Things to do in Spain: best places to visit

Best places to visit in Spain

Most first-time visitors to Spain start in Barcelona, with Gaudí, the Gothic Quarter and the sea in one city. Madrid is the capital of the Prado and the Royal Palace, and Andalusia, with Seville, Granada's Alhambra and Málaga, is the sunniest corner of the country. High-speed AVE trains link them.

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Entry rules and money in Spain

Spain is in the Schengen Area: EU citizens travel with an ID card, many other nationalities visit visa-free for up to 90 days, and ETIAS pre-registration will apply to visa-free visitors once it launches. The currency is the euro, and contactless payment works almost everywhere. Check the entry rules for your passport before you go.

• Cards — contactless works in shops, cafés, the metro and museums.
• Cash — handy for small bars, markets and tips.
• Menú del día — on weekdays many restaurants serve a cheap set lunch of two courses and a drink.
• Tipping — not expected; round up or leave up to 10 % for good service.
• Tax free — non-EU visitors can reclaim part of the VAT on purchases.

Getting around Spain: trains and driving

High-speed trains are the easiest way between Spain's big cities: AVE (Renfe), Ouigo and Iryo link Madrid with Barcelona, Seville, Málaga and Valencia, and fares are cheaper booked ahead. Planes and ferries serve the islands, and a car or bus is handiest along the coast and for small towns.

• Madrid — Barcelona — ≈ 2.5 h by high-speed train.
• Madrid — Seville — ≈ 2.5 h; Madrid — Málaga — ≈ 2.5–3 h.
• Madrid — Valencia — ≈ 1 h 40 min.
• Barcelona — Valencia — ≈ 3 h.
• The islands — Barcelona to Mallorca ≈ 45 min by air, or an overnight ferry.

Spain's beaches and islands

Spain faces both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, and its Balearic and Canary Islands are destinations in their own right. The swimming season on the mainland runs from June to October, while the Canaries are warm enough all year. The best-known coasts are the Costa Brava and Costa Daurada near Barcelona, the Costa Blanca around Alicante and the Costa del Sol by Málaga.

• Costa Brava — rocky coves north of Barcelona.
• Costa Daurada — wide sandy beaches, good with kids.
• Costa Blanca — Alicante and Benidorm, warm water.
• Costa del Sol — Málaga and Marbella, the sunniest coast.
• The Balearics — Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca: clear water and coves.
• The Canaries — Tenerife and Gran Canaria, warm in winter.

Best time to visit Spain

Spain's weather varies by region: Madrid and the centre have hot summers and cool winters, the Mediterranean coast is mild almost all year, and the Canaries stay warm in winter. The best time for cities is April to June and September to October; for the beach, June to October. Below is Barcelona's climate as a guide.

Madrid and Andalusia can top 35 °C in summer, so sightsee in the morning and evening.

Spain with kids

Spain is easy with children: kids are welcome in restaurants and on the squares until late, the coast has plenty of gently shelving beaches, and the cities have aquariums, zoos and theme parks. With little ones, the Costa Daurada and the Balearics work best, and among cities, Barcelona and Valencia.

• Theme parks — PortAventura near Tarragona, Tibidabo in Barcelona.
• Aquariums — in Barcelona and Valencia, one of Europe's largest.
• The daily rhythm — Spaniards dine late, and kids are out in the evening too.
• Heat — in summer, rest in the shade at midday.

Rules for tourists in Spain

Spain keeps its own daily rhythm: lunch is from 2 to 4pm, dinner after 9pm, and small shops close for a midday siesta. Cathedrals and monasteries refuse beachwear, and some cities ban going shirtless away from the beach. Hotels in Catalonia and the Balearics add a tourist tax per night.

• Dress — no beachwear in churches; cover your shoulders.
• Siesta — small shops close for 2–3 hours at midday.
• Tickets — book the Sagrada Família, the Alhambra and the Prado ahead.
• Pickpockets — on the metro, the boulevards and at major sights.

Tips

• Book high-speed trains ahead; fares rise close to the date.
• Alhambra and Sagrada Família tickets sell out weeks ahead.
• Eat the weekday menú del día for the best-value meal.

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