A destination to get outdoors
From the steep and winding trails through the Pyrenees to the panoramic footpaths that hug the Costa Brava, Spain is a place made for escaping away from city life. The vibrant green meadows of Galicia, the pueblos blancos, or white villages, of Andalusia, the pink ochre cliffs of the Bardenas Reales Natural Park and the emerald-blue waters around the Canary and Balearic Islands create one big kaleidoscopic mosaic across the country. The warm comforting glow of the omnipresent sun is the cherry on top.
Spain boasts around 5,000 miles of coastline, offering myriad secret creeks and ribbons of golden sand to explore. Inland, a Spanish road trip soon becomes an exercise in waxing lyrical. From the snow-capped peaks of Sierra Nevada to the glacial lakes of Covadonga, from the great interior meseta (plateau) to the pilgrimage routes leading to Santiago de Compostela, there are no end of opportunities for hikers or outdoor sports enthusiasts to get to know Spain’s natural wonders.
At the crossroads of civilisations
Bookend your time spent discovering Spain’s stunning countryside with stays in the country’s main cities. Choose from vibrant Seville, cosmopolitan Barcelona, royal Madrid or what about coastal Valencia. Along your way, you may want to drop into some of Spain’s smaller towns steeped in history, like Salamanca, the country’s answer to Rome, or Toledo, a glorious medieval gem perched on a rock. Layer on layer of civilisations, architectural heritage and cultural relics speak volumes about the Romans, Celts and Moors who settled there and the country’s colonial past… But also about Don Juan, Don Quixote, Carmen, not to mention Spain’s masters of art, the likes of Goya, Dalí, Gaudí and Picasso. Fascinating!
Experience Spain
Spain is more than a simple travel destination. You don’t just visit Spain, you live Spain. Intensely. Passionately. Explore the verdant vineyards of Rioja to discover why the wines made in this region for over a thousand years remain firm favourites among wine connoisseurs. Dance to the beat of its colourful carnivals and local festivities: the Tomatina in Buñol, the Festival of San Fermín in Pamplona, the Fallas in Valencia… Pass the time seated at the counter of a tapas bar or in the room of a tablao flamenco until the wee hours. Tuck into an authentic paella valenciana or the indulgently rich churros y chocolate. Step back in time exploring Gothic cathedrals and medieval castles. Treat yourself to an unforgettable night in a parador, a hotel in a stunning historic monument. For a weekend, a week or longer, Spain is a destination where it’s impossible to get bored, whatever the season!
