Tourists to Spain can expect sandy beaches, Mediterranean lifestyle, brilliant weather, and everything else one thinks of when planning a vacation to the Iberian peninsula. There is no other country in the Europe we like travelling to more than the country of Don Quixote and flamenco, yet off the beaten track there is a lot of genuine Spanish lifestyle to be discovered.
The classic holiday region, and the one most frequented by British and Irish budget airlines, is Andalusia, the south of Spain from Almería to Huelva. If you still like you Guinness while tanning on the beach, the Costa del Sol is the best place to travel, as the locals are well-prepared for tourists and manage to preserve Spanish traditions while accommodating international food and drink preferences. No place in Sussex where you can eat fish’n’chips while sitting in the shade of a palm tree.
The city you will most likely fly into is Málaga, and before travelling on, see if you can spend a few days there. The town has a great vibe, and there’s plenty to see in and around. If you have hired a car, you could check out one of the countless little towns around which still feature the white fincas, lovingly decorated with flowers, which are so typical for this region. The closest is Benalmádena, just 12 miles (17 km) outside Málaga. If this is the kind of cultural experience you are looking for, you should be referred to Vejer de la Frontera, supposedly the most beautiful village in all of Andalusia, about 30 miles (42 km) off Cádiz. A perfectly preserved town wall protects the Old Town, a mixture of Andalusian and Arab architecture, reflecting the regions exciting history.
Outdoor fans will love Nerja, about 30 miles (42 km) off Málaga, which has one of Europe’s best stalactite caves, and the rough coastline of the Costa de la Luz, where you can endulge in all sorts of water sports. Equipment is often available from surf clubs on the beach, especially in Tarifa, which is well known in the surfing community for its perfect conditions.
The other obvious regions to visit are Madrid and Barcelona.
The capital is situated on the Castilian high plateau, and it is everything one would expect from a capital: pompous, representative architecture, excellent nightlife, and a world-class cultural programme, including the best museums in Spain. This is also where the stylish Spanish senoritas stock up on the latest fashion: on Gran via you can find anything from posh local designers to international labels. Tired feet find rest in the shade of Parque del Buen Retiro, the green lungs of Madrid, featuring a romantic lake, countless sculptures, and a fabulous glass pavilion.
Barcelona is smaller in size, but by no means in appeal. The old city is full of young vibe, and the young and creative from all over Europe have been gathering here for years now, making this one of the most fascinating cities on the continent. There is a wonderful energy around, day and night, on the Las Ramblas avenue, where street artists perform and the fashionable do their shopping, on the beach, and in the old marina. The Sagrada Família Cathedral is one of the most recognisable buildings in the world, and few other cities have been influenced by a single architect as much as Barcelona has by Antoni Gaudí, whose art can be admired on almost every street corner. Barcelona is all about art, design, and creativity, not in a pretentious way; maybe the secret is that the atmosphere is so relaxed and friendly that it puts no restrictions on creativity.
Often overlooked, but a great region to visit nonetheless is Galicia in the north-west of the country. Mass tourism tends to stay away from here, and life is just a little bit slower. Nothing reflects this like St. James’s Way, the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and its famous cathedral. Some pilgrims walk for months, some just for a few days, but all of them tell of a spiritual experience gained from the tranquil trail through stunning scenery. The countryside is rough and edgy, green hills, colourful during the summer, turn into mountains, peaking at 2,000 meters (6500 ft.), and left and right of the way you stumble across old villages of Celtic origin, where friendly locals will serve you goat cheese and a glass of red wine.
