Spain travel guide
Britain's most popular holiday destination has enough culture, energy and sheer geographic diversity to last a lifetime
Many sun-starved Brits don't look far beyond their nearest beach, but there’s far more to Spain than its boozy resorts. This was the country that had built an empire across south and central America at a time when Britain struggled to muster a few privateers to raid their homecoming fleets.
Despite its own civil war, Spain escaped the widespread damage of Europe's 20th century conflicts. Almost all Spain's provincial towns and cities have retained their medieval city centres, with narrow winding alleys keeping cars at bay, perfect for an atmsopheric evening stroll and a plate or two of tapas at a local bar.
Such towns are so common it would be hard to pick out just a few. Toledo perhaps, home to the famous steel knives, where you can also tour the house of El Greco, or Gerona, in the heart of Catalonia. But almost any town will do: the pretty whitewashed villages of Andalucia, or the fortified hilltop villages along the Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands, all built high to avoid pirates.
Even the cities maintain their ancient centres. Seville, home to flamenco, or the quiet streets (at least outside the bull-running season) of Pamplona. Only Madrid, relatively recently conceived as a unifying capital, can't bring this human-scale sense of history into the present day.
Spain's centres are all infused by the country's fervent vitality. Lunch is late and long, while evenings last forever. It isn't clear when the Spanish sleep but it doesn't seem to be at night: even Spanish children play late into the night.
Spain has natural beauty to match its built environment. A wild and rugged interior shelters countless secrets and many national parks have been established to protect sensitive regions. Walkers can stroll through the pretty mountain villages and forests of La Marina, a world away from nearby Benidorm, while climbers can take their pick from the lofty Picos de Europa or the rugged Pyrenees.
As if mainland Spain was not enough, there are the islands. In the Balearics, hedonists and hippies still flock to Ibiza, leaving the sandy beaches of neighbouring Formentera and the shouldering mountains of Majorca's Tramuntana range almost totally deserted. On the Atlantic side, each of the Canary Islands maintains a distinctive character of its own despite a steady stream of inbound charter flights.
Wanderlust recommends
- Walk like a Pilgrim. The Camino de Santiago is one of Europe's most important pilgrimage routes, from the Galician Coast to Santiago de Compostella. Devotees are easy to spot, walking with a pilgrim's staff and scallop shell
- Make like a Moor. It's easy to see why the Alhambra is Spain's most visited monument. A magnificent palace built in the time when the country was ruled by Morocco, it brings an Arab elegance to a beautiful setting
- Ready for Rioja. Producing wine is part of the Spanish way of life: every region seems to have its own, and if they can't make wine they'll make sherry or brandy. It's generally agreed, however, even in Spain, that Rioja is the best
- Gaze in Awe. Segovia's Roman aqueduct predates even the country's Moorish remains: a striking engineering achievement from the distant past
- Kite-Surf the Med. The town of Tarifa on the Costa de la Luz, almost within sight of Africa, is the windy centre for kite- and wind-surfing
- Shoot-em Cowboy. Europe's only desert, in Almeria, stood in for America as the set for countless spaghetti westerns. Dress up in a big hat and stride out, with no chance of bumping into Indians
Wanderlust tip
Although city dwellers rarely get time for a siesta, many Spanish businesses still close up shop in the afternoon. Time any shopping trips for the morning or evening. Many museums are closed on Mondays.