What Makes Spain a Great Travel Destination?

Hola! Spain is a great destination to visit for many reason, even visting multiple times. It is a country with much diversity, deep history and natural beauty. From bustling cities to charming villages, stunning beaches, natural wilderness areas, winelands and snow skiing in the Pyrenees Mountains, Spain has a lot to offer. Madrid and Barcelona are easily accessible by non-stop flights from the U.S. which makes Spain an easy European destination to reach and the currency is Euro, making it easy to combine with other nearby European countries.

Once there, travel within Spain is quite easy via rail, rental car, or even by bus. Local flights in some cases are the best way in order to save time (e.g. – Barcelona to San Sebastian or Seville). If your are adventuresome and have enough time, doing a self-drive in some areas is highly recommended and easy to do as roads are in good condition with good signage. Recently, France and Spain have collaborated to offer high-speed train travel between several cities in France to Barcelona or Madrid, making it very easy to include both destinations. A short ferry ride connects southern Spain with Morocco as well.

You can cover a lot of Spain in two weeks, but sights will need to be prioritized. If a future trip is possible, then focusing on either northern Spain (Barcelona, Costa Brava, Madrid, Toledo, Verde Coast & the Basque region) or southern Spain (Seville, Valencia, Cordoba, Granada, Costa del Sol) is preferable. A customized, seamless itinerary including local transportation can be created to suit your requirements. Unusual sightseeing such as private Flamenco dance lessons, olive oil tasting in the Lecrin Valley, a bullfight, cooking classes and foodie tours are ideas to consider including.Perhaps an escorted group tour is more to your liking?

One of my favorite hotels includes the Hostal de la Gavina on the Costa Brava north of Barcelona. In Barcelona, I recommend Hotel Claris, Majestic Hotel & Spa or Hotel Neri. The Westin Palace in Madrid has a great location and the Villa Real is another great option for Madrid. Hotel Maria Cristina is the best luxury option in San Sebastian and the Gran Melia Colon is an excellent choice for Seville. For Granada, you may want to consider reserving Hotel AC Palacio de Santa Paula, Alhambra Palace Hotel or NHCollection Victoria. I always recommend to stay in at least one Paradores property which are luxury hotels located in historic buildings – former castle, palace, convent, monastery or fortress and are sprinkled throughout the country.

Spain’s rich history was largely influenced by the Romans and Moors. As a result, Roman ruins are plentiful and beautiful Moorish architecture can be found in Barcelona and Madrid and to the south. A Gaudi architecture tour in Barcelona is recommended for clients who appreciate architecture. Both Madrid and Barcelona are home to lively outdoor markets that are well worth a visit and both are centers for the arts. Spain’s entire eastern coastline offers numerous beautiful beaches on the Mediterranean, with southern opportunites on the Alboran Sea and the Atlantic bordering its beaches to the north and northwest. Largely Catholic, Spain observes a number of religious holidays and has a lot of festivals to enjoy, one of the most well-known being Fiesta de San Fermin in Pamplona. And, of course, the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela is where four Christian pilgrimage routes culminate from various parts in Europe.

In summary, Spain is an ideal destination for solo travelers, couples (including honeymooners), families and groups.