Spain

Few countries party as hard as Spain and the challenge for the visitor is trying to keep up. But by carefully balancing your fiestas with siestas, you should have energy left to tell the extraordinary tale.

Travelling there is easy, the climate is great, the people friendly, the beaches long and sandy, the food and drink easy to come by. There are more than 50 million foreigners a year who visit Spain, yet you can also travel for days and hear nothing but Spanish.

Geographically, Spain’s diversity is immense. There are endless tracts of wild and crinkled sierra to explore, as well as some spectacularly rugged stretches of coast between the beaches. From the famous White Coast (Costa Blanca) to the clear waters and golden sands of Costa del Sol, there is plenty for everyone.

Weather

Spain is one of the warmest countries in Europe with dry summers and winters and balanced temperatures. You can enjoy more than 3,000 hours of sunshine every year.

Average temperatures in degrees celcius

January 14
February 15
March 17
April 18
May 22
June 26
July 30
August 31
September 28
October 22
November 17
December 14

Culture

The cultures in Spain are very varied and interesting, the main ones being bullfighting, bull-running, flamenco dancing and the tomato fight (La Tomatina). The spanish are widely known for their festivals and carnivals. All Spanish towns have their own special celebrations. The way in which the national events are celebrated varies from place to place.

Food and drink

Food is a national obsession in Spain. Here are some of their popular dishes:

Paella – a dish made from rice, fish, meat and vegetables and probably the most famous dish from Spain

Tapas – these can range from a piece of bread with garlic to a bowl of olives but it is the best way to sample the loacl cuisine. This tradition started when a customer asked for a Manzanilla (a dry, white wine) with something to cover (tapar) it. The landlors served the glass with a slice of ham on it. The ham served better than a plate and this became a custom!

The most popular drink in Spain is wine, with around 11 varieties produced including the popular Rioja wine.

Beaches

Spain may be flanked to the east by France and the Pyrenees and to the west by Portugal but most of the country is ringed with sand, rock and seawater. Together with the year round sunshine, millions of beachgoers are attracted!

Most of the beaches have beautiful white sand and turquoise sea, together with some dramatic landscapes. The spanish coast really is the place to visit if you are a lover of great beaches.

Theme and Water Parks

Port Aventura theme park in Salou, on the Costa Dorada. The park’s theme is a journey of adventure through exotic lands round the world.

On entering Terra Mítica in Benidorm, Alicante you are swept back to the Mediterranean world of mythical civilisations to experience ancient legends and mysteries.

Isla Magica in Sevilla - The park’s theme, which evolves around the adventures of the Spanish pioneers in the New World, is made up of 6 zones.

Warner Bros. Movie World in Madrid offers five theme areas based on the sets and characters of the Warner Bros. films and cartoons

The best things to do in Spain

1. See Frank Gehry’s amazing architecture.
2. Skiing in the Sierra Navada Mountains
3. Take part in a local village fiesta.
4. Experience Gaudi’s Barcelona.
5. Try the Tapas
6. Sit outside a café and watch the world go by
7. Stamp your heels to the flamenco
8. See the spectacular views at Ronda
9. See the best football in Europe
10. Stroll along Las Ramblas in Barcelona
11. Test your golfing skills at one of the many golf courses.