Seductive Spain attracts vacationers to its numerous land, comprising 17 distinct areas. That will help you determine the place to start out, listed here are three of our greatest itineraries to encourage you.
See the highlights of Spain on this 14-day itinerary
To grasp why many guests fall in love with Spain and by no means need to go away, look no additional than its vibrant, passionate, lovely cities. This 14-day tour takes you thru the most effective Spain has to supply.
Days 1–3: Admire Modernista marvels in Barcelona
So many Spanish trails start in Barcelona, Spain’s second-biggest metropolis and one of many coolest locations on earth. You’ll want at the least three days to discover the principle sights right here, together with nightlife and eating places. From the standout Gaudí highlights – the incomparable Sagrada Família and colourful Casa Batlló – to its great artwork museums of Picasso and Miró and the historic sights hidden among the many slim streets of the Gothic Quarter, there’s greater than sufficient to maintain you coming again for extra. Dine on Catalan classics within the Ciutat Vella, tapas in hip El Born and worldwide delights within the neighborhood of Gràcia.
Days 4–5: Eat your means by paella in Valencia
Catch the quick prepare down the coast to Valencia in simply three hours for a dose of paella, nightlife and the Twenty first-century wonders of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. Spend a while exploring the slim winding streets and charming plazas of the Ciutat Vella, then hit town’s fabulous modernist Mercado Central for some native treats. Rent a motorcycle to tour the luxurious Turia Gardens set in an previous riverbed, earlier than stress-free on Malvarrosa Seaside with a conventional paella valenciana at Casa Carmela.
Days 6–7: Tour Madrid, the charming capital
A quick prepare whisks you inland to the capital, mighty Madrid, in simply two hours the place you can find irresistible avenue power, fairly plazas and one of many richest concentrations of artwork museums on the planet. Absorb the ambiance within the grand Plaza Mayor with some chocolate-dipped churros from Chocolatería San Ginés, then make your strategy to Madrid’s Golden Triangle to marvel on the collections of the Reina Sofia, Prado or Thyssen-Bornemisza artwork museums. Within the afternoon, calm down within the huge Parque del Buen Retiro earlier than hitting the stands on the Mercado de San Miguel or the well-known bars on Calle Cava Baja.
Day 8: Admire the great thing about Córdoba’s Mezquita
Yet one more two-hour quick prepare takes you deep into Andalucía, with Córdoba your entry level into this glorious nook of Spain; the obvious spotlight is town’s Eighth-century Mezquita. Native dishes to attempt embody a conventional flamenquín (a breaded and deep-fried wrap full of ham, cheese and pork) and salmorejo (a thick chilly gazpacho-like soup of tomato and garlic).
Days 9–11: Be spellbound by Seville
From Córdoba, it is a quick hop (simply 50 minutes by prepare) to fabulous Seville. You’ll need at the least two days on this most romantic of southern Spanish cities and even three, should you can spare it. Climb to the highest of La Giralda, the cathedral’s Moorish minaret for the unbelievable views, adopted by extra Moorish discoveries on the opulent Actual Alcázar. In your second day within the metropolis, head to the attractive grand sweep of Plaza de España and its exquisitely tiled pavilions, earlier than hopping over the river to take a look at the atmospheric neighborhood of La Triana, the place most of Seville’s tiles have been as soon as created. Andalusia serves up among the finest tapas within the nation and, as its capital, Seville’s choices are second to none. Make your means across the previous Jewish neighborhood of Santa Cruz to dine in its fountain-filled plazas.
Day 12: Get to know Málaga
One other quick prepare journey takes you right down to Málaga, usually merely a stopping level on the way in which to the seaside resorts of the Costa del Sol, however positively a metropolis that warrants a little bit extra exploration. Uncover the palatial fortification of the Alcazaba, go to the childhood house of Pablo Picasso, then head to the chiringuito (seaside bars) for some basic grilled fish, cooked proper on the sand.
Days 13–14: Get pleasure from flamenco, meals and palaces in Granada
We’ve saved the most effective till final: Granada boasts the extraordinary Alhambra, its soulful alter ego the Albayzín, and an consuming and ingesting scene that embraces Spanish culinary tradition in all its wonderful selection. Bar hop your means alongside Calle Navas without spending a dime tapas bites with every drink, then head as much as the caves of the Sacromonte neighborhood for a conventional flamenco present.
Received simply 10 days? Then you definately’ll want this itinerary to Northern Spain
Is 10 days sufficient for Spain? Nicely, it won’t be sufficient to see the entire nation, but it surely’s loads to discover a specific part in depth. Spain’s Mediterranean coast could get the crowds, however the nation’s northern shoreline from San Sebastián to Santiago is without doubt one of the most spectacular in Europe. Right here’s how one can see northern Spain in simply 10 days.
Days 1–2: Have a meals tour of San Sebastián
There is no such thing as a finer introduction to the north of the nation than San Sebastián, with its dramatic setting and extraordinary meals scene. Two nights is a minimal right here. Start with a stroll across the sweeping bay of La Concha to see the spectacular Peine del Viento sculptures by the well-known Basque artist Eduardo Chillida, then study all about Basque tradition on the Museo San Telmo. Later, make your means across the Previous City stopping for pintxos bites alongside the way in which, adopted by the most effective baked Basque cheesecake for dessert at La Viña.
