Introducing Spain
Passionate, sophisticated and devoted to living the good life, Spain is at once a stereotype come to life and a country more diverse than you ever imagined.
Advertisement
An Epic Land Spain’s diverse landscapes stir the soul. The Pyrenees and the Picos de Europa are as beautiful as any mountain range on the continent, while the snow-capped Sierra Nevada rises up improbably from the sun-baked plains of Andalucía; these are hiking destinations of the highest order. The wildly beautiful cliff s of Spain’s Atlantic northwest are the scene for some of Europe’s most spectacular drives, even as the charming coves of the Mediterranean are still the continent’s summer destination of choice; despite decades of overdevelopment, numerous unspoiled corners remain. And everywhere you go, villages of timeless beauty perch on hilltops, huddle in valleys and cling to coastal outcrops as tiny but resilient outposts of Old Spain. Spend as long as you can in places like these.
A Culinary Feast Food and wine are national obsessions in Spain and with good reason. Yes, there’s paella, tapas, jamón and olive oil in abundance, but these are merely the best-known ingredients of a national cuisine that continues to take the world by storm. The touchstones of Spanish cooking are deceptively simple: incalculable variety, strong traditions of recipes handed down through the generations, and an innate willingness to experiment and see what comes out of the kitchen-laboratory. You may experience the best meal ever over tapas in an earthy bar where everyone’s shouting, or over a meal prepared by a celebrity chef in the refined surrounds of a Michelin-starred restaurant. Either way, the breadth of gastronomic experience that awaits you is breathtaking.
Art Imitates Life Spain’s story is told with endless creativity through its arts and architecture. Poignantly windswept Roman ruins, cathedrals of rare power and incomparable jewels of Islamic architecture speak of a country where the great civilisations of history have always risen, fallen and left behind their indelible mark. More recently, what other country could produce such rebellious and relentlessly creative spirits as Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso and Antoni Gaudí and place them front and centre in public life? Here, grand monuments to the past coexist alongside architectural creations of such daring that it becomes clear that Spain’s future will be every bit as original as its past. For all such talk, this is a country that lives very much in the present. Perhaps you’ll sense it along a crowded post-midnight street when all the world has come out to play. Or maybe that moment will come when a flamenco performer touches something deep in your soul. Whenever it happens, you’ll find yourself nodding in recognition: this is Spain.
Ready to go?
These tours & activities make it easy:
- Experience the best of Spain and Portugal in 15 days
- Go on a 4-day trip to Cordoba, Seville and Granada
- Trek through the beautiful landscapes and historic villages of Andalucia
- See the highlights of Catalonia on a 4-day tour from Barcelona
Last updated: Jan 10, 2013
Tips & articles
-
Europe’s hot springs: 20 of the best spots for a soak
17 May 2013
Sliding into a bathtub after a long day is one of life’s little luxuries, but there’s nothing quite like the...
-
Go wild at Festa Major de Gràcia, Spain’s craziest block party
16 April 2013
Barcelona has long been known as a hedonist’s paradise but the refined neighbourhood of Gràcia can, to the casual observer,...
Hotels & Hostels
Top cities in Spain
Browse more cities in SpainFeatured property
See all hotels and hostels in Spain
Advertisement
Spain
Things to do
- All things to do (4,224)
- Activities (633)
- Entertainment (911)
- Restaurants (1,014)
- Shopping (401)
- Sights (1,181)
- Tours (84)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Spain
-
1 Barcelona
Spain's Mediterranean jewel sparkles with its Gaudí and gourmet delights, a buzzing waterfront scene and 2000 years of history
-
2 Balearic Islands
From Menorca's crystal coves and Mallorca's dramatic mountain coast to Ibiza's clubs and Formentera's chilled scene, these islands offer it all
-
3 Granada
Eight hundred years of Muslim rule left an indelible mark on this fascinating city, dominated by the magic of the Alhambra
-
4 San Sebastián
The elegant old centre of this Basque city, sited on a crescent-shaped beach, is a hive of nocturnal activity
-
5 Madrid
With its grand boulevards and art museums and outrageous nightlife till dawn, there’s no time for boredom
Fast Facts about Spain
- Highest point in peninsular Spain
Mulhacén at 3479m
- Official languages
Spanish (Castilian or castellano), Catalan, Galician (gallego), Basque (euskera/vasco)
- Area
505, 000 sq km
- Famous for
Bullfighting, Pablo Picasso, jamón, sunshine, Penelope Cruz, Don Quijote, Pedro Almodóvar films, late nights, tapas, Manolo Blahnik
- Capital
- Population
46.6 million
- Foodie fact
Spaniards spend more on food per capita than anyone else in Europe!
- Biggest paella
Made in Valencia in 1992 in a pan 20m in diameter; it was eaten by 100, 000 people