Best things to do and see in Spain

Spain has so many things to see, to know, to discover, to touch and to taste that it is frankly inexhaustible. One visit is not enough and it will be the country itself that will invite you to come back again and again. Because you will fall in love with its history, its beaches, its natural surroundings, its gastronomy and its way of living life outdoors.

Strolling around Barcelona on a Sant Jordi

Spring in Barcelona is the ideal season to stroll through the neighborhoods of the fascinating Catalan capital and discover all its medieval, modernist and contemporary charms. But if there is a day in which the city is perfect for walking, without a doubt it is every April 23rd, when it is celebrated Sant JordiThe streets of the city are filled with stands and street stalls of publishers, bookstores and institutions, with the visit of successful authors, concerts and outdoor activities and many books with great discounts.

Visit the Prado Museum in Madrid

It is difficult to choose just one museum as a must-see in Spain, as the country is rich in many such institutions with unique collections. But if you’re only going to enter one museum during your vacation, it has to be El Prado in Madrid, because it houses the most valuable art collection in all of Spain. And there are plenty of examples: Las Meninas, by Velázquez; the Black Paintings, by Goya; The Garden of Earthly Delights, by El Bosco, or The Knight with his Hand on his Chest, by El Greco. We recommend that you take a day or half a day to visit it at your leisure and appreciate all the richness of this museum, unique in the world.

Eating paella in Valencia

Paella and rice dishes have become in recent years the most typical dish in Spain, the country’s gastronomic trademark. And this has generated that exquisite paellas can be eaten everywhere, not only in the towns and cities of the coast, but also in Madrid. But if there is a place where you have to go to try paella is Valencia, where it was created, both in the capital of the autonomous community as a whole, in many areas of the interior. Black rice, arroz a banda, baked rice, arroz caldoso and many other variants are waiting for you to enjoy, always accompanied by good Spanish wines, of which there are plenty: Ribera del Duero, Albariño, Rioja, Penedés, Somontano.

Visit one of the largest old towns in Europe.

Many Spanish cities have medieval centers of great importance and invaluable architectural, historical and patrimonial value. But the largest of all is in the city of Seville and reaches almost 4 km in length, being one of the largest preserved in Europe, behind Venice and Genoa. In its old town, Seville treasures a unique value in monuments, streets, churches and squares to stroll again and again, to know and enjoy to the fullest during your stay in Spain.

Living the San Fermin festival

From July 6 to 14 in the city of Pamplona, the capital of the Autonomous Community of Navarra, the festival of San Fermin or Sanfermines, as it is popularly known, is celebrated. It is one of the most popular festivals in the world, with running of the bulls and bullfights, dances and popular celebrations in the streets of the city and an atmosphere of excitement and fun rarely seen. Even Ernest Hemingway, the famous American writer, fell in love with this event and dedicated his book Fiesta to it, which is why today his face is immortalized in a sculpture outside the bullring. A holiday to dress in white, hang the traditional red scarf around your neck and enjoy with your family or friends.

Doing the Camino de Santiago

The famous Camino de Santiago is the most famous and oldest hiking route in the world and has in Spain a very rich itinerary of sites on the way to the goal, in the Galician city that gives it its name. There are many ways to do it and many sections from where to start: you can do it all on foot, part on foot or by bicycle or completely by bicycle. And, of course, you can enjoy the hostels and facilities along the way that are specially prepared for the pilgrims who walk it. If you enjoy walking and the outdoors, the Camino de Santiago is a once in a lifetime experience and you can take advantage of your vacation in Spain to give it a try.

Visiting the Alhambra in Granada

Of all the historical buildings and monuments in Spain, the one that is unavoidable and essential to visit is the Alhambra in Granada, and it is no coincidence that it is the most requested by tourists from all over the world. It is a group of palaces and buildings built during the period of Muslim domination over the region and which served for a long time as the seat of the Nasrid kingdom and, later, as a royal residence after the Christian reconquest. Today it is a true work of art with its gardens, architectural details and unprecedented wealth in Spanish history. It is recommended to get the entrance ticket, with official guided tour service or audio guide, as far in advance as possible, due to the high demand throughout the year.

Contemplating the Aqueduct of Segovia

The territory where Spain is currently located was, for many decades, a Roman province and the great empire left its mark on many populations, both in large cities and small towns. And there are infinite examples throughout the country of how important this influence was, but nowhere as in the spectacular Aqueduct of Segovia can it be seen so clearly. Built in the second century A.D. C. is a work of such architectural perfection that it served as an aqueduct to transport water to Segovia until 1973, when a new hydraulic work was done and this site became a place for tourist visits. The most visible part of this great Roman monument is the sector of the arches that crosses the Azoguejo square.

Touring the Balearic Islands by car

Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera are the four islands that make up the Balearic Islands, which you can reach by plane or ferry from different parts of Spain. If you arrive by plane, the best thing to do is to rent a car and take it easy, since only by car can you access paradisiacal coves located on high cliffs or in very low and deep areas. If you have rented a car in Barcelona, you can take it on the ferry and use it without any problems to travel around the islands. Each has its own special charm, so we recommend that you set aside at least a week to visit all four.

Enjoy the unique charm of Lanzarote

The other famous islands of Spain are the Canary Islands, where the climate is closer to the African or tropical heat and where there are practically high temperatures throughout the year, which makes them a perfect destination to enjoy the sea and beaches. Of all the locations in the Canary Islands, the one we recommend the most for its uniqueness and beauty is Lanzarote, with its volcanic geography, its exotic and particular fauna and its coasts of turquoise waters.

Eating seafood in Galicia

We have said that gastronomy plays a very important role in the Spanish culture and that it is a fundamental experience in your vacations in the peninsula. And seafood is abundant on its coasts and can be eaten of good quality in many regions, but nowhere does it reach such a sublime level as in Galicia. Pontevedra, Vigo, A Coruña and other Galician regions are essential destinations to eat octopus, barnacles, spider crabs, crayfish, crab and scallops.

Watch a Barça-Madrid match at the Bernabeu or at Camp Nou

Two of the biggest teams in world soccer are from Spain and are based in the country’s two largest cities. On the one hand, Real Madrid and its Santiago Bernabeu stadium, with a lot of history behind it, the one that has won the most victories in leagues and European competitions, with its traditional white color. On the other side, FC Barcelona, which plays its home ground at Camp Nou and has had in its ranks the two best soccer players in history: Diego Armando Maradona and Lionel Messi. Visiting either of the two stadiums, touring their facilities and seeing the trophies in their respective museums is a must-do experience if you are a soccer lover. But if, in addition, you make your visit coincide with the dispute of a classic and you can go to see it live in one of the two stadiums.