Destination overview

Spain attracts millions of visitors every year, and as s a European destination Spain is very high profile. With great cities, a rich culture, enthralling history, extensive Mediterranean coastline, an inherent sense of fun and wonderful food, you will find this a holiday paradise. Madrid and Barcelona are cities that ooze charm, with sightseeing to keep you occupied for days. View wonderful old architecture, interesting museums, enjoy fabulous shopping, an endless variety of after-dark entertainment and savour a spectacular range of Spanish and international cuisines.

Madrid, the capital of Spain, is a cosmopolitan city that combines the most modern infrastructures and the status as an economic, financial, administrative and service centre, with a large cultural and artistic heritage;, a legacy of centuries of exciting history.

Madrid is strategically located at the geographical centre of the Iberian Peninsula, 646 metres above sea level. Its old town is exemplary among major European cities and blends harmoniously with the most modern and convenient of urban infrastructure. All this, combined with the momentum of a society that is dynamic and open, and at the same time warm and welcoming, has turned this metropolis into one of the western world's great capitals.

Art and culture are central to Madrid life. The city has 73 museums that cover all fields of human knowledge. Of these, the most important are the Prado Museum, one of the world's greatest art galleries, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum with more than 800 paintings, sculptures and tapestries that range from the earliest Dutch masters to the most avant-garde trends, and the Reina Sofía National Art Centre, which is dedicated to Spanish contemporary art, with works by Picasso, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí and Juan Gris among others.

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is a Mediterranean and cosmopolitan city with Roman remains, medieval quarters and the most beautiful examples of 20th century Modernism. It is no surprise that emblematic constructions by the Catalan architects Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Doménech i Montaner have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

The city's origins are Roman, and its long history and economic dynamism have made Barcelona a cultural city, which can be seen in the historic artistic heritage and the promotion of the most innovative artistic trends. A wide cultural program will take visitors to museums, exhibitions, open-air sculptures and many concerts, plays and dances.

To take a stroll through the streets of Barcelona is to be surprised at every step. Pedestrian streets in the old districts, green spaces and a splendid waterfront filled with modern structures all reflect the city's aim of integration. Barcelona has managed to exalt its past without forgetting its commitment to the future.

The visitor, whether on business or pleasure, will enjoy Barcelona's Mediterranean character which can be clearly felt on the Costa del Garraf as well as the Maresme coast. In addition, the city has beautiful urban beaches, marinas and seafront golf courses. Nature lovers will not need to travel far to be able to hike through the hills that are part of the coastal mountain range and the Catalan Pyrenees.

Although inland Spain holds many attractions of its own, including multiple World Heritage sites, most tourists congregate on the coastline. From the Costa Brava in the north, past the Costa Blanca and down to the Costa Del Sol in the south, across to Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca - the renowned party islands - your biggest challenge will be finding enough time to fit everything else in around working on your suntan.

The Costa del Sol, a 100-mile (161 kilometre) stretch of Malaga Province coastline in the south is a region which encapsulates the best of Spain in a climate that is possibly the best in Europe, with the Mediterranean at your doorstep.

Towering cliffs meet the sea east of Malaga, tapering slowly down to Nerja, where you’ll have the choice of winding down the footpath to sparkling beaches in little coves, or spreading out on the vast powder white sands that stretch as far as the eye can see.

The area west of Malaga is far more developed for tourism. On the way down to its westerly edge of La Lina, you’ll pass Marbella, playground of the rich and famous. And Gibraltar is just a short walk from La Lina’s main square. Laze on wide, clean beaches, enjoy a wide range of water sports, explore the 3,000 years of history of the area, journey into the mountainous hinterland where there are many interesting villages to explore, savour a tantalising array of fish dishes for which the area is famous, and if it takes your fancy watch some bull-fighting.

Nature lovers are well-catered for with a variety of nature reserves, some stunningly beautiful gardens and an interesting array of landscapes. Mountains and wetlands, beaches and forests, volcanos, lava and lakes - Spain's 14 National Parks are characterised by their variety, but above all, by their stunning ecological wealth. Nature is the absolute protagonist in these unique areas, some of which have the UNESCO World Heritage designation.

From the Pyrenees to the Canary Islands, you must come and explore one of Spain's National Parks - they cover a total of more than 325,000 hectares of land with immense natural and cultural value, all but untouched by man over the centuries, with special State protection. These areas share some common features, such as their spectacular landscapes, but each National Park has its own special character that makes it unique.

The Almeria region has one of the warmest climates in Spain. Sunshine bathes the area for over 300 days of the year and temperatures hover over 20°C, even in winter. Not surprisingly, the scenery around Almeria is striking and desert-like. Make a point of going to the troglodyte villages with their homes dug into the cliffs.