Meet Spain
The unique guide
A unique gastronomic experience that brings people together
The culinary experience in Spain is unlike anywhere else in the world. Of course, the food in Spain is delicious, and varies depending on the region of Spain you’re in such as typical tapas dishes, traditional Basque pintxos, Paella from its origins in Catalunya, the list is endless. While dishes around the country differ, one thing stays the same, and that is the importance of the dining experience. In Spain, eating is a relaxing, social thing. Lunches and dinners can be hours long, usually spent sharing small plates (tapas) amongst one another, drinking the best Spanish wine, and spending quality time with friends and family. One thing that surprises travellers often, is the time meals are shared. Most restaurants don’t open for lunch before 13:00 or 13:30, and the same goes for dinner, when they open at 20:00 or 20:30. Even then, most Spaniards don’t head to the restaurants until at least 22:00 for dinner! Expect some late nights and incredible vibes that are special to the country.
From volcanic islands to lush, mountainous lakes
The landscape of Spain is one of the most geographically diverse in all of Europe. In Asturias, you’ll find mountainous forests and hidden lakes, in Andalucia, you can swim in the beautiful blue waters and feel the sand between your toes, or you can take a trip inwards and hike unusual limestone rock formations near Antequera, called El Torcal. Perhaps you want to glide down snowy mountaintops in Sierra Nevada, or get an adrenaline rush by off-roading on the Volcanic islands in the Canary, like Lanzarote, who’s interesting scenery will make you feel like you just hopped off Apollo 11 onto the moon. Head over to the rugged coastlines of Galicia, near the border of Portugal, with beaches that will enchant you as you watch the waves crash on the cliffs. Whatever landscape you’re looking for, Spain has it, and makes it a wonderful destination to visit year round, as you can soak up the beauty with relatively mild weather.
From Monarchy to Dictatorship
Spain has had a huge historical impact throughout the whole world. Because of their history of being a major colonial power during the start of the Spanish Kingdom, the language was spread all over the world, mostly in the Americas. Their impact can be seen worldwide, with 500 million Spanish speakers to this day. Besides just the language, Spanish architecture is world-renowned, and stylistic elements of this architecture can be seen across the globe. The contrast of Spain’s recent history can be seen often in its architecture. During the dictatorship of Fransisco Franco, more modern, plain buildings were constructed, where during the Kingdom, they commissioned grand churches and buildings, designed to impress.
Wander and wonder
Ready-made itineraries for your Spanish adventure
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Read up on the best Spain has to offer
Meet Spain
Spain is a country that takes the time to enjoy life. Its people pride themselves on taking things slowly, a 2 hour siesta to devour amazing tapas between work, anyone? They’re proud of their culture, like their delicious cuisine, distinctive architecture, and beautiful, romantic language. It’s a nation that has learned life is too short, as they say in Spanish “La vida es corta. Vive apasionadamente y siente la felicidad” (Life is short, live passionately and feel happiness).
Spanish values base themselves on love, family, and community, and the love will be extended to its visitors. Hospitable and kind, Spaniards are known to be some of the friendliest and most welcoming people in the world, making its visitors feel welcomed. Spaniards take care of their cities and their heritage. In all cities, streets are deep cleaned every morning, and renovations are constantly done to protect older buildings. Spaniards respect their nature, cities, and art, which can be attributed to the strong community values, and love for their culture.
The country is filled with historical and natural gems. Spain ranks 3rd in the world for having the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with 48 total. The country also is home to 16 national parks, and a whopping 226 Michelin-star restaurants. Whether looking to explore famous sites like Plaza Mayor and El Alhambra, hoping to uncover the natural gems of the country, like the beautiful beaches of the Balearic Islands, taste the variety of intricate gastronomy, or even attend some of the hottest clubs in Ibiza, hoping for a celebrity spotting. Whatever it may be, there’s destinations that will intrigue all different types of travellers.