Days 3–4: Uncover the delights of the Guggenheim in Bilbao
West of San Sebastián, three hours by prepare, Bilbao is finest referred to as the house of the showpiece Museo Guggenheim and warrants at the least an evening, ideally two. After visiting the masterpieces inside Frank Gehry’s titanium ship, there’s rather more artwork and structure to see, together with Philippe Starck’s Azkuna Zentroa constructing and town’s modern avenue artwork. Within the night, go barhopping for tasty pintxos within the Casco Viejo. When you’ve got two days within the metropolis, spend your second day at close by Arrigunaga Seaside studying how one can surf the waves.
Day 5: Drive by coastal Cantabria
Go away Bilbao behind and head west by Cantabria and Asturias. To take advantage of the coast, you will want a automotive. Cantabria’s cobblestone Santillana del Mar, the rock artwork at Altamira and the village of Ribadesella will fill in the future.
Day 6: Hike within the Picos de Europa nationwide park
Drive south into the steep gorges and hovering peaks of the Picos de Europa, considered one of Spain’s largest and finest nationwide parks. Spend your time right here climbing by the verdant inexperienced valleys or up into the clouds and, should you’re fortunate sufficient, you could spot golden eagles, wild boar and brown bears.
Day 7: See historic structure and pattern native cider in Oviedo
Head to irresistible Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, recognized for its historic medieval previous city and its Unesco World Heritage Ninth-century stone church buildings. Ensure to take a break to go to a conventional sidrería for a glass of native Asturian cider.
Day 8: Discover the wild shores of Galicia
Deal with Galicia’s shoreline, considered one of Spain’s nice pure wonders, punctuated by secluded fishing villages and beautiful cliffs. Do not miss Cabo Ortegal peninsula the place the Bay of Biscay meets the Atlantic Ocean, the Glass Metropolis of A Coruña with its attractive galerías and the dramatic Costa da Morte. Alongside the way in which, cease for a conventional plate of pulpo a feira (Galician-style octopus sprinkled with paprika).
Days 9–10: Meet with pilgrims in Santiago
For the final two nights, linger within the totally Galician metropolis of Santiago de Compostela, a spot of pilgrim footfalls, high-quality regional delicacies and a cathedral of energy. There’s loads to see right here in addition to the cathedral nevertheless, together with a number of spectacular monasteries and convents. Feeling hungry? Make your strategy to Bar La Tita for – dare we are saying it – the tastiest tortilla de patatas (potato omelette) in Spain.
This 14-day itinerary takes you from Valencia to the Balearics
This journey takes you from the shores of the Mediterranean in Valencia to Mallorca, Ibiza and their hip little cousin, Formentera, three of probably the most lovely islands wherever within the Med. You may want a automotive to discover the 2 larger islands.
Days 1–2: Tour futuristic structure and scoff paella in Valencia
Start in Valencia, that almost all interesting of Mediterranean cities, which is value staying in for a few nights. Spend your first day wanting across the Previous City, the spectacular Cathedral to seek for the Holy Grail, the massive Modernist meals market and the beautiful Unesco La Lonja de la Seda. On day two, marvel on the futuristic Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (The Metropolis of Arts and Sciences). If the warmth will get an excessive amount of, calm down with a conventional glass of horchata (tiger nut milk) on the 200-year previous Horchatería Santa Catalina.
Days 3–4: Uncover the most effective of Mallorca’s capital
Fly or catch a ship to Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the Balearics and a dynamic metropolis with stirring structure and world-class meals. It’s effectively value a few nights right here earlier than you head to the countryside and the seashores. Go to town’s landmark La Seu Cathedral, discover the Casco Antiguo and tour the opulent Palau de l’Amudaina. There are many museums and nice eating places to occupy your time too. Whenever you want a break, cease for a scrumptious powdered-sugar-covered ensaimada (a typical Mallorcan pastry swirl).
Days 5–6: Drive by the mountains and orange groves in central Mallorca
After a few nights, take two days to drive Mallorca’s west coast and the Serra de Tramuntana mountain vary. Cease for one night time within the charming mountain village of Valldemossa and the opposite in fairly Sóller, surrounded by orange groves and only a quick hop to the coast.
Days 7–8: Loosen up on the seashores of Port de Pollença
Base your self in Port de Pollença to discover the island’s north for a pair extra days, together with the idyllic Cap de Formentor and the historic city of Alcúdia, surrounded by previous medieval partitions. Return to Palma to catch the ferry to Ibiza.
Days 9–10: Soak up Ibiza’s Previous City
On arrival, take a few days to absorb the appreciable charms of Ibiza City’s fortified previous city of Dalt Vila and its very good nightlife. Right here it’s extra stylish out of doors cocktail bars and romantic candlelit eating places than thumping discotheques.
Days 11–12: See the quiet facet of Ibiza
Go away all of it behind for Ibiza’s quiet and pure north coast, stopping in Sant Llorenç de Balàfia, with its nice eating places the place you’ll be able to order the standard bullit de peix (fish stew), distant little Sant Mateu d’Aubarca, and artsy Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera.
Day 13–14: Spot wildlife in Ses Salines Pure Park
When you’ll be able to tear your self away, head for the Parc Pure de Ses Salines, among the wildest and most lovely nation in Mediterranean Spain. Comprising each sea and coastal ecosystems, these salt flats and wetlands are house to over 200 chook species together with pink flamingos, cormorants and ospreys.
Day 13–14: Expertise island life on Formentera
Head again to Ibiza City to catch the ferry (35 minutes) over to the tiny former hippie island of Formentera on your final two nights earlier than heading house. It’s the proper place to discover by bicycle, simply 19km (12 miles) lengthy and crisscrossed with many bike lanes and inexperienced routes.
