island. Mount Teide (Teide, 3718 m) — the highest peak in Spain, a UNESCO site. Ascend by cable car almost to the crater (a permit is required for the final metres). Around it — lunar landscapes. Loro Parque (Loro Parque) — a famous zoo with parrots and killer whales. The carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Santa Cruz de Tenerife) — the second largest in the world after Rio de Janeiro.
Gran Canaria (Gran Canaria) — "a world in miniature": from the beaches of Maspalomas (Maspalomas) with sand dunes (like the Sahara) to the mountains (Pico de las Nieves, 1949 m). The capital Las Palmas (Las Palmas) with the Vegueta district — colonial architecture, the house where Columbus stayed before setting sail.
Lanzarote (Lanzarote) — an island completely transformed by volcanic eruptions in the 18th century. Timanfaya National Park (Timanfaya) — you don`t walk on the ground, you walk on solidified lava, and the restaurant cooks food on geothermal heat. Winemaking in black ash (La Geria wines). The Green Lakes (El Verde).
Fuerteventura (Fuerteventura) — the longest beaches, the best winds (kitesurfing — the capital of Europe) and camels.
La Palma (La Palma) — the greenest and most mountainous island (observatories at the Roque de los Muchachos peak — among the best in the world for stargazing, a biosphere reserve).
Natural Attractions of the Islands:
• Pico Viejo (Pico Viejo) on Tenerife — the second largest crater, an excellent hiking trail.
• Los Gigantes (Los Gigantes, Tenerife) — sheer cliffs up to 600 m high, rising straight out of the ocean.
• The Maspalomas Dunes on Gran Canaria — the largest sand dune system in Europe.
• Caños de los Colorados (Caños de los Colorados) on Lanzarote — a green lagoon inside a crater.
Practical Tips for Spain (Transport and Logistics)
Trains (Renfe, Ouigo, Iryo): High-speed AVE trains connect Madrid with Barcelona (2 hr 30 min), Seville (2 hr 45 min), Valencia (1 hr 40 min), Málaga (2 hr 30 min), Córdoba (1 hr 45 min). Tickets are cheaper 2–3 months in advance, especially on the Ouigo and Iryo websites (discount operators). Regional trains (Cercanías) run around major cities.
Car: Needed for Andalusia (white villages, Ronda), Extremadura, Castile (windmills), Galicia (rias) and the Pyrenees. In the centres of Barcelona and Madrid, parking is expensive and difficult; it`s better to leave the car on the outskirts.
Urban transport: In Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao and Seville — metro. In Andalusia and other cities — buses. The most convenient way for short trips (airport – city centre) is taxi or Uber (in Spain there is Cabify and Bolt).
Water transport: Ferries to the Balearics (Barcelona – Palma – from 4 hours) and to the Canary Islands (between the islands there are ferries with Naviera Armas, Fred Olsen; from the mainland — from Cádiz, Huelva, Almería, but it`s a long trip).
Food and water safety: Tap water is drinkable all over the country (though in some regions it`s brackish — buy bottled water). Tapas — small portions are free (in Granada and Almería you get a free snack with your drink) or paid in other regions. Siesta is real: many shops close from 2 PM to 5 PM, but tourist areas are open. Dinner at 10 PM is the norm. Learn the menu: "menú del día" (menú del día) — a full three-course meal with a drink for €10–15 in working-class areas (not on the Ramblas).
When to go: March–June and September–October — ideal weather (the south is always warm, the central plateau is cool and windy). July–August — Andalusia and Madrid are unbearably hot (40 °C+), but the coast is tolerable, and in the mountains of the north you can find relief. December–February — mild winters in the south and on the islands, but in Madrid and Salamanca it can be cold (zero and below). Christmas and especially Holy Week (Semana Santa, March–April) — everything is packed.