There are three major geographical regions in Spain:
Iberian Peninsula
Balearic Islands
Canary Islands
The administrative regions of Spain are divided into 17, and each region has its own distinctive charm.
Andalucia
Aragon
Asturias
Balearic Islands
Basque Country
Canary Islands
Cantabria
Castile and León
Castilla la Mancha
Catalonia
Madrid
Extremadura
Galicia
La Rioja
Navarre
Murcia
Valencia
Of great artists and minds
When thinking of Spanish artists, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Diego Velázques, Francisco Goya, El Greco, and many others have made lasting impressions on the international art scene. Exploring art galleries such as El Prado in Madrid, and you’ll get to ravish the well-known paintings, as well as appreciate the amazing works that never had a rise to fame, but are equally as impressive.
Another art form, architecture, dominates the Spanish art scene. Inventive architects like Antoní Gaudí dominate the Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca skyline. In fact, Avinguda Diagonal in Barcelona is filled with impressive and different buildings, as all the different architects were trying to compete against each other to create the most beautiful building, creating an incredible walk for visitors.
Cultural catch-up
Rich Mediterranean culture with influences from Northern Africa has been passed down for generations in Spain. Since there are multiple nationalities in Spain, exploring the cultural traditions varies by region. In Catalonia, every festival will have “el castells”, which translates to human towers, a quirky tradition in the region. When exploring the Basque region, you’ll run into unique dances and celebrations that represent the region. In Pamplona, people gather to get chased down the street by bulls in the Running of the Bulls. All these distinct celebrations from different regions and nationalities are what makes Spain the country it is today. Lively with a lot to learn and discover.
Religion has been an important part of Spanish culture since the first Catholic monarchs in Spain. With incredible churches like the Sagrada Familia dominating the skyline, and important pilgrimages, like the Camino de Santiago, a walking route that has been a pilgrimage since the Middle Ages to pay respects to St.James, whose remains are in the town of Santiago de Compostela.
When to go
Spain is great to visit year round. During summertime, visit the coastlines and the beaches. During Spring and Autumn, explore the cities without overheating. During winter, ski in Sierra Nevada, or escape the cold in Andalucia or the Canary Islands, who’s Mediterranean climate makes winter feel non-existent.
Essentials
Languages 101
While there are many languages spoken in Spain, Spanish is the main language used. Spanish is a romance language, and shares a lot of similarities with Spanish, French, and Portuguese. There are over 500 million Spanish speakers worldwide, and besides being the official language of Spain, it is also the official language of 20 other countries.
Essential Spanish phrases
In Western Europe, Spain has the lowest percentage of fluency regarding speaking English. While at most popular landmarks and restaurants, workers will speak English, you may run into some situations where English is not spoken. Because of this, we have provided a simple guide of Spanish phrases to help you out with some quick and easy words in Spanish.
Transport
Getting There
There are several airports in Spain that have flights from Continental Europe and the rest of the world. The biggest airports are the ones in Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Alicante, Valencia, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife.
Most major cities and towns in Spain are connectable by train, as well as smaller ones, although it can be difficult to reach them from international destinations.
Getting to Spain via bus is an affordable option.
Getting Around
In Spain, people drive on the right side of the road and overtake on the left. In order to drive in Spain, visitors must be 18 years old with a valid driver’s license. However, rental car companies in Spain require the renters to be 21.
Spain has a decently connected train system, although a lot of destinations may be difficult to reach without stopping in a major city and switching trains in stations like Madrid or Barcelona. There is a solid bus system between cities in Spain, which is a great alternative if there is not a direct train between the two places. Most cities have a good bus system, but don’t be surprised if you have to wait at the bus stop for 20 minutes longer than the scheduled bus times. Some major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Seville, and Valencia have a metro system which is easy and convenient to use, and more reliable than the bus schedules.
Going on foot is the easiest way to get around cities, as they’re all very walkable. Use our map to find out what’s near you, or combine it with the bus or metro for an easy, hassle-free day out.
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